WASHINGTON, May 5, 2005 -- Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns today announced the appointment of nine members to serve on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture.

"I am pleased that these individuals have agreed to serve on the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture," said Johanns. "They bring a wide range of experience and perspectives to this committee."

The appointed members are: Richard Crowder, President and Chief Executive Officer, American Seed Trade Association, in Alexandria, Virginia; Duane Grant, Farmer, in Rupert, Idaho; Robert Herdt, Adjunct International Professor of Applied Economics and Management, Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York; Josephine Hunt, Program Manager, Global Science and Regulatory Affairs, Kraft Foods, in Glenview, Illinois; Gregory Jaffe, Director, Biotechnology Project, Center for Science in the Public Interest, in Washington, D.C.; Patricia Layton, Professor, Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Clemson University, in Clemson, South Carolina (AC21 Chair); Bradley Shurdut, Global Leader, Government Relations, Regulatory Affairs, and Science Policy, Dow AgroSciences LLC, in Washington, D.C.; Alison Van Eenennaam, Cooperative Extension Specialist, Department of Animal Science, University of California in Davis, California; and Lisa Zannoni, Director, Global Regulatory Affairs and Government Relations, BASF Corporation, in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

The Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture is comprised of 15 to 20 members who serve two year terms appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture who are knowledgeable in a range of areas relevant to the use of biotechnology in agriculture. The Committee meets three to four times annually in Washington, DC.