The Administration’s Responsibility to the Consumer

Abstract

Biotechnology offers the promise of good jobs that produce products fulfilling the public’s need for food, fiber and pharmaceuticals. It could provide a growing market for American products abroad, and it also offers the potential of environmentally sound solutions to some current problems. Government is therefore accountable for implementing policies to protect the public health, while at the same time promoting the growth and development of the industry. Such policies should stimulate research, ensure the safety of new products, protect the environment, encourage business to innovate and invest and lead to a literate public capable of holding those high technology jobs. Stewardship of the federal government’s $70 billion annual investment in science and technology entails the following: 1) setting an overall policy framework and managing the effort efficiently within that framework; 2) supporting the conduct of fundamental science critical to achieving the stated goals; and 3) providing an environment that encourages private investment in innovation and technology development.