Milling & Baking News - October 21, 2008 - 16

Industry Activities

Kick starting wheat biotechnology
among NAMA priorities for 2008-09
marketplace with a little less time for
traits in the pipeline;
*Educational materials and messages must be developed for internal
and external purposes to address potential concerns;
*Intellectual property issues because
the farmer practice of planting saved
wheat seed is so commonplace; and
*Gaining regulatory approvals for
food and feed use in major wheat export markets.
The summit also grappled with the
recognition that biotechnology companies are gun shy about wheat given the
wheat foods industry's demonstrated
ambivalence to earlier attempts to introduce bioengineered wheat.
Ms. Faga continued, "Technology providers must be engaged and encouraged
to invest in biotech wheat. The wheat
chain must show the tech providers there
is a supportive business climate."
While the working group of 30-35
was smaller than the
initial summit group
of about 50, Ms. Faga
'Summit activity currently is principally
said an even smaller
focused on biotechnology with
group will break
broad representation. Earlier, we
out to talk more frequently and try to
were trying to understand the
develop a strategic
challenges of each sector of the
plan. From the point
wheat foods chain, trying to learn
of view of milling, a
what we need to address to create
distinctly supportive message will be
an enabling environment for the future
communicated.
commercialization of a biotech trait in wheat.'
"We want to send
- Elizabeth A. (Betsy) Faga, North American Millers' Association
a clear signal embracing any sciencebased
technology
biotech working group that began that contributes to food safety, health
work toward developing an action and wellness," Ms. Faga said. "Our
plan on biotechnology, and Ms. Faga members have evolved in their views.
said a late August meeting of the We can't just sit by on the sidelines."
Following the wheat biotechnology
working group was well attended.
"Summit activity currently is prin- discussion at the board meeting, Ms.
cipally focused on biotechnology with Faga offered the board an update on
broad representation," Ms. Faga said. nutrition standards for school and
"Earlier, we were trying to understand other federal nutrition programs,
the challenges of each sector of the which she said would be an imwheat foods chain, trying to learn what portant initiative in the weeks and
we need to address to create an enabling months ahead. The milling industry
environment for the future commercial- is endorsing the Dietary Guidelines
for Americans as the basis for any nuization of a biotech trait in wheat."
Key issues identified/explained at trition standards in schools.
This work is being done in anthe August meeting included:
* Finding ways to ensure that tech- ticipation of the U.S. Department of
nology providers would realize a re- Agriculture 2009 reauthorization of
the Child Nutrition Programs, the
turn from their investment;
Supplemental
Nutrition
*Ten years of work would be re- Special
quired to introduce a new trait into the Program for Women, Infants and
INCLINE VILLAGE, NEV. - Opportunities to advance the milling
industry's interests through biotechnology, product promotion engagement in federal nutrition legislation
and programs are among high priority items for the flour milling industry
in 2008-09, said Elizabeth A. (Betsy)
Faga, president of the North American
Millers' Association.
Ms. Faga offered an update on NAMA
during an interview with Milling & Baking News at the group's 10th annual
meeting, held Sept. 25-27 at the Hyatt
Regency Lake Tahoe in Incline Village.
Ms. Faga noted that a discussion
at the NAMA board meeting Sept. 26
about biotechnology mirrored progress that has been made with the
Wheat Summit, a diverse group representing the entire wheat chain established in September 2006 to explore
critical issues of common concern. In
November 2006, the group created a

16 / October 21, 2008

Milling & Baking News

Children and the WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program. The reauthorization process provides Congress with
an opportunity to examine the operation and effectiveness of the federal
nutrition assistance programs.
Programs of concern to the millers
include the National School Lunch
Program (serving 30.7 million children daily in fiscal 2007) and the
School Breakfast Program (10.1 million children).
"It's important that the Dietary
Guidelines from the government be a
model for these programs," Ms. Faga
said. "Very prescriptive and restrictive nutritional standards will not be
successful at improving our children's
overall health and lowering obesity."
Among emerging issues under discussion at the NAMA board meeting,
a particularly serious one was Department of Homeland Security Chemical
Regulations. Art Loeffler, president of
Star of the West Milling Co., Frankenmuth, Mich., is chairman of the food
and facility security committee.
He discussed the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards, a federal regulation administered by the
Department of Homeland Security
requiring "high risk" chemical facilities to beef up security. While milling operations are not principally
chemical plant companies possessing D.H.S. "chemicals of interest,"
they have been required to submit
facility-specific information to allow
the D.H.S. to begin a process to determine whether the facility is a high
risk location in need of enhanced security. NAMA is assisting members
in understanding the information
that must be submitted to the D.H.S.
The board meeting was followed by
a product promotion report open to
everyone attending the NAMA annual
meeting. Presentations were made on
behalf of the Grain Foods Foundation,
the Home Baking Association and the
Wheat Foods Council.
The session was launched by Richard C. Siemer, a member of the Grain
Foods Foundation and president of
Siemer Milling Co., Teutopolis, Ill.
Offering a snapshot of G.F.F. membership, Mr. Siemer said the foundation has 121 members, including 27
millers and 7 associates, accounting for
94% of wheat milling capacity. Helping
meet the $3.7 million annual budget are
a $50,000 direct grant from NAMA plus
$1,210,000 in contributions from millers
and NAMA associate members.
Highlighting past achievements, Mr.
Siemer said the foundation has offered
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Milling & Baking News - October 21, 2008

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