Blunt may give boost to biotech research

BYLINE: By Rachel Melcer ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt is weighing a plan that could free up more than $30 million a year in state funding for life-science research and commercialization by earmarking it solely for agricultural biotechnology.

The idea came from the governor's Advisory Council for Plant Biotechnology at a meeting Tuesday in Jefferson City.

Roger Beachy, chairman of the advisory council and president of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center in Creve Coeur, said the plan would capitalize on the state's strengths and national momentum in areas such as biofuel production.

By cutting out human-health projects, the plan also would avoid the mire of a legislative debate on stem-cell research and human cloning. That debate led to the appropriation being scuttled for fiscal 2007.

In 2003, lawmakers earmarked one-fourth of the state's tobacco-settlement funds for life-science projects each year beginning in fiscal 2007. However, when it came time to dole out the cash, last year's General Assembly balked at the prospect of funding a controversial form of embryonic stem-cell research.

No one denied the practical effect of making a life-science research appropriation less controversial.

"There's no doubt that there isn't much, if any, controversy around animal and plant biotechnology as compared to humans," said Mike Mills, deputy director of the Department of Economic Development.

The Missouri Life Sciences Research Board, set up to spend the research fund appropriation if it comes through, has been collecting "wish list" proposals from researchers and entrepreneurs who would apply for grants. These are being evaluated, said Roger Mitchell, the board's chairman.

But, "We have seen very excellent ideas brought forth from the [ag biotech] community...".... Other areas of science could as well - but this could be a good area in which to launch ourselves," Mitchell said.

He said he favors giving the fund a focus, to make the most of a limited amount of money and create momentum in a particular field.

"With the emphasis the state has placed in the biofuels area and with the importance of having us emerge as a really important player in biofuels and agriculture, it seems like an important thing to do," Beachy said.

The Plant Science Center, in collaboration with the University of Missouri at Columbia, probably would apply for a grant, Beachy said. And his advisory council, with its focus on agriculture, clearly has a bias.

Agriculture - primarily the growing of corn and soybeans - is a $2.1 billion industry in Missouri. That could be significantly boosted with breakthroughs in biofuels, animal nutrition and other value-added areas, Beachy said.

"We are so well-positioned, in so many ways, but we need some incentive and some help from the state government to help us realize our full potential," he said.