In
This Issue:
GLOBAL GM
CROP AREA LIKELY TO REACH 50 MHA IN 2001
The global area of GM crops is likely to reach 50 mha at the end of 2001. Preliminary
information from a global survey conducted by Dr. Clive James, Chairman of
the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications,
indicates that this is more than a 10% year-on-year growth compared with 2000.
Despite the on-going debate on GM crops, particularly in countries of the European
Union, millions of large and small farmers in both industrial and developing
countries continue to increase their plantings of GM crops.
For the complete press release, please visit our website http://www.isaaa.org
ISAAA will release the 2001 Global Review of GM Crops when it is completed
later this year. Copies will be available from the ISAAA SEAsia Center: e-mail: publications@isaaa.org
BT CORN IS APPROVED
FOR ANOTHER 7 YEARS
After a nearly two-year long review, the US government has renewed its approval
for the use of GM corn, saying it found no evidence of risks to human health
or the environment. According to Stephen Johnson, assistant Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) administrator, "Bt corn has been evaluated thoroughly by the EPA,
and we are confident that it does not pose risks to human health or to the
environment. Consumers should be assured that these corn varieties show no
signs of any adverse effects to human health." The scientific evidence demonstrates
that Bt corn does not have a negative effect on Monarch butterfly populations.
In extending the use of Bt corn, the EPA has increased environmental and compliance
monitoring requirements. According to the EPA Press Release, companies marketing
Bt corn will be required to monitor for the development of insect resistance,
provide annual reports on the efficacy of resistance management plans, and
implement remedial action plans in the event that resistance develops.
For the complete press release, please go to http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/
The U.S. EPA has posted two new documents explaining the data and rationale
for their recent regulatory decisions to extend the registrations of Bt
cotton and Bt corn.
The documents are titled Bt Cotton Confirmatory Data and Terms and Conditions
of the Amendment, which includes the EPA's regulatory position on Bt Cotton
and Bt Corn Confirmatory Data and Terms and Conditions of the Amendment, which
includes the EPA's regulatory position on Bt Corn.
Both documents are posted to <http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/
reds/brad_bt_pip2.htm> as part of the Biopesticides Registration Action
Document for the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Plant-Incorporated Protectants.
EC PUBLISHES REVIEW
ON BIOSAFETY RESEARCH OF GMOS
Earlier this month, the European Commission published a report on the results
of the biosafety research it has supported over 15 years. The report, entitled
EC-sponsored Research into the Safety of Genetically Modified Organisms: A
Review of Results analyzed the results of 81 scientific studies on GMOs conducted
by over 400 research teams at a cost of US$65 million.
The Commission says that "research on GM plants and derived products so far
developed and marketed, following usual risk assessment procedures, has not
shown any new risks to human health of the environment, beyond the usual uncertainties
of conventional plant breeding. Indeed the use of more precise technology and
the greater regulatory scrutiny probably make them even safer than conventional
plants and foods; and if there are unforeseen environmental effects - none
have appeared as yet - these should be rapidly detected by our monitoring requirements."
EC-sponsored research has focused on all areas of concern including plants,
plant microbes, biocontrol, food, bioremediation, tools, fish, and vaccines.
For a comprehensive review of the results, please go to http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/quality-of-life/gmo/
EC LAUNCHES ROUND
TABLE ON GMO SAFETY IN BRUSSELS
The European Commission has established a round table on GMO safety research.
According to Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin, "Between the enthusiastic
exaggeration of certain GMO 'crusaders" and the radicalism of a minority among
their opponents, there is an urgent need to find room for a reasonable compromise,
based on sound and measured scientific arguments of risk assessment and prudent
management."
This initiative will bring together European biosafety researchers and other
stakeholders, such as consumer organizations, national administrations and
industry, to discuss past, current, and future biosafety research and related
issues. This will ensure that up-to-date knowledge accompanies the safe use
of GMOs and will encourage dialogue through informed and structured debate.
The first meeting of the round table focused on the risks and benefits of Bt
corn, which was one of the first GM crops to be approved for cultivation in
Europe (January 1997).
For more information on the European Round Table on GMO Safety, go to http://biosociety.dms.it
PLANT HEALTH
SCIENTISTS ISSUE STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
The American Phytopathological Society (APS), the largest organization of plant
health scientists, has issued a statement in support of biotechnology. According
to Sue Tolin, a plant pathologist at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State
University, "Virtually all aspects of plant pathology are affected by biotechnology...Advances
in this area played a critical role in our ability to identify and control
plant pathogens that cause billions of dollars of crop losses each year, particularly
in developing countries where diseases routinely destroy important food crops."
Among the benefits outlined in the APS statement is that biotechnology is an
important tool for reducing the use of synthetic pesticides for controlling
plant diseases, and minimizing adverse environmental impacts of modern agriculture
practices. In addition, the APS also takes into consideration the risks associated
with plant disease management through biotechnology.
"Biotechnology must be practiced in a responsible way, respectful of human, economic
and environmental impacts," states Noel Keen, current APS President. For the
full statement, please contact Molly Cerny at mcerny@scisoc.org
PAPAYA BIOTECHNOLOGY
NETWORK OF SOUTHEAST ASIA MEET IN VIETNAM
The Papaya Biotechnology Network of Southeast Asia will meet in Vietnam from
22-26 October 2001 for technical workshops and a coordination meeting. The
Network was formally launched in March 1998, with the primary mission of contributing
to improved quality of life for rural and urban families in Southeast Asia.
The program seeks to enhance income generation, food production, nutrition,
and productivity for resource-poor farmers by integrating proven biotechnology
applications into their agricultural practices. In the near term, the network
seeks to positively impact the lives of resource-poor and small-scale farmers
in the region by increasing the availability of papaya for both food and modest
incomes. The Network consists of five partner countries - Indonesia, Malaysia,
Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
UN POSTPONES
WORLD FOOD SUMMIT
Due to existing security fears in the wake of the September 11 attacks and
the violence at the Genoa G8 Summit in July, the United Nations has been forced
to postpone the World Food Summit, which had been due to take place in Rome
next month. Around 4,000 delegates had been expected to attend, including many
heads of state and government.
The summit will now take place in June 2002.
INDIA TO ALLOW GM CROP PRODUCTION
BY MARCH 2002
Manju Sharma, Secretary of the Department of Biotechnology in New Delhi, was
cited as telling Reuters that India is likely to allow by March the commercial
production of GM cotton for the first time to the MAHYCO seed company. MAHYCO
has been conducting large-scale field trials of Bt cotton. The Indian seed
company has already received the first set of reports from its trials and is
currently collecting more data. "The data collection and analysis should be
over by December, " stated Sharma.
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* QUOTE OF THE WEEK *
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"...To deny desperate, hungry people the means to control
their futures by presuming to know what is best for them is not only paternalistic
but morally wrong."
- Hassan Adamu, Nigerian Minister of Agriculture
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