Adrian Polansky, Kansas agriculture secretary, will discuss a company’s controversial plan to grow genetically modified rice in Junction City.

hawkbuilder

What exactly are some people concerned about with the commercial culture of genetically engineered crops?? Is it cross-contamination with non-engineered crops by pollenization, or just the assumption that the crop products may have qualities that are not “organic”?

badger

One of the ‘bonuses’ touted for GMO crops is the ability to specifically tailor persistent herbicides, fertilizers, and pesticides to those crops, increasing productivity dramatically. Many herbicides remain in the soil for more than a growing season, meaning they’ll be rendering the soil essentially useless for growing anything but that crop from that company. Throw in sterile seed, and you end up with farmers essentially forced to continue buying seed from the same company every year, at whatever price the company cares to name, or leave their fields fallow long enough for the herbicides to degrade (could be a couple years, could be more). Are there any plans in the works for requiring companies that sell sterile GMO seed and persistent GMO-specific herbicides to disclose to farmers that they may be rendering their soil unfit for other uses for an undetermined number of years?

I’m all for allowing farmers to make that choice themselves, but already one Monsanto rep has flat lied to my face about it, and I’d like the people selling these products to be accountable for letting the farmers know about the long-term effects of their products.

billfreese

Ventria plans to grow recombinant human lactoferrin and lysozyme in its rice in Kansas, yet neither have been approved by the FDA. The rice could easily contaminate surrounding fields growing soy, corn or wheat via severe storms, animals or human error. This could result in contamination of commercial food supplies, and rejection of contaminated wheat, etc. Given USDA’s poor record at preventing contamination of this sort (unapproved GM rice in the South getting into commercial rice), why should Kansas farmers be put at risk of contamination of their crops and economic harm that could result from this?

Philosopher

Mr. Secretary

Respectfully, “eliminated”? Do you not agree that there are other hazards in bringing GMO crops to Kansas, notwithstanding the safeguards? Are we not supporting a grain industry that eliminates local farmers’ ability to keep their own seed?

rdtomlin

Thanks for answering my question. I’m still worried about contamination, the USDA has been sued numerous times for their poor oversight. Additionally, Ventria made similar promises of wealth to the residents of Maryville, and left the town high and dry. I think the people of Junction City are being sold a pig in a poke.

Moderator

Hi.
This is Christine Metz, reporter for the Lawrence Journal-World. I have Kansas agriculture secretary Adrian Polansky on the line to answer your questions about the crop of genetically modified rice that could grow outside of Junction City.

Thanks for joining us Secretary Polansky. First question…..

ejwildcat

I was under the impression that rice production was confined to areas that recieved extensive amounts of moisture. How can rice production work in a state like Kansas that does not recieve a lot of moisture?

Adrian Polansky

Thank you for inviting me, Christine.

Adrian Polansky

We were under the same impression. However, after studying water requirements for rice produced in Arkansas and California, we were able to determine that water needs of a rice crop in Kansas is comparable to the amount of water required to grow corn, which is grown across Kansas. In the particular area Ventria is looking, water received through precipitation would likely be augmented with irrigation, but it appears it is possible to grow rice in Kansas.

DisinterestedThirdParty

How can you be sure the rice won’t get mixed with other crops and end up in my morning bowl of cereal?

Adrian Polansky

Ventria will grow the rice under a permit granted to them by USDA. That permit will require very specific ways of planting, growing and harvesting the crop. Among those requirements are barriers surrounding the field and dedicated planting, harvesting and transportation equipment. Also, the harvested rice will be stored on-farm until it is ground into flour and then transported to the processing facility in Junction City. It will never be introduced into our commercial grain handling system.

rdtomlin

Our son suffers from an autoimmune disorder and the only grain he can eat is rice. The U.S. Rice Producers Association, the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the biotech industry’s leading publication all oppose outdoor plantings of food crops, as proposed near Junction City by Ventria Bioscience, that contain pharmaceuticals because of possible cross-contamination. They all say USDA’s guidelines and oversight has permitted too many incidents of contamination in the past. Why are we taking this risk?

Adrian Polansky

The possibility of cross-contamination is eliminated by growing a crop like rice in Kansas, where there are no other varieties of rice grown. It is a self-pollinating plant that will not enter commercial grain channels. Also, the rice will be ground into flour before it’s transported from the crop site. For those reasons, plus the requirement for dedicated planting, harvesting and transporting equipment, and regular inspections before planting, during the growing season and after harvest, eliminate the possiblity of cross-contamination.

Moderator

Thanks for taking our questions. Let’s back up for a second. Why is Junction City and many in the state of Kansas excited about the prospects of growing this rice?

Adrian Polansky

The World Health Organization reports that 2 million children under age 5 die each year from diarrhea and dehydration. This is an opportunity to provide live-saving medicine at a cost affordable to developing countries. Farmers also have an opportunity to grow a higher valued crop that will provide economic opportunity to their community. Parents who have had experience with small children suffering from diarrhea know how scary an experience it can be. They undoubtedly would welcome having medicine from this source that will reduce the length of illness and lessen the possibility of its recurrence.

lawrenceks66

What kind of testing has been done to see what long term affects the genetically modified crops will have on humans?

Adrian Polansky

We’ve successfully grown genetically modified crops in the United States for well over a decade. FDA reviews genetically modified crops to confirm there is no difference in their safety compared to traditional crops. In this particular situation, the company is proposing to grow a rice that produces proteins that are like proteins found in human tears, saliva and breast milk. These are very safe proteins, and this crop has undergone even more rigorous scrutiny than genetically modified crops that are not used to make pharmaceutical products. This is a precision technology that is far more effective than the cross-breeding techniques that have been used for thousands of years.

Moderator

Okay, one last question. Badger has a lengthy question on gmo crops in general, which I am going to shorten a little….Many herbicides remain in the soil for more than a growing season, meaning they’ll be rendering the soil essentially useless for growing anything but that crop from that company. Throw in sterile seed, and you end up with farmers essentially forced to continue buying seed from the same company every year, at whatever price the company cares to name, or leave their fields fallow long enough for the herbicides to degrade (could be a couple years, could be more). Are there any plans in the works for requiring companies that sell sterile GMO seed and persistent GMO-specific herbicides to disclose to farmers that they may be rendering their soil unfit for other uses for an undetermined number of years?

Adrian Polansky

Herbicides degrade much more rapidly than you describe. Also, every farmer knows that you rotate crops to reduce the likelihood for certain pests to become too well established. Herbicide-resistant crops have moved farmers away from using herbicides that impact soil. Also, the herbicide resistance is in the plant; it does not transfer to the soil. Finally, some genetically modified crops build resistance into the plant to the most damaging pests, which reduces the need for pesticides. This precision technology allows these advantages without affecting food safety. I am not aware of any sterile seed issues, and farmers can plant seed from other varieties from other companies without problem at any time.

Moderator

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer our questions. Any last thoughts you want to leave with us before signing off?

Adrian Polansky

Thank you, Christine. I always welcome the opportunity to educate folks about the benefits of biotechnology. Biotechnology provides an opportunity to improve food safety, to provide more abundant and nutritious foods, and to benefit the environment through reduced pesticide use. We’re just beginning to see the potential benefits biotechnology holds for all humanity, and I look forward to communicating those benefits to Kansans.