A company involved in biotechnology applied recently for permits from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to raise two varieties of genetically engineered rice in Missouri. Containing lactoferrin and lysomzyme, substances found in human tears, saliva and breast milk, the rice would combat digestive problems benefiting more than a million children throughout the world.

The proposal was subject to close scrutiny by USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and the public was invited to comment on the company's permit applications. Missouri Farm Bureau provided comments supporting the applications based upon scientific reviews performed by the University of Missouri and other leading research institutions.

Riceland, the largest purchaser of Missouri rice, announced it would halt Missouri rice purchases if the field trial was conducted, creating confusion and fear among producers in Southeast Missouri. Instead of basing its decision on science, Riceland apparently believed its foreign buyers would balk at the possibility of "commercial production" contaminating conventional varieties of rice, even though APHIS stated this would not be categorized commercial production. Subsequently, Anheuser-Busch, the nation's largest purchaser of rice, announced it would boycott Missouri rice if the proposed field trial was initiated, an announcement garnering a great deal of media interest.

In spite of the attempts by some to create fear of agriculture biotechnology by spreading scare stories akin to science fiction, the science fact of agriculture biotechnology is quite different. In the decade since the first biotech crop was commercialized, 18 countries now grow biotech crops, and research and development is under way in another 45 countries. In 1996, less than 5 percent of U.S. soybean acres were planted to herbicide-tolerant (HT) seeds. In 2002, 75 percent of U.S. soybean acres were planted to HT seeds -- a 1,400 percent increase in six years.

The Missouri Farm Bureau Rice Advisory Committee, members of the board of directors and staff reviewed the status of the pending applications for the pharmaceutical rice project, actions taken by Riceland and Anheuser-Busch and the need to preserve existing rice markets. The consensus was Farm Bureau should continue working toward implementing the pharmaceutical rice project while addressing buyers' concerns and ensuring nothing would jeopardize Missouri's existing rice markets.

Gov. Matt Blunt, director of agriculture Fred Ferrell, U.S. Sen. Kit Bond and many others held multiple meetings to attempt to deal with the issues regarding the pharmaceutical rice project. The Missouri Farm Bureau, and Corn Growers and Soybean Associations sent a joint letter to August Busch III asking Anheuser-Busch to reconsider its position. The letter, in turn, provided me an opportunity to discuss the issue via phone with Mr. Busch.

Anheuser-Busch did later agree to support the Ventria project subject to certain conditions, the most notable being the field test take place no less than 120 miles from existing rice production in southeast Missouri. Riceland also issued a statement indicating its concerns were addressed.

Missouri Farm Bureau will never jeopardize existing markets for the potential associated with future markets, but we owe it to our farmers to explore every avenue available before pulling the plug on any project with such great potential. Our actions relative to pharmaceutical rice may well have set a precedent, and may impact the pharmaceutical use of corn, soybeans or other crops in our state in the future.

The benefits are broad -- more effective use of chemicals, higher prices for farmers, increased economic activity in rural communities and medical advances that could save millions of lives around the globe.

In other words, with science as a guide, the time is right to pursue this new "pharming" frontier.

Charles Kruse of Dexter is president of the Missouri Farm Bureau.