Q: Why did the biotechnology industry recently advise against raising pharmaceutical-producing plants in Iowa and other states where production agriculture predominates?
A: The recently announced decision by the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has stirred up a storm in Iowa and other states in the Corn Belt. The national trade group adopted an ill-advised policy in October that if followed would unnecessarily restrict Iowa and other neighboring states from the opportunity to grow special-use corn that has been genetically-altered for phamaceuticals and other industrial uses. Instead of positioning itself on cold, hard scientific evidence, the industry buckled to emotion and powerful special interests, including food and livestock feed processors who fear bioengineered corn would "contaminate" the food, feed and seed supply. Of course, the biotech and food processing industries still feel the sting from an incident two years ago when a genetically-altered corn variety that was approved for livestock feed found itself in taco shells for sale at the grocery store. Many Iowa farmers also will recall the fall-out when their local elevators at the time posted signs declaring "only non-GMO corn" would be accepted. Strong sentiments exist among the public, especially in Europe, about the use of genetically-modified grain for human consumption. As a lifelong family farmer and federal policymaker, I know how critical it is to maintain public confidence in a safe, wholesome food supply. Strong lessons have been learned from that incident. But I’m afraid this latest position by the biotech industry is a knee-jerk reaction that actually distorts guidelines issued in September by the Food and Drug Administration in conjunction with the USDA. The FDA and Department of Agriculture are still asking for public comment on its guidelines for biopharming and pollen drift through January. I’ll continue working with these two agencies and the scientific community, including Iowa State University, to make sure sound science prevails over emotion and special interests. Otherwise, Iowa will be forced to sit on the sidelines while farmers in other states get the chance to capitalize on lucrative opportunities in developing corn-based pharmaceutical crop production. With extensive research, education, management and oversight, I’m confident that Iowa farmers and others in the Corn Belt can participate very successfully in biopharming.
Q: What are you doing to keep Iowa’s nose in this biotech opportunity?
A: For years I’ve been working in close contact with the biotechnology industry, commodity groups, academic institutions and federal government agencies to make sure that farmers in the top corn producing state in the nation have the opportunity to participate in this promising new field of dreams. And I’m committed to making sure they get fair treatment. The ability to grow or not to grow plant-made pharmaceuticals in Iowa bears substantial economic consequences for the state’s economy and our farmers. It could boost Iowa’s economy by up to ten percent over the next decade. One thing is certain. The decision to bypass or include Iowa’s productive farmland in value-added biotechnology opportunities must be made on sound, scientific evidence. Forget the fear factor. To grow or not to grow must be made on the facts, not emotional flights of fancy. There’s too much at stake. Biotechnology holds immense scientific promise to bring the public a better, safer, more nutritious food supply. For example, scientists say that gene-altered grains may be manipulated to remove harmful allergens, add vitamins, or carry vaccines. A type of corn that has been grown in Iowa, for example, produces an enzyme that helps victims of cystic fibrosis to digest their food. Researchers at Iowa State University and Iowa farmers have developed a number of containment strategies to keep plant-made pharmaceuticals from crossing over into conventional crops. Iowa has been a leader in this exciting new industry and I intend to make sure it is not unfairly shut out of the opportunity to diversify and grow our economy and the farmer’s earning power.