Grocery Manufacturers Association Calls on US Senate to Stand Up for Ag Biotech to Protect Farmers and Consumers

During the opening ceremonies of the 2016 GMA Science Forum, Pamela G. Bailey, president and CEO of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) said that unless the US Congress passes a uniform national law on disclosure of genetically engineered food ingredients, stigmatization from on-package labels will lead to increased consumer costs and confusion and a paradigm shift in agriculture away from biotech crops.

"The Senate needs to act and act quickly, or farmers may lose access to biotech, more food companies may be forced to reformulate, and consumers will face higher food costs," she said. Bailey's remarks on GMO labeling are part of a larger statement on the state of the industry and how food, beverage, and consumer products companies harness science and innovation to benefit consumers.

Following Bailey's address, the Science Forum featured four sessions that focused on different aspects of innovation by the consumer packaged goods industry, including:

• How innovation in biotechnology can feed the world
• The importance of innovation to the well-being of consumers
• How innovation improves food and consumer product safety
• Using innovation to improve transparency

For more details, read Pamela G. Bailey's opening address and the news release at the GMA website.