Biotech's rewards

March 20, 2006
Page B8

The Economic Development Corporation serving Fresno County aggressively promotes the county to top-quality businesses to make job-generating investments.

Biotechnology is one of the industries the EDC actively recruits as we look toward the diversification and growth of local and regional economies.

In California, the biotechnology industry has created more than 230,000 high-paying jobs with a $14 billion payroll.?It is a bright light in the future of agriculture, and the ability to use biotechnology is a key factor by which farmers can stay competitive in the global marketplace.

Individual county bans on the use of biotechnology jeopardize California's ability to be on the cutting edge of technological advances. Further, it creates a challenging environment for start-up and established biotechnology companies.

In an effort to secure the state's economic competitiveness, Sen. Dean Florez (SB 1056) and Assembly Member Juan Arambula (AB 1508) have introduced legislation that begins to acknowledge the importance of agricultural biotechnology for the entire state.

Technological advancements in medicine and agriculture resulting from biotechnology have been at the root of California's success. Preserving farmers' and businesses' ability to incorporate biotechnology into their operations is important to maintaining that success.

David Spaur
President/CEO
Economic Development Corporation

Fresno County