College Station, Texas
December 13, 2006
Texas rice producers are
encouraged to implement voluntary measures in 2007 in an attempt
to regain valuable export markets, according to experts.
Earlier this year, samples of
Cheniere variety rice contained trace amounts of genetic
material from LL601, a Liberty Link genetically-modified rice
that had not been approved for release. Markets reacted
negatively to the discovery and led to an embargo of U.S. rice
sold to the European Union and some other countries.
"This is a voluntary effort the
industry is putting forth," said Dr. Garry McCauley, a research
scientist with the Texas
Agricultural Experiment Station. "Not planting or marketing
the Cheniere variety is a very feasible way to get our rice back
into those export markets again."
At the USA Rice Federation meeting
recently in Las Vegas, an outline of recommendations was
formulated as part of a strategy to prevent unapproved
genetically modified rice from entering the marketplace. For
example, seed
dealers have agreed not to sell the Cheniere rice variety for
planting in 2007.
Texas growers are advised to
implement the following practices for the 2007 growing season:
-
Purchased rice
planting seed must be dealer certified as LL601-trait free.
-
Upon first
entry to the marketplace at a rice dryer/elevator, the
grower must present dealer seed certification and
documentation of rice acreage certified to the Farm Service
Agency (including the farm serial number).
"All of these documents will be
reviewed for completeness at the first place the rice enters the
marketing chain," said McCauley, noting major Texas rice mills
have agreed to participate in the effort by not purchasing rice
that cannot be documented as being planted with LL-trait-free
seed.
Growers are advised to carefully
clean all planting, harvesting and storage equipment prior to
starting the 2007 season, McCauley said.
"If the problem is going to go
away, we need to make a good stewardship effort to clean this
up," he said.
For more detailed information,
rice growers should contact the Texas Cooperative Extension
agent in their county, McCauley said.
Writer: Blair Fannin |