Release No. 0133.96

Media Advisory

                                    Steve Teasley  (202) 720-8319
                                    Maria Bynum    (202) 720-5192
                                    Debbie Hanfman (202) 720-2197

UNDER SECRETARY STAUBER HOSTS Bt ROUNDTABLE, MEDIA BRIEFING

     WASHINGTON, March 20, 1996--U.S. Department of Agriculture Under
Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics (REE) Karl N. Stauber will
lead a roundtable discussion to provide background information for the media
on insect resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-based transgenic crops
Friday, March 22, 10 a.m.-11 a.m.  The session will be held in Room 104A in
the USDA's Administrative (Jamie L. Whitten) Building, Jefferson and 14th St.,
Washington, D.C.

     Representatives from several public and private sector groups interested
in this dramatic new approach to pest control and in developing strategies for
sustaining Bt effectiveness will join Dr. Stauber in brief opening remarks. 
They will provide viewpoints from environment, industry, research, extension,
producer and organic grower perspectives. A media question-and-answer
opportunity will follow introductory comments.  The event is open to all
interested media.          

     Bt is a common, naturally-occurring soil bacterium effective against
some major insect pests, but considered harmless to humans, animals, birds,
and the environment.  Recent research has shown that Bt genes -- inserted in
plants -- enable crops to produce their own insecticide.  For the first time,
three transgenic crops (corn, cotton, and potatoes) are commercially available
and are being planted this year on a large scale basis in the United States. 
This presents the agricultural community with "unique challenges and
opportunities" for developing strategies that will help prolong Bt
availability and usefulness as a foliar spray and an insecticidal gene for
transgenic plants, according to Dr. Stauber.

     The roundtable will provide the media with a framework for the National
Forum on Insect Resistance to Bt on April 15 and 16 at the Holiday Inn,
Bethesda, Maryland.  USDA's REE are sponsoring the national forum.

     USDA officials hope the forum will serve as a vehicle for dialogue,
education, and collaboration among those who have vested interests in -- or
are affected by -- insect resistance to agricultural pesticides. 

                                #

NOTE: USDA news release and media advisories are available on the Internet.
Access the USDA Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://www.usda.gov