Keeping GM rice out of Missouri

Genetically modified (GM) rice is getting different opinions in Missouri. According to Riceland vice president Bill Reed: " We are trying to get legislation together to keep genetically modified rice out of Missouri."

"We are pleased that they are moving 120 miles from us. We would have been more pleased if it was 1,000 miles," said Sonny Martin, a Bernie rice farmer and chairman of the Missouri Rice Research and Merchandising Council.

A strong supporter of such project way, way back, US Rep. Jo Ann Emerson of Cape Giradeau now advises caution: "The market realities that have been presented to me by Riceland Foods, Anheuser-Busch, my rice producers, lenders and suppliers dictate that now I must oppose the production of GM rice in Southeast Missouri in crop year 2005."

US Rice Producers Association president Chris Williams is "wondering why rice producers aren’t involved in the discussions or negotiations. Nobody included us in any of these making us very disappointed."

Monsanto]s reach has allowed it to implement double-digit price hikes for seeds carrying its technology. This action has angered rice farmers. "It has been a sore spot over the years that US farmers have to pay what they do," said Illinois Corn Growers Association spokesman Mark Lambert. "It is an issue."

Last year in Basel, Switzerland-based Syngenta, the world’s biggest agro-chemical company, filed a lawsuit accusing Monsanto of using coercive tactics and unfair bundling arrangements since 1990s to exercise monopolistic power in multiple markets.

Opposition to the proposed farming of GM rice near Chaffee was expressed by the rice farmers to state legislators during a morning rally at Curtis Worley‘s farm southeast of Poplar Bluff.

State Sen. Rob Mayer, Speaker of the House Rod Jetton and Reps. Gayle Kingery and Mike Dethrow also participated.Mayer informed the farmers that Ventria Bioscience which is moving from California to Missouri has agreed not to grow GM rice. "I am pleased," says Mayer, "the project is not going forward in Southeast Missouri because of the risk of losing our markets." He added though: " genetically modified seeds hold promise for mankind and increased income for farmers. Reed he was glad the project is not proceeding in Southeast Missouri.

Anheuser-Busch Co. of Saint Louis and Richard Foods of Stuttgart, Arkansas had urged federal regulators to deny a permit requested by Ventria to grow 150 acres of GM rice on Herbst’s farm to produce human proteins used in drugs. Herbst maintained that the project was worthwhile and that contamination could be controlled. He said biopharming could have opened new markets for rice.