Recognizing the ever-increasing significance of biotechnology, the United States Senate approved Senate Resolution 200 designating January 2000 as “National Biotechnology Month.” The resolution addressed the importance of biotechnology to the research and development of medical, agricultural, industrial and environmental products. The resolution also cited several benefits of biotechnology, including improved crop yields and farm productivity, enhanced quality of food, improved environmental conditions and the increased life span of Americans.
The impact of food biotechnology is far-reaching. We can expect fruits and vegetables with enhanced nutrient content and improved quality. Biotechnology will also impact the success of food safety methods by eliminating allergy-causing proteins in some foods, and better identifying toxins, pathogens and contaminants. By producing crops enhanced through biotechnology, farmers can reduce their dependence on chemical inputs.
President Clinton acknowledged National Biotechnology Month in a proclamation he issued in response to the Senate resolution. "We recognize the enormous potential that biotechnology holds for improving the quality of life here in the United States and around the world," his proclamation reads. "These technologies… promise to make unprecedented contributions to public health and safety, a cleaner environment, and economic prosperity."
