Modified crops get tentative support in Oregon

[Guest guest]

Modified crops get tentative support

Panel review - The public can comment on Oregon backing the growth

of plants for pharmaceutical use

Thursday, August 24, 2006

 

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business

/115638992077660.xml & coll=7

ALEX PULASKI

A committee wrestling with biopharming's future recommends that

Oregon encourage research and production of plants that yield

medicines, provided that the state can exercise more controls to

protect conventional crops and public health.

 

The committee, which has met monthly since November, is releasing

recommendations today for public comment. Members will meet in late

September, then make a final report to Gov. Ted Kulongoski.

 

The 10-member committee grew from a failed 2005 bill that sought a

four-year state moratorium on biopharming, which involves growing

crops with genes that have been altered to create pharmaceuticals.

Oregon currently has no acreage planted with such crops but field

trials in other states have provoked debate over the risks and

benefits.

 

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Benefits include the potential for large-scale production of

medications at low cost and introduction of vaccines into food

crops. However, opponents fear the modified crops could contaminate

food supplies or provoke allergic reactions through pollen.

 

Regulation of biopharming crops, like other genetically modified

organisms, falls to an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

State agricultural officials are given notice of permit applications

for field trials but have no authority over them.

 

The committee, composed of state agricultural and health officials

and scientists, hopes to change that. Its recommendations include:

 

Encourage biopharming as a possible area of investment in

technology. The state's mild growing season and established

greenhouse and nursery industry give it competitive advantage over

other states.

 

Formalize an agreement with the USDA over regulating such crops,

including allowing veto rights to state officials.

 

If biopharming crops are grown outdoors, encourage that they not be

consumed by humans or animals. Also, require posting of a financial

guarantee in case of crop contamination or human exposure.

 

Steve Strauss, an Oregon State University forestry professor and

authority on genetic tree engineering, is one of the committee's

members. He said biopharming holds great potential for public

benefit, but the state needs to have a bigger role.

 

" Unless some clear process is in place, we don't want to see

pharmaceuticals out of doors in food crops, " he said.

 

The recommendations are expected to be available online this week --

and perhaps as soon as today -- at

http://oregon.gov/ODA/PLANT/biopharm.shtml.

 

Comments will be accepted through Sept. 22. They can be made online

or mailed to: Biopharm Comments, Plant Division, Oregon Department

of Agriculture, 635 Capitol St. NE, Salem, OR 97301-2532.

 

Alex Pulaski: 503-221-8516; alexpulaski