NFWL President Robin Read speaks to the first meeting of International Agriculture & Rural Affairs Journalists in Bilboa, Spain
November 14, 2003
Introduction
Thank you for inviting me to Gernika-Lumo, Spain. I am delighted to be here at the First International Encounter of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Journalists. I serve as President and CEO of the National Foundation for Women Legislators, which represents and supports women office-holders at the federal, state, and local level, and the highlight of our year is always our annual conference. There is something so invigorating and exciting about getting together with colleagues from different regions, states, and, in today's case, nations to share ideas, forge relationships, and affirm our commitment to our shared goals. So, I am particularly honored to participate in your first, soon to become annual, conference. I am sure it will be the first of many thought-provoking and energizing events.
On a more personal level, I am glad to be here because, for many years, I worked as an agricultural journalist, I own a farm, and my husband Sam Brunelli, who is with me today, has also been in farming. We say that we never have to go to Las Vegas or Monte Carlo because farming is the biggest gamble in the world.
I grew up in farm country in rural Iowa, and I delight in my farm there. I grow corn and soybeans, and I raise cattle, as well. Years ago, I also owned a business that sold salad dressings, flavorings, and soap, but I sold during the national farm crisis in the early 1980's.
Sam's farm consisted of 4800 acres of irrigated land in a very dry, desolate part of Colorado. To give you an idea of the challenges he faced on his farm, let me tell you about a movie scene filmed on his land. The movie was called Centennial, based on a novel by popular American author James Michener, and the scene they filmed on Sam's farm showed a woman killing herself and her family out of sheer desperation because the wind wouldn't stop blowing and the crops would simply not grow without irrigation.
Thankfully, nothing that dramatic has happened on either of our farms. In Iowa, with 14 feet of topsoil we pray for plenty of rain and sun in appropriate amounts; my husband Sam prays for enough water rights from legislators and regulators to irrigate his land. We understand firsthand that farming is indeed one of the riskiest ventures one can embark upon.
And through it all, I, like you, was a journalist reporting on agriculture. I worked as an agricultural reporter during the 1970's and 1980's, including during the U.S. farm crisis of the early 1980's.
I was a radio and television journalist and I had a regionally broadcast show called "Kitchen Klatter", along with a monthly magazine, which was like a letter from home. We talked about farm and rural living issues - what we planted in our table gardens, how our crops were growing, what the weather was like, the markets and crop prices. Our show was on the radio during the week and on TV on Saturdays. We talked much like you would talk to your best friend - candidly, about daily life, cooking, gardening and farming. Farmers and people in rural communities listened in and felt it was like eavesdropping on their best friends' conversations. Accompanying our show, we had a monthly magazine -- it was black and white narrow columns, and it looked like a letter from home. And we traveled and talked to farmers and folks in rural areas in grocery stores and county fairs. Our business sold manufactured soaps, bleaches, salad dressings and flavorings, and offered premium gifts - all necessary and useful items for farming families. Through my experiences as a journalist, I also listened a great deal to what farmers and people in rural communities thought and felt, particularly with regard to the US farm crisis in the early 1980's. What I learned was that farmers and the agricultural reporters in rural communities were deeply afraid of the federal government's efforts to alleviate the farm crisis. They weren't sure of how federal legislation would affect them, and, like most of us, they feared changed.
I had also worked with the Department of Agriculture, and I believed that the farm bill would help get us out of the crisis. Agricultural reporters from farm communities refused to cover the proposed legislation, and they didn't want to hear about it from me either. So, we decided to shift gears and talk about the many benefits the legislation would have on food safety, and we reached out to food reporters to cover the bill. Food reporters were deeply interested in this topic, as were their readers. Once the farm communities learned about the bill, they supported it, and this landmark legislation passed both Houses of Congress.
Like all of you, I, too, am concerned about the effects of globalization on rural life, its economies, and its environment. I grew up in rural Iowa, and throughout my career I have supported America's rural communities. In particular, I am concerned about the United States' American Indian population. As president and CEO of the National Foundation for Women Legislators, one of my goals has been to set up coalitions between women legislators and tribal leaders at the local, state, and federal levels. I have reached out to tribal leaders, introduced them to legislators in their states, and steadfastly worked to develop policies that will better the standard of living, while retaining each community's distinctive culture, on America's tribal lands, most of which are rural. I believe that advances in biotechnology can help.
Changes/Problems in agriculture/farming
I believe we must use bio-technology to take better advantage of scarce resources - namely land and water --, to develop techniques to help small and rural farmers maintain their farms, to produce enough food to combat the global food shortage, and to eradicate diseases such as cholera and multiple sclerosis.
The nature of farming is changing in ways that make it difficult for small, rural farmers to subsist let alone prosper. Some large farms are growing but small farms, in particular family farms, face dire economic circumstances and possible extinction. In my homestate of Iowa, one third of farmers decided to quit farming in the 1990's. Most listed retirement as reason, but it is difficult for farmers to pass on their farms to the next generation. In fact, Iowa has launched major public relations campaign to encourage people to turn over their farms to the next generation and provide them with the resources they need to do so. According to census data, 40% of Iowa farmers are 55 or older, and this is consistent throughout the nation. I believe advances biotechnology can help small and family farms by making small-scale farming more efficient and profitable, by allowing for the creation of innovative crops -such as organic and specialty produce, and by drawing the younger generation back in.
Another agricultural problem is that the world's population is rising as available land and water resources are declining. Experts predict increasing global demand for food, yet land and water resources are increasingly scarce. Thus, we need to figure out ways to grow more food on less land and with less water. Again, I believe biotechnology can help.
How Biotechnology Can Help
Technology is one of the most powerful tools we have to increase agricultural productivity, end famine, and improve nutrition. According to US Secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman, biotechnology will "reinvigorate productivity growth in food and agricultural production, make agriculture more environmentally sustainable, offer more economic self-sufficiency for subsistence farmers in developing countries, and provide increased nutrition and health benefits." In addition to the problems of famine and resource shortages, there is a continuing demand for healthier, better tasting, and cheaper food worldwide. Only with biotechnology can we improve nutrition, sustain agriculture, feed the world, and cure diseases like MS. One of the women legislators I work with has MS, and, through her, I have learned a great deal about the disease. But, what has shocked me the most is learning that MS could be eradicated if we just put human protein in some foods. People with MS lack this essential protein, but biotechnology makes it simple to insert into food. Once digested, it stops MS from developing and does not have any negative consequences for people without the MS gene. In addition, biotechnology could allow us to eradicate diseases such as cholera by administering vaccines through dietary staples such as rice or bananas. Evidence also suggests that vitamin A-enhanced rice could significantly reduce blindness.
Are GM foods safe? Importance of regulation and scientific study Given that biotechnology holds such promise for the future, why are so many of us reluctant to embrace it? In the US, a group that opposes genetically modified foods frequently passes out a flyer with an image of a four-breasted woman nursing her children. Perhaps we are afraid that there are consequences of biotechnology that we cannot foresee, or that genetically modifying foods will have a ripple effect and soon we'll be genetically modifying ourselves. Both possibilities are indeed frightening but neither bears out in fact.
At present, all available genetically modified foods are safe to eat, though, obviously, we must remain diligent about monitoring new ones. Not only are genetically modified foods safe, but many have tremendous health and environmental benefits. Beyond improved nutritional content, many GM foods, such as peanuts, are engineered to be free of allergens and toxins. In addition, pest tolerant crops can be grown, thereby reducing the use of pesticides and the presence of chemicals in foods. In fact, studies have shown that since the introduction of GM cotton in the mid 1990s, the use of pesticides on cotton has declined globally by about 14 percent. Australia, China, South Africa, and the US show pesticide reductions of 40-60 percent on GM cotton crops. The reduction in pesticides also helps the ecosystem by, among other things, encouraging the presence and growth of beneficial insects. In addition, herbicide tolerant soybeans have been shown to increase the efficiency of weed control and reduce soil tillage, with consequent benefits for soil conservation. Furthermore, disease resistant crops may have lower levels of potentially carcinogenic mycotoxins. Some people have voiced concerns about the gene flow between GM crops and the surrounding environment. But, while GM modified crops certainly do exchange genetic material with non-GM crops and species, to date, this has had no adverse effects.
Of course, risk assessment and testing techniques need to keep pace with scientific developments. Just as the United Nations provides an intergovernmental forum that seeks to achieve international agreement on standards for food safety, we need to facilitate international agreement on standards for assessing the impacts of gene technology. In addition, we need to make the data monitoring the 58.6 million Ha of genetically modified crops grown in 16 countries in 2002 publicly available. Above all, we must continue to establish and monitor regulations based on science, not on fear or irrational enthusiasm. Along with vigilantly tracking bio-technological advances, we must also monitor the effects of globalization to make sure than any advances in agricultural technology benefit developing countries and communities whose economies are based on agriculture.
Conclusion
In short, biotechnology can help make farming less risky and more sustainable, it can help feed the world's growing population, and it might even be able to alleviate some dreaded diseases. It can make it so that farmers no longer have to be so dependent on whether or not it rains or on how strong the wind blows. It can improve nutrition, reduce chemicals in the environment, strengthen ecosystems, and eradicate disease. Advances like these are heartening for farmers and humankind in general. While it is imperative that we proceed with caution and with scientific evidence, we should not be afraid of what we don't understand. I used to have reservations about advancements in biotechnology and genetic modification until I saw actual genes and learned how to splice them myself. Doing so, greatly demystified the process for me and reaffirmed my faith in our scientific community. And it was fun. So, I brought lab kits and thought perhaps we could experiment with splicing genes. As we do so, I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you.
Thank you for inviting me to Gernika-Lumo, Spain. I am delighted to be here at the First International Encounter of Agricultural and Rural Affairs Journalists. I serve as President and CEO of the National Foundation for Women Legislators, which represents and supports women office-holders at the federal, state, and local level, and the highlight of our year is always our annual conference. There is something so invigorating and exciting about getting together with colleagues from different regions, states, and, in today's case, nations to share ideas, forge relationships, and affirm our commitment to our shared goals. So, I am particularly honored to participate in your first, soon to become annual, conference. I am sure it will be the first of many thought-provoking and energizing events.
On a more personal level, I am glad to be here because, for many years, I worked as an agricultural journalist, I own a farm, and my husband Sam Brunelli, who is with me today, has also been in farming. We say that we never have to go to Las Vegas or Monte Carlo because farming is the biggest gamble in the world.
I grew up in farm country in rural Iowa, and I delight in my farm there. I grow corn and soybeans, and I raise cattle, as well. Years ago, I also owned a business that sold salad dressings, flavorings, and soap, but I sold during the national farm crisis in the early 1980's.
Sam's farm consisted of 4800 acres of irrigated land in a very dry, desolate part of Colorado. To give you an idea of the challenges he faced on his farm, let me tell you about a movie scene filmed on his land. The movie was called Centennial, based on a novel by popular American author James Michener, and the scene they filmed on Sam's farm showed a woman killing herself and her family out of sheer desperation because the wind wouldn't stop blowing and the crops would simply not grow without irrigation.
Thankfully, nothing that dramatic has happened on either of our farms. In Iowa, with 14 feet of topsoil we pray for plenty of rain and sun in appropriate amounts; my husband Sam prays for enough water rights from legislators and regulators to irrigate his land. We understand firsthand that farming is indeed one of the riskiest ventures one can embark upon.
And through it all, I, like you, was a journalist reporting on agriculture. I worked as an agricultural reporter during the 1970's and 1980's, including during the U.S. farm crisis of the early 1980's.
I was a radio and television journalist and I had a regionally broadcast show called "Kitchen Klatter", along with a monthly magazine, which was like a letter from home. We talked about farm and rural living issues - what we planted in our table gardens, how our crops were growing, what the weather was like, the markets and crop prices. Our show was on the radio during the week and on TV on Saturdays. We talked much like you would talk to your best friend - candidly, about daily life, cooking, gardening and farming. Farmers and people in rural communities listened in and felt it was like eavesdropping on their best friends' conversations. Accompanying our show, we had a monthly magazine -- it was black and white narrow columns, and it looked like a letter from home. And we traveled and talked to farmers and folks in rural areas in grocery stores and county fairs. Our business sold manufactured soaps, bleaches, salad dressings and flavorings, and offered premium gifts - all necessary and useful items for farming families. Through my experiences as a journalist, I also listened a great deal to what farmers and people in rural communities thought and felt, particularly with regard to the US farm crisis in the early 1980's. What I learned was that farmers and the agricultural reporters in rural communities were deeply afraid of the federal government's efforts to alleviate the farm crisis. They weren't sure of how federal legislation would affect them, and, like most of us, they feared changed.
I had also worked with the Department of Agriculture, and I believed that the farm bill would help get us out of the crisis. Agricultural reporters from farm communities refused to cover the proposed legislation, and they didn't want to hear about it from me either. So, we decided to shift gears and talk about the many benefits the legislation would have on food safety, and we reached out to food reporters to cover the bill. Food reporters were deeply interested in this topic, as were their readers. Once the farm communities learned about the bill, they supported it, and this landmark legislation passed both Houses of Congress.
Like all of you, I, too, am concerned about the effects of globalization on rural life, its economies, and its environment. I grew up in rural Iowa, and throughout my career I have supported America's rural communities. In particular, I am concerned about the United States' American Indian population. As president and CEO of the National Foundation for Women Legislators, one of my goals has been to set up coalitions between women legislators and tribal leaders at the local, state, and federal levels. I have reached out to tribal leaders, introduced them to legislators in their states, and steadfastly worked to develop policies that will better the standard of living, while retaining each community's distinctive culture, on America's tribal lands, most of which are rural. I believe that advances in biotechnology can help.
Changes/Problems in agriculture/farming
I believe we must use bio-technology to take better advantage of scarce resources - namely land and water --, to develop techniques to help small and rural farmers maintain their farms, to produce enough food to combat the global food shortage, and to eradicate diseases such as cholera and multiple sclerosis.
The nature of farming is changing in ways that make it difficult for small, rural farmers to subsist let alone prosper. Some large farms are growing but small farms, in particular family farms, face dire economic circumstances and possible extinction. In my homestate of Iowa, one third of farmers decided to quit farming in the 1990's. Most listed retirement as reason, but it is difficult for farmers to pass on their farms to the next generation. In fact, Iowa has launched major public relations campaign to encourage people to turn over their farms to the next generation and provide them with the resources they need to do so. According to census data, 40% of Iowa farmers are 55 or older, and this is consistent throughout the nation. I believe advances biotechnology can help small and family farms by making small-scale farming more efficient and profitable, by allowing for the creation of innovative crops -such as organic and specialty produce, and by drawing the younger generation back in.
Another agricultural problem is that the world's population is rising as available land and water resources are declining. Experts predict increasing global demand for food, yet land and water resources are increasingly scarce. Thus, we need to figure out ways to grow more food on less land and with less water. Again, I believe biotechnology can help.
How Biotechnology Can Help
Technology is one of the most powerful tools we have to increase agricultural productivity, end famine, and improve nutrition. According to US Secretary of Agriculture, Ann Veneman, biotechnology will "reinvigorate productivity growth in food and agricultural production, make agriculture more environmentally sustainable, offer more economic self-sufficiency for subsistence farmers in developing countries, and provide increased nutrition and health benefits." In addition to the problems of famine and resource shortages, there is a continuing demand for healthier, better tasting, and cheaper food worldwide. Only with biotechnology can we improve nutrition, sustain agriculture, feed the world, and cure diseases like MS. One of the women legislators I work with has MS, and, through her, I have learned a great deal about the disease. But, what has shocked me the most is learning that MS could be eradicated if we just put human protein in some foods. People with MS lack this essential protein, but biotechnology makes it simple to insert into food. Once digested, it stops MS from developing and does not have any negative consequences for people without the MS gene. In addition, biotechnology could allow us to eradicate diseases such as cholera by administering vaccines through dietary staples such as rice or bananas. Evidence also suggests that vitamin A-enhanced rice could significantly reduce blindness.
Are GM foods safe? Importance of regulation and scientific study Given that biotechnology holds such promise for the future, why are so many of us reluctant to embrace it? In the US, a group that opposes genetically modified foods frequently passes out a flyer with an image of a four-breasted woman nursing her children. Perhaps we are afraid that there are consequences of biotechnology that we cannot foresee, or that genetically modifying foods will have a ripple effect and soon we'll be genetically modifying ourselves. Both possibilities are indeed frightening but neither bears out in fact.
At present, all available genetically modified foods are safe to eat, though, obviously, we must remain diligent about monitoring new ones. Not only are genetically modified foods safe, but many have tremendous health and environmental benefits. Beyond improved nutritional content, many GM foods, such as peanuts, are engineered to be free of allergens and toxins. In addition, pest tolerant crops can be grown, thereby reducing the use of pesticides and the presence of chemicals in foods. In fact, studies have shown that since the introduction of GM cotton in the mid 1990s, the use of pesticides on cotton has declined globally by about 14 percent. Australia, China, South Africa, and the US show pesticide reductions of 40-60 percent on GM cotton crops. The reduction in pesticides also helps the ecosystem by, among other things, encouraging the presence and growth of beneficial insects. In addition, herbicide tolerant soybeans have been shown to increase the efficiency of weed control and reduce soil tillage, with consequent benefits for soil conservation. Furthermore, disease resistant crops may have lower levels of potentially carcinogenic mycotoxins. Some people have voiced concerns about the gene flow between GM crops and the surrounding environment. But, while GM modified crops certainly do exchange genetic material with non-GM crops and species, to date, this has had no adverse effects.
Of course, risk assessment and testing techniques need to keep pace with scientific developments. Just as the United Nations provides an intergovernmental forum that seeks to achieve international agreement on standards for food safety, we need to facilitate international agreement on standards for assessing the impacts of gene technology. In addition, we need to make the data monitoring the 58.6 million Ha of genetically modified crops grown in 16 countries in 2002 publicly available. Above all, we must continue to establish and monitor regulations based on science, not on fear or irrational enthusiasm. Along with vigilantly tracking bio-technological advances, we must also monitor the effects of globalization to make sure than any advances in agricultural technology benefit developing countries and communities whose economies are based on agriculture.
Conclusion
In short, biotechnology can help make farming less risky and more sustainable, it can help feed the world's growing population, and it might even be able to alleviate some dreaded diseases. It can make it so that farmers no longer have to be so dependent on whether or not it rains or on how strong the wind blows. It can improve nutrition, reduce chemicals in the environment, strengthen ecosystems, and eradicate disease. Advances like these are heartening for farmers and humankind in general. While it is imperative that we proceed with caution and with scientific evidence, we should not be afraid of what we don't understand. I used to have reservations about advancements in biotechnology and genetic modification until I saw actual genes and learned how to splice them myself. Doing so, greatly demystified the process for me and reaffirmed my faith in our scientific community. And it was fun. So, I brought lab kits and thought perhaps we could experiment with splicing genes. As we do so, I'm happy to answer any questions. Thank you.