Text: Glickman Calls for Thorough Understanding of Biotechnology

19 April 2000

Text: Glickman Calls for Thorough Understanding of Biotechnology

(Agricultural advances must be based on science, he says) (2840)

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman says any advances in agriculture that result from the use of biotechnology must be grounded in strong science and solid regulatory processes.

Glickman said in remarks before the Consumer Federation of America April 18 that he has asked the National Academy of Sciences to establish a standing committee to review the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) biotechnology regulatory process.

"I believe that biotechnology has enormous potential for consumers, for farmers, and for the millions of hungry and malnourished people in the developing world," Glickman said. But with any new technology there are also uncertainties, and that is why "we must have a thorough understanding of the ethical, safety and environmental implications of any new technology," he said.

In addition, Glickman said he has just launched the USDA Advisory Committee on Biotechnology that brings to his attention concerns, ideas and suggestions from a broad perspective of experts on the value and use of agricultural biotechnology.

From that first meeting, Glickman said, "if there was any consensus, it was to move in the direction of finding solutions rather than finding conflict, and it was accepting that technology does move forward, but that we need to come together to address how we as a society want this or any technology to become part of our lives."

Glickman also said in his remarks that:

-- Today's new food safety challenges mirror the changes in lifestyles, and the changes in how food is processed and marketed. He said the United States has "laid the foundation to meet future food safety challenges through modern science and information technology."

-- The modern American diet is fraught with foods and habits that are not entirely healthy, which demands greater efforts from the government through enhanced nutritional guidelines, education and government-sponsored food programs.

Following is a text of Glickman's remarks as prepared for delivery:

(begin text)

Remarks by Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman before the Consumer Federation of America 2000 National Food Policy Conference

Washington, D.C.

April 18, 2000

Thank you Senator Metzenbaum. I also want to thank Carol Tucker Foreman and Art Jaeger for inviting me here today.

When I looked at the agenda for this conference and all the issues that were being discussed and that I would be speaking at the end, I was wondering what would be left for me.

But I'm here today, not to weigh in with my views on the various topics, but to offer my assessment of government's role in addressing issues that are of particular concern to consumers over the near term.

Over the last 7 years, the Clinton/Gore Administration has an excellent record, and I'm proud to be a part of that success. The unprecedented economic prosperity we've been blessed with is already legendary, the recent stock market swings notwithstanding. We've made much progress in areas of concern to consumers -- from cleaning up the environment, to improving our food safety, to making our nutrition programs healthier and more accessible to more people.

I also want to point out that America not only enjoys the most abundant and safest food supply in the world, but also one of the cheapest. Only 11 cents of each consumer dollar is spent on food. One of the biggest reasons behind this is the tremendous increase in farm productivity over the years.

But the other side of the coin here is that farmers are only getting 23 cents on each consumer dollar spent on food, down from 37 cents in 1980. Family farmers are getting squeezed even though the overall economy is doing quite well. So, future food policy needs to keep in mind implications for the nation's family farmers.

In talking about food policy, rather than reflect on the achievements of the past seven years, I want to take this opportunity to focus on the future ... in particular three issues that are at the forefront for consumers -- biotechnology, food safety and nutrition. Or more plainly put, how our food might be made, is it okay to eat, and is it good for me and my family?

Biotechnology

Certainly, between Gordon Conway and Jane Henney and others I know that biotechnology has been a well-visited issue over the last two days, and rightly so. Agricultural biotechnology has moved beyond the nation's research laboratories, and even the nation's farm to fast approaching that threshold of being brought up at cocktail parties.

This is a subject on which I have spoken early and often. And although over the past year the debate here in the United States has become broader and louder, my views have not changed. Simply stated, I believe that biotechnology has enormous potential for consumers, for farmers, and for the millions of hungry and malnourished people in the developing world. But I also understand that with any new technology there are uncertainties. That's a given. That's why all of us need to continue to ask the tough questions.

I've always maintained that we must have a thorough understanding of the ethical, safety and environmental implications of any new technology. Any advances we make on the technological front must be grounded in strong science and solid regulatory processes. Frankly speaking, that goes without saying and that applies and has applied to any new technology that is introduced.

To ensure that the process is thorough and is state-of-the-art I have asked the National Academy of Sciences to establish a standing committee to provide continuous review of USDA's biotechnology regulatory process. And just recently, I held the first meeting of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Biotechnology, whose members, I can assure you, represent the broadest spectrum of interests on this subject. Among them was Carol Tucker Foreman and I want to thank her for her involvement on the committee. This committee will bring to my, and my successor's, attention all of the concerns, ideas and suggestions pertaining to this technology.

I came away from the first meeting of the committee extremely encouraged. As was to be expected, there were a wide range of views. If there was any consensus, it was to move in the direction of finding solutions rather than finding conflict, and it was in accepting that technology does move forward, but that we need to come together to address how we as a society want this or any technology to become part of our lives.

One thing has become abundantly clear: We must ensure that any and all issues pertaining to any new technology must be played out publicly and thoroughly so everyone understands exactly how we are proceeding.

Frankly, and I've said this before, the first generation of biotechnology products didn't offer anything to consumers, so it was slow-going demonstrating to consumers the value of this technology. Basically the attitude was if we grow it they will eat it. I think we're treading on dangerous ground any time we take consumers for granted.

The second generation of biotechnology products will be coming out of the laboratories and into the supermarkets. And these foods will have been adapted through biotechnology hopefully to have direct consumer benefits as in better tasting, nutritionally fortified and longer lasting. And this time around, you can bet that if the producers want to sell this new generation of biotech products to consumers, these products will be swimming in information about their advantages.

Government's responsibility is to ensure that these products are safe, both for human consumption and for the environment. But the ultimate test of whether these products will gain favor in the marketplace lies with the consumers.

Food Safety

And while biotechnology might seem like the brave new world to consumers, making sure the food we put on the table is safe is something food preparers have had to contend with from the beginning of civilization.

The further we've gotten away from an agrarian life, the greater the food safety challenges have become. An ever expanding global economy means more products from more sources. World food demand is growing at an unprecedented rate, putting more pressure on food producers. People are leading faster-paced lifestyles, which means eating out more or taking less time to prepare meals at home. Today's new food safety challenges mirror the changes in our lifestyles, and the changes in the way we process and market food.

Seven years ago, when this Administration took office, food safety quickly took center stage with the tragic death of 4 youngsters in the Pacific Northwest due to tainted hamburgers. It served as a renewed call to action to ensure that the safety of the food supply would be a primary goal of this Administration.

Under President Clinton's leadership the federal government's approach to food safety has undergone revolutionary improvements. We went from a meat and poultry system that relied on the eyes and noses of inspectors to adding modern scientific testing designed to identify bacteria that couldn't possibly be caught the old fashioned way. Compared to surveys taken before this new system called HACCP [Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point] came on line, the prevalence of salmonella found in meat and poultry plants has gone down considerably -- for hogs and ground turkey, down over 25 percent, for ground beef, down over one-third -- and for poultry the reduction is nearly 50 percent. This is a major improvement in public health protection which in turn has helped to reduce foodborne illness across the country.

We also realized that despite having the safest food supply in the world, the only way to make it even safer was to attack the problem at every link in the food chain from farm to table. So we set out on a vigorous campaign to inform everyone in the food chain -- farmers, processors, grocers, consumers -- what they need to do to ensure the safety of the food supply. We took advantage of modern information technology by establishing FoodNet, our national food-borne illness monitoring system -- which was expanded as part of the White House Food Safety Initiative. And the new PulseNet system can track outbreaks across the country, and help us quickly trace what's causing them. And, with consumer groups and industry, we started a national consumer food safety awareness campaign called Fight Back to inform consumers on how to handle and cook food safely.

Basically we've laid the foundation to meet future food safety challenges through modern science and information technology. We had to. The fact is we can be confronted with new mutations of bacteria, so we can never rest.

While we have made great progress, there is still more work to do. We must continue to address listeria, for example, which has caused major outbreaks of illnesses and deaths in the past year. And we still need Congress to give us mandatory recall authority and the ability to impose civil fines on companies that violate food safety standards.

The changing nature of the production of food will bring with it new challenges and new pathogens that are as yet unforeseen. And, we must be ready to take on these challenges aggressively and with the latest in technology if we are to continue to assure the American people of the safety of the food they serve their families.

Nutrition

But once we get past the fact that our food is safe, that doesn't mean we're out of the woods. We've got to make sure that the food we eat is what your body needs and, more importantly, that it's not responsible over the long term for other illnesses.

Unfortunately, the American diet is fraught with foods and habits that have disaster written all over them, from diabetes to heart disease we are hurting ourselves by not eating healthier. Over the last seven years this Administration has ramped up nutrition efforts making school lunches conform to sound nutrition guidelines, enhancing nutrition education efforts in schools, clinics and day care centers, creating a new food guide pyramid for children, improving the food stamp program and more.

The basic fact is we've got to eat healthier, with less fat, more fresh fruits and vegetables and more physical activity. But pop culture and the modern lifestyle can make it hard to follow this good advice. We're a nation in search of a fast fix that just isn't there.

A couple of months ago we held the Great Nutrition Debate and I was amazed to see all those different weight-loss schemes and the amount of money consumers spend on these fad diets. I can't deny it, I'm one of those who've tried a few different approaches and frankly I haven't had a lot of success. I'm a living example of the indulgence of the American lifestyle.

One minute we're on the move, rushing through the day, putting anything into our mouths to stave off hunger until the next meal, or snack. On the other hand too much of our leisure time is spent on the couch robotically stuffing ourselves with this or that snack. And we're just not discriminating enough about what we eat, even though we know we should be.

The worst part of it is not what we're doing to ourselves, but what we're doing to our children. One of the biggest health problems facing Americans in the 21st century is obesity and it starts with our children one in five of whom are obese. I think that's worth repeating: one in five kids is obese, not just a few pounds over, but obese. It's truly epidemic.

If we're going to change the American lifestyle then we've got to change attitudes and behavior. The best place to start is with our young, where habits are formed for a lifetime. One area that we are beginning to focus on is the environment we create and its effect on eating habits.

USDA is actively working improving the environment and culture around children. For example, kids need to have the proper amount of time to eat a decent meal, and they need access to nutritious food that tastes good. If it doesn't taste good, kids won't eat no matter what we tell them. We're also working to make nutrition education a part of kids' daily curriculum. And we've got to make everyone educators, parents, community leaders, kids themselves aware of the profound impact advertising and pop culture has on eating habits.

But even as we work with the young to form healthy habits that will last most of their lives we must also look at our aging population and address their nutritional needs, which are very different than those of the rest of us.

The fact is it won't be long before the boom starts to go out of baby boomer. Not too many years from now, the population of senior citizens will balloon. And their nutritional needs will be different than in younger years. Add to that the challenge of maintaining an appropriate diet on a limited fixed income. And there are other problems seniors have to deal with such as getting to the grocery store, or in some cases being able to prepare their own meals, or not having regular access to nutrition information.

We are working to find ways to help this growing segment of the population meet their nutritional challenges. But whether it's the obesity problem in our children or the nutritional challenges of our elderly, nutrition assistance and education must be at the forefront of public policy in the 21st century.

Conclusion

Which brings up an interesting connection among the three issues I've discussed biotechnology, food safety and nutrition. You never hear anybody question government's role in these areas. If anything, people are clamoring for more government involvement.

That's because there are certain things people have come to expect of their government especially when it comes to issues of public safety, health and security. The American people look to their government to protect them in ways they cannot protect themselves whether it's regulating finances, the airlines, the drug makers or safe cars and highways.

We have come to understand that certain issues are a national responsibility. Government is the representative of the people, and the people want their government out on front on these issues.

Three years ago when I spoke at this conference I said that one of the most important things history will record is how much this Administration brought consumers to the table ... how much this Administration values public input in making decisions for the nation.

That, I believe has made a profound impact on the foundation we have laid for dealing with consumer issues in the future. It is you who are helping to make government not only more responsive, but more effective. So I want to close by thanking you for helping government work better for the people.

Thank you.

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