Problems Facing Scott Deteer and Ventria - Essay Example

Ventria Bioscience Name: Institution: Date: Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Introduction 2 Problems facing Scott Deteer and Ventria 3 Groups that have interest in ventria’s action 4 Food and drug administration 4 United States Department of Agriculture 5 California Rice Commission 5 Activist groups 6 Options that may emerge incase of dialogue with the stakeholders 6 Use of political action strategies 8 Other options for the company 9 Recommendations 11 Conclusion 12 References 13 Introduction Ventria Bioscience is a company that deals with research in biotechnology. The company has been in existence since 1993. According to Deeter (2005), it was mainly established for the purpose of carrying out research on the rice. This was mainly for the purpose of improving its breed as well as ensuring that the nutrition is improved world wide. The company also carried out research on crops as the company contributed growing. Initially, the company specialized in adding traits to the crops so as to make them resistant to attacks by insects and diseases. The research was mainly done by experienced personnel in the field as all the personnel were qualified in the sector. The company then commercialized its operations using the techniques and the technology at its disposal. This worked well for the company and continued to grow and expand over the years. The management team then developed a second wave of research which was aimed at using the plants for medical purposes. Most people experienced some health problems after consuming some food crop. The plan was mainly to achieve the goals through genetic modification of the seeds (Altman, 2012). The report therefore discusses the issues surrounding the problems faced by the company in the quest to plant the pharmaceutical rice. Problems facing Scott Deteer and Ventria Scott who is the CEO of Ventria faces a problem of approval by the authority to plant the pharmaceutical rice. The authorities are reluctant to give the company a go ahead due to the fact that some of the stakeholders have raised concerns regarding the pharmaceutical rice (Deeter (2005). This is despite the fact that the planting season is nearing and the company had not win the approval of the authorities. Despite the company coming up with plans of how to deal with the concerns raised by the stakeholders. The company therefore stands to loose a lot in terms of financial benefits if it does not embark on the project. This may lead to losses for the company which may en d up being financially crippled. This is considering that the company had invested heavily on the research. It is also evident that the company may loose support of the clients as the company is already in crisis. The crisis may also erode the good public image of the company and hence making it less relevant in the sector (Sasson, 2006). Despite the fact that the intentions of the company were good, the public may end up misinterpreting it and hence causing a lot of damage to the company in terms of reputation. This issue therefore presents a major problem to Scott and the company as a whole. The company also depends on the capital venture for the purpose of its growth, development and operations. With the project on hold, the company may face a difficult time a head. This is also a problem and a great challenge for Scott who has to figure out a way of moving the company forward. The future of the company is also uncertain if the project does not kick off unless Scott devises other means of ensuring the company beats the current challenge. Groups that have interest in ventria’s action Food and drug administration This is the government agency that is in charge of food and drugs for the consumption of both human and animals (Herren, 2012). The agency has to be involved in any project that deals with pharmaceutical products. In the case of the company, the agency was involved since lactiva and lysomin were being use used in the research. Since these are considered as food additives, then the agency has to be involved to ensure that it will be safe for human consumption. It was thus necessary for the company to get approval of the authority so that the lactiva and lysomin can be declared generally recognized as safe. United States Department of Agriculture This is a government agency that works alongside the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). This department is mainly concerned with the growth of plants and animal research. The agency also plays an oversight role in the field of genetically modified plants. The agency is thus a very important stakeholder in the project that the company wanted to initiate. This is mainly because the company was intending to modify the plants of the purpose of making it making it a pharmaceutical plant. It is also a requirement for any organization to receive certification from the agency before undertaking any work that regards genetic modification of plants. The company thus required a certification from the authority in order to commence with the project. California Rice Commission The California rice commission is a body that was formed for the purpose of taking into account the interest of the farmers and other stakeholders in the rice sector. This commission plays an important role as it collects views of the people as well as those of the stakeholders before sending its recommendations to the government t agency for approval or disproval. This commission is thus an important player in the project that the company wanted to initiate. It played the role of collecting the views of the farmers and thereafter advising the agencies accordingly. The commission is under the California State government. Approval from the authority is mainly done after the board members have voted for the issues under scrutiny (Herren, 2012). Activist groups These groups are very active and their concerns are mainly based on the opinions based on their faiths or other non scientific explanations. The groups are mainly concerned about the well being and the health of the entire population without necessarily the approval of the government t agencies. These stakeholders are very powerful since they are mainly in touch with the people on the ground. Their strength and power mainly lies on the people. This is because they have the ability to mobilize the common people to hold demonstrations against the products. The demonstrations may also force the government to disprove the entire project. This is the biggest challenge for the company (Friedman, 2008). Options that may emerge incase of dialogue with the stakeholders The company faces several options incase it resorts to dialogue with the stakeholders. The first option may not be good for the company. This is considering the opposition that the company has faced since it proposed the project. The company may be persuaded to disband the project completely. The activists may play an important role in the disbandment of the project. Considering that there has been an international opposition to the plans by Japan, a key ally of the United States, and then the chances of the company being denied the permit to continue with the project are quite high. The main reason for this could be mainly the public outcry despite the good intentions that the company may be having (Plunkett, 2008). If the needs and voices of the activist groups are put into consideration during the dialogue process, then the company faces the option of being denied the right to go ahead with the project. On the other Hand, the company may be successful in its dialogue with the stake holders and may be given a go a head. However, it is most likely that the company may not be allowed to carry out the project according to its plan. The company may be imposed with a lot of terms and conditions that it has to comply with during the project. Since the number of acres is an issue and it has surpassed the fifty acres requirement, then the company may be forced to reduce the number of acreages. This is mainly for the purpose of preventing mass production of the pharmaceutical rice that may en d up in the wrong hands. The company may also be forced to plant the crops far away in an isolated area so as to reduce the instances of cross pollination arising from plants or through the birds. This is thus a major concern as the pollination may lead to serious problems. The company may also be required to give in to third party inspectors from time in order to ensure that the company complies with the set regulations and standards (Plunkett, 2008). The dialogue on the other hand may lead to a stand off. This situation may also be very bad for the company. The stand off may result from the fact that the company and the stakeholders may fail to agree on certain issues regarding the projects. It is also evident that some of the government agencies are in favor of the project while others are in opposition. If this is combined with the views of the activists, then the parties may fail to agree on one common stand. This will definitely mean that the company has to wait until such a time when the contesting parties come to an agreement. According to Sasson (2006), this definitely mean that the company may end up missing various planting seasons which may end up affecting the resources of the company. This may also paralyze the operations of the company and thus its failure to continue operating. The other likely outcome of the dialogue may result to further consultations with other stakeholders or government agencies. The stakeholders may agree that it is necessary to involve other government and private stakeholders so as to come up with the most amicable solution. This may also be a difficulty situation to the company as it may be forced to wait for some times before the resolutions are passed. It is clear that the government may also be having a lot of interest in the mater. This is mainly because the issue may end up causing differences with Japan which is an important trade partner in Asia. The dialogue may thus end up with parties coming to an agreement that the government and other stakeholders be involved in the process so as to ensure the mater is totally solved. This may have a positive or negative outcome for the company. Use of political action strategies The use of political action strategies may also play an important role in influencing the decision of the regulators. If the company decided to engage the political leaders on the mater, it may lead to a greater awareness among the members of the public. This is considering that the politicians have a way of ensuring the maters before them receive a lot of debate. This will thus ensure that the real information behind the project will be availed to the public and thus the public will know the real details of the project. The use of political strategies may however be very costly to the company in terms of financial resources as going out to the public requires a lot of finances. The authorities may be forced to give their opinions directly to the people and state their stand regarding the mater. This may benefit the company if the political strategy is strong enough. The authorities may end up approving the project within a shorter time. The political strategy on the other hand may make the authorities more reluctant to approve the project. This is mainly because the authorities may find the action as lack of trust in the dialogue process. Politicizing the mater may also attract other information that may end up misleading the public. This may end up with the company suffering a major blow to its projects as well as its reputations. Lawrence (2008) points out that the reputation of the company may also be ruined if it uses the political strategies wrongly. This is mainly because the company May end up being branded with negative comments from the activists who may view the strategy as misleading. The company may thus suffer greatly fro the political strategies which always results to a lot of debate and anxiety. It is more likely that the use of the political strategy may influence the decision of the relevant authorities as well as the public image of the company (Lawrence, 2008). Other options for the company Since the Chief Executive officer of the company has spent a lot of time consulting the other stakeholders but has not received any positive results, the company may weigh other options. The options may not be political or dialogue but may have impacts on the decisions of the authority. Kaput & Rodriguez (2006) observe that the company may opt to educate the public on the dangers of the diahhrea diseases and how it affects the children, tourists and members of the military in foreign missions. This should be done through seminars, press and also posters. This is mainly for the purpose of ensuring g that the public has enough information regarding the diseases. The methods of treatment together with their advantages and disadvantages should also be taught to the general public. This will ensure that the public is fully aware of the concerns that the company is trying to address. This is an important step in wining the hearts of the general public. In its awareness programs, the company should also educate the public on maters of genetic modification and the pollination process. Once the public have the real information, it will become easier for them to decide the fate of the company (Kaput, & Rodriguez, 2006). The Farmers who are the major opponents of the projects should also be invited for a free seminar regarding the importance of the genetic modified organisms and specifically the pharmaceutical rice. The company should involve the farmers in its educational programs and awareness. This will be viewed as a goodwill gesture by the company and it may end up getting support. The local and international non governmental organizations should also be invited to the seminars by the company so as to ensure it highlights the importance of preventing diarrhea among the children and other vulnerable groups. A part from educating the general public, the company may also decide to use other examples or models that have been successful in other projects for the purpose of proving that the projects are good for the general society (Surhone, Tennoe, & Henssonow, 2010). The company may also seek the help of international agencies that deals with products. It is also important for the company to seek audiences with other countries that are known for having severe cases of diarrhea among the children. Theses countries may influence the authorities to certify the project. The last method the company may use when all the other methods do not work is seeking a legal redress. The company may decide to take the mater to the court and sue the authorities for their part in openly denying the company the required certification. This is despite the fact that the company being ready to follow all the required procedures and conditions. It is also important to note that some of the agencies were for the project. The company should thus present its complaints to the court for the purpose of interpretation. The courts will then be informed of the situation and the why some of the authorities do not want the project certified. The relevant authorities with then present their side of the story before the court which will make the final findings. The company may end up wining the legal battle and thus the relevant authorities will have no other choice but to certify the projects. However this should be the last option as it may be ruled in favor of the relevant authorities and thus putting the matter to rest. This will greatly affect the company society (Surhone, Tennoe, & Henssonow, 2010). Recommendations As for now, the company faces an uphill task as it may end up missing the planting season which is quite important in terms of generating revenue and ensuring that the company remains in operation. It is thus important for the company to weigh other options incase it may not be certified. Carola (2010) notes that the company should consider initiating a different project which may act as a security. The project will be implemented only if the current project fails. This ensures that the company does not rely on just one means of generating revenue or capital. The research should also be done carefully so that it may still be applicable in the future incase the current issue is resolved. This should be done with full consultations with the relevant authorities and stakeholders so as to ensure that the project does not backfire. The resources for the project should also be solicited by the CEO using all means possible so as to save the company from possible collapse (Carola, 2010). The company should also refrain from making any negative statements regarding the authorities or the activists. This may end up jeopardizing the whole process. The company should stay calm as it continues to engage the other stakeholders in the project. The company should however ensure that it focuses all the energy on the success of the project by trying to convince the farmers and the activists that the project is safe and it has no negative implications on the growth and development of the sector. On the other hand it is also important for the company to continue with research in other areas so as to ensure time is not wasted on a single project. The company should also continue liaising with the relevant authorities concerning the operations of the project so as to create an enabling environment for dialogue. The company should also refrain from using any political strategies for now as it may have negative consequences. The political strategies should not be used at all as it may lead to the interference of the process by6 other groups. For now, it is also not wise for the company to seek legal redress as it may jeopardize the entire process if it fails to win the case. Negotiations with the farmers and the general public should also be promoted by the company for now (Deeter, 2005). Several options may emerge from a dialogue which may have a direct impact on the project. The authorities may decide to certify the project, reject it or refer it to other government t authorities. This is considering the project may have consequences on the international market. The company may also decide to take political strategies. These strategies may pose a lot of challenges for the company if it is not handled well. The political strategies are however not good for the company as it may cause unnecessary problems. However other options exist for the company but it may or may not work. These options mainly lie on influencing the people so that they can influence the relevant authorities. However, for now the company should focus on influencing the relevant authorities as well as exploring the possibility of new projects. Conclusion In conclusion, it is evident that the company had a good and innovative idea for the purpose of treating millions of people in the world. The company is also focused on development and is keen on ensuring proper growth. However the ambitions of the company received a big blow fro the authorities due to the nature of the project it wanted to conduct. The project had a lot of advantages and also some disadvantages. The disadvantages are quite alarming as the contamination may end up causing serious health complications. This is a concern that was aired by most of the proponents of the project. It is also evident that the authorities are in dilemma on whether to certify the project or not. This leaves the company with limited options on what it is supposed to do so as to convince the authorities to certify the project. References Altman A. (2012). Plant Biotechnology and Agriculture: Prospects for the 21st Century. New York: Academic Press. Altman A. & Hasegawa P. M. (2011). Plant Biotechnology and Agriculture: Prospects for the 21st Century. Academic PressDeeter, S. (2005). House of Representatives, Small Business Committee, Hearing on Different Applications for Genetically Modified Crops. Carola, M. S. (2010). Decentering Biotechnology: Assemblages Built and Assemblages Masked Theory, technology, and society. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd.. Retrieved from http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=wQiJZjjJyC0C&pg=PA114&dq=Ventria+bioscience &hl=sw&sa=X&ei=m04AUKDZIsWSiAfKvKmVCA&ved=0CEUQ6wEwAw#v=onepa ge&q=Ventria%20bioscience&f=false Herren, R. V (2012). Introduction to BiotechnologyAuthorEdition2PublisherCengage Learning, 2012 Friedman, Y. (2008). Best Practices in Biotechnology. New York: Thinkbiotech Publishers Lawrence, T. (2008). Ventria Bioscience and the Controversy over Plant-Made Medicines. Kaput, J. & Rodriguez R. L. (2006). Nutritional Genomics: Discovering The Path To Personalized Nutrition. Sheffield: Wiley-Interscience publisher. Plunkett J. W. (2008). Plunkett's Biotech and Genetics Industry Almanac 2009 (E-Book): Biotech and Genetics Industry Market Research, Statistics, Trends and Leading Companies. Plunkett Research, Ltd. Sasson, A. (2006). Medical Biotechnology: Achievements, Prospects and Perceptions. United Nations University Press. Surhone, L. M., Tennoe M. T. & Henssonow S. F (2010). Ventria Bioscience. 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