Genetically-engineered rice would have meant great things for area farmers

Editor's note: Farmer David Herbst was going to grow Missouri's first-ever genetically modified rice for Ventria Biosciences before a deal was brokered to move the project out of Southeast Missouri.

About six months ago, Southeast Missouri rice farmers were offered a chance to participate in one of the most substantial value-added commodity opportunities ever offered in this state and possibly the entire country. For years farmers have aggressively sought projects that would enhance profitability -- we have little choice as input costs continue to increase, global competition becomes stronger, and the perpetual use of taxpayer monies in the form of subsidies causes the public to wear thin on listening to the "farmers' plight."

Unfortunately, the Bootheel of Missouri, whose farmers have long been recognized for their progressive and cohesive nature, quickly became divided over the opportunity to produce pharmaceutical rice. Rice farmers are not against technology, as almost every rice farmer also produces other crops which are available in technology enhanced varieties, but they are concerned about markets which do not currently permit genetically engineered rice. This is an extremely valid concern.

What happened next was absolutely amazing: A strange combination of two groups who became very active in stopping the rice project from taking place in the Bootheel. If successful, their efforts will eliminate the opportunity for all rice growers to participate in a new industry that could potentially cut the umbilical cord with the federal government, bring more dollars to our farms and rural communities, and assist in a humanitarian effort that can save literally millions of lives. In fact, research involving one of the proteins associated with this project is being conducted on cancer patients.

The marriage of folks who oppose this project consist of the largest rice buyer in the Bootheel (who is used to flexing their muscle), and a fringe environmental group opposed to just about everything a rice grower does -- including conventional production methods.

The fear spread by this group of players has been phenomenal. Rather than focusing on science that validates the safety of this new rice, what projects like this could do to reduce the cost of medicines (which is obviously a huge problem both here and abroad), or even concerns expressed by domestic and foreign rice purchasers, this group used fear and perception to fuel a self-fulfilling prophecy. This was evident by the groups' "I told you so" reaction upon learning that Anheuser-Busch, which purchases a relatively small amount of rice in the Bootheel, would boycott Missouri rice if field production was initiated.

This and similar projects have great potential in the Bootheel. But we must have both leadership and a vision that can overcome the fear and misinformation used by those opposed to progress. We can, however, be very proud of the great leadership of U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, Gov. Matt Blunt, Missouri Agricultural Director Fred Ferrell, state Sen. David Klindt, state Rep. Peter Myers, the Missouri Farm Bureau, the corn and soybean organizations, and the farmers who have the vision of progress.

While it is a shame some Bootheel rice farmers fell victim to fear and misinformation rather than sticking to our "we can make it work" attitude, other farmers in Missouri will still have the chance to participate in a project that has unbelievable potential.

Many, including myself, viewed this project as the tip of the iceberg to transform Missouri's rice fields into value-added "pharms" that could consume many acres in the Bootheel within a few years. Rice has been the crop of choice for production of proteins due to its self pollination qualities and low alleginicity in which we have the ability to satisfy this demand of production. Our "visionary" reputation is at stake -- we can work to restore profitability to our farms or sit on the sidelines waiting for the sky to fall while other countries such as China and Japan take advantage of these great technologies.

David Herbst is a farmer in Chaffee.