Opinion: Innovation requires action: FDA must modernize with the times

Growing up on a family farm, I’ve seen firsthand that innovation requires action. The process of bringing about new ideas, products, or solutions that can have a significant positive impact and create value requires taking creative concepts from ideas to tangible outcomes that improve efficiency and effectiveness or address unmet needs. I can think of no greater place for innovation to happen than within the walls of our government—specifically, with the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, the agency responsible for supporting the development of new technologies and approaches that address health needs across the human, animal and environmental health sectors. Last year, the FDA released its Animal and Veterinary Innovation Agenda, aimed at ensuring the most robust product development pipelines that deliver needed products to support veterinarians, pet owners, agricultural producers, the food system, and public health programs. “FDA is committed to spur innovative technologies that we regulate while ensuring that our work is science-driven, risk-based, timely, and flexible,” the agenda says. I appreciate the approach, but here’s the frustrating part- America is far behind the world in terms of approving innovative new products. That’s right. With an agricultural society that is considered the most innovative and technologically advanced in the world, we are behind in modernizing our regulatory system. There is no better example of this than the delay in approving feed ingredients and other products that will reduce enteric methane emissions—methane produced as cows digest food and burp into the atmosphere—in cattle and improve the competitiveness of the American farmer. The first of this type of additive being considered by the FDA, Bovaer, has been waiting for approval for more than two years. This contrasts with our competitors overseas, including Europe, Australia, and Canada, where the feed ingredient has already been approved. Farmers in those countries now have opportunities to create a new value stream on the farm from something that otherwise has no value—enteric methane. That is innovation. And that innovation gives farmers around the world a competitive advantage over U.S. farmers. Other parts of the U.S. government, however, realize the potential. Last year, I spoke on a panel with U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Undersecretary Robert Bonnie where we talked about the importance of promoting climate-smart agricultural practices that are voluntary, science-based, and incentive-focused. USDA is so excited about the potential for these feed ingredients, it’s already awarded almost $100 million in funding to support farm practices that reduce methane in livestock. Without approval of these ingredients, the impact of this funding will be greatly reduced. Having an impact on enteric methane emissions is critical since they make up the majority of emissions on farms and the U.S. and other countries have made commitments to reduce methane emissions. The spotlight is on agriculture to play its role in decreasing its emissions, just as transportation and oil have been in the spotlight. By doing something as simple as including a feed ingredient into a cow’s daily feeding, farmers can make a big impact. It’s a win-win: the ingredient gives the farmers more market power and can be used on operations of all sizes. They can also implement this as soon as the FDA authorizes it for use. These cutting-edge technologies can have a transformational impact on rural economies. As the demand for sustainable agricultural practices grows, farmers can access new revenue streams, such as carbon credits. – ultimately revitalizing rural communities and strengthening the backbone of America’s heartland. FDA plays a pivotal role in this process, and if the agency is agile, the results could yield substantial benefits for farmers and consumers in the form of an affordable and nutritious food supply, a healthy environment, and a strengthened rural economy. I’ve been in government; I’ve seen the wheels of government turn and in this area, they are turning far too slowly. We are not on an acceptable path knowing the kind of progress that could be made literally tomorrow. It’s time for the FDA to modernize with the times and take action to bring more Innovation to U.S. farmers. Charles F. (Chuck) Conner became president & CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives on January 22, 2009. As president of NCFC, Conner oversees the organization’s work to promote and protect the business and public policy interests of America’s farmer-owned cooperatives.