|
|
Published July 18, 2006 12:00 am -
Kansas wooing biotech rice firm
The Joplin Globe
The Associated Press
WICHITA, Kan. - A biotechnology firm that abandoned plans to grow biotech rice in California and Missouri amid protests by farmers and others in those states is now being courted by Kansas.
Ventria Bioscience, a small Sacramento, Calif.-based firm, expects to decide in about a month whether it will relocate its processing plant and rice acreage to Kansas, said Ventria president Scott Deeter.
Biopharming is the practice of growing food crops genetically engineered with human genes to produce drugs. Ventria's rice is used to make an experimental U.S. drug to treat diarrhea.
"We are in the process of expanding our production - and Kansas is on the short list for that expansion," Deeter said. "We haven't made a decision yet, but we are coming very close."
The other state on its short list is North Carolina, where the firm already grows 335 acres of its genetically modified rice, he said.
Leading efforts to lure Ventria here is Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky and Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. Polansky first learned of the biotech opportunity after meeting Deeter six months ago at an international biotechnology meeting in Chicago.
Since then, economic development officials from several northeast Kansas communities have been quietly building support among the state's major farm organizations while putting together economic incentive packages to lure Ventria.
"We don't often get opportunities that are very beneficial to production agriculture, to our communities in Kansas and also tie to real benefits in this case to providing health care at a lower cost," Polansky said. "To me, it is a very exciting opportunity."
Some scientists aren't so sure, and fear the technology could threaten the safety of conventional food crops by inadvertently mixing with them. While it may be an advantage to grow pharmaceutical rice in a state like Kansas with no commercial rice production, it's still a "bad idea" to produce pharmaceutical compounds in food, said Jane Rissler, a senior scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists.
"This is not agricultural production - this is drug production," Rissler said. "This is pharmaceutical production and pharmaceutical production in food plants should be discouraged."
Ventria hopes to eventually grow 30,000 acres of rice in the state, possibly in five to six years, Polansky said. It would guarantee Kansas growers a profit of between $150 and $200 per acre above their current best economic crop. That would be $6 million a year of added income to Kansas farmers, Polansky said.
"It is an opportunity to grow a different crop that is a little more profitable than what we have been growing," said Steve Baccus, an Ottawa County farmer and president of the Kansas Farm Bureau. "We don't grow rice, but agronomically they tell us there is no reason we can't grow it here. It has just never been done."
Ventria would bring its research and processing facility to the state, creating significant paying jobs, Polansky said.
Rissler is skeptical, and cited a report last year from Robert Wisner, an economics professor at Iowa State University, that concluded that market forces will drive down farmer compensation. It said the acreage needed for bioengineered crops is so small, only a few farms would benefit.
•
Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.
|
|
: Special Offer For New Subscribers
:
|
 |
|
CHILD CARE WORKER
CHILD CARE WORKER Part-time position working with children 0-6 at Discovery Center childcare center. Day and evening h...>MORE
MEDICAL OFFICE
seeking Insurance Clerk. Coding experience required. Will pay for experience. Benefits. Send resume: Globe Box 94, 117 E...>MORE
LOCAL DRILLING COMPANY
needs a rock driller. Must have experience in hydraulics. Company vehicle provided. (417)662-7267...>MORE
LIFEGUARDS
all shifts available, Apply in person at either Joplin Family Y location. www.joplinfamilyy.org....>MORE
PCA 'S AND CNA'S
PCAs and CNAs In Joplin and surrounding areas. Call 417-206-7878....>MORE
UP IN FLAMES
WOOD FIRE PIZZA AND PASTA now hiring MANAGERS, SERVERS, BARTENDER Apply 1612 S. Madison, Webb City, behind Subway...>MORE
DELIVERY DRIVER
We have a full time position open for a delivery driver. Position consists of working part time in the warehouse in addi...>MORE
TEAMS NEEDED
SIGN-ON BONUS $3000 Benefits and West Coast $$ Scheduled Raises $$ HIGH MILES WEEKLY 72hrs...>MORE
ACCOUNTANT
Local Construction firm needing full charge accountant, duties include general ledger, accounts receivable/billing, acco...>MORE
ACCOUNTANT.
Expanding CPA firm: full time, degree/ computer skills required. Audit/tax experience preferred. Send resume to P...>MORE
See all ads |
|
GMC, 2006
2500 4x4, regular cab/bed, 133,000 miles, $9850. (417)214-0022....>MORE
CHEVROLET 1997 TAHOE
CHEVROLET, 1997 TAHOE LT, 4X4, Maroon, air, excellent condition, leather seats, power everything, $2500 or best offer Pl...>MORE
2006 CHEVROLET HHR LT
automatic, 40,000 miles, loaded with options, $6200. (417)434-2949....>MORE
1990 GMC HIGH SIERRA
short wide bed, 2 wheel drive, V-8, power windows/locks, air, CD, tinted windows, chrome wheels. $2,000 or best offer. (...>MORE
MAZDA, 2000
B3000, 4x2, V6, automatic, high miles, $2150. (417)843-2613....>MORE
1979 CHEVROLET CORVETTE
350 automatic, $5000 or trade consider. (620)230-0459...>MORE
FORD 2000 1 TON
Ford, 2000 1 ton, 4X4, 6 speed, duals, flatbed, 7.3 diesel, $6800; 1998 Bucket truck, 55’ Altec. 417-358-8636, 483-9700....>MORE
1999 CHEVROLET TAHOE
2 door, 2 wheel drive, barn door rear, lowered, custom paint/grill/wheels, asking $5500. (417)781-1932, or cell (417)437...>MORE
LEXUS 2002 ES
LEXUS, 2002 ES 300, silver/gray leather, navigation, heated seats, second owner, 94,000 miles, $10,900. 620-856-2804, 41...>MORE
2005 HONDA SHADOW VLX 600
2,000 miles, color white, $3950. (417)673-3860....>MORE
See all ads |
|
OWNER FINANCE
OWNER FINANCE. $650 down, $435 monthly. 201 N. Washington, Joplin, 3 BR, garage, Full price $32,500. 417-359-4113. ...>MORE
OPEN HOUSE
405 Keeney Street, Carl Junction. Sunday July 12 • 2 p.m.-4 p.m. This home is owned by Carl Junction R-1 School Di...>MORE
INVESTORS OR START-UP
INVESTORS OR START-UP 1217 Central. $67500 2 bedroom, 1 bath, very nice,room to build more. See more at homesbyowner.co...>MORE
HANDYMAN SPECIAL
Handyman Special, only $500 down, owner financing, 11% interest, $345/ month, priced at $23,900. 1120 W. 12th Street (41...>MORE
2-3 BR
Basement, newly remodeled, oak cabinets, nice wood floors, privacy fence. $79,200. 2525 N. Ozark. (417)483-0900....>MORE
OPEN HOUSE
OPEN HOUSE 7/5/09 1:00-4:00 2281 sq. ft. Updated kitchen 4 br + bonus room 2 living areas Metal roof. Stapleton school ...>MORE
LAKE FRONT MOBILE
Lake Front Mobile Grove, OK 1972 14 X 46 1 Bedroom, 1 bath lake front mobile home weekend getaway. Complete with furn...>MORE
See all ads |
|
COLLEGE STUDENT
COLLEGE STUDENT LOOKING FOR FEMALE ROOMMATE I am looking for a female roommate with Christian values to share my du...>MORE
24' BAJA OUTLAW
24’ BAJA Outlaw beautiful closed bow boat, 454 Mag, all options, excellent condition, low hours with 2005 trailer, $16,0...>MORE
LAB PUPPIES
lab puppies, AKC 1 chocolate male 1 chocolate female 1 black male 1 black female Master, senior, and junior hunters on ...>MORE
SHIH-TZU PUPPIES
$125 each; Shih-tzu adults free to a good home, (417)439-5568....>MORE
INDEPENDENCE DAY BLOW OUT SALE
20% off all grocery items 20% off all cleaning supply items 20% off all refrigerators, dishwashers, deep...>MORE
LOST: 10 YEAR OLD YELLOW LAB
Goldie has on a flea collar, lost 6/28 between Oak Grove and Tipton Ford. PLEASE call 417-438-2828....>MORE
MINI SCHNAUZERS
8 weeks AKC house breaking underway, vet checked/healthy. rsfieker@yahoo.com 417-235-3168....>MORE
2002 LOWE TAHITI
2002 Lowe Tahiti 22 Deck Boat with 2002 Johnson 150 hp motor, fully loaded and lake ready, $12,500. (620)856-5165 or (41...>MORE
ANTIQUE RADIO
ANTIQUE Radio; hanging lamps; china cabinet; carnival glass; Singer featherweight machine; 2 ladies and men diamond ring...>MORE
MINIATURE DACHSHUND PUPPIES
6 weeks old, $100. (417)781-4099....>MORE
See all ads |
|
 |
|