[Federal Register: April 15, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 72)]
[Notices]
[Page 18192-18193]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ap03-46]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Research Service
Notice of Establishment of the Advisory Committee on
Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture and Notice of Appointment of
Committee Members
AGENCY: Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education, and
Economics, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of establishment of the Advisory Committee on
Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture and notice of appointment of
committee members.
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SUMMARY: The Office of the Under Secretary, Research, Education, and
Economics of the Department of Agriculture, in accordance with the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2, announces the
establishment of and appointment of members to the Advisory Committee
on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (``AC21'').
ADDRESSES: The public may send written comments to Michael Schechtman,
Designated Federal Official, Office of the Deputy Secretary, USDA, 202B
Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Schechtman, Telephone: (202)
720-3817, Fax: (202) 690-4265, or e-mail mschechtman@ars.usda.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Agriculture is
establishing a new committee, the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology
and 21st Century Agriculture. The purpose of this new committee is to
examine the long-term impacts of biotechnology on the U.S. food and
agriculture system and USDA, and provide guidance to USDA on pressing
individual issues, identified by the Office of the Secretary, related
to the application of biotechnology in agriculture. The committee is
necessary and in the public interest.
The Committee will report to the Secretary through an annual report
and other means as necessary and appropriate.
The Committee will meet in Washington, DC, up to four (4) times per
year. Eighteen members were appointed from nominations of more than 100
well-qualified individuals, representing the biotechnology industry,
the farming community, the seed industry, food manufacturers, commodity
processors and shippers, environmental and consumer groups, along with
academic researchers as well as experts on bioethics and legal issues.
Equal opportunity practices were followed in appointing committee
members. To assure that recommendations of the advisory committee take
into account the needs of diverse groups served by the Department,
membership includes, to the extent practicable, individuals with
demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women, and persons with
disabilities.
The following appointments to the Advisory Committee on
Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture have been made:
Patricia A. Layton, Professor, Department of Forest Resources,
Clemson University, in Clemson, South Carolina will serve as Chair of
the AC21;
Daryl D. Buss, Dean, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of
Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin;
Leon C. Corzine, Farmer, and Chairman, Biotechnology Working Group,
National Corn Growers Association, in Assumption, Illinois;
Carole Cramer, Professor, Virginia Tech, and Chief Scientific
Officer, CropTech Corporation, in Blacksburg, Virginia;
Richard T. Crowder, Chief Executive Officer, American Seed Trade
Association, in Alexandria, Virginia;
Michael D. Dykes, Vice President, Government Affairs, Monsanto
Company, in Washington, DC;
Juan C. Enriquez-Cabot, Director, Life Sciences Project, Harvard
Business School, in Boston, Massachusetts;
Randal W. Giroux, Staff Scientist, Cargill, Inc., in Wayzata,
Minnesota;
Duane Grant, Farmer and Member, National Association of Wheat
Growers and U.S. Wheat Inc. Biotechnology Committee, in Rupert, Idaho;
David A. Hoisington, Director, Applied Biotechnology Center and
Bioinformatics, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center
(CIMMYT), in Mexico City, Mexico;
Gregory A. Jaffe, Co-Director, Biotechnology Project, Center for
Science in the Public Interest, in Washington, DC;
David C. Magnus, Assistant Professor, Center for Bioethics,
University of Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
Terry L. Medley, Vice President, Global Regulatory Affairs, DuPont
[[Page 18193]]
Agriculture and Nutrition, in Wilmington, Delaware;
Margaret G. Mellon, Director, Food and Environment Program, Union
of Concerned Scientists, in Washington, DC;
Ronald D. Olson, Vice President, Grain Operations, General Mills,
in Minneapolis, Minnesota;
Jerome B. Slocum, Farmer and General Manager, North Mississippi
Grain Company, in Coldwater, Mississippi;
Keith C. Triebwasser, Manager, Product Safety and Regulatory
Affairs, The Procter and Gamble Company, in Cincinnati, Ohio;
Lisa W. Zannoni, Head, Global Regulatory Affairs and Government
Relations, BASF Plant Science, in Mount Olive, New Jersey.
Committee members will initially serve one-or two-year terms, and
may be reappointed to serve up to six consecutive years. In the event
of a vacancy, the Secretary will appoint a new member as appropriate
and subject to the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act.
The duties of the Committee are solely advisory.
Committee members will serve without pay. Reimbursement of travel
expenses and per diem costs shall be made to Committee members who
would be unable to attend Committee meetings without such
reimbursement.
Joseph J. Jen,
Under Secretary, Research, Education, and Economics.
[FR Doc. 03-9173 Filed 4-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-03-P