NCGA hosts International Biotech Media Tour.

A group of international journalists had the opportunity to learn about biotechnology's impact on agriculture through visits to the National Corn Growers Association and several St. Louis-based biotech companies. The meetings were part of the International Biotech Media Tour, an event sponsored by NCGA; the U.S. Grains Council; Iowa Corn Growers Association, Nebraska Corn Development, Utilization and Marketing Board; and Illinois Corn Marketing Board. "The purpose of the tour is to reach out to people around the world who are reporting on biotech issues," said NCGA director of biotechnology Nathan Danielson. "The message we shared with them was that growers can use this technology to their advantage. And we showed them some of the tools growers use to be good stewards of this technology." In addition to meeting with NCGA, the group visited Divergence Inc., the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center and Monsanto facilities. "In many of their countries, attitudes toward biotechnology are based on fear and sensationalism because fringe groups have taken control of the issue," Danielson said. "Hopefully, the tour will arm these reporters with the knowledge they need to help dispel myths about biotechnology."