Abstract

THE THREE MILE ISLAND OF BIOTECH?

The article focuses on the growth in the number of biopharming activities in the U.S. Biopharming testing across the nation has grown over the years. Companies such as ProdiGene Inc., Monsanto Chemical Co., Dow Chemical Co. and various universities as well have obtained permission from the Department of Agriculture to have farmers plan open-air test plots. They aim to grow farm crops into plant pharmacies that can provide vaccines to diseases such as hepatitis B and diabetes. But after the near-disaster in Hamilton County, Nebraska where food crops have been contaminated, there has been some scaling back in biopharm test plots. Biopharming still remains in the experimental stage and still faces strict regulation from authorities.