On May 9 the USDA announced a public meeting of the Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture (AC21). AC21 was created to provide the USDA secretary with information on agriculture biotechnology issues, including the long-term impacts of biotechnology on the U.S. food and agriculture system, and to provide guidance on immediate issues. The AC21 meeting will consider the analysis of the new AC21 charge created by the three ad hoc subgroups; discuss a draft outline for the next committee report, including draft guidance documents for producers and for facilitating local conversations around coexistence; and continue overall discussions on the committee charge and work completion plans.
The meeting will be held at the U.S. Access Board Conference Room in Washington, D.C, June 13 and 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time each day. To make oral statements or public comments, the notice states to write to Dr. Michael Schechtman with the Office of Pest Management Policy at:
Michael Schechtman
Designated Federal Official
Office of the Deputy Secretary, USDA
202B Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building
12th and Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250
Schechtman can also be contacted by email at AC21@ars.usda.gov. All letters must arrive by June 8 for inclusion in the meeting.