Phosphorous is required in all livestock diets, and corn contains reasonable levels of phosphorous. Perhaps the greater value is in lowering the amount excreted which, today, is becoming a major pollution problem around large livestock operations. Essential amino acids, protein types and digestibility, and fatty acid types are examples of these. These are not essential and could be genetically altered, solving a growing environmental and political problem. Mycotoxins are generated by fungal contamination of grain.
Aflatoxin is a known carcinogen at very low levels.
Genetic resistance to the fungal infections which cause mycotoxins would provide a much healthier feed-food chain for both animals and humans. It is difficult to envisage other projects which would generate such a large return on investment for the U.S. taxpayer. The United States is currently the world leader in research and commercialization of biotechnology. The full potential of biotechnology will only be realized if we continue to invest in a strong national research base and extend our efforts into new application areas. Determine biochemical and genetic control mechanisms of metabolic pathways in animals, plants, and microbes that may lead to products with novel food, pharmaceutical, and industrial uses.