A majority of consumers think biotechnology is an acceptable means of improving farming practices and food safety.

“Biotechnology is simply not an issue for the vast majority of U.S. consumers,” says Dr. Thomas J. Hoban, a North Carolina State University food scientist who designed and analyzed a recent survey for the Grocery Manufacturers of America.

The StarLink corn issue, despite its high news profile in newspapers and on TV, did not change buying habits. Two out of three consumers surveyed said they would buy products that had been modified through biotechnology to require fewer pesticides or to contain more vitamins and nutrients. Only 5% said they had taken any action because of a concern about genetically modified foods.

Biotech isn't alarming farmers, either. In a survey taken last fall by the Council for Biotechnology Information, 45% of farmers questioned planned to plant either the same or a greater percentage of biotech corn this year.

In Illinois at least, the “green industry” rings up more sales than corn, soybeans and livestock. Preliminary estimates from a new university study show that products and services from the horticultural and turfgrass industries generated nearly $2.9 billion in sales, compared to $2.56 billion from corn, $2.1 billion from soybeans and slightly over $1 billion from hogs and cattle.

Internet service provider Rooster.com is merging forces with Pradium, Inc., the new online oilseeds and commodity trading company. Both Internet entities were launched through investments by ADM, Cargill, Cenex Harvest States, DuPont and Louis Dreyfus.

Rooster.com will focus on developing e-business centers for retailers and country elevators. Pradium.com will provide “virtual” trading pits for use by professional commodity merchandisers and traders.

Rhem Wooten, who headed Pradium, is CEO of the combined operation.

Participants in the BASF Harvest Partners rewards program may now receive credits for select products from Aventis Crop Science in addition to those from BASF and Syngenta. Aventis recently joined the BASF preferred customer program. However, each company will have separate promotions based on eligible products and services. Harvest Partners operates a Web site that allows members to check point balances and redeem points online.

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