Sierrans:

FYI. A Legislative interim study committee on GMO¹s has met recently. Below
is the information on it followed by the minutes from a meeting of October
21. They are scheduled to meet again on December 13, at 10 am, in the ICN
Room (Rm 19) of the Capitol, just off the Cafeteria Rotunda.

PDFs of the actual testimony/handouts of the presenters can be accessed at:
http://www4.legis.state.ia.us/scripts/lsa/docmgr/docmgr_comdocs.dll/showtype
interim?idt=true&type=ih&fy=2005&com=71

Lyle


 
2005   Interim Committee
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) Study Committee

Charge: Review issues regarding the use of genetically modified organisms in
agricultural production.

Senate Members:
E.Thurman Gaskill  (R, District  6), Co-chair
Tom Rielly (D, District  38), Co-chair
Joe Bolkcom (D, District  39)
Thomas G. Courtney  (D, District  44)
David Johnson (R, District  3)
David Miller (R, District  45)

House Members:
Sandy Greiner (R, District  89)  , Chair
Betty De Boef  (R, District  76)
Dolores Mertz  (D, District  8)
Doug Struyk  (R, District  99)
John Whitaker  (D, District  90)



2005 Interim Committee Briefing from the

Genetically Modified Organisms Study Committee meeting of October 21, 2005

Co-chairperson: Senator E. Thurman Gaskill
Co-chairperson: Senator Thomas Rielly
Co-chairperson: Representative Sandra Greiner

Preliminary Business. The Legislative Council established the Genetically
Modified Organisms (GMOs) Study Committee in 2005 and authorized the
Committee to meet for two days. The Committee's charge is to "[review issues
regarding the use of genetically modified organisms in agricultural
production."

Sustainable Agriculture. Dr. Fred Kirshenmann, Director of the Leopold
Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University, stated that the
Leopold Center does not engage in research involving transgenic
modifications because it is not consistent with the center's mandate to
reduce the socioeconomic impacts of agriculture affecting farmers. He
discussed questions regarding the impacts upon the environment of using
transgenic technologies, and cautioned Committee members that new
technologies may have unanticipated and destabilizing consequences,
especially when they are rapidly introduced into the environment.

Dr. Kirshenmann noted that one effect of the use of transgenic modifications
may be to further consolidate land holdings among fewer farmers. He also
stressed that federal standards do not require that commodities be tested to
ensure that they are free from transgenic contamination. He expressed
concern that consumers may eventually reject food products which contain
transgenic materials. Finally, Dr. Kirshenmann believed that farmers who
produce organic crops or identity preserved crops may be losing markets to
foreign competitors who produce crops free from contaminants. He stressed
the need for farmers to cooperate and develop informal arrangements in order
to reduce the risks of contamination associated with the production of
transgenic crops. He also urged the Committee to consider a state initiative
that would reimburse producers who suffer losses due to contamination from
transgenic sources.

Regulation and Approval of Transgenic Crops. Ms. Robin Pruisner, State
Entomologist, Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship (DALS), and Dr.
John Turner, Policy Coordinator Bio-technology Regulatory Services, United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA) presented information. Ms. Pruisner
briefly discussed the working relationship between DALS and USDA. Dr. Turner
discussed the regulation of transgenic crops by USDA evaluating the
potential risks to agriculture and the environment, the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) evaluating food and feed safety issues, and
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) evaluating the effects upon the
environment from transgenic crops which produce pesticides. According to Dr.
Turner, regulatory oversight must be proportionate to the risks. He
explained that all field testing, importation, or interstate movement of
regulated articles must be performed under USDA oversight. Dr. Turner stated
that developers of transgenic crops must petition USDA for "nonregulated"
status as part of a process of comprehensive scientific review that must
extend for at least 180 days. According to Dr. Turner, once a transgenic
crop has achieved a nonregulated status, it is treated as any other crop. He
noted that a more rigorous process occurs when a petition requests
authorization for the approval of the production of a transgenic crop which
produces a pharmaceutical or industrial compound.

Ms. Pruisner and Dr. Turner described the number of field test sites in
Iowa. According to Ms. Pruisner, Iowa consistently ranks in the top three
states having the most field test sites. They also discussed the process of
notification review by state officials where field testing occurs with the
opportunity for a state to concur or not concur with USDA's approval. Dr.
Turner discussed USDA's regulatory system with several Committee members.
Senator Bolkcom discussed the testing of crops used to produce
pharmaceutical or industrial compounds and the potential for pollen drift.
Dr. Turner explained that there are no federal organic standards regulating
genetically modified material.

Perspectives From a Seed Business. Mr. Bill Latham, President of Latham Seed
Company, stated that Latham Seed Company is a family business which has been
operating for many years and currently serves 450 dealers in six north
central states. He noted that biotechnology is simply a tool that can be
used for either positive or negative ends. He stated that decisions relating
to the approval and use of transgenic crops has been made on the basis of
sound science. Mr. Latham emphasized that the use of these crops has
increased profitability to farmers, resulted in lower pesticide use, reduced
greenhouse gas emissions, and increased food production. Mr. Latham also
addressed organic crop production, and supported efforts by persons who
produce food and feed to supply markets for nontransgenic crops. However, he
stated that the real distinction is between regulated and nonregulated
crops. Mr. Latham noted that the presence of trace amounts of commercially
approved biotechnology enhanced seed in conventional seed lots is accepted
in crop production and presents no risk to humans or the environment. He
also stated that materials associated with approved transgenic crops are not
"contaminants." He recognized the potential for commingling is present and
emphasized that federal organic standards do not prohibit the presence of
such material and cautioned that a "zero-tolerance policy" would be
inappropriate. Mr. Latham and Co-chairperson Rielly discussed methods to
ensure coexistence between producers of transgenic crops and producers of
organic or identity-preserved crops.

Perspectives From the Organic Farming Community. Mr. Ron Rosmann, an organic
farmer, discussed difficulties in producing organic crops given problems
associated with pollen drift from neighboring farms that produce transgenic
crops, and questioned the wisdom of growing transgenic crops used to produce
pharmaceutical compounds in Iowa. He noted that there have been a number of
legal settlements in cases involving contamination of organic and
identity-preserved crops by transgenic crops. He believes that seed
companies should be liable for losses resulting from contamination. Mr.
Rosmann observed a trend toward consumer demand for value-added and
identity-preserved foods, and believes that the state may lose its share of
markets to countries like Brazil which restrict the production of transgenic
crops. Mr. Rosmann emphasized the use of natural systems to control pests
and increase yields, and stated that the use of biotechnology is radically
different from the development of classical genetics. He urged the Committee
to consider the establishment of programs which would better promote organic
and identity-preserved grains and to compensate producers for losses
associated with contamination. Mr. Rosmann also noted that research is no
longer being directed toward improving conventional seed stock.
Co-chairperson Greiner requested that Mr. Rosmann provide the committee with
recommendations for it to consider. Mr. Rosmann and Co-chairperson Greiner
discussed grain standards and how organic grain is cleaned and tested under
marketing agreements.


Issues Facing Producers of Identity-Preserved and Organic Crops. Mr. Ken
Roseboro, Editor of the Non-GMO Report, stated that increasingly consumers
are demanding a food production system that provides for the tracing of food
to the farm, including a desire to purchase food that is labeled as organic,
identity-preserved, or nontransgenic. He noted strict requirements in Europe
and Japan reflect this concern. Mr. Roseboro discussed sources of
contamination, including transgenic seed, pollen drift from transgenic
crops, and commingling of grain derived from transgenic crops during grain
handling. Mr. Roseboro stated that finding nontransgenic seed research is
becoming increasingly difficult. He also discussed the results of a study
conducted by Iowa State University in which pollen drift was measured at
1,600 feet from its source. Mr. Roseboro discussed the history of transgenic
production associated with Starlink, Prodigene, and Bt-10 corn. He stated
that the greatest risk of contamination has occurred in fields located in
the midwest and especially in Iowa and Wisconsin. He discussed instances in
several states, such as North Dakota and Vermont, where representatives of
producers of transgenic crops and organic or identity-preserved crops met in
order to develop strategies for coexistence, and in each case there was a
stalemate.


Mr. Roseboro discussed a number of legislative initiatives which included
"Farmer Protection Acts" which assigned liability for contamination to seed
companies. He also mentioned the possible establishment of an indemnity fund
which would be used to compensate producers for losses associated with
contamination. Finally, Mr. Roseboro noted that European nations have
imposed stricter regulations upon the production of transgenic crops in
order to ensure coexistence. Several Committee members had questions.
Senator Bolkcom and Mr. Roseboro discussed the role of the federal
government. Mr. Roseboro stated that consumers and businesses rather than
the federal government are driving standards for food. Senator Bolkcom
expressed the belief that the issue centers upon property rights. Senator
Johnson and Mr. Roseboro discussed the role of sound science in this
process.

Issues Facing Producers of Transgenic Crops. Mr. Doug Getter, Executive
Director of the Iowa Biotechnology Association, briefly discussed the
scientific history of biotechnology and its increasing use in the
marketplace. Mr. Getter noted that private industry has invested substantial
resources in order to develop varieties of crops which will benefit
producers and consumers. He noted that biotechnology is important to feeding
the earth's growing population. Mr. Getter also noted that the use of
transgenic crops has reduced the application of pesticides and the emission
of carbon dioxide. Mr. Getter noted that the United States has led
scientific advances in the development and production of transgenic crops,
noting that crops developed through biotechnology provide higher yields and
increased farm income. He also stated that Iowa has led the nation in the
production of these crops (1.08 billion pounds), and now has an
international reputation as a center for agricultural biotechnology
advances. He praised Iowa for its commitment to develop industries
associated with biotechnology and believed that decision will improve the
lives of Iowans.

Next Meeting. Co-chairperson Greiner announced that the Committee's second
and final meeting is scheduled for December 13, in the ICN Room of the State
Capitol. She hoped that the Committee could explore strategies to ensure
coexistence between the interested groups.

LSA Contacts: Doug Adkisson, Legal Services, (515) 281-3884; Kathy Hanlon,
Legal Services, (515) 281-3847

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