Islam A. Siddiqui
Encyclopedia
Ambassador Islam A. Siddiqui is Chief Agricultural Negotiator
in the Office of the United States Trade Representative
(USTR). Prior to this, he was Vice President for Science and Regulatory Affairs at CropLife America
, a biotechnology industry consortium.
's precautionary rejection of the importation of GMO's, stating that the ban was tantamount to "denying food to starving people." In 2009 he called for a "second green revolution" employing biotechnology
and genetic engineering
.
In 1998, as Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the United States Department of Agriculture
, Siddiqui oversaw the release of the National Organic Program
's standards for organic food labeling. The standards permitted both irradiated and GMO foods to be labeled as organic. (The standards were subsequently revised in response to public opposition.)
In 2005, speaking on behalf of CropLife America, Siddiqui stated his satisfaction with the defeat of local propositions in California
that would have banned GMO crop cultivation.
From 2001 to 2003, Siddiqui was a registered lobbyist
with CropLife America, representing biotechnology companies including BASF
, Bayer CropScience, Dow AgroSciences
, DuPont
, FMC Corp.
, Monsanto
, Sumitomo, and Syngenta
.
On April 2, 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama
named Siddiqui to the post of Chief Agricultural Negotiator in a recess appointment
. Siddiqui's previous nomination to the position remained on the Senate docket for more than a year and a half. His nomination was reported to the Senate floor from the United States Senate Committee on Finance
on October 11, 2011, and senators finally voted to confirm Siddiqui as part of an en bloc group of nominations confirmed early in the morning hours of October 21, 2011.
Chief Agricultural Negotiator
The Chief Agricultural Negotiator is an ambassador of the Office of the United States Trade Representative responsible for conducting and overseeing international negotiations related to trade in agricultural products...
in the Office of the United States Trade Representative
Office of the United States Trade Representative
The Office of the United States Trade Representative is the United States government agency responsible for developing and recommending United States trade policy to the president of the United States, conducting trade negotiations at bilateral and multilateral levels, and coordinating trade...
(USTR). Prior to this, he was Vice President for Science and Regulatory Affairs at CropLife America
CropLife International
CropLife International is an international federation of agricultural biotechnology companies. It was previously known as Global Crop Protection Federation and International Group of National Associations of Manufacturers of Agrochemical Products....
, a biotechnology industry consortium.
Position on GMO foods
Siddiqui is a supporter of genetically modified foods (GMO foods) for human consumption, and repudiates their potential health risks. In 1999 he worked against the mandatory labeling of GMO foods in Japan, stating that such labeling "would suggest a health risk where there is none." In 2003, he criticized the European UnionEuropean Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
's precautionary rejection of the importation of GMO's, stating that the ban was tantamount to "denying food to starving people." In 2009 he called for a "second green revolution" employing biotechnology
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is a field of applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology also utilizes these products for manufacturing purpose...
and genetic engineering
Genetic engineering
Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct human manipulation of an organism's genome using modern DNA technology. It involves the introduction of foreign DNA or synthetic genes into the organism of interest...
.
In 1998, as Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the United States Department of Agriculture
United States Department of Agriculture
The United States Department of Agriculture is the United States federal executive department responsible for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy on farming, agriculture, and food...
, Siddiqui oversaw the release of the National Organic Program
National Organic Program
In the United States, the National Organic Program is the federal regulatory framework governing organic food. It is also the name of the organization in the Department of Agriculture responsible for administering and enforcing the regulatory framework. The Organic Food Production Act of 1990 In...
's standards for organic food labeling. The standards permitted both irradiated and GMO foods to be labeled as organic. (The standards were subsequently revised in response to public opposition.)
In 2005, speaking on behalf of CropLife America, Siddiqui stated his satisfaction with the defeat of local propositions in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
that would have banned GMO crop cultivation.
Career history
According to the U.S. Trade Representative's website,From 2004 to 2009, Dr. Siddiqui served on the U.S. Department of Commerce's Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, and Health/Science Products & Services, which advises the U.S. Secretary of Commerce and USTR on international trade issues related to these sectors. Between 2001 and 2003, Dr. Siddiqui was appointed as Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), where he focused on agricultural biotechnology and food security issues. Before joining USDA, Dr. Siddiqui spent 28 years with the California Department of Food and Agriculture. He received a B.S. degree in plant protection from Uttar Pradesh Agricultural University (now renamed as Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & TechnologyGovind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture & TechnologyG. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology is the first agricultural university of India. It was inaugurated by Jawaharlal Nehru on 17 November 1960 as the Uttar Pradesh Agricultural University...
) in PantnagarPantnagarPantnagar is a town and a University campus in Udham Singh Nagar district, Uttarakhand. Nainital, Rudrapur and Kiccha, Haldwani are the major cities surrounding Pantnagar....
, India, as well as M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in plant pathology, both from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.
From 2001 to 2003, Siddiqui was a registered lobbyist
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
with CropLife America, representing biotechnology companies including BASF
BASF
BASF SE is the largest chemical company in the world and is headquartered in Germany. BASF originally stood for Badische Anilin- und Soda-Fabrik . Today, the four letters are a registered trademark and the company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, London Stock Exchange, and Zurich Stock...
, Bayer CropScience, Dow AgroSciences
Dow AgroSciences
Dow AgroSciences LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Dow Chemical Company specializing in not only agricultural chemicals such as pesticides, but also seeds and biotechnology solutions. The company is based in Indianapolis, Indiana, in the United States...
, DuPont
DuPont
E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , commonly referred to as DuPont, is an American chemical company that was founded in July 1802 as a gunpowder mill by Eleuthère Irénée du Pont. DuPont was the world's third largest chemical company based on market capitalization and ninth based on revenue in 2009...
, FMC Corp.
FMC Corp.
FMC Corporation is a chemical manufacturing company headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. FMC employs over 4,800 people world wide, and had gross revenues of US$3.115 billion in 2008.-The Bean Spray Pump Company:...
, Monsanto
Monsanto
The Monsanto Company is a US-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation. It is the world's leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate, marketed in the "Roundup" brand of herbicides, and in other brands...
, Sumitomo, and Syngenta
Syngenta
Syngenta AG is a large global Swiss agribusiness company which notably markets seeds and pesticides. Syngenta is involved in biotechnology and genomic research. The company is a leader in crop protection, and ranks third in total sales in the commercial agricultural seeds market. Sales in 2010 were...
.
On April 2, 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
named Siddiqui to the post of Chief Agricultural Negotiator in a recess appointment
Recess appointment
A recess appointment is the appointment, by the President of the United States, of a senior federal official while the U.S. Senate is in recess. The U.S. Constitution requires that the most senior federal officers must be confirmed by the Senate before assuming office, but while the Senate is in...
. Siddiqui's previous nomination to the position remained on the Senate docket for more than a year and a half. His nomination was reported to the Senate floor from the United States Senate Committee on Finance
United States Senate Committee on Finance
The U.S. Senate Committee on Finance is a standing committee of the United States Senate. The Committee concerns itself with matters relating to taxation and other revenue measures generally, and those relating to the insular possessions; bonded debt of the United States; customs, collection...
on October 11, 2011, and senators finally voted to confirm Siddiqui as part of an en bloc group of nominations confirmed early in the morning hours of October 21, 2011.