Methods for growing nonfood products in transgenic plants

The relatively high cost of producing select industrial and pharmaceutical products in traditional hosts has led many groups to investigate the benefits of plant-based production systems. Transgenic plants can offer significant cost advantages for select products, but the advantage can be eroded occasionally by the cost of confinement to segregate them from commodity crops. The conceptual similarities and differences between transgenic plant production systems and other transgenic hosts are discussed in regard to regulations and public perception. A system of regulated transgenic production is described that is based on dedicating an area solely to industrial products. This system would take advantage of surrounding crops that are also grown for industrial applications to offset the cost of growing the regulated transgenic plants. Examples are given that demonstrate the economic advantages of the system while concurrently creating a clearer distinction between food and nonfood products. This system may also increase public confidence, as it is modeled on current systems used to produce regulated transgenic products in nonplant hosts. © Crop Science Society of America.