The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), American Soybean Association (ASA), and American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) today reaffirmed their support for developing pharmaceutical and industrial crops through agricultural biotechnology. The groups expressed confidence that these new technologies can be introduced without jeopardizing the safety of the food supply. The groups’ joint statement came following announcement that USDA is investigating possible contamination of crops in Nebraska by field trials of pharmaceutical corn.

According to reports, Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service (APHIS) inspectors have evidence that soybeans harvested on a farm in Nebraska were mixed with residue from volunteer corn (stalks from leftover seed in the field) following a field trial of genetically-altered corn conducted last year. APHIS determined that ProdiGene, the biotech company responsible for the trial, had failed to properly control volunteer corn plants that emerged when the field was planted to soybeans this year.

ASA President Dwain Ford said: “ASA is pleased that USDA’s regulatory and monitoring procedures prevented the affected soybeans from moving beyond the single elevator where they were first stored, and that all soybeans that may have been commingled with the ProdiGene corn product will be destroyed. The action taken by APHIS clearly displays the regulatory process is working.”

The NCGA noted that it has worked closely with regulatory agencies for the past two years in developing its policies and regulations as they relate to testing and production of pharmaceutical proteins in corn. “It is very unfortunate that any company would allow an infraction of this magnitude to occur,” said Leon Corzine, chairman of the NCGA Biotech Working Group. “NCGA has had numerous meetings with every company producing these proteins, including ProdiGene. NCGA supports using all scientific, management, and mechanical measures available to eliminate the potential for such occurrences.”

“Plant-made pharmaceuticals offer tremendous benefits in preventing and treating diseases,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman “It is imperative, however, that these opportunities not be jeopardized by failure to adhere to regulations. We believe this strong enforcement action by APHIS should boost consumer confidence and ensure the stability of foreign as well as domestic markets.”