Southeast research of crops is praised in study

Southeast Missouri State University would play a key role in crop research under a plan presented to state lawmakers, which calls for the state to invest in the life sciences to boost Missouri's economy.

Experts say Missouri needs to invest in such efforts or risk losing such industry to other states.

Southeast officials welcomed the study, sponsored by the state and private donors, saying the university wants to concentrate on field research.

"What we are looking at is the applied side, not basic research," said Dr. Ken Dobbins, Southeast president.

"I think investment in plant science is very, very worthwhile, especially when you look at our region," Dobbins said Wednesday. "Forty percent of the agricultural products in Missouri come from Southeast Missouri."

Investments in biotechnology could lead to better ways to grow crops, better crop rotation and development of crops that are more resistant to disease, he said.

"Sooner or later you have to go from the greenhouse out into the field," said Dobbins, who hopes the study will lead to state funding to boost biotechnology.

Southeast is involved in field trials of rice and other crops, the study noted.

Biotech park

Southeast wants to develop a biotechnology research park on more than 300 acres of the university's farm, which straddles Interstate 55 north of Cape Girardeau. The site would be served by a planned East Main Street interchange.

Construction of the interchange on I-55 is scheduled to start in 2005 and be completed in 2006 at the earliest, state highway officials have said.

The report by the Technology Partnership Practice of Battelle Memorial Institute in Cleveland says Missouri needs to spend $150 million a year, plus one-time costs of $125 million in promoting life sciences.

Gov. Bob Holden has said that would be difficult for state government, which is facing a projected $1 billion budget shortfall.

But Don Dickerson, president of Southeast's board of regents, said the state needs to spend the money. "Yes, times are tough economically," he said. "This is not the time to stop creating jobs."

The study said Missouri, through development of the life-sciences industry, could boost the state's economy by $1 billion and create 22,000 new jobs over the next decade.

Missouri already is home to more than 41,000 employees in the field of life sciences.

Life-sciences research is taking place in St. Louis and Kansas City through private foundation-funded efforts. Universities around the state also are involved in research efforts, the study said.

The two-year study conducted by the Ohio-based Battelle Memorial Institute was commissioned by the state, as well as the Ewing Marion Kauffmann Foundation of Kansas City and the Danforth Foundation of St. Louis.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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