AMI's Booren Urges President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology to Increase Funding for Agricultural Research

Increased funding for agricultural research is essential to sustain the progress that has been made in enhancing food safety, according to American Meat Institute (AMI) Foundation Director of Scientific Affairs Betsy Booren, Ph.D., in oral comments given today at a meeting of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). 
 
“Without additional funding for agricultural research, we will be unable to build on our progress and make our food supply even safer,” she said.
 
In her comments, Booren highlighted the fact that data suggest that the meat and poultry industry’s research and education efforts have contributed to the food safety progress reflected in government data.  Pathogenic bacteria on fresh and ready-to-eat products are down dramatically and so, too, are foodborne illnesses caused by pathogens associated with some meat and poultry products.

“We have demonstrated that this approach to research is a wise investment and believe it is a formula to create real change and real progress,” Booren told the Council. 
 
Since 1999, the AMI Foundation research program has directly sponsored more than 85 food safety research projects at leading universities and research labs.  It has seen firsthand, however, the funding for agriculture research drastically decline over the last two decades with departments removing critical agriculture disciplines. 
 
“This is disappointing as the need for agricultural research has never been greater,” Booren noted.  “It is absolutely critical to have science-based research that will help meet the challenges that lay ahead in the future for the health of Americans.”
 
PCAST, administered by the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), is an advisory group of the country’s leading scientists and engineers who directly advise the President and the Executive Office of the President on science and technology issues.
 
To read Booren’s public comments in their entirety, visit http://bit.ly/hB4gTv.