Washington State University
Monday, 27th November, 2000
AS
Biotech Crops Safe
Washington State University Scientist Says Biotechnology
Need Not Be Feared
International
controversy over genetically modified crops threatens future advancements
in biotechnology said Washington State University plant pathologist R.
James Cook. Cook, who has been studying wheat and barley root diseases
for 35 years, said developments, such as new methods of preventing a root
disease of barley, hang in the balance. Because all varieties of wheat
and barley are susceptible to these diseases, his efforts have been directed
at fighting them by accessing their natural enemies in the soil. He said
this is now possible with biotechnology .
"We now can access genes in the natural enemies of these root-disease fungi, which are actually other fungi, and put them into plants," Cook said. "This provides the plants with the same method of defense used against the pathogen by its natural enemy."
With this in mind, Cook, along with R.A. Nilan Distinguished Professor Dieter VonWettstein and research assistant Yongchun Wu, are currently working on a project to develop a barley plant with resistance to a root disease that is deadly to all commercially grown varieties of wheat and barley. If they are successful with barley, they plan to expand the work to include wheat. With the project still in its early stages, the question is whether the world will accept this kind of genetic modification by the time the work is complete, Cook said.
"The controversy has two parts: the part you read about in the press, and the real reasons," said Cook regarding the recent media coverage of biotechnology , in particular the recall of Aventis StarLink corn.
The part people read in the newspapers and see on television concerns the safety of genetically modified foods. For example, is it harmful to the health of people, animals or the environment, Cook said.
"These are genuine concerns people have when they hear we're doing something to the food supply. But if that was all there is to it (the controversy), science could correct it."
The other part of the controversy is more problematic in that genetic modification of crops is a new technology that will likely replace many kinds of current technology.
"There are winners and losers with any change, and the real resistance to biotechnology is actually a natural resistance to change," Cook said. "This is behind much of the objections in Europe to biotechnology ."
Chemical sales companies are an example of an industry that will be impacted because of advances in biotechnology . As biotechnology reduces the need for pesticides, the companies that make and market crop chemicals will need to adjust, Cook said.
Some environmentalists say a genetically modified plant, such as StarLink corn is a problem because it could cause an allergic reaction in some people. Cook points out there is no evidence linking StarLink corn with allergic reactions in people. Opponents also say the modified gene could jump to a native plant, upsetting the ecology. Cook said there is no substantial evidence supporting this fear either.
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