|
USGC biotech education efforts spurs U.S. corn exports to Spain
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign and Agricultural Service, the United States sold 2.5 million bushels of corn for shipment to Spain in mid-January. According to Chris Corry, U.S. Grains Council director of international operations, the sale is the first of this magnitude to Spain since 1998-99. Corry said biotechnology was the primary trade barrier causing Spain not to seek U.S. corn. "Due to dramatic feed grains shortages in the European Union, biotechnology restrictions and an increasing world wheat demand, Spain was purchasing significant quantities of sorghum from the United States in late 2007," Corry said, adding that in October 2007, importers in Europe were indicating that they will need 17 to 18 million metric tons of feed grains in 2008. "That is how bad things are in Europe, due to the ongoing drought situation." For example, Kurt Shultz, U.S. Grains Council director for the Mediterranean and Africa, reported previously that Spain imported more than 588,100 metric tons (23.1 million bushels) of sorghum from Sept. 1, 2006, through Aug. 9, 2007--nearly 10 times that country's sorghum imports for the same period a year ago. The USGC President's Mission in December, which included the National Sorghum Producers, traveled to Europe and northern Africa to assess the status of European and Moroccan feed grain markets and the impact of Council programming in the region. While in Spain and other countries in the European Union, members of the trade delegation met with producers, feed millers and processors to educate them on the safety and quality of feed grains derived from genetically enhanced seeds. "Because the tight supply of feed grains has feed millers and producers in a severe price squeeze, the timing is right to try and educate the European Union's grain industry about biotechnology and elicit their support in addressing policy," said Dale Artho, U.S. Grains Council chairman. "They were especially receptive to the idea of relaxing the EU GMO (genetically modified organisms) policies for U.S. corn. We discussed how corn with plant technology attributes could be utilized in their milling process for feed export markets and how that would reduce the pressure on their domestic markets." Artho said Spain's purchase of U.S. corn is a good sign that the Council's education efforts are working and gives U.S. producers reason to be optimistic about the potential to export genetically enhanced feed grains to Europe. 2/4/08 Date: 1/25/08
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2011. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
|
