Iowa Farm Bureau Spokesman, March 18, 2000, p. 19
Biotechnology PR campaign planned
By Dale Johnson
Consumers will soon be hearing a different story about biotechnology and its
benefits.
The seed industry in the United States has been working collectively to
formulate an advertising and public relations campaign to negate the adverse
publicity and fears that opponents of biotech-nolgy have generated.
"There's a lot of cross industry discussion," says Tony Minnichsoffer,
communications manager for Novartis Seeds, Inc. "We got blindsided on the
activism on biotechnology. Who thought that technology like this wouldn't be
embraced by the environmental movement?"
Minnichsoffer says there are many benefits from biotechnology, from the grower
to the consumer. Biotechnology resulted in Bt corn, which enables plants to
resist corn borers while protecting the environment with fewer chemicals
applied to fields.
"A lot of surveys show consumer support, but they (opponents) keep trying to
convince you there's problems," he says. "Insulin was created using
biotechnology. You don't hear any complaints about that. There will be a good
life from biotechnology."
The industry effort is expected to be unveiled in a month.
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