In
This Issue:
DROUGHT RESISTANT
CROPS - SOON A REALITY?
A gene
that controls water retention in plants may yet make possible drought
resistant crops in the next five to ten years. David Oliver, chairman
of Iowa State University's botany department says that the gene's
discovery may overcome the problem of environmental stress which
is water availability.
Oliver
adds that "If it is possible to make plants less sensitive to
mild drought, then you could expect the same amount of land to produce
more corn and soybeans," he said. This is the kind of technology
that the Third World desperately needs."
Scientists
created a mutation in a gene from a common laboratory plant. They
discovered that when the gene was knocked out of action, the plant
wilted. It is suspected that the gene encoded an important molecule
called G-protein that controls plant development. Research is being
done to determine how the gene interacts in the plant.
US FARMERS
PLANT MORE GM SEED
Over 83
million acres were planted with GM seeds in the US this spring. This
was 18% more seed than last year reports the Wall Street Journal.
Debates over the safety of insect resistant and herbicide-tolerant
soybean, corn and cotton plants were widely expected to discourage
a lot of farmers from greatly expanding their use of seeds containing
a modified gene. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) had earlier
expected overall sales of transgenic seeds to grow by only 10%.
According
to the USDA, 68% of all the soybeans planted in the area contained
a Monsanto Co. gene compared with 54% of the soybeans planted last
year. Similarly, the cotton industry is also switching to transgenic
plants. Cotton farmers planted GM seed on 11.2 million acres this
year, 69% of total cotton acreage and 18% more acres than last year.
REPORT ANALYSES
IMPACT OF CHINA'S NEW REGULATIONS
China's
Ministry of Agriculture has come out with its analysis of the impact
of its new regulations on the management and labeling of genetically
modified organisms. It says that the regulations could have a substantial
impact on soybean imports as safety certification of all domestic
and imported GMOs, as well as labeling of GMOs and processed products
containing GMO material are required.
If China
decides not to import GM soybeans, the impact on world supply and
demand will be significant. The three largest soybean producers,
(US, Brazil and Argentina) will supply 80% of the world's total soybean
production. Presently, 63% of US soybean acreage in 2001 is genetically
modified, and GM soybeans account for over 20% of soybean acreage
in Brazil and 50% in Argentina. The estimated production of non-GM
soybeans is only 65.61 MMT. The report says that it is difficult
to estimate how many non-GM soybeans will be left to meet China's
import demand. China's current soybean imports are 11.5 MMT or roughly
22.7% of world soybean trade. It imported its soybean requirements
from the three mentioned countries.
Since
there is no segregation of GM and non-GM soybeans in the US, additional
costs will be entailed for labeling, and logistic support for obtaining
safety certificates and quarantine requirements.
If price
increases cause China's soybean imports to drop sharply, both domestic
spot market prices and futures market prices for soybeans will surge.
Distortions in soybean prices will lead to an increase in the gap
between supply and demand.
AUSTRALIANS MORE
POSITIVE TOWARD GM FOOD
A survey
shows that Australians have greater acceptance of genetically modified
foods with some important qualifications. Craig Cormick, manager
of public awareness at Biotechnology Australia says that people were
becoming more sophisticated in their attitudes and that fewer were
taking up positions of either direct opposition or unconditioned
support. The survey was undertaken for the Commonwealth Government
Agency, Biotechnology Australia.
People
were increasingly accepting of plants with additional plant genes
but not with animal genes. The number of people who would eat GM
foods rose from 25% in 1999 to 49% in 2001. Cormick added that while
there has been a decrease in those who said they would eat GM food
if it were modified to taste better, over 50% opined that they would
eat the food if it had been modified to be healthier.
Despite
greater understanding of GM food, majority still believed that GM
fresh fruits and vegetables were already sold in supermarkets. Cormick
averred that the crops that should have been released first were
those that had an obvious health benefit.
WAMBUGU'S
BOOK ON BIOTECH AVAILABLE ON-LINE
Inquiries
continue to be received on how to obtain Dr. Florence Wambugu's book
on Modifying Africa: How biotechnology can benefit the poor and hungry;
a case study from Kenya.
Please
find details of Dr. Florence's new book at http://www.modifyingafrica.com.
Feel free to register for the number of copies you need. The online/e-commerce
facility was e launched on Friday 6th July, 2001.
Wambugu's
book is the story of Kenya's growing use of modern biotechnology
to solve the problems that beset its agriculture.
PHILIPPINE DEPT
OF AGRICULTURE ISSUES DRAFT ON BIOTECH POLICY
The Department
of Agriculture (DA) has issued a draft of a policy statement, which
is expected to promote biotechnology and, at the same time, give
protection to human and environmental safety.
A top
DA official said that Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Q. Montemayor
had already signed the draft, which has been endorsed with President
Arroyo for further review.
"We
shall promote the safe and responsible use of modern biotechnology
and its products as one of several means to achieve and sustain food
security, equitable access to health services, sustainable and safe
environment, and industry development," the draft policy said.
Montemayor
said that "The policy statement should be a general statement
that is neither restrictive nor permissive; neutral and objective
so as to balance the interests and concerns of all stakeholders,
and instructive so as to guide government agencies in their work."
While
promoting biotechnology, the DA official said that the policy statement
does not readily ensure the commercialization of insect-protected
(Bt) corn once this has been proven to be adaptable to the Philippine
environment. Bt corn is currently being field tested in various areas
in the country. |
