Bill will help ensure export markets remain open and reauthorize funding for USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service Biotechnology and Agricultural Trade Program.

June 23, 2018

3 Min Read
Bipartisan bill aimed at expanding food exports

A bipartisan group of senators introduced a bill to strengthen the country’s agriculture industry by ensuring that innovative biotechnology products have access to a competitive export economy so that farmers have continued success internationally and at home. 

Senators Todd Young (R., Ind.), Joe Donnelly (D., Ind.), Roy Blunt (R., Mo.), and Claire McCaskill (D., Mo.) introduced the ‘Growing American Food Exports Act of 2018’ to reauthorize funding for USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) Biotechnology and Agricultural Trade Program.

The legislation would reauthorize the important Biotechnology and Agricultural Trade Program which facilitates international agreements on the use of various biotechnology products.  It would also provide the Foreign Agricultural Service with the funding needed to advocate for any and all new agricultural production technologies.

The Growing American Food Exports Act will do the following:

  • Amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to update a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service program to fund efforts to eliminate non-tariff trade barriers for American agriculture exports

  • Provide consistent funding for the Biotechnology and Agricultural Trade Program

  • Clarify that the Foreign Agricultural Service has the authority to advocate for all new agricultural production technologies

“Agriculture is the backbone of Indiana and vital to our country’s economic success. With nearly 457.4 million acres, U.S. farmers are the largest producers of biotechnology crops in the world,” said Young in a statement on the bill. “We must continue to provide our hardworking farmers with the tools necessary to compete and succeed. This legislation would help ensure that innovative agriculture technology has access to trading partners in order to promote job growth in our rural farming communities and strengthen food security throughout the world.”

“Missouri farmers and producers are using innovative technologies to drive growth and production in the ag industry,” added Blunt in a release. “This bill will help ensure export markets remain open to cutting-edge Missouri farm products, and agriculture products across the U.S., so we can work to meet the world food demand and other opportunities that lie ahead.” 

McCaskill added, “It’s critical for Missouri farmers to have access to global markets to sell their crops and agricultural technology. We need to be doing more to open doors to new markets instead of closing them, and this will be another tool in the government’s toolbox to help achieve that goal.” 

The Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) welcomed the introduction in its own statement on the bill. “Trade is critical to America’s agricultural economy, as 20% of U.S. grown goods are sold in foreign markets. It is essential that USDA is properly equipped to advocate for America’s farmers and for the innovative technologies that make U.S. grown goods the best in the world,” said BIO in a statement.

“The work of USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service is critical to the continued success of the seed industry.  The seed industry is built on a long history of innovation; and continued innovation is paramount to the future of agriculture. Reauthorization of the Biotechnology and Agricultural Trade Program will ensure FAS has a continued source of funding for areas of key importance to the seed industry, such as science-based regulations and resolution of non-tariff barriers to trade,” said American Seed Trade Association. 

Additional supporters include the Indiana Farm Bureau, Missouri Farm Bureau, Indiana Corn Growers Assn., and Indiana Soybean Alliance.

 

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