The small paddies of rice that are expected to sprout this year near Junction City hold much promise for Kansas. As the first crop of commercial rice in the state, the genetically altered grain and the arrival of the company that is growing it is seen as a boon to the local economy. The plant would be used to produce pharmaceuticals, not food. ”We all think this is huge for the city, the county as well as the state,” said Terry Heldstab, mayor of Junction City, a town of 20,000 with an economy that relies on agriculture and its proximity to Fort Riley. But not everyone is backing the rice crop. The issue has produced a worldwide debate with some farmers, scientists and environmental groups claiming the rice is a threat.