Fed: Tobacco industry turns over new leaf

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Fed: Tobacco industry turns over new leaf

By Vera Devai

BRISBANE, Feb 15 AAP - The tobacco industry may be turning over a new leaf - transformingthe plant that has been blamed for millions of deaths each year into life-saving medicine.

Researchers at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) have developed and patentedtechnology that allows healing antibodies and vaccines to be custom grown through tobaccocrops.

QUT science research director Professor James Dale said today the discovery would meana cost-effective method of developing insulin and human growth hormones for medical use.

Professor Dale said tobacco crops were ideal for the project with no risk of the proteinsfinding their way into the food chain.

Molecular farming, first developed in the United States, could signal the start ofa multi-million dollar commercial industry for Queensland, Professor Dale said.

He said local primary industries would benefit, particularly tobacco farming, whichhad been on the decline.

But Queensland Tobacco Marketing Co-op chairman Remzi Mulla said it may be too latefor the growers in the far north Queensland town of Mareeba, which was once Australia'slargest producer.

"I am cautiously optimistic because I do not want to give my growers a false impressionuntil down the track when everything fits into place," Mr Mulla said.

"A lot of people have been promoting things in the area in the last 10 years and wewere very optimistic, the farmers went into it head-long and went bankrupt with this typeof thing."

The Mareeba tobacco industry has been on the brink of collapse since one of Australia'stwo cigarette manufacturers, British American Tobacco, indicated it no longer wanted tobuy tobacco from the region last year.

However, Mr Mulla admitted a change in image for tobacco would be a positive step forthe industry, which was the most heavily taxed in Australia.

"It's one of the most versatile plants in the world and lends itself to genetic modificationsand manipulations," Mr Mulla said.

The proteins harvested in crops would be identical to those traditionally grown inanimal cells and at up to one-hundredth of the cost, Professor Dale said.

"This technology allows us to produce proteins where and when we want them and in largeamounts," he said.

"You can expand production very easily and quickly just by growing more acres."

In the light of concerns surrounding genetic engineering, Professor Dale said the cropswould be grown in isolation to ensure "genetic containment".

AAP ved/sc/apm/sb y

KEYWORD: ANTIBODIES NIGHTLEAD