By Jeff Zent

The Forum - 04/20/2005

North Dakota State University is close to finalizing a deal that will partner a company and university researchers to develop biotech crops, an NDSU official said Tuesday.

The pending deal is part of an ongoing effort to link NDSU with companies interested in developing high-tech crops tailored for North Dakota farmers, said Ken Grafton, dean of the College of Agriculture and director of the Agricultural Experiment Station.

Grafton said he expects NDSU will finalize the research agreement and make an announcement in about a week.

Grafton declined to identify the company or provide details about the talks Tuesday, saying it could jeopardize negotiations.

The proposed agreement calls for a private-public partnership to develop several biotech crops, but not genetically modified wheat, Grafton said.

"We believe this work will be important in helping o ur growers remain competitive in a global market," he said.

NDSU officials are involved in similar negotiations with two other biotech companies, but those talks are not as advanced, he said.

The negotiations fall under the auspices of NDSU's AgBiotechnology Center of Excellence, a biotech research and development program created in 2003 with a state appropriation of about $750,000.

Farmers are increasingly turning to genetically modified crops to help control weeds, pests and for potentially higher yields.

In North Dakota, farmers have earned $700 million planting the high-tech crops since they were introduced about 10 years ago, an NDSU agricultural economist said.

Theresa Podoll, executive director of the Northern Plains Sustainable Agriculture Society, said she worries that development of biotech crops is outpacing consumer acceptance.

Members of the Sustainable Agriculture Society, many of whom produce organic crops, were outspoken cr itics of St. Louis-based Monsanto Co.'s plans to commercialize a genetically modified wheat.

Monsanto dropped its plans to make the biotech wheat available to farmers.

Cleveland, N.D., farmer Terry Wanzek said he's pleased with NDSU's efforts in developing biotech crops.

"I just think it is so important for our farmers and our state to stay abreast of this technology," he said. "I truly believe that someday there will be a chapter in the history books called, 'the biotech age.'"

Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Zent at (701) 241-5526