WASHINGTON - The U.S. biotechnology industry dropped its opposition on Tuesday to growing pharmaceutical crops in the Corn Belt, provided federal rules are strong enough to prevent contamination of grain grown for food or livestock feed.
The change in policy would give farmers in the Midwest and Plains the chance to take part in a potentially lucrative new field -- growing crops specially modified for medical benefits.
Despite their allure, development of the crops was thrown in doubt last month when debris from a "pharma" corn variety created by ProdiGene Inc. became mixed with 500,000 bushels of soybeans. ProdiGene agreed to buy the soybeans, which federal officials said would be destroyed.
Food makers and environmentalists have demanded a ban on the new crops, which are not approved for human or animal use, until stricter federal controls can be implemented. About 300 acres (121 hectares) were planted to pharmaceutical crops this year, according to the industry.
After initially saying the crops should not be grown in "major areas of crop production" for food and feed uses, the Biotechnology Industry Organization said "we encourage and invite alternative approaches" that would assure there was no tainting of the food supply or grain headed for export.
"Further, we will defer to and encourage absolute compliance with whatever future guidance or regulations" are issued by the Food and Drug Administration and the Agriculture Department, the revised BIO position statement said.
BIO said USDA should continue to require permits for shipment, field testing or commercial planting of pharmaceutical crops and plants that produce industrial products.
Sen. Charles Grassley, Iowa Republican, who objected strongly to the geographic ban, said his state, the No. 1 corn and soybean producer, "should be much better served" by BIO's change of heart. He said bio-crops could mean billions of dollars in added income for Iowa growers.
Carl Feldbaum, BIO presiden t, told Grassley in a letter that his organization revised its position "in light of current knowledge and experience."
"We revised our statement to reflect the science as it stands now and because we do not want to appear to encourage discrimination against certain parts of the country," said BIO spokeswoman Lisa Dry.
"Our position continues to reflect our No. 1 priority, which is public safety based on science. Issuing field permits and establishing growing conditions in the United States is the primary responsibility of the appropriate federal agencies."
The leader of the National Corn Growers Association said in late November that stricter federal controls were needed for medicine crops but the Midwest and Plains should not be off-limits to them.
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