Reports

Genetic engineers back growing drugs in food crops / CSPI says industry & regulators sowing secrecy in America's new farm belt -- Center for Science in the Public Interest, June 2, 2004
"The controversial practice of using genetic engineering to grow drugs or industrial chemicals in food crops is picking up speed, according to a new report from CSPI. While a 2002 scandal involving an errant biopharm crop from Prodigene temporarily put the brakes on the practice, the USDA has received 16 new applications for biopharming permits in the past 12 months. About two-thirds of those applications involved a food crop such as corn, rice or barley, but virtually every other salient detail about the application—-sometimes even the name of the drug or chemical being produced—-is shielded from public view."

Pharm and industrial crops: The next wave of agricultural biotechnology -- Union of Concerned Scientists, Feb. 23, 2004
"The Union of Concerned Scientists today released a groundbreaking pilot study that found genetically engineered DNA is contaminating traditional seeds of three major U.S. crops. Seed contamination, if left unchecked, could disrupt agricultural trade, unfairly burden the organic industry, and allow hazardous materials into the food supply. "

Manufacturing drugs and chemicals in crops: Biopharming poses new threats to consumers, farmers, food companies and the environment -- Friends of the Earth, July 2002
"This report details the threats that these crops pose, the extent to which they have been planted across the U.S., the failure of regulatory agencies to serve the public, and a set of recommendations to protect farmers, consumers, food companies and the environment."

Harvest on the horizon: Future uses of agricultural biotechnology -- Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology, Sept. 6, 2001
"The increasing use of modern biotechnology in agriculture has generated significant debate, much of which centers on the rapidly growing use of food crops that have been genetically modified to make them more resistant to pests or chemical herbicides. As a result, the debate has not usually addressed the potential products of agricultural biotechnology that are on the horizon. While technology developers believe that these new products will offer benefits in meeting needs for food, fuel d fiber, as well as for novel industrial and pharmaceutical uses, some of these future products are also likely to raise environmental and other concerns that will need to be addressed by the regulatory system. "

Pharm crops: A food accident waiting to happen -- Greenpeace (PDF), Sept. 2001
"Quietly, the biotechnology industry has been planting fields of genetically engineered corn, rice, barley, and other crops throughout the US, but not for human consumption. Instead, these crop plants have been engineered to make novel compounds for medical and industrial purposes – pharmaceuticals, industrial enzymes, reagents for biochemical laboratories. About 20 companies worldwide are developing plants for the production of pharmaceutical or industrial proteins. Many of these crops are grown in open fields, and since companies in the U.S. are not required to disclose the information about these field tests, the location of the trials are generally closely held secrets."

Questions and answers on pharmaceutical crops -- Greenpeace (PDF), date unknown

Dangers of biopharming: The government's failure to protect public health and the environment -- Earthjustice fact sheet (PDF), date unknown
"USDA has authorized corporations such as Monsanto, DuPont, ProdiGene, and Dow to conduct hundreds of field tests of biopharm crops genetically engineered to produce materials such as blood clotting agents, blood thinners, experimental animal vaccines, industrial enzymes, antibodies, and a potent abortioninducing."