In a hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry held October 6, testimony on the benefits of research using biotechnology was presented by ASPP members Brian Larkins, Bob Buchanan, Charles Arntzen, Ralph Hardy, John Ohlrogge, Ray Bressan, Dean DellaPenna, and Roger Beachy.

Dr. Hardy, President of the National Agricultural Biotechnology Council, provided an overview of several issues that are pertinent to the public debate on modified foods.

"Genetic improvement of microorganisms, plants and animals using molecular approaches that are variously identified as genetically engineered organisms, transgenic organisms or genetically modified organisms, or molecularly modified organisms have received and continue to receive extensive scientific examination regarding risks to the environment and to humans. These risks must be evaluated relative to those of existing products that they would replace. Genetically engineered crops are inherently less risky because of the ability to better ask and answer the important risk questions than for existing processes," Hardy said.

Dr. Charles Arntzen, President and CEO of the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research, and past ASPP Education Foundation Board member, testified that there are a number of new plant products that are being created using recombinant DNA technology that will directly benefit human health here and particularly in the developing world. "The next generation of (biotech) products will increasingly have direct value-added benefits for food consumers as well as the indirect value of protecting the environment," Arntzen noted. Dr. Arntzen's research using biotechnology is leading to plants engineered to be edible vaccines that would prevent illnesses deadly to millions of people.

Dr. Brian Larkins of the University of Arizona and ASPP Immediate Past President, explained his research which is leading to high quality protein corn. He noted that enhanced corn in the diet could help prevent and reverse several human maladies.

"Typically, the protein in corn seeds contains around two percent lysine, while we require five percent lysine in our diet to avoid protein deficiency disorders. Globally, nearly 195 million children younger than five years are undernourished for protein, and in 1992, an estimated 12 million American children were estimated to have diets that were significantly lower in protein than what is recommended by the National Academy of Sciences," Larkins said.

Dr. Bob Buchanan of the University of California, Berkeley, and ASPP Past President, said that his in vitro studies on thioredoxin using biotechnology have demonstrated that thioredoxin: alleviates food and pollen allergies; enhances the digestibility and nutritional quality of foods; improves the baking quality of poor quality flour; and disarms neurotoxins of snakes scorpions and bees. In addition to eliminating allergens from wheat food products in the lab, Buchanan has developed an animal model to provide the first allergy test for genetically modified foods.

Michigan State University Professor Dr. John Ohlrogge said that phase two of plant genetic engineering presents the opportunity to offer farmers new, high-value cash crops leading to increased revenues. Ohlrogge said his lab is working closely with industrial chemists to develop plants to produce feedstocks for new types of polyurethanes, nylon with stronger and more flexible fibers and biodegradable lubricants

Dr. Dean DellaPenna of the University of Nevada at Reno, said that plant foods can, in theory, provide almost all the micronutrients essential for human nutrition, however, in practice, most plant foods (especially staple food crops) do not contain the full complement of vitamins or minerals in sufficiently concentrated amounts to meet the recommended daily allowance (RDA). He said research using plant genomics and biotechnology could lead to plants which would, in practice, provide humans with needed levels of micronutrients. These enhanced food plants would offer dramatic benefits for human health.

Dr. Roger Beachy, President of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, said that the vast majority of plant and agricultural scientists familiar with how crops have been developed through the years and the processes through which those foods have been evaluated, are amazed by the response of those that seemingly do not want the technology to be adopted. He cited comparative risks in organic farming in which, unless animal manure used to fertilize crops are properly composted, it is a very real source of E. coli contamination on organically grown fruits and vegetables.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Richard Lugar (R-IN) said, "There has been an outcry against biotechnology in agriculture among some sectors of European society to the extent that the current approval process in the European Union has virtually ground to a halt," Chairman Lugar said. He has been a strong supporter of use of modern technologies in agriculture, such as biotechnology.

Chairman Lugar, Ranking Democrat Tom Harkin of Iowa, Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS), Senator Bob Kerrey (D-NE), Senator Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Peter Fitzgerald (R-IL) engaged the plant scientist witnesses with many questions and comments. The majority of the Senators appeared supportive of research using biotechnology.

However, Sen. Kerrey expressed some disappointment with some market rejections of modified foods. He said that when he was in the restaurant business, if the customers did not order a particular menu item, he believed he was being sent a message that the particular rejected food item on the menu was "garbage" and should be taken off the menu.

Many representatives from the media, life science companies, producer and refiner groups and others attended the hearing. The large number of people attending the hearing was sizeable enough to spill out of the hearing room and into an overflow room with internal televised coverage of the hearing.

The Senate Agriculture Committee held a follow-up hearing October 7 with representatives from USDA, EPA, FDA, Consumers Union, the National Academy of Sciences, and farm producer and refiner groups. Chairman Lugar cited information presented October 6 by ASPP member scientists on several occasions as he conducted the hearing held the following day. The Committee video taped the October 6 hearing with testimony from eight ASPP member scientists for further use on this issue. 

From the Committee Chair, to the Committee staff to people in attendance, we heard comments on the good preparation the plant scientists' statements reflected.

The hearing provided an influential audience of policy makers and attending media convincing examples of the value offered by research using modern transformation technologies. Members of the Committee and attending media heard credible accounts on the comparable safety of food products developed with research using biotechnology. They also heard of the value-added foods and renewable energy sources that will be coming with the next generation of biotech products. Hearings like this provide important facts needed by supporters in the Congress to help fend off anti-biotech proposals that are not based in science. The testimony and responses to questions by ASPP members also cited the value of Congressional support for basic plant research.

The contribution by ASPP members in this debate on modified foods before Congressional Committees October 5 and 6 (see related story on October 5 hearing) occurred at a key time when some members of Congress are considering seeking new restrictions on biotech foods as a result of attempts by anti-biotech groups to scare the populace. By discussing research leading to value-added foods that could provide enhanced nutrition for consumers and increased revenues for farmers, the testimony provided many significant reasons for continued support of modified foods and research using biotechnology.