Sharan.

MS. LANINI: Yes. My name is Sharan Lanini. I represent American Agri-Women which represents over 50 commodity and affiliate organizations throughout the nation. American Agri-Women supports careful monitoring of existing trade agreements, international treaties and activities of the United Nations to ensure equitable treatment of U.S. Agricultural interests.

AAW supports cooperative efforts for international market development and promotion programs. AAW supports strict implementation of international trade rules to prevent unfair practices by competitive countries and to require full compliance with existing trade agreements.

AAW supports the development and incorporation of biotechnological tools into ag research and production. Honoring the biotech industry's statement of mission and ethics AAW respects the power of biotechnology and the ability to apply it to the benefit of humankind.

AAW supports the pursuit of biotechnical applications that promise to save lives or improve the quality of life while avoiding applications that do not respect human rights or carry the risks that outweigh the potential benefits.

AAW believes strongly that the technology of genetically modified organisms is touching agriculture across our nation and globally, by providing a shrinking number of farmers with the tools to produce a safe and abundant food supply for the world.

We likewise feel that U.S. farmers and ranchers must be able to utilize biotechnology and GMO products in all avenues of global trade without the unscientific and irrational application of unfair trade barriers to future exports.

Therefore, we urge the USDA and the U.S. Trade Representative to include these issues of U.S. producers and developers, utilization of scientifically valid biotechnology methodology, and the resulting GMO's as a strong component of the upcoming Seattle round of WTO negotiations.

Thank you.