Sen. Ted Cruz said Saturday that the nation should push back against the “hysteria” over food made with genetically modified organisms, saying these innovations in science should be celebrated for the positive impact they’ve had both at home and abroad.

Speaking the Iowa Agricultural Summit, Mr. Cruz said he is sick of politicians “blowing smoke” in Washington and vowed that Iowans have no bigger ally then him when it comes to pushing back against the federal government.

Mr. Cruz said GMOs helped to provide food for people across the globe and strengthen farms across the nation. He said that people who oppose GMOs and want to buy organic food can do that.

“People who decide that is what they want, they can pay for it already, but we shouldn’t let anti-science zealotry shutdown the ability to produce low-cost quality food for billions across the globe,” Mr. Cruz said.

The freshman lawmaker and tea party was among a slate of candidates to sit down Saturday for a question and answer sessions at the first annual Iowa Agricultural Summit, which was put together by Bruce L. Rastetter, a GOP power broker who has made millions off the agricultural industry.

During a question and answer session, Mr. Cruz knocked the approach that the Obama administration and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took to international affairs, describing it as a foreign policy of “appeasement.” He said he is the biggest advocate of legal immigration in the Senate.

Defending his opposition to wind tax credits and renewable fuel mandates, Mr. Cruz said he will fight for limited government.

“When it comes to getting the federal government out of your lives, trying to stop the EPA, trying to stop OSHA, trying to stop federal regulators from descending on your farms and making it harder for you to produce, for you to do your jobs, you have no greater friend and ally then I am,” Mr. Cruz said. “I have every bit of faith that businesses can continue to compete, can continue to do well without having to go on bended knee to Washington, asking for subsidies, asking for special favors.

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