Great Falls, Montana
March 16, 2009
Source:
The Prairie Star,
Great Falls, Montana
http://www.theprairiestar.com/articles/2009/02/16/ag_news/opinion/edit00.txt
Republished with authorization
Our Views
A concern over consolidation in the seed industry was raised at
the recent North Dakota Grain
Dealers Association convention. The worry is that as more
seed research falls to private companies, with much of that work
being done in the biotech area, those growers who opt for
non-GMO crops will soon see a disadvantage in seed potential.
Leland “Judge” Barth, speaking on behalf of the non-GMO growers
and producers who grow crops where biotech properties aren't
allowed, voiced concern that as seed breeding research becomes
more concentrated in fewer private companies conventional seed
varieties could have limited access to some of the traits
developed for genetically modified varieties.
Hundreds of growers across the region are currently producing
non-GMO crops to fill the needs of customers around the world
that stipulate their products are free from any biotech traits.
In addition, thousands are dependent upon cash crops such as
small grains, where biotech traits are not now permitted in a
breeding program.
Such concerns are unfounded, according to
Monsanto's Jeremy Frie,
who told those attending the convention, that at the present
time all research work being done by most private companies,
such as Monsanto, is being done on a two-pronged approach. New
germplasm is being developed using conventional breeding
practices and through biotech, and that these programs are
basically running side-by-side.
A USDA National Agricultural
Statistics report from May of last year indicates that 93
percent of North Dakota's soybean acreage in 2006 had a
glyphosate application. That was up from 88 percent in 2004.
This means well over 90 percent of the soybean acreage back in
2006 was seeded to a Roundup Ready variety of soybeans.
Private companies must be profitable to remain operational. So,
with an eye on profit, how many research dollars will private
companies be willing to invest in a program that involves only
seven percent of the crop? How long will private companies
continue to be interested in non-biotech crops?
At the present time, private companies claim to be dedicated to
funding non-GMO research, and we take them at their word. But
with profits being the main focus, and the economy struggling as
it is, can we really expect that enthusiasm to continue long
term?
At the present time public breeding programs are finding
themselves strapped for cash, Barth noted. He pointed out that
the dollars coming to Midwestern land grant universities for
research are becoming tighter and tighter as lawmakers are
becoming more and more urban, and fighting for those dollars
becomes more and more difficult.
In order for the land grant universities to maintain strong
public seed breeding programs, there must be an effort to fund
those programs and explain to the general population why such an
emphasis is important to the ag industry.
We cannot let a lag in seed breeding research hamper those
farmers who are working to fill the needs of the non-GMO markets
around the world. And research on crops, such as small grains,
that haven't embraced the GMO technology, can't take a backseat
to research on those crops where biotechnology is readily
accepted.
We encourage the legislative sessions that are under way in
Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota to give careful consideration
to continued support to the public breeding programs currently
in place at their universities. They have outstanding public
breeding programs that have served the farmers in the region
well for many decades, and we need to keep both a strong force
in the plant breeding business for future years.
As populations in both states become more removed from the farm,
it's necessary that we convey to our urban brethren the
importance of public seed research; after all, good seed
varieties provide the foundation upon which a profitable crop is
built. To remain competitive in this global world of
agriculture, our farmers need the best seed traits available for
both non-GMO and biotech crops and a strong public seed breeding
program is an important part of making that a reality.
Source:
The Prairie Star,
Great Falls, Montana
http://www.theprairiestar.com/articles/2009/02/16/ag_news/opinion/edit00.txt
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