Big Sorghum is moving up on Big Oil in Texas. Ten-foot tall stalks of bioenergy sorghum, planted on thousands of acres, could march across Texas just as oil derricks once did, replacing black gold with green gold. [...] In addition to growing corn for biofuels, Texas can capitalize on decades of sorghum research at the Experiment Station, Murano said. The giant sorghum varieties being grown in experimental plots today are drought-tolerant, can be grown across the state, and offer high yields in ethanol.

The University of Hawai’i is conducting genetically modified crop research on bananas, tomatoes, petunias and lettuce in an effort to develop hardier, disease-resistant plants. Researchers at UH’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources also are trying to develop sugar cane that’s genetically modified to produce a vaccine to protect against rotavirus — a viral infection that can cause severe diarrhea and vomiting in young children.

A milk marketing campaign by Associated Food Stores has riled several dairy farmers across the Beehive State and caught the eye of a state agency, forcing the Salt Lake City-based grocery cooperative to change its milk ads starting Sunday. At issue is what has been described by the state and irate dairy farmers as a ”misleading” milk ad run by 170 of Associated Food’s 400-plus independently owned and corporate-owned stores, including Macey’s, for the past two weeks.

The buzz around biotech reached a peak yesterday when Gov. Deval Patrick unveiled a plan for Massachusetts to invest $1 billion in life sciences initiatives, including controversial stem-cell research, to help the state attract business and add jobs. Patrick’s plan, designed to ”fill gaps in federal funding,” would finance research grants, support laboratory improvements at public colleges and establish a centralized stem-cell center that could be tapped by scientists worldwide.

A proposed project to sequence the microorganisms that inhabit our bodies could have a huge impact on human health. Much as we might like to ignore them, microbes have colonized almost every inch of our bodies, living in our mouths, skin, lungs, and gut. Indeed, the human body has 10 times as many microbial cells as human cells. They’re a vital part of our health, breaking down otherwise indigestible foods, making essential vitamins, and even shaping our immune system. Recent research suggests that microbes play a role in diseases, such as ulcers, heart disease, and obesity.

The nation’s biotechnology industry holds its annual conference this week, with more than 20,000 attendees at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. One of the industry’s key leaders is former congressman James C. Greenwood, a Republican from Pennsylvania, who as president of the trade group BIO is its chief lobbyist in Washington. He spoke with Boston Globe reporter Stephen Heuser on a recent visit to Boston.

Americans are highly confident about the biotech industry’s ability to find cures for diseases and develop new alternative fuels. But biotch executives have work cut out for themselves in convincing Americans - especially women - about the benefits of genetically modified foods, according to new survey results released yesterday in conjunction with the first day of the 2007 BIO International Convention in Boston. [...] Only 47 percent of voters surveyed view genetically modified foods as positive - while 43 percent said the practice is ”troubling.”

Organic farmers have a need, and a right, to protect the integrity of their crops, which must adhere to standards to be certified as ”organic.” It is also important that Maine assist organic farmers in a reasonable fashion. Organic farming is not a major part of the state’s economy, but it does represent an economic niche in a state that depends on piecing many niches together to create a solid economic foundation. A bill aimed at the manufacturers of genetically modified seed, however, is a measure that steps beyond reasonable bounds. Part of the bill, sponsored by Rep. James Schatz, D-Blue Hill, would hold seed makers financially liable if cross-pollination occurs between genetically modified crops and organic crops growing in nearby, or not so nearby, fields.

The resolutions in Becket, Great Barrington and Savoy all call for legislation in state and federal government that would institute a moratorium on the use of the seed and clear labels that identify both genetically engineered seeds and the food produced by it, and for protection of farmers from lawsuits by companies that own patents to the genetic engineering. Three other Berkshire County towns — Windsor, Sandisfield and Williamstown — have passed similar resolutions in the past four years. A total of 21 Massachusetts towns have passed the resolution, and another nine are considering it this year.

Wheat Summit II, a follow-up to the first Wheat Summit in September 2006, was held in Kansas City this week. About 70 representatives from all aspects of the wheat industry – growers to branded food companies – attended. [...] Collaboration achieved through the Wheat Summit process is aimed at having industry consensus in four major areas: domestic competitiveness; domestic farm policy; exports, transportation and infrastructure; and research and technology.