On its Web site, SemBioSys declares its plan to inject safflower with human genes to produce experimental insulin and a drug for heart attacks and strokes. WSU confirms that it plans to grow barley, injected with human genes, to produce artificial proteins with pharmaceutical properties. Where these fields will be is secret; nearby farmers and residents won’t be notified.(Emphasis mine.) The problem, of course, as the Seattle PI notes, with this “biopharming” is its potential for contaminating food crops.
The National Academy of Sciences, a nongovernmental body of scientists and professionals, has warned in two reports that it’s virtually impossible to keep biopharms out of the food supply if food crops are used to grow them. Insects, birds, animals, wind, storms, trucks, trains and human error see to that.Yum. And the Barley Commission (huh?) knows what that's about:
Washington’s Barley Commission is aware that WSU is biopharming barley and is strongly opposed. Administrator Mary Sullivan says, “Once those genetically altered genes are out there, there’ll be GMOs in the beer.”Well, it'll be a boon to Country & Western songwriters, anway.
"Mama's in the cold cold ground and Grandma's in the beer."
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