Ag biotech observers, including scientists in both business and academia, agree that the industry's growth has been hampered by regulatory agencies that were slow to approve new products, by investor fears that the public would reject genetically engineered food, and by an overselling of its prospects during its early years. Most of these hurdles have been overcome, yet ag biotech has failed to return to Wall Street's good graces, a fact that mightily frustrates industry officials. Nevertheless, company executives expect ag biotech -- and job prospects for scientists in the industry -- to rebound strongly after just a few more painful years of stagnation.
'TIMING IS EVERYTHING:' Robert Fraley is "bullish on the longer term."
"So I think you're going to look at a period, maybe for the next few years, where things stay at a steady state, but I would be pretty bullish on the longer term."
Fraley, who ...
