In
This Issue:
SOUTH AFRICA
APPROVES FIRST BIOTECH FOOD CROP
South Africa farmers have completed planting of the country's first commercial
biotech food crop. Herbicide tolerant soybeans were approved earlier this year
by the government's Executive Council for Genetically Modified Organisms, the
body that reviews the country's applications for approval of biotech products.
Farmers have planted approximately 7,000 hectares of herbicide tolerant soybeans.
This is the fourth biotech crop to be commercialized in South Africa since
1998. Other approved crops include insect protected corn (Bt corn) used
for animal feed, herbicide tolerant cotton and insect protected cotton (Bt cotton).
OECD CALLS
FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION ON SAFETY ASSESSMENTS IN
BIOTECHNOLOGY
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) held a conference: "Living
Modified Organisms (LMOs) and the Environment" last November in North Carolina.
Some 250 scientists, representing stakeholders from 45 OECD and non-OECD countries
participated in the two-day conference. The consensus reached was that "living
modified organisms contribute to a safer, more secure global food supply but
their effects on the environment require continuing scientific investigation."
Participating countries called for more interaction between science and society.
They stressed the importance of addressing the human needs of their countries
while at the same time protecting the environment.
OECD Secretary General Donald Johnston challenged scientists at the conference
to identify and bridge knowledge gaps in order to achieve a balance between
opportunity and safety. He also emphasized the need for communication with
the public and continued dialogue on biotechnology with all stakeholders.
Experience is increasing with a case-by-case approach to safety assessments.
This approach reflects the differences in agro-ecological and socio-economic
conditions among OECD countries and between OECD and non-OECD countries. However,
the structure of risk assessment and the issues they address have many points
in common across many countries. While recognizing similarities in approaches,
and diversity in cultures and environment, the challenge now is to work together
to further international cooperation on safety assessments so that full use
can be made of global experiences in national regulatory systems.
The conference agenda, participants, presentations, and rapporteurs' summaries
are available on the website http://www.oecd.org/ehs/raleigh
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCHERS: "BIOTECH
CROPS PREVENT ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE"
In an informal symposium associated with the Entomological Society of America
(ESA) annual meeting last week, seven researchers from around the world presented
new data from studies showing insect protected Bt crops developed using biotechnology
offer the potential for a more sustainable agriculture. They presented evidence
showing increased beneficial insect populations in transgenic Bt crops and
that these crops may offer one way for agricultural production to move toward
a better balance with nature.
Some highlights:
- Investigations span a number of crops, Bt proteins, and bio-climatic zones.
- Replacement of broad spectrum insecticides with Bt proteins expressed in
plant tissue offers both a substantial reduction in applications of chemical
insecticides and, in some areas, better crop protection than offered by traditional
insect control methods.
- Non-target species are allowed to prosper where previously they were suppressed
by frequent applications of insecticides.
- In some areas, enhanced insect populations may be contributing to a better
habitat and more frequent sightings of vertebrate species such as frogs and
birds in fields managed with Bt crops.
GENOME OF
'NATURAL GENETIC ENGINEER' OF PLANTS NOW SEQUENCED
Scientists at US-based companies Cereon Genomics, Monsanto, and the University
of Richmond published a paper last week in the journal Science describing the
genome sequence of Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain C58. Due to the
ability of this organism to naturally transfer DNA to plant cells, it has been
the subject of intense research since 1907 when scientists showed that it is
the cause of the plant disease called crown gall. In the 1970s and 1980s researches
demonstrated that the bacterium transfers a portion of its own DNA into the
plant's DNA, thereby introducing new genes that lead to crown gall formation.
Modification of its DNA in the laboratory to remove the genes involved in crown
gall formation eventually allowed the introduction of many other genes into
plants.
"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," says Dr. Steve Slater, one of the scientists involved in the
sequencing project.
For more, please visit http://www.sciencemag.org
NEW REPORT ON THE SAFETY OF APPROVED
GM FOODS
A new report released on December 7 by CropGen points to evidence from over
one hundred publicly available sources showing that approved GM foods are in
practical terms at least as safe as other supermarket foods.
The report entitled, "One hundred percent safe? GM foods in the UK," was written
by Professor Vivian Moses, Chairman, CropGen panel. It reviews the regulatory
procedures for evaluating the health aspects of novel foods, particularly GM
foods, notes in detail what the regulators have said and concludes to what
extent approved products can be declared safe. The report acts as a guide to
the substantial data that has been gathered on those GM foods approved for
consumption in the UK. They include 3 varieties of corn, 3 varieties of oilseed
rape, one of soybean and one of tomato.
Professor Moses concluded that the people involved with developing, promoting,
and approving GM foods for public consumption have been thorough: "This report
has been commissioned to help achieve a greater measure of realism and better
balance in the UK public debate about crop biotechnology... Critics can no
longer claim that GM technology is not independently tested. Regulations are
in place - and our report shows you where to find them."
The report is available from the CropGen website at http://www.cropgen.org
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Essential Biosafety CD now available! If you still haven't ordered
your copy of this excellent CD, then do so now by visiting http://www.essentialbiosafety.info and
filling up the request form. This CD-ROM offers comprehensive information about
the safety of genetically modified crops.
Food Biotechnology: A Communication Guide to Improving
Understanding CD now available! This Guide aims to
raise awareness of this communications issue, and provides
lots of practical advice and resources to overcome this
problem. For example, the Guide includes lists of "Words
to use" and "Words to lose", and a slide presentation,
which may be adapted according to audience needs and interests.
Get your free copy now and e-mail us at knowledge.center@isaaa.org |
