“This is a noose that’s been slowly tightening for many years,” said Steven Strauss, a distinguished professor of forest biotechnology at OSU, and one of the world’s leaders in the application of genetic science to forestry. “Everyone wants safe and responsible regulations that protect the environment,” Strauss said. “But some extreme opponents who see anything that is genetically modified as a mortal sin are successfully putting in place details that will make it virtually impossible to move ahead with genetic modification in forestry or woody energy crops. “They don’t even want to see field research,” Strauss said, “which is required for analysis of ecological effects as well as benefits, and they have been making strides toward shutting the industry down.”

“The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO), a leader in industrial biotechnology is pleased to announce the third annual Pacific Rim Summit on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy. This meeting will continue and expand the essential exchange between industry, academia and government that has been so successful at the World Congress on Industrial Biotechnology and Bioprocessing.”

“It may not be what some people want to hear but genetically modified trees should now be allowed in our forests.
If it doesn’t happen then in the future most wood will come from the Third World, devastating the timber industries of the UK and Europe.”