March 28, 2001
		North Dakota Farmers Back Moratorium on Biotech Wheat The North Dakota lLegislature is considering a bill that would impose a two-year moratorium on growing genetically engineered wheat, making it the first state to issue such a ban. This is one of 40 state bills introduced this year that would regulate genetically altered crops or the labeling of foods made using biotech ingredients. The North Dakota bill is particularly noteworthy because concern about gene-altered crops is now coming from farmers who fear lost income, in addition to environmental and consumer groups who have been active critics of biotechnology. While many farmers say that they are supportive of bioengineered foods, they fear losing the ability to export their crops to countries where it has been rejected by consumers and legislative bodies. Wheat millers in Europe and Japan have already made it clear to U.S. industry trade organizations that they would not accept any wheat that is genetically engineered. Wheat farmers have been especially cautious in the wake of the StarLink debacle, in which unapproved biotech corn was discovered in taco shells and other processed foods, causing recalls and a ban on corn exports to Japan. The bill easily passed through the North Dakota House of Respresentatives last month by a vote of 68 to 29, and it still needs to pass the state Senate. Biotech giant Monsanto has told legislators that a moratorium by a major wheat-producing state would discourage the company from doing research on improved varieties of wheat, particulaly types grown in North Dakota. Mark Buckingham, a Monsanto spokesperson, said, "It is absolutely not in our intentions to press forward with a product until it's wanted," he said. Still, farmers aren’t convinced. "We don't want to lose the ability to sell our wheat abroad," said Todd Leake, a farmer and outspoken supporter of the North Dakota measure. "Most of the economy in North Dakota is agriculture," Mr. Leake noted, "and wheat is the mainstay of that."