Regulatory Process a Hindrance in Public Sector Development of GE Crops Says Beachy

"Without additional support, there will likely be few genetically enhanced crops developed by public sector researchers in the marketplace in the near future," said Dr. Roger Beachy, head of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in an interview published in the journal Nature Biotechnology.

Beachy identified the high cost involved in the regulatory process as essentially eliminating public sector participation in commercialization. He also noted the lack of expertise and infrastructure to provide regulatory authorities with the necessary documentation for regulatory approval. "I am very interested in having a regulatory structure that is science-based," he added.

Subscribers of Nature Biotechnology can view the full transcription of the interview at http://www.nature.com/