Much to be thankful for

Much to be thankful for

November 24, 2001

Capitol Report
By State Senator Jim Isgar

The last few months have been full of unprecedented tragedies — the terrorists attacks, anthrax, our economy threatened. But things seem to be righting themselves now. We have lost much but our society is strong and our perseverance in the face of these events is great. We have much to be thankful for and this past week has been the time to give thanks. I hope you all had a fine Thanksgiving full of family and all the trimmings of this traditional holiday.

I recently attended a seminar on agricultural biotechnology put on by Monsanto. As chairman of the senate agricultural committee and as a farmer I am very interested in ways that we can improve agriculture. Biotechnology holds great promise not just for agriculture but for the environment and health.

We use herbicides to control weed growth on some areas of my farm. We also raise squash and other vegetables on a separate part of my farm that is managed to produce certified "organic" products. I am aware of the arguments on both sides of this debate. At the heart of the matter there are several facts:

World population has doubled between 1960 and 2000 (from 3 billion to 6 billion).
Estimates of world population by 2050 are 9 billion.
Most of the growth in population is occurring where there is little farmland.
Most of the growth in population is occurring in areas where there is little income.
Starvation is a continuing threat and distribution of products is a major problem.
We have been "engineering" crops for thousands of years — all of today’s "crops" are descendants of so called "wild" or "organic" plants found in nature at one time or another.

There are good things that come from biotechnology. Crops that are insect resistant need less chemical insecticides. This means less cost to the farmer and less harm to the environment. Because of this, there are more insects and greater insect diversity, less groundwater contamination and other benefits. More productivity means fewer acres need to be cleared.

Biotechnology has provided a variety of rice (golden rice) that is rich in vitamin A. This rice will help prevent blindness in millions of poor children around the world. Genetically modified soybeans can reduce a baby’s allergies to soybeans. Because of these benefits we must be open minded about genetically modified crops

Even though I see great benefits in this technology, we do need to make sure that we address all the concerns of the public. We need to move on this technology at a rate that society will accept. As we move ahead we need to be sure we use sound science to address the concerns that have been raised as well as the benefits perceived of biotechnology. I will continue to attend as many of these informational and educational seminars and meetings as possible. Hopefully, these experiences and this knowledge will allow me to make the best decisions and recommendations I can as your senator in Denver.

On another issue, Andy Fautheree, Veteran Service Officer for Archuleta County, has applied for a grant to acquire a vehicle to transport veterans for medical needs as far away as Albuquerque. Andy is a hard worker and has the vets’ interest at heart. He brings private-sector values to his position and represents a person who needs our support. I am thankful that we have people like Andy who are working in the public sector to help our most deserving veterans.

Let’s hope that the weeks and months ahead continue to see improvement both regionally and nationally. Hopefully, by the time you read this, old man winter will have arrived and given us a good start on our mountain snowpack.

Jim Isgar, D-Hesperus, represents the 6th District, which includes Cortez, in the state senate. Reach him at the Capitol by phone, (303) 866-4884; by fax (303-866-2012; or by e-mail at jimisgar@qwest.net .