January 10, 2002 -- Almost half of all state legislatures passed bills in
2001 addressing some aspect of agricultural biotechnology, according to
new research released today by the Pew Initiative on Food and
Biotechnology. A total of 130 pieces of legislation (112 bills
and 18 resolutions) were introduced in 36 states, with 22 states passing
those bills into law. About 30 percent of the bills focused on
protecting genetically modified (GM) crops from willful destruction by
radical anti-biotechnology activists.

"The range and volume of state legislative activity on agricultural
biotechnology last year reflects the growing political significance of
those issues at the local and state level," said Michael Rodemeyer,
executive director of the Initiative. "From efforts to restrict
genetically modified crops on one hand, to proposals to promote and
protect the technology on the other, our research shows that states are
increasingly on the front line of the agricultural biotechnology debate."

Highlights of the research include:

• State legislatures addressed a wide range of agricultural
  biotechnology issues: regulating GM crops; creating guidelines for
  agricultural contracts; banning GM crops; labeling GM crops; and
  protecting GM crops from destructive acts. In addition, many
  legislatures commissioned studies or task forces.

• Almost one-third (29 percent) of all legislation introduced in
  2001, and 70 percent of all bills that passed, established penalties for
  the destruction of GM crops.

• The New York legislature was the most active in introducing
  legislation (16 bills) on agricultural biotechnology, although North
  Dakota passed more legislation (five bills) than any other state in 2001.