By Byong Ryol Min, U.S. Grains Council Director in Korea

The U.S. Grains Council brought a team of Korean biosafety/risk evaluators to the United States from August 16-26 to review how agricultural biotechnology is developed, tested, approved, grown and utilized within the United States, with a special reference to U.S. biotech regulatory system and safety/risk assessment process.

The delegation traveled to Washington, D.C., North Carolina, Missouri, and Seattle, Washington to visit with biotech regulatory officers of USDA/APHIS, EPA and FDA to review the U.S. regulatory system and coordinated framework and food /environmental safety assessment process. They then met with regulatory and product safety groups from Syngenta, Bayer, and Monsanto to review risk/safety assessment process and gain an understanding of the science behind regulatory dossiers, the biotechnology development process, the future of biotechnology, and appropriate stewardship protocols for the technology. The team was also informed of the importance of reviewing and approving the technology in science-based, risk appropriate, timely, predictable and transparent manner. Participants also had the opportunity to tour corn production facilities and grain elevators while in Missouri and Seattle.

The trip allowed the Korean team to gain valuable insights into the U.S. biotech development and regulatory systems. The Council will continue to encourage the continued exchange of information between the Korean and U.S. biotech industries.