Washington, DC
March 28,  2001

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) today requested that a House subcommittee allocate $50 million for research on plant genomics and plant biotechnology in the FY 2002 budget. 

Delaware, Ohio, farmer Gary Davis, DVM, Ph.D., -- who is a member of the NCGA's Customer and Business Development Action Team -- told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Related Programs that this investment could help alleviate human suffering. 

Citing statistics showing that two billion people worldwide suffer from malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies, Davis said, "Much of this human suffering can be alleviated in a sustainable manner if we were to (1) increase U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) funding for plant genomics and plant biotechnology research to increase yields, enhance micronutrients in food, and create 'edible vaccines,' and (2) if we were to target funding for the training of scientists and plant breeders from developing countries in biotechnology." 

Davis pointed to current methods of delivering vaccines and vitamins to those in developing countries, that require ongoing, annual expenditures from the industrialized world. Storing and administering vaccines in remote, impoverished rural areas are problematic; for example, requiring refrigeration, sterile environments and equipment that are simply not available or are prohibitively expensive. 

"We have opportunities with plant biotechnology to deliver 'edible vaccines' without the need for any of these complicated handling procedures, without the need for refrigeration or sterile equipment, and we can deliver them in a sustainable manner through the regeneration of plants," Davis said. He cited an example where plant biotechnology has made significant advances in delivering the Hepatitis B vaccine in corn and bananas and the cholera vaccine in potatoes. 

This research has other benefits, such as the development of crops that can endure droughts, pests and plant diseases that can devastate crops, leading often to population-wide starvation. And Davis said that the fruit of this research is not entirely altruistic. "When scientists solve these problems in poor countries, they not only help people feed themselves and move up from poverty, they help ensure safe harvests across our own country." 

Davis concluded by again encouraging Congress to provide $50 million for a comprehensive initiative on plant genomics and plant biotechnology research at USAID. "By helping farmers grow bigger, more nutritious crops, not only do we combat famine, malnutrition, blindness, and childhood disease and death, we help developing countries take important steps toward becoming
important and reliable trading partners for the U.S. The USAID should enhance, significantly, its  role in ensuring that the developing countries have access to and reap the full benefit of plant biotechnology." 

The Davis testimony was also made on behalf of the American Farm Bureau Federation and the American Society of Plant Physiologists. 

For more information about NCGA and the full text of the testimony visit www.ncga.com .  

NCGA news release
N3415