Farm Foundation will lead an examination of the impacts of the first decade of crop biotechnology and the opportunities and challenges for the second decade at a conference Jan. 16-17.

The Second Decade of Crop Biotechnology, to be at the Westin City Center, Washington, D.C., is one of the first conferences to examine how the experiences of the first decade of crop biotechnology will shape the future of food systems, environmental issues and public policies.

The widespread adoption of Roundup Ready soybeans and insect-resistant Bt corn and cotton have reshaped the global food system, impacting everything from the production tools of farmers to the food choices of consumers.

“Leading authorities from across the crop biotechnology industry will discuss lessons learned, and the challenges that lie ahead,” says Farm Foundation Fellow Ann Bublitz, who is organizing the conference. ”This conference is a unique opportunity for thought-leaders to discuss and debate how the second decade of crop biotechnology will influence business strategies, public policies and environmental and social issues.”

Keynoting the conference, geneticist Norman Ellstrand of the University of California, Riverside, will address the impact of crop biotechnology on the environment.

Other sessions will address biotechnology in the food system, including issues relative to crop production, food safety, private and public investments, intellectual property, biofuels and global food issues.

The conference program as well as registration and hotel information, are posted on the Farm Foundation Web site, www.farmfoundation.org. For more information, contact: Ann Bublitz, BioTech Decisions, (515) 285-2741, annbublitz@earthlink.net.