Biotechnology is Focus of Major NDSU Study

The economic, ethical and social aspects of biotechnology will be studied by researchers from North Dakota State University and eight other universities in five states.

"The research is important because North Dakota is noted for its production of wheat, barley, sunflowers, dry beans, sugarbeets and potatoes for which genetically engineered varieties have been or soon will be introduced," says Duane Hauck, Assistant director for agriculture and natural resources in the NDSU Extension Service. "Meanwhile, producer and consumer attitudes about the use of biotechnology have not been adequately investigated."

Biotechnology is the process of taking all or part of a gene from one organism and inserting it into a chromosome of another unrelated entity and creating a genetically modified organism.

In addition to Hauck, other NDSU team members are: Bill Wilson and Cheryl Wachenheim from the agribusiness and applied economics department, Mike Peel from the extension plant sciences department, Wayne Markegard, an extension agent for Morton and Sioux counties and Gary Goreham with the sociology/anthropology department. The USDA is providing $575,000 to NDSU for its portion of the 4-year project.

"Some look at biotechnology as an opportunity to develop new products that will benefit producers and consumers, while others are skeptical about its long term benefits," says Hauck.

"So in many cases it’s not an issue of can we do these things but should we do these things."

The economic research will center on the acceptance patterns of biotechnology and how those patterns are shaped by farmers, consumers and agribusiness. At the farm level, researchers will look at what criteria producers use to determine if they will or won’t use genetically engineered varieties of crops.

Key decision-makers in agribusiness will be interviewed as part of the research work. "Little research exists on how those in the marketing and distribution stage determine the benefits, costs and risk as they segment their materials and markets with biotech products," says Hauck.

"We’ll also determine if decisions made at one stage of the operation affect other decisions down the chain."

Consumers will be studied to find out how they determine their acceptance of foods from biotechnology-derived plants or from animals that consume genetically altered crops. It’s expected that health benefits, safety issues, environmental impacts and social and economic factors will be major factors in how consumers make their decisions.

NDSU sociologist Gary Goreham will explore the intense public scrutiny of the risks of agricultural biotechnology and genetically modified foods. Goreham will develop materials for the Rural Social Science Education program (RSSE). "What we’ll be doing is preparing materials for rural leaders, primarily clergy, that will look at social ethics with a special emphasis on the use of biotechnology," says Goreham.

"We’ll also look at the role of the faith community in shaping attitudes regarding biotechnology. Some denominations have made statements or decrees about its use while others are in the process of formulating those kinds of statements."

Goreham will survey farmers to find out if they are aware of their denomination’s position, to what degree they adhere to that position and to what level they are carrying out or agreeing with that position.

"Everyone in the agricultural food system, from producers, marketers, researchers and consumers, has developed ethical attitudes in regard to biotechnology," says Goreham. "We’ll find out if they are in favor or opposed to the use of biotechnology and then of course find out why."

Another large part of the grant centers on education through the NDSU Extension Service. "We plan to provide informational resources for extension personnel and other educators to use in presenting workshops or facilitating local discussions of biotechnology," says Hauck. "We’ll be targeting youth and adult audiences."

In the process of technology acceptance or rejection, the educational community can have a major impact on if and how quickly a technology is accepted according to Hauck. "Part of our effort will focus on K-12 biology, agriculture, and family and consumer science teachers. It also applies to the educators of youth in 4-H and other non-classroom settings."

Educators and students will be given printed and electronic information and interactive learning opportunities to examine the science, economic, ethical and social impacts of agricultural biotechnology.

Funding was awarded through the USDA’s Initiative for Future Agriculture and Food Systems (IFAFS). The total project award for the nine institutions is over $3.6 million.

Other institutions involved in the grant include:

Iowa State University; Ames, Iowa
Cankdeska Cikana Community College; Fort Totten, North Dakota
Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College; Hayward, Wisconsin
South Dakota State University; Brookings, South Dakota
Leech Lake Tribal College; Cass Lake, Minnesota
University of Minnesota; Saint Paul, Minnesota
Si Tanka Tribal College; Eagle Butte, South Dakota
University of Wisconsin; Madison, Wisconsin

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Source: Duane Hauck, (701) 231-7178, dhauck@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Gary Goreham, (701) 231-7637, gary_goreham@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Rich Mattern, (701) 231-6136, Richard_Mattern@ndsu.nodak.edu