Oct 31, 2003 - 07:08:36 CST
FARGO - An economics professor says that the introduction of biotech wheat in the next two to six years could cut spring wheat exports in half. Monsanto Co. officials say the report contains more speculation than fact.Most foreign countries have no interest in buying products with genetically modified wheat, said Robert Wisner, an Iowa State University researcher who spent about a year working on the study released Thursday.
"Dr. Wisner's report confirms our worst fears," said state Sen. April Fairfield, D-Eldridge. "The premature release of genetically modified wheat will devastate our export markets and threaten the livelihoods of North Dakota wheat farmers."
The report is aimed at scaring farmers, said Shannon Troughton, spokeswoman for St. Louis-based Monsanto, which is developing a biotech wheat that would enable farmers to spray weed killer without killing the wheat plants.
"It's clear that it's the day before Halloween," Troughton said. "The entire report is based on hypothetical situations that aren't going to exist."
Wisner said he gathered information on existing markets, consumer trends, grain handling and transportation. He plugged those numbers into three different market scenarios, which showed a "high probability" of a 30 to 50 percent loss in spring wheat exports.
Spring wheat is grown primarily in North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota and Minnesota.
Montana farmers export two-thirds of their wheat to Japan, the Philippines, South Korea and Taiwan, said Helen Waller, who raises wheat on her family's farm near Circle, Mont.
"Consumers in these countries don't want genetically engineered wheat, and because of labeling laws, they have a choice," Waller said.
"As farmers, we've all weathered drought, floods, hail, grasshoppers - you name it," she said. "But nothing can compare to the disaster we'll face if the commercial introduction of genetically engineered wheat drives our buyers away."
Many European and Japanese consumers are opposed to biotech foods because of fears they are not as safe as conventional hybrids.
"The issue here is not food safety," Wisner said Thursday. "The real issue from a marketing standpoint is consumers' attitudes and perceptions."
It's likely that many countries also would stop buying durum if biotech wheat were brought into the market, Wisner said. Durum is a wheat variety used to make pasta.
Michael Doane, spokesman for Monsanto, said it would not make sense for his company to sell genetically modified seed if farmers are not going to buy it.
"We need to know for certain there are markets open to that technology," he said. "And once it does get approval, we will support the ability of the market to offer choice."
Wisner said marketing both biotech and non-biotech wheat would result in more expensive non-biotech wheat because of costs for segregation and certification, forcing foreign buyers to look elsewhere.
Fairfield said the North Dakota Legislature should pass a bill to establish criteria to grow biotech wheat. Many farmers are worried that their crops will be contaminated by the genetically altered wheat.
"I think it should be a comprehensive process for all new technologies," Fairfield said. "Ultimately, farmers should be able to make the decisions on what they believe is good for their farm. But the question comes on how it could affect other producers."
Biotech wheat will not be released to farmers unless it is first approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration and the U.S Agriculture Department.
"Legislators in both North Dakota and Montana have considered this issue over the last two to three years, with well over a dozen bills to regulate it," Doane said. "Those bills have been defeated by representatives of their own states."
The Western Organization of Resource Councils, a regional network of community organizations, with members in the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana and Colorado, asked Wisner to do the study.
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