In
This Issue:
AFSTA ADOPTS
POSITION ON CROP BIOTECH
African stands to benefit from modern biotechnology to enhance food production
and agricultural development in combination with other existing and new technologies.
Since the continent loses an estimated 40% of its grain crops due to pest,
disease and weed damage in the field and post-harvest losses, using crop biotechnology
is a viable option.
This was the main position on crop biotechnology that the African Seed Trade
Association (AFSTA) adopted during their Annual Congress in Dakar, Senegal.
AFSTA represents seed industries in 21 African countries and eight associate
members outside Africa.
Specifically, AFSTA affirmed its support to research and applications of agricultural
biotechnology to improve agricultural productivity. It called for appropriate
policies and programs to foster rapid developments in agricultural biotechnology.
The seed association appealed also to multilateral development organizations
and foreign aid donors to assist Africa in several aspects such as education
of stakeholders regarding opportunities and possible associated risks, suitable
regulatory protocols, promotion of entrepreneurship and local private sector
participation.
TREE BIOTECH
PROJECT BENEFITS KENYAN FARMERS
Farmers from Kenya are now benefiting from a tree biotechnology project to
develop genetically superior Eucalyptus. The Tree Biotechnology Project (TBP)
aims to provide superior clonal material to both rural and urban communities
in Kenya by enhancing forest production through the integration of improved
forest biotechnologies into the traditional propagation systems.
The TBP is a partnership biotechnology transfer project between the Forest
Department of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources in collaboration
with the Kenya Forestry Research Institute and Mondi Forests, which is a division
of Mondi Ltd., South Africa. The Gatsby Charitable Foundation of United Kingdom
funds this project, while the International Service for the Acquisition of
Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA AfriCenter) facilitates the undertaking.
The project established genetically superior Eucalyptus tree seedlings and
clones from Mondi Forests of South Africa that grow faster and resist pests
and diseases. These trees have superior grains that reduce splitting of sawn
timber and grow uniformly thus reducing logging costs. The project has also
tested different clones of Eucalyptus that can adapt to different agro-climatic
zones.
One beneficiary of the project is Mr. David Muraya, a farmer from the Kajiado
district in Kenya whose land is located in a semi-arid zone. He decided to
plant the superior Eucalyptus trees on his farm when he discovered that the
trees can grow in this marginal area and that they had potential benefits compared
to the available conventional material. Muraya learned of these benefits from
Mr. Benson Kanyi, who is the project manager of the TBP.
Muraya has planted a total of 5,000 seedlings on five acres. The first 3,000
seedlings were planted May 2001 and now stand at over 4 meters in height. The
other 2,000 were planted five months later and stand at over 2 meters in height.
He plans to plant 3,000 more seedlings on 3 acres during the rainy season by
May 2002. Muraya adds, " these trees really grow fast unlike the conventional
material...this plantation is my investment for the future.... it is like a
form of my pension... it is also an excellent way of making use of my otherwise
semi-arid piece of land."
Inquiries on the Tree Biotechnology Project may be sent to bensonkanyi@insightkenya.com or AfriCenter@isaaa.org
GENE FOUND TO CONTROL RIPENING
IN TOMATOES
A team of scientists from the US Department of Agriculture and the Boyce Thompson
Institute for Plant Research in Cornell has found the genes that provide the
first molecular insight into a non-hormonal way to ripen tomatoes. This discovery
was reported in an article "A MADS-box gene necessary for fruit ripening at
the tomato ripening-inhibitor (rin) locus" in the April 12, 2002 issue of Science.
MADS is an acronym formed from the initials of the family of genes involved.
Jim Giovannoni, a project scientist, says that they found two tandem MADS-box
genes. One was a ripening gene and the other a gene that controls the development
of the sepal.
Earlier studies have already been done on prolonging the shelf life of tomatoes
but consumers have complained about the fruit's blandness. Giovannoni says
that their discovery of the rin gene provides a way to keep the tomato on the
vine a little longer so that it develops more nutrients, color and taste. In
addition, the tomato is firm enough for shipping and has good shelf life.
The research team was also able to moderate the ripening process, creating
tomatoes that ripen at fast, medium or slow speeds. The procedure, which should
work with strawberries, bananas, bell peppers and melons, could reduce the
use of ethylene to kick start ripening after fruit is shipped.
More information about the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research can
be obtained by visiting http://www.bti.cornell.edu
EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENT
AGENCY RELEASES PAPER ON POLLEN TRANSFER OF GMOS
The European Environment Agency (EEP) released a report entitled "Genetically
Modified Organisms (GMOs): the significance of gene flow through pollen transfer".
The report analyzed the significance of gene transfer through pollen of six
crops which are nearing commercial release in the European Union. These crops
are oilseed rape, sugar beet, potatoes, maize, wheat and barley.
The findings showed that oilseed rape has a high risk of gene flow in crop
to crop and crop to wild relatives and sugar beet was classified as a medium
to high-risk crop. While maize was classified as having medium to high risk
in crop-to-crop transfer, there are no known wild varieties in Europe for gene
transfer from crop to wild relatives to take place. The low risk crops were
potatoes, wheat and barley.
The report said that a primary concern is the development of methods to restrict
the spread of introduced genes. Gene flow between crops and their related wild
species may have potentially harmful consequences and developers also want
to limit gene escape so competitors could not acquire unique genetic constructs.
The EEA proposed designing GM plants with improved biosafety characteristics
by preventing or minimizing cross-pollination, avoiding antibiotic resistance
marker genes, or switching on inserted genes only when they are needed in the
plant. The EEA also proposed physical gene flow barriers like isolation zones
and crop barrier rows.
The EEP is mandated to provide information to the Community and the Member
States for environmental policy making and to keep the public properly informed
about the state of the environment.
The complete document can be found in http://reports.eea.eu.int/environmental_issue_
report_2002_28/en
MONSANTO SHARES TECHNOLOGIES
WITH DANFORTH CENTER FOR CASSAVA RESEARCH
Monsanto Company has granted the US-based Donald Danforth Plant Science Center
a royalty-free license to enabling technologies commonly used in agricultural
biotechnology.
Monsanto's technologies will support efforts already underway at the Danforth
Center to conduct research and further develop a comprehensive global research
plan for cassava. Research challenges include control of disease, post-harvest
deterioration, and enhancing the nutritional content of the crop. Monsanto
is also supporting the Danforth Center's efforts to develop virus-resistant
cassava through a multi-year grant.
Roger N. Beachy, President of the Danforth Center says "By granting this license,
Monsanto has enabled researchers at the Danforth Center, and our collaborators
around the world, to continue our important work while now freely using Monsanto
technology to even further advance agricultural research on cassava".
Cassava is a tropical crop grown for its starchy, tuberous roots. It contributes
to food security and rural income in many developing countries and feeds nearly
600 million people daily. A recent report by the United Nations singled out
cassava as a priority for additional research in developing countries.
The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center is a St. Louis-based not-for-profit,
basic research institution. For more information visit http://www.danforthcenter.org
CARTAGENA PROTOCOL
COMMITTEE MEETING TO BE HELD IN NETHERLANDS
The Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (ICCP)
will hold its third meeting in Hague, Netherlands on April 22-26, 2002. The
ICCP was mandated to undertake preparations needed for the first meeting of
the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.
While the ICCP noted that progress has been made on several issues in its approved
workplan, some issues need further consideration. These are liability and redress;
compliance; information sharing; capacity-building; handling, transport, packaging
and identification; monitoring and reporting; and consideration of other issues.
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is a legally binding document which seeks
to protect biodiversity from the potential risks of living modified organisms
(LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology. Negotiations were concluded in
January 29, 2000. The Protocol will come into force 90 days after the 50th
state or regional economic integration unit deposits an instrument of ratification.
As of April 19, 2002, 15 states have ratified it.
For more information, go to http://www.biodiv.org/doc/meeting.asp?wg=ICCP-03
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