www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info ; www.czu.cz

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has granted preliminary approval for a
large-scale plan to grow genetically altered rice in the Midwest state of
Kansas, prompting some critics to raise safety concerns, March 2007.

Ventria Bioscience wants to grow rice modified to produce human proteins
on more than 3,000 acres (1,215 hectares) of farmland.

The pharmaceutical rice would be harvested and refined for use in medicines
to fight diarrhea, dehydration and other illnesses that kill millions of
infants and toddlers each year.

While Kansas officials have embraced the project as a boon to the state's
emerging biosciences industry, environmentalists and some food groups warn
the proteins could find their way into the food chain, causing medical
reactions or allergies.

"We're opposed to the production of pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals
in food crops grown outdoors because we think there are too many ways
contamination of the food supply could occur," said Karen Perry Stillerman,
senior analyst at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a science advocacy
group.

The department released a draft environmental assessment on Wednesday that
concluded planting the rice poses virtually no risk. No commercial rice is
grown in Kansas and Ventria will use dedicated equipment, storage and
processing facilities to prevent seeds from mixing with other crops, the
USDA said. The rice will be milled on site.

"We have a product here that can help children get better faster," said
Ventria president and chief executive Scott Deeter. He said any concerns are
"based on perception, not reality" given all the precautions the company is
taking.

"It's a dedicated supply chain all throughout the process," Deeter said.

But Stillerman said weather events, like tornadoes, could carry seeds into
other fields where contamination could occur. She also cited the possibility
of human error in transporting and handling the rice.

Genetically modified crops are regulated by the USDA. State governments can
review safety procedures and suggest more stringent regulation of the
companies before a permit is issued.

Ventria has faced opposition to growing pharmaceutical rice in other states
from farmers and environmental groups. When Ventria tried to grow the crop
in southeast Missouri, beer giant Anheuser-Busch Cos. threatened to boycott
all rice from the state if the plan was allowed.

The company won approval in 2005 to grow its rice on smaller plots in North
Carolina, which also has no commercial rice farming.

USA Rice Federation spokesman David Coia said his group opposed genetically
engineered rice in Missouri, but is not taking a position on the Kansas
plan.

"Where there would be a threat to commercial rice crops, we certainly would
take an interest, but that doesn't appear to be the case in this instance,"
Coia said.

The public has until March 30 to submit comments to the USDA. If final
approval is granted, Ventria will begin planting rice in April or May,
Deeter said.

[www.iht.com]