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Posted by Charlie on May 17, 2007, 10:37 pm
Sorry if this *seems* OT, but Bill hasn't heard of Ventria. Here's a
bit o' news.
Ventria poses a threat to the food supply. Gardens are a source of
food, hence another danger that many don't even want to hear about.
Now, back to the regular programming. Nothing to see here folks, just
keep on moving. Don't bother with these scary sounding doom-saying
articles. Hey, the USDA approved this, so it *must* be obeekaybee,
right?
--
Good night.... and good luck.
Charlie
>Ventria's pharma rice threatens food supply
>
>Center for Food Safety
>Kansas Rural Center
>Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering
>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, May 17 2007
>USDA Approval of Drug-Producing Rice in Kansas Poses Threat to Food Safety,
>Say Food Safety & Farming Groups
>
>Tornadoes, Floods Could Contaminate Foods With Drugs Not Approved By FDA
>
>20,000 Citizens, Scientists, Farming and Rice Organizations In Opposition
>
>WASHINGTON - The Center for Food Safety, Kansas Rural Center and Farmer to
>Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering object to USDA's May 16th approval of
>drug-producing rice cultivation in Kansas, charging that it poses needless
>risks to the safety of the American food supply. USDA's approval permits
>cultivation in the Junction City area of up to 3,200 acres of rice genetically
>engineered to produce pharmaceutical compounds that the U.S. Food and Drug
>Administration (FDA) has refused to approve. FDA approval is not required for
>planting to proceed.
>
>The groups note that the decision comes just a week after tornadoes in the
>Kansas River Valley and heavy rains caused severe flooding in east-central
>Kansas, including floodwaters on the Smoky Hill River, which passes just a mile
>from one of the proposed planting sites. USDA had earlier dismissed concerns
>raised by the groups that floodwaters could carry the pharmaceutical rice
>into surrounding cropland and contaminate farmers' crops with drugs unapproved
>by the FDA. USDA concluded in its environmental assessment that: "Extreme
>weather events are rare and unlikely to occur in the area of the field trial."
>
>"About two weeks ago, I was huddled with other travelers in a rest stop on
>Interstate 70 as tornadoes were reported on the ground in the very area where
>Ventria proposes to expand their production between Junction City and Topeka,"
>said Dan Nagengast, Executive Director of the Kansas Rural Center.
>
>"I also question whether the company has adequately engineered their water
>control systems to deal with the amounts of torrential rainfall that are quite
>common here. This just represents an unconscionable food safety
>complication in a food-producing region. Why grow these crops in wide open
>nature, when other companies have found it possible to use genetic engineering
>techniques to produce biotech drugs in confined settings where food
>contamination is not an issue?"
>
>USDA approved the "pharma rice" plantings despite receiving 20,000 comments
>in opposition from citizens, scientists, farming and rice groups. Groups
>opposing the scheme include the USA Rice Federation, U.S. Rice Producers
>Association, Riceland Foods, Mississippi Rice Council, Arkansas Rice Growers
>Association, Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council, and Rice
>Producers of California. In addition, fourteen independent scientists signed
>a joint scientific assessment warning of potential adverse health impacts from
>even trace-level exposure to one of the rice-produced drugs.
>
>"These rice-grown drugs are unapproved by FDA, may be hazardous, and whether
>hazardous or not could cause huge economic losses to Kansas farmers whose
>wheat, soy or other crops become contaminated with drug rice," said Bill
>Freese, Science Policy Analyst with Center for Food Safety.
>
>"In 2002, corn containing an experimental swine vaccine got mixed into
>soybeans and regular corn, which then had to be destroyed at a cost of several
>millions dollars," said Nagengast. "Over the past year, rice farmers have
>lost millions of dollars from contamination of their crop with unapproved
>genetically engineered rice grown under USDA's watch," he added.
>
>"The USDA needs to stop rubber-stamping schemes like drug-producing crops
>that put farmers and the rural economies they support at great risk," said Bill
>Wenzel, National Director of the Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic
>Engineering. "The USDA should be focused on representing farmers rather than
>carrying water for the biotech industry," he added.
>
>Developed by California-based Ventria Bioscience, the rice is engineered
>with modified human genes to serve as a "biofactory" for production of
>synthetic human milk proteins that have antimicrobial and other drug-like
>properties. Ventria has proposed using the rice-extracted protein drugs to
>treat infants with diarrhea, and as additives in infant formulas, yogurt,
>granola bars and sports drinks, among other uses.
>
>Last month, the Center for Food Safety released a report detailing the
>potential human health impacts of Ventrias pharmaceutical rice and the FDA's
>refusal to approve Ventria's rice-grown drugs. The report, "A Grain of
>Caution," also disputes the need for Ventria's pharmaceutical rice, discussing
>cheap and effective solutions for prevention and treatment of diarrhea
>recommended by the World Health Organization and other public health experts.
>The report notes that these existing solutions have cut deaths due to diarrhea
>from 4.6 million a year in 1980 to 2 million today, and could save many more
>lives if adequate funding were provided.
>
>Center for Food Safety's "A Grain of Caution" is available at:
>http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/Pharmaceutical%20Rice-FINAL.pdf
>
>For Center for Food Safety's comments to USDA warning of contamination and
>other risks, see:
>http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/Biopharm%20Rice%20Kansas%20comments_final.pdf
>
>Contacts:
>Dan Nagengast, Kansas Rural Center, 785-748-0959
>Bill Freese, Center for Food Safety, 202-547-9359 x14
>Bill Wenzel, Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering, 608-444-0292
>__________
>
>Center for Food Safety is a national non-profit membership organization
>working to protect human health and the environment by curbing the use of
>harmful food production technologies and promoting sustainable agriculture. In
>2000/2001, CFS was part of a coalition that discovered widespread contamination
>of the food supply with genetically engineered StarLink corn, which had not
>been approved for human consumption due to concerns it could cause food
>allergies. In the past year, CFS has won three cases against USDA for the
>Agriculture Departments reckless and illegal approval of genetically
>engineered crops.
>See http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org
>
>The Kansas Rural Center is a non-profit research, education and advocacy
>organization that promotes environmentally sound farming practices and a safe
>and healthy food system, benefiting both farmers and consumers. See
>http://www.kansasruralcenter.org
>The Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering was formed in 1999 to
>provide a national voice for farmers on agriculture biotechnology. The
>Campaign provides education, training and support to farmers and farm groups on
>agricultural biotechnology issues.
Posted by William Rose on May 18, 2007, 1:37 am
> Sorry if this *seems* OT, but Bill hasn't heard of Ventria. Here's a
> bit o' news.
>
> Ventria poses a threat to the food supply. Gardens are a source of
> food, hence another danger that many don't even want to hear about.
>
> Now, back to the regular programming. Nothing to see here folks, just
> keep on moving. Don't bother with these scary sounding doom-saying
> articles. Hey, the USDA approved this, so it *must* be obeekaybee,
> right?
>
> --
> Good night.... and good luck.
> Charlie
>
>
> >Ventria's pharma rice threatens food supply
> >
> >Center for Food Safety
> >Kansas Rural Center
> >Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering
> >
> >FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, May 17 2007
> >
> >USDA Approval of Drug-Producing Rice in Kansas Poses Threat to Food Safety,
> >Say Food Safety & Farming Groups
> >
> >Tornadoes, Floods Could Contaminate Foods With Drugs Not Approved By FDA
> >
> >20,000 Citizens, Scientists, Farming and Rice Organizations In Opposition
> >
> >WASHINGTON - The Center for Food Safety, Kansas Rural Center and Farmer to
> >Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering object to USDA's May 16th approval of
> >
> >drug-producing rice cultivation in Kansas, charging that it poses needless
> >risks to the safety of the American food supply. USDA's approval permits
> >cultivation in the Junction City area of up to 3,200 acres of rice
> >genetically
> >engineered to produce pharmaceutical compounds that the U.S. Food and Drug
> >Administration (FDA) has refused to approve. FDA approval is not required
> >for
> >planting to proceed.
> >
> >The groups note that the decision comes just a week after tornadoes in the
> >Kansas River Valley and heavy rains caused severe flooding in east-central
> >Kansas, including floodwaters on the Smoky Hill River, which passes just a
> >mile
> >from one of the proposed planting sites. USDA had earlier dismissed
> >concerns
> >raised by the groups that floodwaters could carry the pharmaceutical rice
> >into surrounding cropland and contaminate farmers' crops with drugs
> >unapproved
> >by the FDA. USDA concluded in its environmental assessment that: "Extreme
> >weather events are rare and unlikely to occur in the area of the field
> >trial."
> >
> >"About two weeks ago, I was huddled with other travelers in a rest stop on
> >Interstate 70 as tornadoes were reported on the ground in the very area
> >where
> >Ventria proposes to expand their production between Junction City and
> >Topeka,"
> >said Dan Nagengast, Executive Director of the Kansas Rural Center.
> >
> >"I also question whether the company has adequately engineered their water
> >control systems to deal with the amounts of torrential rainfall that are
> >quite
> >common here. This just represents an unconscionable food safety
> >complication in a food-producing region. Why grow these crops in wide open
> >nature, when other companies have found it possible to use genetic
> >engineering
> >techniques to produce biotech drugs in confined settings where food
> >contamination is not an issue?"
> >
> >USDA approved the "pharma rice" plantings despite receiving 20,000 comments
> >in opposition from citizens, scientists, farming and rice groups. Groups
> >opposing the scheme include the USA Rice Federation, U.S. Rice Producers
> >Association, Riceland Foods, Mississippi Rice Council, Arkansas Rice Growers
> >
> >Association, Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council, and Rice
> >Producers of California. In addition, fourteen independent scientists
> >signed
> >a joint scientific assessment warning of potential adverse health impacts
> >from
> >even trace-level exposure to one of the rice-produced drugs.
> >
> >"These rice-grown drugs are unapproved by FDA, may be hazardous, and
> >whether
> >hazardous or not could cause huge economic losses to Kansas farmers whose
> >wheat, soy or other crops become contaminated with drug rice," said Bill
> >Freese, Science Policy Analyst with Center for Food Safety.
> >
> >"In 2002, corn containing an experimental swine vaccine got mixed into
> >soybeans and regular corn, which then had to be destroyed at a cost of
> >several
> >millions dollars," said Nagengast. "Over the past year, rice farmers have
> >lost millions of dollars from contamination of their crop with unapproved
> >genetically engineered rice grown under USDA's watch," he added.
> >
> >"The USDA needs to stop rubber-stamping schemes like drug-producing crops
> >that put farmers and the rural economies they support at great risk," said
> >Bill
> >Wenzel, National Director of the Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic
> >Engineering. "The USDA should be focused on representing farmers rather
> >than
> >carrying water for the biotech industry," he added.
> >
> >Developed by California-based Ventria Bioscience, the rice is engineered
> >with modified human genes to serve as a "biofactory" for production of
> >synthetic human milk proteins that have antimicrobial and other drug-like
> >properties. Ventria has proposed using the rice-extracted protein drugs to
> >treat infants with diarrhea, and as additives in infant formulas, yogurt,
> >granola bars and sports drinks, among other uses.
> >
> >Last month, the Center for Food Safety released a report detailing the
> >potential human health impacts of Ventrias pharmaceutical rice and the FDA's
> >
> >refusal to approve Ventria's rice-grown drugs. The report, "A Grain of
> >Caution," also disputes the need for Ventria's pharmaceutical rice,
> >discussing
> >cheap and effective solutions for prevention and treatment of diarrhea
> >recommended by the World Health Organization and other public health
> >experts.
> >The report notes that these existing solutions have cut deaths due to
> >diarrhea
> >from 4.6 million a year in 1980 to 2 million today, and could save many
> >more
> >lives if adequate funding were provided.
> >
> >Center for Food Safety's "A Grain of Caution" is available at:
> >
> >http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/Pharmaceutical%20Rice-FINAL.pdf
> >
> >For Center for Food Safety's comments to USDA warning of contamination and
> >other risks, see:
> >
> >http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/Biopharm%20Rice%20Kansas%20comments_f
> >inal.pdf
> >
> >Contacts:
> >Dan Nagengast, Kansas Rural Center, 785-748-0959
> >Bill Freese, Center for Food Safety, 202-547-9359 x14
> >Bill Wenzel, Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering, 608-444-0292
> >__________
> >
> >Center for Food Safety is a national non-profit membership organization
> >working to protect human health and the environment by curbing the use of
> >harmful food production technologies and promoting sustainable agriculture.
> >In
> >2000/2001, CFS was part of a coalition that discovered widespread
> >contamination
> >of the food supply with genetically engineered StarLink corn, which had not
> >been approved for human consumption due to concerns it could cause food
> >allergies. In the past year, CFS has won three cases against USDA for the
> >Agriculture Departments reckless and illegal approval of genetically
> >engineered crops.
> >
> >See http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org
> >
> >The Kansas Rural Center is a non-profit research, education and advocacy
> >organization that promotes environmentally sound farming practices and a
> >safe
> >and healthy food system, benefiting both farmers and consumers. See
> >http://www.kansasruralcenter.org
> >
> >The Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering was formed in 1999 to
> >provide a national voice for farmers on agriculture biotechnology. The
> >Campaign provides education, training and support to farmers and farm groups
> >on
> >agricultural biotechnology issues.
Good goin' Charlie. Thanks for the heads-up. Bush is just the most
obvious center of greed in this world but there are plenty of others
just waiting to open oblivion for us. Most, like myself, are just
caught up in the intoxication of Spring. I hope you all read this. Read
Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ventria_Bioscience . Do your
googles. I know you don't want to think about it but, it's here now.
Charlie has done all he can. Wake-up!
- Bill
Coloribus gustibus non disputatum (mostly)
Posted by Charlie on May 18, 2007, 11:49 am
wrote:
>Good goin' Charlie. Thanks for the heads-up. Bush is just the most
>obvious center of greed in this world but there are plenty of others
>just waiting to open oblivion for us. Most, like myself, are just
>caught up in the intoxication of Spring. I hope you all read this. Read
>Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ventria_Bioscience . Do your
>googles. I know you don't want to think about it but, it's here now.
>Charlie has done all he can. Wake-up!
BIll, and all, I read this article on another group that some of you
might find interesting and informative. It is a moderated group, so
there is no chatter and none of this "OT" BS. Just news... "the
unpleasant, slap you in the face with a hefty dose of reality, not
shown on the daily propaganda shows" type of news.
misc.activism.progressive
Good luck, be well
Charlie
Posted by Dave on May 20, 2007, 12:51 am
<Charlie> wrote in message
> Sorry if this *seems* OT, but Bill hasn't heard of Ventria. Here's a
> bit o' news.
> Ventria poses a threat to the food supply. Gardens are a source of
> food, hence another danger that many don't even want to hear about.
> Now, back to the regular programming. Nothing to see here folks, just
> keep on moving. Don't bother with these scary sounding doom-saying
> articles. Hey, the USDA approved this, so it *must* be obeekaybee,
> right?
> --
> Good night.... and good luck.
> Charlie
>>Ventria's pharma rice threatens food supply
>>
>>Center for Food Safety
>>Kansas Rural Center
>>Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering
>>
>>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, May 17 2007
>>
>>USDA Approval of Drug-Producing Rice in Kansas Poses Threat to Food
>>Safety,
>>Say Food Safety & Farming Groups
>>
>>Tornadoes, Floods Could Contaminate Foods With Drugs Not Approved By FDA
>>
>>20,000 Citizens, Scientists, Farming and Rice Organizations In Opposition
>>
>>WASHINGTON - The Center for Food Safety, Kansas Rural Center and Farmer to
>>Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering object to USDA's May 16th approval
>>of
>>drug-producing rice cultivation in Kansas, charging that it poses needless
>>risks to the safety of the American food supply. USDA's approval permits
>>cultivation in the Junction City area of up to 3,200 acres of rice
>>genetically
>>engineered to produce pharmaceutical compounds that the U.S. Food and Drug
>>Administration (FDA) has refused to approve. FDA approval is not required
>>for
>>planting to proceed.
>>
>>The groups note that the decision comes just a week after tornadoes in the
>>Kansas River Valley and heavy rains caused severe flooding in east-central
>>Kansas, including floodwaters on the Smoky Hill River, which passes just a
>>mile
>>from one of the proposed planting sites. USDA had earlier dismissed
>>concerns
>>raised by the groups that floodwaters could carry the pharmaceutical rice
>>into surrounding cropland and contaminate farmers' crops with drugs
>>unapproved
>>by the FDA. USDA concluded in its environmental assessment that:
>>"Extreme
>>weather events are rare and unlikely to occur in the area of the field
>>trial."
>>
>>"About two weeks ago, I was huddled with other travelers in a rest stop on
>>Interstate 70 as tornadoes were reported on the ground in the very area
>>where
>>Ventria proposes to expand their production between Junction City and
>>Topeka,"
>>said Dan Nagengast, Executive Director of the Kansas Rural Center.
>>
>>"I also question whether the company has adequately engineered their water
>>control systems to deal with the amounts of torrential rainfall that are
>>quite
>>common here. This just represents an unconscionable food safety
>>complication in a food-producing region. Why grow these crops in wide
>>open
>>nature, when other companies have found it possible to use genetic
>>engineering
>>techniques to produce biotech drugs in confined settings where food
>>contamination is not an issue?"
>>
>>USDA approved the "pharma rice" plantings despite receiving 20,000
>>comments
>>in opposition from citizens, scientists, farming and rice groups. Groups
>>opposing the scheme include the USA Rice Federation, U.S. Rice Producers
>>Association, Riceland Foods, Mississippi Rice Council, Arkansas Rice
>>Growers
>>Association, Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council, and Rice
>>Producers of California. In addition, fourteen independent scientists
>>signed
>>a joint scientific assessment warning of potential adverse health impacts
>>from
>>even trace-level exposure to one of the rice-produced drugs.
>>
>>"These rice-grown drugs are unapproved by FDA, may be hazardous, and
>>whether
>>hazardous or not could cause huge economic losses to Kansas farmers whose
>>wheat, soy or other crops become contaminated with drug rice," said Bill
>>Freese, Science Policy Analyst with Center for Food Safety.
>>
>>"In 2002, corn containing an experimental swine vaccine got mixed into
>>soybeans and regular corn, which then had to be destroyed at a cost of
>>several
>>millions dollars," said Nagengast. "Over the past year, rice farmers
>>have
>>lost millions of dollars from contamination of their crop with unapproved
>>genetically engineered rice grown under USDA's watch," he added.
>>
>>"The USDA needs to stop rubber-stamping schemes like drug-producing crops
>>that put farmers and the rural economies they support at great risk," said
>>Bill
>>Wenzel, National Director of the Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic
>>Engineering. "The USDA should be focused on representing farmers rather
>>than
>>carrying water for the biotech industry," he added.
>>
>>Developed by California-based Ventria Bioscience, the rice is engineered
>>with modified human genes to serve as a "biofactory" for production of
>>synthetic human milk proteins that have antimicrobial and other drug-like
>>properties. Ventria has proposed using the rice-extracted protein drugs
>>to
>>treat infants with diarrhea, and as additives in infant formulas, yogurt,
>>granola bars and sports drinks, among other uses.
>>
>>Last month, the Center for Food Safety released a report detailing the
>>potential human health impacts of Ventrias pharmaceutical rice and the
>>FDA's
>>refusal to approve Ventria's rice-grown drugs. The report, "A Grain of
>>Caution," also disputes the need for Ventria's pharmaceutical rice,
>>discussing
>>cheap and effective solutions for prevention and treatment of diarrhea
>>recommended by the World Health Organization and other public health
>>experts.
>>The report notes that these existing solutions have cut deaths due to
>>diarrhea
>>from 4.6 million a year in 1980 to 2 million today, and could save many
>>more
>>lives if adequate funding were provided.
>>
>>Center for Food Safety's "A Grain of Caution" is available at:
>>
>>http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/Pharmaceutical%20Rice-FINAL.pdf
>>
>>For Center for Food Safety's comments to USDA warning of contamination and
>>other risks, see:
>>
>>http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/Biopharm%20Rice%20Kansas%20comments_final.pdf
>>
>>Contacts:
>>Dan Nagengast, Kansas Rural Center, 785-748-0959
>>Bill Freese, Center for Food Safety, 202-547-9359 x14
>>Bill Wenzel, Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering,
>>608-444-0292
>>__________
>>
>>Center for Food Safety is a national non-profit membership organization
>>working to protect human health and the environment by curbing the use of
>>harmful food production technologies and promoting sustainable
>>agriculture. In
>>2000/2001, CFS was part of a coalition that discovered widespread
>>contamination
>>of the food supply with genetically engineered StarLink corn, which had
>>not
>>been approved for human consumption due to concerns it could cause food
>>allergies. In the past year, CFS has won three cases against USDA for the
>>Agriculture Departments reckless and illegal approval of genetically
>>engineered crops.
>>
>>See http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org
>>
>>The Kansas Rural Center is a non-profit research, education and advocacy
>>organization that promotes environmentally sound farming practices and a
>>safe
>>and healthy food system, benefiting both farmers and consumers. See
>>http://www.kansasruralcenter.org
>>
>>The Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering was formed in 1999 to
>>provide a national voice for farmers on agriculture biotechnology. The
>>Campaign provides education, training and support to farmers and farm
>>groups on
>>agricultural biotechnology issues.
Cite numbers for severe weather events, of course, unlikely. Who pays for
it if the "unlikely" occurs?
And if likely, like 911, there's always denial...
Dave
Posted by Bill Rose on May 21, 2007, 1:02 am
> While I agree with that. Believe you're still missing the point. Such
> representatives and those delegated by them depend on numbers to determine
> everything. Whether its what to say to get elected, or what decision to
> make.
> Dave
Dave, it's spin and theater.
- Bill
Coloribus gustibus non disputatum (mostly)
Related Posts
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>
>Center for Food Safety
>Kansas Rural Center
>Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering
>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, May 17 2007
>USDA Approval of Drug-Producing Rice in Kansas Poses Threat to Food Safety,
>Say Food Safety & Farming Groups
>
>Tornadoes, Floods Could Contaminate Foods With Drugs Not Approved By FDA
>
>20,000 Citizens, Scientists, Farming and Rice Organizations In Opposition
>
>WASHINGTON - The Center for Food Safety, Kansas Rural Center and Farmer to
>Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering object to USDA's May 16th approval of
>drug-producing rice cultivation in Kansas, charging that it poses needless
>risks to the safety of the American food supply. USDA's approval permits
>cultivation in the Junction City area of up to 3,200 acres of rice genetically
>engineered to produce pharmaceutical compounds that the U.S. Food and Drug
>Administration (FDA) has refused to approve. FDA approval is not required for
>planting to proceed.
>
>The groups note that the decision comes just a week after tornadoes in the
>Kansas River Valley and heavy rains caused severe flooding in east-central
>Kansas, including floodwaters on the Smoky Hill River, which passes just a mile
>from one of the proposed planting sites. USDA had earlier dismissed concerns
>raised by the groups that floodwaters could carry the pharmaceutical rice
>into surrounding cropland and contaminate farmers' crops with drugs unapproved
>by the FDA. USDA concluded in its environmental assessment that: "Extreme
>weather events are rare and unlikely to occur in the area of the field trial."
>
>"About two weeks ago, I was huddled with other travelers in a rest stop on
>Interstate 70 as tornadoes were reported on the ground in the very area where
>Ventria proposes to expand their production between Junction City and Topeka,"
>said Dan Nagengast, Executive Director of the Kansas Rural Center.
>
>"I also question whether the company has adequately engineered their water
>control systems to deal with the amounts of torrential rainfall that are quite
>common here. This just represents an unconscionable food safety
>complication in a food-producing region. Why grow these crops in wide open
>nature, when other companies have found it possible to use genetic engineering
>techniques to produce biotech drugs in confined settings where food
>contamination is not an issue?"
>
>USDA approved the "pharma rice" plantings despite receiving 20,000 comments
>in opposition from citizens, scientists, farming and rice groups. Groups
>opposing the scheme include the USA Rice Federation, U.S. Rice Producers
>Association, Riceland Foods, Mississippi Rice Council, Arkansas Rice Growers
>Association, Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council, and Rice
>Producers of California. In addition, fourteen independent scientists signed
>a joint scientific assessment warning of potential adverse health impacts from
>even trace-level exposure to one of the rice-produced drugs.
>
>"These rice-grown drugs are unapproved by FDA, may be hazardous, and whether
>hazardous or not could cause huge economic losses to Kansas farmers whose
>wheat, soy or other crops become contaminated with drug rice," said Bill
>Freese, Science Policy Analyst with Center for Food Safety.
>
>"In 2002, corn containing an experimental swine vaccine got mixed into
>soybeans and regular corn, which then had to be destroyed at a cost of several
>millions dollars," said Nagengast. "Over the past year, rice farmers have
>lost millions of dollars from contamination of their crop with unapproved
>genetically engineered rice grown under USDA's watch," he added.
>
>"The USDA needs to stop rubber-stamping schemes like drug-producing crops
>that put farmers and the rural economies they support at great risk," said Bill
>Wenzel, National Director of the Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic
>Engineering. "The USDA should be focused on representing farmers rather than
>carrying water for the biotech industry," he added.
>
>Developed by California-based Ventria Bioscience, the rice is engineered
>with modified human genes to serve as a "biofactory" for production of
>synthetic human milk proteins that have antimicrobial and other drug-like
>properties. Ventria has proposed using the rice-extracted protein drugs to
>treat infants with diarrhea, and as additives in infant formulas, yogurt,
>granola bars and sports drinks, among other uses.
>
>Last month, the Center for Food Safety released a report detailing the
>potential human health impacts of Ventrias pharmaceutical rice and the FDA's
>refusal to approve Ventria's rice-grown drugs. The report, "A Grain of
>Caution," also disputes the need for Ventria's pharmaceutical rice, discussing
>cheap and effective solutions for prevention and treatment of diarrhea
>recommended by the World Health Organization and other public health experts.
>The report notes that these existing solutions have cut deaths due to diarrhea
>from 4.6 million a year in 1980 to 2 million today, and could save many more
>lives if adequate funding were provided.
>
>Center for Food Safety's "A Grain of Caution" is available at:
>http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/Pharmaceutical%20Rice-FINAL.pdf
>
>For Center for Food Safety's comments to USDA warning of contamination and
>other risks, see:
>http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/Biopharm%20Rice%20Kansas%20comments_final.pdf
>
>Contacts:
>Dan Nagengast, Kansas Rural Center, 785-748-0959
>Bill Freese, Center for Food Safety, 202-547-9359 x14
>Bill Wenzel, Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering, 608-444-0292
>__________
>
>Center for Food Safety is a national non-profit membership organization
>working to protect human health and the environment by curbing the use of
>harmful food production technologies and promoting sustainable agriculture. In
>2000/2001, CFS was part of a coalition that discovered widespread contamination
>of the food supply with genetically engineered StarLink corn, which had not
>been approved for human consumption due to concerns it could cause food
>allergies. In the past year, CFS has won three cases against USDA for the
>Agriculture Departments reckless and illegal approval of genetically
>engineered crops.
>See http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org
>
>The Kansas Rural Center is a non-profit research, education and advocacy
>organization that promotes environmentally sound farming practices and a safe
>and healthy food system, benefiting both farmers and consumers. See
>http://www.kansasruralcenter.org
>The Farmer to Farmer Campaign on Genetic Engineering was formed in 1999 to
>provide a national voice for farmers on agriculture biotechnology. The
>Campaign provides education, training and support to farmers and farm groups on
>agricultural biotechnology issues.