Labeling of Biotechnology Products: Background

The National Agricultural Biotechnology Council (NABC), established in 1988, is a consortium of 18* not-for-profit agricultural research and education institutions:

• Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research
• Rutgers University
• Cornell University
• Texas A&M University
• International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications, Tufts University
• University of California
• Iowa State University
• University of Georgia
• Michigan State University
• University of Guelph
• North Carolina State University
• University of Missouri, Columbia
• Ohio State University
• University of Nebraska, Lincoln
• Oregon State University
• University of Saskatchewan
• Purdue University

NABC, through sponsorship of annual meetings, provides an open forum for exploring issues in agricultural biotechnology and an opportunity for persons with different interests and concerns to come together to speak, to listen, to learn, and to participate in meaningful dialogue. The fifth annual meeting (NABC 5), hosted by Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, June 2-5, 1993, addressedAgricultural Biotechnology: A Public Conversation About Risk. An optional day’s activity was offered immediately following the annual meeting: a workshop on labeling of biotechnology products. This occasional paper, “Labeling of Biotechnology Products”, is a product of the optional workshop and is the second in the series. It includes a brief overview by Peter E. Dunn, the organizer, papers by three invited speakers and reports with recommendations prepared by the chairs of the two workgroups. NABC hopes this publication will contribute to increased understanding of what this diverse group of about 30 people:

• ethicists
• scientists
• economists
• educators
• biotechnologists
• writers
• sociologists
• representatives from agribusiness
• government personnel

felt was appropriate to be on a product label and provide suggestions of other ways to disseminate and receive information.

NABC extends our thanks to Peter Dunn for his organizational efforts and for his completion of papers and reports for this occasional paper.

June Fessenden MacDonald
Executive Director
NABC

    

* In 2001, NABC has 37 member institutions.