U. S. Rep. Timothy V. Johnson, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee's Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture conducted a public hearing to review and discuss the opportunities and benefits of agricultural biotechnology for farmers, the environment, food and energy security, and competition in the global marketplace.

"Global population growth creates a pressing humanitarian challenge. We can either meet this demand by utilizing marginal lands and lands with fragile soils and poor water resources, or we can make the smart choice of increasing the production capacity of the plants and animals themselves. Innovation in agricultural science and technology is the key," said Johnson.

"The role of biotechnology in aquaculture represents one of the key tools that could enable humanity to expand protein production in sustainable way. The United States needs to follow its own lead in agriculture and provide regulatory support to sustainable aquaculture," said Harvard University professor Calestous Juma.

Read more statements of the panel members at http://agriculture.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1406.