ASTA and BIO Engage with Congressional Staff on Benefits of Plant Breeding

ASTA’s Senior Vice President of Scientific Affairs and Policy, Dr. Fan-Li Chou, presented to staff of House Agriculture committee members on the importance and contributions of plant breeding innovation in strengthening the U.S. agriculture and food system. In a congressional briefing that took place on May 8, Dr. Chou was joined by industry colleague Dr. Nicole Juba of the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) to discuss these groundbreaking advancements and how they support food and national security. Drs. Chou and Juba highlighted the role of our industry in utilizing agricultural biotechnology and plant breeding innovation, such as genome editing, to support U.S. farmers and producers. The roundtable conversation underscored the critical role that seed plays in growing solutions for America’s farmers and painted a picture for what’s possible with genetic diversity, plant breeding tools, and forward-looking government policies.