DuPont External Biotechnology Advisory Panel Member Dr. Pablo Eyzaguirre recently presented to Pioneer employees his perspective on agricultural biotechnology in the fight against hunger and poverty and its role in sustainability and maintaining biodiversity. He challenged DuPont to "take a leadership role within the biotechnology industry to maintain transparent and ecologically-sound processes."

 

Formed in 2000, the Biotechnology External Advisory Panel provides counsel to guide DuPont’s actions and helps create positions on important issues and challenges facing the business in the development, testing, and commercialization of new products based on biotechnology. It currently consists of eight members who represent a variety of international interests, expertise, and cultural backgrounds. DuPont brings the group together for a face-to-face meeting twice a year to exchange information and opinions.

 

Dr. Eyzaguirre has served on the panel since 2002 and is a senior scientist of anthropology and socio-economics in the Genetic Resources Science and Technology group of the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI) based in Rome.

 

“Biotechnology is a key component to many DuPont businesses and is a critical tool to our success.Biotechnology allows the company to develop products like drought resistant crops, bio-fuels and biomaterials. In the future, DuPont will pursue a rapidly-increasing number of regulatory approvals, develop a wider range of new biotech products and enter new markets for biotech crops around the world,” said Tom West, vice president, Biotech Affairs and Business Support.

 

To view a video of Dr. Eyzaguirre’s presentation, please click here.