Agricultural News
Oklahoma Grain, Feed, Ag Retail and Seed Association Oppose the Production of Castor Beans
Fri, 19 Aug 2011 10:52:17 CDT
Citing an unacceptable risk to the integrity, security and safety of a wide variety of cultivated agricultural commodities within our state and the food and feed processed products made from them, the Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association, the Oklahoma Agribusiness Retailers Association, and the Oklahoma Seed Trade Association have each adopted the following resolution:
Be it resolved that the Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association, the Oklahoma Agribusiness Retailers Association, and the Oklahoma Seed Trade Association do not, and will not, support castor bean cultivation and production within the State of Oklahoma until such time as cultivated castor seed, and its components, are scientifically considered non-toxic.
Of concern to the industry is that the castor bean contains a protein RICIN, which is a deadly toxin that can kill mammals, birds, and humans if ingested even in trace quantities. The toxin is seven times more deadly than cobra venom, 6000 times more potent than cyanide. Ricin also remains in the seed meal after the oil is extracted. Even handling the seed or meal can result in accidental poisoning. Castor also produces an allergen to which some people may have an allergic reaction.
Castor must not be mixed with any food or feed grain or any other crop that might be used for human or animal consumption. Under current U.S. grading standards, only two beans in a 2.2 lb. sample would cause the entire load of grain to be rejected and could cause a disproportionate concern about all grains from regions or areas where castor is commercially grown. Notification of the contaminated load of grain must be sent to the Food and Drug Administration.
Combines that are used to harvest castor beans could provide a significant risk for future contamination. There could always be a few castor beans lodged in the machine, and 1000 acres later a seed could come out in another grain causing the entire load to be contaminated. U.S. grain exporters say that most all countries specify that not a single castor bean can be allowed in a cargo shipment of grain.
Castor is next year's potential volunteer crop. A field planted to castor beans could not be followed by a summer crop that is grown for food or feed (i.e., corn, soybeans, grain sorghum, and sunflowers). Cattle that may accidentally get into a field of castor beans could eat the bean and die from consuming as little as 10-15 individual beans.
While castor beans can be used as the feedstock in biofuels production, the risk of contamination of our state's food and feed supply when grown in areas that produce other crops far outweighs the economic benefits derived from its commercial production.
The Department of Homeland Security has declared RICIN as a potential weapon of terror, and has listed it on their Select Agent list. American counterterrorism officials are increasingly concerned that Al Qaeda is trying to produce ricin to be packed around small explosives for attacks against the U.S.
Another issue is what effect commercial castor bean production will have on our wildlife population.
For further information contact Joe Neal Hampton, CEO Oklahoma Grain and Feed Association, Oklahoma Agribusiness Retailers Association, and Oklahoma Seed Trade Association at 580-233-9516, or by email at joe.neal@sbcglobal.net.
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