'Designer Seeds' Poised to Transform Agriculture

By Mike Moen, Prairie New Service

In the future, the food you eat could be grown from seeds developed with gene editing tools.

As scientists tinker with crop DNA, North Dakota farmer advocates see opportunity while expressing caution. Certain companies are racing to perfect seed technology by establishing genome blueprints emphasizing specific traits, such as making a crop more resistant to drought.

Mark Watne, president of the North Dakota Farmers Union, said the topic has come up in recent global conferences he has attended. He thinks the products will be on the scene soon, adding they could bring stronger yields for farmers, along with healthier crops to sell.

"We could maybe turn off the little sequence within the DNA that could maybe, some people that are gluten intolerant, could maybe eat wheat products," Watne suggested. "That could create a premium market for a couple of farms that want to go and produce a specific wheat. "

There's also a type of tomato which can help reduce blood pressure. The seeds are different from genetical- ly modified organisms, because there's no use of outside DNA sources. GMOs eventually became controversial amid negative public perception.

Watne urged regulators to strike a balance fostering accessibility while deterring monopolies.

Watne argued there should also be strong "truth-in-labeling" policies so consumers know exactly what they are getting. He added a robust approach could help meet future demand for food.

"Maintaining an abundant food supply keeps the prices of food somewhat in check," Watne pointed out. "We never really thought about that until we saw empty shelves during COVID and have been living with food inflation."

He noted another benefit is providing more advantages to farmers in underdeveloped countries. The United States and the European Union face calls to develop more uniform regulatory structures as the products reach the market.

PRESS RELEASE: BISMARCK, N.D. – Recent data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) shows North Dakota leading the nation in the growth of earnings and gross domestic product (GDP), underscoring the state’s strong economy and policies working to drive investment, innovation and business expansion, Gov. Doug Burgum said.

North Dakota experienced the highest growth in real GDP among all 50 states in the first quarter of 2023, surging by 12.4% in the last year – more than six times higher than the nationwide increase of 2%, according to BEA estimates.

North Dakota also led the nation in earnings, which increased at an annualized rate of 12.4% in the first quarter of 2023 – nearly triple the national growth rate of 4.6%. growth in 13 states, including the five states with the largest increases: North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Kansas and Montana.

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Increases in farm earnings also was the leading contributor to growth in personal income in four of the five fastest-growing states: Nebraska, North Dakota, Iowa and South Dakota. North Dakota’s increases in personal income and real GDP attributed to oil and gas extraction and mining also were the highest among all states.

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