February 27, 2003

By Susan Thompson
Communications Specialist
ISU College of Agriculture

Independent, publicly funded programs at universities and government laboratories are critical to addressing issues surrounding genetically modified agricultural products. That's the opinion of  Catherine Woteki, dean of Iowa State University's College of Agriculture.

"We believe maintaining public confidence in the quality and safety of the food supply is of paramount importance to Iowa," Woteki says. "Iowa State University is committed to developing the scientific
safeguards and the educational response needed to form the basis for that public confidence while working to introduce genetically engineered pharmaceutical crops."

Woteki describes Iowa's active pursuit of pharmaceutical crops as "pioneering" and one avenue to "new economic opportunity in agriculture." She and other ISU officials believe some pharmaceutical
crops cans be grown in Iowa. Others may be better suited planted in other parts of the country. Some may not be suited to grow in open fields at all.

Woteki said the main issue should be "the adoption of effective, science-based methods that ensure pharmaceutical crops can be produced in a safe, responsible, well-managed and environmentally friendly manner that safeguards Iowa's agricultural resources."

To that end, a new project based at ISU is designed to provide science-based risk assessment for genetically modified non-food crops. The Biosafety Institute for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products (BIGMAP), is a joint project of ISU, the University of Iowa and Montana State University.

Manjit Misra, director of the ISU Seed Science Center and director of BIGMAP, says risk assessment involves four steps. First, hazards must be identified. In the case of BIGMAP, this will involve determining if a protein will cause harm, such as an adverse health condition. Next will come a dose-response assessment, an exposure assessment, and a risk characterization, which means outlining the nature and strength of factors causing the risk.

BIGMAP's first project, getting underway this spring, will classify nearly 40 plant-made proteins that are nearing commercialization into categories based on safety data. Two proteins will be selected for
the group's first risk assessment study. The team will ask "what-if" questions and develop strategies for addressing any risks.

Once the risk assessment of the two selected proteins is complete, a template for a risk assessment methodology will be developed and shared. "Our goal is to provide public policymakers with an
instrument to help them make decisions that are based on sound science concerning human health, environmental, economic and social effects of biotechnology," Misra says.