Senate Considers Allowing More Farmers To Grow Ingredients For Drugs

The State Senate has advanced a proposal that could make it easier for farmers to produce ingredients for drugs. Growing genetically-enhanced crops that can beused to make medicines is a tightly-controlled process. Contamination from other crops requires, for example, no other crops be grown within as much as a mile of the special ones. Senator David Klindt of Bethany says there are not many farmers who have enough land to meet that kind of requirement. But a group of farmers could come up with that much space. He’s behind a proposal to let farmers organize “Grower Districts.” He says the districts will probably be necessary if Missouri farmers will have a chance to participate in growing crops for pharmaceutical needs. Klindt says genetically-enhanced crops are producing medicines that are “amazing.” The Senate has tentatively approved his bill. Another round of voting is needed to send it to the House.