In
This Issue:
CANADA COMMITTEE
ISSUES REPORT ON GM FOOD REGULATIONS
The Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee (CBAC) released an interim report
on improving the regulation of genetically modified foods and other novel foods
in Canada. The report provides five main and 24 supplementary draft recommendations
at improving the federal regulatory system for GM and other novel foods. It
also discusses concerns related to public information, informed choice and
environmental stewardship.
The final report will be provided to the Government of Canada and released
to the public in early 2002. It recommends a clearer regulatory oversight of
GM and other novel foods, including an integrated, transparent and accountable
management structure. In addition, it calls for better research for monitoring
and data collection about the potential long-term health and environmental
impacts of GM products.
Other report recommendations include the development of GM product labeling
standards to be initially implemented on a voluntary basis to test their adequacy
and effectiveness. It also urges the establishment of a centralized information
service that would generate and channel comprehensive and objective information
on GM and other novel foods to consumers.
The CBAC is an independent body of experts in the fields of science, business,
nutrition, law, the environment, philosophy, ethics and public advocacy. It
was established by the Canadian government to provide public policy advice
on a range of biotechnology issues.
The full report is available at http://www.cbac.ca/gmfood_interim_English.htm
US SCIENTISTS RELEASE GENOME
SEQUENCE OF A. TUMEFACIENS
Monsanto scientists in collaboration with a research team from the University
of Richmond have recently released the genome sequence of the bacterium Agrobacterium
tumefaciens. The bacterium is said to be able to naturally transfer DNA
to plant cells.
Team leader Steve Slater of Cereon Genomics says that the bacterium is one
of the important tools for plant biotechnology. "Our understanding of this
bacterium and its natural ability to stably insert genes into plants has allowed
the development of many of the crops enhanced through biotechnology that farmers
are growing today. The availability of the genomic sequence can help to improve
the process of producing new crop varieties through biotechnology."
Monsanto announced that the DNA sequence for Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain
C58, which includes two plasmids and two chromosomes, has been downloaded to
GenBank, the DNA sequence warehouse of the National Center for Biotechnology
Information (NCBI) at the U.S. National Institutes of Health. The data will
be available to the public when released by NCBI and can be viewed on its website
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov).
Researchers have been studying Agrobacterium and its link with crown
gall disease since 1907. They have shown that it can transfer a portion of
its own DNA into the plant's DNA, thereby introducing new genes that lead to
crown gall formation. Modification of Agrobacterium DNA in the laboratory
to remove the genes involved in crown gall formation eventually allowed the
introduction of many other genes into plants.
AFRICAN CONFERENCE
ON PUBLIC PERCEPTION OF BIOTECH
A regional conference on public perception of biotech is being organized by
the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), Nairobi, Kenya, on 28-29
January 2002.
The conference is being organized to create a forum for the African public-through
representatives of a diverse group of environment and development NGOs, scientists,
religious leaders, opinion leaders, policy-makers and politicians-to speak
on its expectations of modern biotechnology. It will set the basis for launching
objective studies and assessments of how Africans from different social, economic,
ecological and political contexts perceive of genetically modified products.
This conference may also enlarge public understanding of the nature of biotechnology.
Its specific objectives are to:
a) identify and promote a better understanding of salient factors that influence
African public views of genetically modified products;
b) erect appropriate conceptual pillars for analyzing public perception of
and responses to biotechnology, its benefits and risks; and to
c) shape regulatory measures being developed by African governments.
For more information contact Anna Ogalo or Harrison Maganga, African Centre
for Technology Studies; P.O. Box 45917, Nairobi, Kenya; Tel. 254-2-524700/6
Fax: 254-2-524701; E-mail: acts@cgiar.org or A.Ogalo@cgiar.org
BELGIAN SCIENTIST
CLARIFIES SOYBEAN ISSUE
Marc De Loose, researcher from the Belgium's Center for Agricultural Research
says his work into gene-spliced soybeans, has not cast doubt on their safety.
He claims that he and his colleagues had found alien gene fragments in Roundup
Ready soybeans which had no link with the plant's DNA sequence or the genome
of soy. However, he clarified that there was no evidence to suggest that the
unidentifiable genetic sequence could lead to unknown and unpredictable results.
"There is no scientific data to support this idea because we checked this sequence
in different generations that were on the market and we did not see any differences.
This means that the sequence is stable and all the data concerning safety are
still valid. There is also no evidence that the sequence causes any expression,
so we did not demonstrate that the sequence is expressed...there is no indication
that this (soy) might cause any allergy," De Loose added.
The researcher said his work "would give information and monitor data which
can be used in a discussion on GMOs submitted for authorization in the future.
Government now has the tools to check the quality of future GMOs."
CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE
AFFECTS GM PALM OIL
Commercialization of genetically modified palm oil will depend very much on
customer acceptance. Cheah Suan Choo, researcher from the Malaysian Palm Oil
Board says that the selling point for palm oil is still that it a 100% natural
product and GMO-free.
Speaking at the 2001 International Palm Oil Congress in Kuala Lumpur, The lady
researcher was quoted to have said that "the competitiveness of the oil is
progressively being undermined by increasing production cost." Hence, the use
of GM palm oil would reduce production cost and increase yield such as with
its main competitors soya beans and canola.
US WELCOMES BIOTECH
SEED APPROVAL
The US National Corn Growers Association welcomes a report that a subcommittee
within Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (MAFF) approved
a draft proposal setting a one percent tolerance for unapproved biotech hybrids
in livestock feed.
The draft proposal, approved by the Safety Assessment Subcommittee of MAFF's
Feed Committee, is expected to be open for comments from the public and from
World Trade Organization member countries. The proposal is then submitted to
the full MAFF Feed Committee for approval. The biotech hybrids must have approval
in at least one of the 30 member countries of the Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development.
The development is said to indicate that MAFF understands what an impossible
task it is to guarantee a zero tolerance, and it offers an option for corn
that tests positive for Starlink to be used as feed in Japan.
TECHNIQUE FOR
DELAYING INSECTS' GENETIC RESISTANCE TO PESTICIDE
US scientists have developed negative cross-resistance, which involves using
multiple pesticides in a precise way to stop the pests. Barry Pittendrigh of
Purdue University and Patrick Gaffney of the University of Wisconsin-Madison
developed a method to use pesticides so that genetic resistance does not arise.
They claim that scientists would identify a second biocide- pesticide, antibiotic,
herbicide or fungicide -that specifically kills the resistant pest. The two
biocides would then be used together, either concurrently or alternated, to
prevent resistance.
Pittendrigh and Gaffney say that their model shows that using negative cross-resistant
biocides could delay resistance for decades. "Although negative cross-resistance
is not the answer to dealing with resistance to pesticides, it certainly has
the potential to play a significant role in dramatically slowing the rate at
which resistance enters insect populations," Pittendrigh explained.
Details
of the research are published in the Journal of Theoretical Biology
August 21, 2001 issue.
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QUOTABLE QUOTES
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"The
prediction so often heard that the poor in developing countries
are unlikely to benefit from modern biotechnology in the foreseeable
future could well come true - not because the technology has
little to offer but because it will not be given a chance."
--
Per Pinstrup Andersen, Director- General, IFPRI |
