U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) led a letter signed by members of Indiana’s Congressional delegation to President Trump and Vice President Pence this week expressing concern with efforts to block production of bioengineered salmon, an action that would negatively impact the state of Indiana and the future of biotechnology. Bioengineered salmon was developed by AquaBounty Technologies, which has started production at a land-based contained facility in Albany, Indiana.
In addition to Senator Young, the letter was also signed by Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Representatives Greg Pence (R-IN-06), Larry Bucshon M.D. (R-IN-08), Pete Visclosky (D-IN-01), Susan W. Brooks (R-IN-05), Jackie Walorski (R-IN-02), Trey Hollingsworth (R-IN-09), Jim Banks (R-IN-03), and James R. Baird (R-IN-04).
“If this provision is enacted, Hoosiers will see an immediate and detrimental impact. Dozens of jobs will be terminated, 160,000 healthy fish will be destroyed, and millions of dollars invested in transportation and infrastructure will be wasted. AquaBounty’s investment has spurred much-needed economic vitality in this rural and underserved region of our state,” said the letter.
During Wednesday’s U.S. Senate Commerce hearing, Senator Young discussed how AquaBounty’s facility is benefitting Hoosiers. When asked about the importance of regulatory clarity, Managing Director of Cargill Aqua Nutrition North America Kathryn Unger said, “I think that producing here [in the U.S.] is important because we are going to continue to consume aquaculture… we will continue to consume as much wild catch as we can, but it cannot keep up with the global growth and human population, and the need for that healthy seafood.” To watch the hearing, click here.
The full letter is available here and below.
The Honorable Donald J. Trump
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500
The Honorable Michael R. Pence
Vice President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear President Trump and Vice President Pence,
We write today to express our deep concern with efforts to block production of bioengineered salmon, an action that would negatively impact the state of Indiana and the future of biotechnology. The bioengineered salmon was developed by AquaBounty Technologies, which has started production at a land-based contained facility in Albany, Indiana.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved bioengineered salmon in November 2015 after a rigorous and decades-long review process, determining that the salmon is as safe to eat as traditional farm-raised Atlantic salmon. After subjection to several other regulatory hurdles, AquaBounty began production earlier this year. A provision in the FY2020 Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill unwinds these approvals, and would immediately ban the sale and distribution of AquaBounty salmon in the U.S. if enacted. This provision imposes a costly and duplicative consumer study requirement by a federally funded advisory committee – wasting taxpayer dollars and causing irreparable damage.
If this provision is enacted, Hoosiers will see an immediate and detrimental impact. Dozens of jobs will be terminated, 160,000 healthy fish will be destroyed, and millions of dollars invested in transportation and infrastructure will be wasted. AquaBounty’s investment has spurred much-needed economic vitality in this rural and underserved region of our state. Indiana boasts a booming aquaculture industry, which is a critical part of diversifying agriculture and providing more options for Midwest consumers; we take pride in creating an environment welcoming to job creators aligned with this mission. This provision only hinders expansion of U.S.-based aquaculture and perpetuates our country’s reliance on imports from other countries, such as Chile and Norway, from where we currently import over 90% of the Atlantic salmon consumed in the U.S.
We firmly believe that this provision directly contravenes the letter and intent of the Executive Order on Modernizing the Regulatory Framework for Agricultural Biotechnology Products that was issued in June 2019. This provision is not based on science, sound policy, or law, and it imposes undue regulatory burdens rather than avoiding them. Further, it sends the wrong message to industries that are working to develop innovations in agricultural biotechnology. Indiana plays a key role in the agricultural industry and strongly values the possibilities that aquaculture and biotechnology bring to our economy. More fundamentally, should this provision become law, it would undermine your commitment to facilitating the kind of innovation that undergirds our nation’s global leadership in agricultural advancements. Companies will almost certainly begin posturing to move operations overseas to commercialize their products.
We therefore ask you to oppose this “poison pill” provision because of the numerous ways in which it will harm Hoosiers, damage U.S. innovation and agriculture, and create a dangerous precedent that will undermine confidence in our regulatory system.
Sincerely,
