Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee, my name is Vic Miller and I am a corn grower from Oelwein, Iowa.  I appreciate the opportunity to discuss the importance of the National Science Foundation’s Plant Genome Initiative.  Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your past support for this vital program.  I am testifying, today, on behalf of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) that represents 30,000 corn growers in 48 states.  I am chairman of the NCGA Customer and Business Development Action Team that is responsible for establishing the research and development priorities for the NCGA.  

We, strongly, urge you to provide $90 million in fiscal year 2002 for the NSF Plant Genome Research Program, an increase of $25 million above the FY 2001 level with the increase focused, primarily, on providing sequences and draft sequences of gene-rich regions (including full-length cDNA sequencing) of plants that are economically significant to the U.S.  Obtaining a publicly accessible draft sequence of the gene-rich regions and the full-length cDNA sequence of the corn genome is our number one research priority. 

We recognize that $25 million represents a significant increase for this program.  However, this level will give the NSF the funds necessary to begin to support projects that will provide draft sequences of the gene-rich regions of large, complex plants, such as corn and wheat.  The recent work to provide draft sequences of the human genome has paved the way for us to do comparable work in plants.  Finally, it is feasible and cost effective to survey sequence the gene-rich regions of large and complex plant genomes, such as corn and wheat.  Last fall, the Interagency Working Group on Plant Genomes recommended that $100 million be invested in sequencing the gene-rich regions of economically important crops, such as corn, wheat, and barley.  The $25 million increase for the NSF plant genome program will begin that investment.

As you know, increasing funding for plant genomics has been the number one appropriations priority for the NCGA since 1996. We remain convinced that the future of the corn industry is written in corn’s genetic code and that plant genomics will give us the fundamental information necessary to revolutionize American agriculture. Plant genomic research offers us the greatest potential to increase the value and demand for U.S. crops, thereby increasing grower income and reducing grower reliance on Federal farm programs.  Advances in basic plant science that result from a vigorous plant genomics program will allow us to create new hybrids and varieties that will –

§        Improve human and animal health;

§        Reduce medical costs due to more nutritious, healthier, food for individuals;

§        Reduce worldwide malnutrition through higher yielding and more nutritious crops;

§        Reduce environmental problems for crop and livestock growers;

§        Expand plant-based renewable resources for raw materials, industrial feedstocks, chemicals, and energy; and

§        Enable growers to get more income from the market, thereby reducing grower reliance on Federal farm programs.

The NSF plant genome program has revolutionized plant research and has rejuvenated the plant research community.  Already, the NSF program has been a spectacular success during its short life. To date, 54 plant genome research projects have been supported by the NSF program, in addition to the Arabidopsis sequencing effort.  The genome-sequencing project for Arabidopsis thaliana (a model plant species) was completed this past year, four years ahead of schedule. The biological tools and resources to study complex plant genomes, such as expressed sequence tags, and new plant-specific genome research technologies are being developed.  Since the start of the program, there has been a 400 percent increase in the number of expressed sequence tags for plant species deposited into the public database. The NSF program is supporting whole genome research into plant processes that include plant productivity, pathogen resistance, and mineral nutrition.  All of the tools and genetic resources developed under the NSF program are publicly accessible. 

Ensuring that basic, fundamental knowledge of economically important plants is accessible to everyone is one of the critical components of the NSF program.  The projects have created massive plant genomics databases, tools, and resources that are available to the scientific community at large.  Now, we must bring into the public domain draft sequences of the gene-rich regions of economically important plants to make certain that this fundamental knowledge remains widely and freely accessible.

Recently, Monsanto provided a draft sequence of rice to the NSF supported International rice sequencing effort. The existence of the public sequencing effort encouraged Monsanto to provide its draft sequence to the publicly funded, research community.  It is essential for us to act now to ensure public accessibility to draft sequences of other plants that are economically important to the U.S.  An increase of $25 million for the NSF plant genome research program will help to ensure that public and private scientists and plant breeders have access to draft sequences of economically significant plants, such as corn and wheat, and other basic, fundamental knowledge.

For fiscal year 2002, we, strongly, urge you to provide $90 million for the NSF plant genome research program with the increase focused, primarily, on providing sequences and draft sequences of gene rich regions (including full-length cDNA sequencing) of plants that are economically significant to the U.S. 

Thank you for the opportunity to present our views.  I would be happy to answer any questions. 

ST. LOUIS OFFICE

WASHINGTON D.C. OFFICE