In
This Issue:
GM CROPS
REDUCE GLOBAL USE OF PESTICIDES
On a global basis genetically modified (GM) technology has reduced pesticide
use. The use of GM soybean, oil seed rape, cotton and corn varieties modified
for herbicide tolerance and insect protected GM varieties of cotton reduced
pesticide use by a total of 22.3 million kg of formulated product in the year
2000.
This was the conclusion of R.P. Phipps and J.R. Park of the Centre for Dairy
Research, Department of Agriculture of the University of Reading, United Kingdom
in their paper "Environmental benefits of GM crops: Global and European perspectives
on their ability to reduce pesticide use" published in the Journal of Animal
and Feed Sciences.
Published data were used to estimate what effect GM crops would have if widely
grown in the European Union. Estimates indicate that if 50% of the corn, oil
seed rape, sugar beet, and cotton grown in the EU were GM varieties, pesticide
used in the EU/annum would decrease by 14.5 million kg of formulated product
(4.4 million kg active ingredient). In addition, there would be a reduction
of 7.5 million ha sprayed which would save 20.5 million liters of diesel and
result in a reduction of approximately 73,000 tons of carbon dioxide being
released into the atmosphere.
A copy of the abstract is available at http://www.medvet.umontreal.ca/biblio/v11n1.htm
ISNAR: LINK BIOSAFETY WITH POLICY
AND REGULATION
For biosafety to be effective, it needs to link policy, capacity and regulation,
says a briefing paper from the International Service for National Agricultural
Research (ISNAR). The paper emphasizes five points needed when developing a
national biosafety system: national policies and strategies; national inventory
and evaluation; scientific knowledge, skills and capacity base; development
of regulation; and implementation of regulations.
ISNAR highlights the difficulty of harmonizing authority when biosafety is
considered. "The delegation of national authority to a regional or subregional
body rarely occurs, if at all. Because of the diversity of legal systems, the
development of model legislation or regulations is problematic. A more reasonable
goal is to develop a checklist of essential elements that can be incorporated
into national legal systems in different ways.
The decision about whether to develop a new act covering biosafety is also
a key one. An act can be developed to specifically address the product or process
to be regulated. It can provide flexibility so that new technical advances
can also be captured without significant regulatory amendment.
However it has disadvantages too. Passing an act into law may take long especially
in politically charged environments. It is critical that when the regulations
are implemented, the transparency of the risk assessment and the degree of
public involvement should be considered.
The paper entitled "A conceptual framework for implementing biosafety" is available
on-line at ftp://ftp.cgiar.org/isnar/publicat/bp-47.pdf.
It is written by Morven McLean, Robert J. Frederick, Patricia L. Traynor, Joel
I. Cohen, and John Komen.
For more information, email: isnar-biotech@cgiar.org
GM RICE RESEARCH NECESSARY, SAYS
IRRI SCIENTIST
Conventional breeding has reached its maximum potential since yield has been
static for the past 20 years. Through biotechnology, scientists can produce
rice varieties that are high yielding and more nutritious on less land using
less water and chemical inputs.
This was stated by Dr. Swapan Datta, plant biotechnologist at the International
Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines, during an institute seminar on "Golden
Rice and beyond: transgenic research tools in rice breeding". He said that
scientists are at a very important crossroad as they work with Golden Rice.
The genetically modified rice is planned to be high in iron, lysine and beta
carotene. Ideally, nutrition would come from a proper diet such as rice and
a balanced meal. However, in developing countries, children subsist on a rice
diet alone.
Datta explained that after screening about 50 rice cultivars, no beta carotene
was detected in polished rice. Since rice germplasm can not provide beta carotene,
genetic engineering is needed to produce the desired trait. While rice has
plenty of iron, it is not found in the seeds and iron content drops dramatically
after milling. The genes added to Golden Rice came from bacteria and daffodils.
When developed, Datta said that Golden Rice will be packaged and transferred
to the national programs of different countries. Accurate information on the
technology, i.e. Golden Rice will not provide the full recommended dietary
allowance, will be provided to beneficiaries.
FAO: DOUBLE
FOOD PRODUCTION
Louise Fresco, Assistant Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization,
said that "there is a need to double food production in developing countries,
and, some 80% of this increase will need to be gained from land that is already
under production."
Fresco made this observation in a paper entitled "The future of agriculture:
challenges for environment, health and safety regulation of pesticides".
Fresco also tackled genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as a trend in the
area of research and sustainable development that affects agriculture. It was
observed that research has been shifting from the public to the private sector
and regulation is moving from national states to supranational bodies. There
is a need to ensure that activities at these levels are not delinked, added
Fresco.
The Assistant Director General also expressed concern that GMOs might be treated
in a "centralized engineering approach where it is presumed that one solution
will fit all needs rather than considering how they might best be integrated
into ecologically based systems of farming in different countries and regions
of the world".
Fresco said that, "a principal challenge will be to ensure that these discussions
at the national and international level are open and transparent and based
on sound science". She further said "there is a need for a neutral brokerage
of information available to maintain the credibility of science".
SABOTAGE OF
GM CROP TRIALS DRAWS FLAK FROM EUROPEAN COMMISSIONER
European Research Commissioner Philippe Busquin expressed his "firm disapproval" of
the sabotage of genetically modified (GM) field trials. The Commissioner said, "this
is an example of ignorance and prejudice leading to illegal acts of violence,
that in the long run can only deny society the benefits that scientific progress
will bring about".
The statement was made after environmental activists attacked a field of oilseed
rape in Alost, Belgium. While such attacks have been happening all over Europe
since 1997, this is the first time the Commissioner made a public statement.
The European Community's policy has been to accompany life sciences research
with research on safety aspects. Busquin believes that, "research results can
resolve uncertainties and provide a sound basis for risk management and science-based
regulation (where necessary), through pre-normative research, and lead to the
establishment of best practice in a constantly evolving way".
AG-BIOTECH MUST
TARGET YIELD, SAYS ARUNDEL
While commercial proponents stress the potential contribution of genetically
modified (GM) plants in "feeding the world," only about one-quarter of field
tests in the US and 12.5% in the European Union relate directly to crop yield,
according to an analysis released by the United Nations University Institute
for New Technologies. Seven in 10 GM tests are being conducted on herbicide
tolerance and pest resistance. While weeds and pests are clearly significant
constraints in developing countries, the paper argues yield traits must be
given a higher priority.
Anthony Arundel of the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands, in an analysis
published by UNU/INTECH, shows 69% of US and 71% of EU trials on GM plants
relate to herbicide tolerance and pest resistance. In the US, 63% of the latter
are for insect resistance, 21% are for viruses, 12.7% for fungi, and 3.3% for
other pests, including bacteria.
While improved pest resistance would contribute to crop yields, the analysis
shows just 27.8% of US and 12.5% of EU trials with GM plants concern yield
directly (in total, these account for only 1.1% of all US and EU field trials
combined), considered the most important improvement needed if the food requirements
of developing countries are to be met.
"The benefits of agricultural biotechnology to developing countries - one of
its main public selling points - will require development of stress resistant
crops and new types of crops adapted to tropical climates", according to Lynn
Mytelka, Director of the Netherlands-based UNU Institute for New Technologies. "Such
crops are a long way from the market given the relatively slow pace of testing
in these areas".
An increase in public sector research will likely be needed to fill the void
if the potential of agricultural biotechnologies for the benefit of developing
countries is to be harnessed, she said, noting that such research goes beyond
GM plants (breeding and other agricultural systems work to increase yields,
for example).
The analysis was published in the second issue of INTECH's Technology Policy
Briefs, a new series recently launched to reach policy-makers in developing
countries and those groups and individuals seeking to influence the policymaking
process at national and international levels. A complete copy of the analysis
is available online at: http://www.intech.unu.edu/index.htm
ALLERGY-FREE
GM RYEGRASS A SIGHT FOR SORE EYES
Growing an attractive lawn without the risk of hayfever could be a possibility
thanks to a transgenic rye variety under development. German Spangenberg and
his colleagues at Australia's La Trobe University have turned down production
of key allergens in the plants. "We have produced transgenic Italian ryegrass
(Lolium multiflorum) and transgenic perennial ryegrass (L. perenne)
plants for down-regulation of the two main pollen allergens Lolp1 and Lolp2",
he explained.
It's not clear what the proteins are for, says Spangenberg. "The function of
these pollen allergens is largely unknown, besides the mechanisms of their
interaction with the human immune system."
Ryegrasses are widely spread, explains Spangenberg. They are indigenous to
temperate regions of Asia and Europe, the North Atlantic Islands and North
Africa. In Europe ryegrasses are particularly important as forage grasses,
representing approximately 70% of the grass seed volume required.
Because of its wide distribution and very abundant pollen production they are
considered a major cause of hayfever and seasonal allergic asthma due to grass
pollen worldwide, says Spangenberg. "Hayfever and seasonal allergic asthma
are environmental diseases that afflict up to 25% of the population in cool
temperate climates. Ryegrass pollen shows the greatest abundance of all types
of grass pollen in cool temperate climates and is the major allergen for 49-67%
of allergic patients".
EUROPEANS MIGHT
BUY GM "IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT"
Although studies have found that 80-90% of Europeans say they do not want genetically
modified (GM) foods, manufacturers who sell both GM and conventional products
have noticed that the two versions sell about the same. It's a paradox, and
one that is important to food producers, farmers and other agribusinesses.
But it was not a surprise to Charles Noussair, associate professor of economics
at Purdue University's Krannert School of Management, who says it is common
for public opinion and consumer behavior to differ.
"Opinion surveys capture the respondent in the role of a voter, not in the role
of a consumer," he says. "The two behaviors can be quite different, as many studies
have shown."
Noussair and colleagues in Europe conducted experiments to investigate the
paradox. Their research found that despite the high level of opposition to
GM foods, most Europeans are not concerned enough to read ingredient lists
on food packaging. The study found that consumers did not notice a food contained
genetically modified products even after they were seated and left for three
minutes with nothing to do but to look at the ingredient label. The research
paper noted, "what is not read in the laboratory will probably not be read
in the supermarket".
In addition, even after consumers participating in the research were told that
chocolate bars contained GM ingredients, most of them were willing to buy the
GM foods, but only if the price was about one-third less than conventional
products.
Noussair says the research shows that labeling would allow a separate market
for GM foods in Europe. "We believe there would be a market for GM foods in
Europe if they had a distinct advantage, such as reduced cost," Noussair says.
The results were published in a paper, "Do consumers not care about biotech
foods or do they just not read the labels?" by Charles Noussair, Stephane Robin
and Bernard Ruffieux in Economics Letters 75 (1) 47-53. (http://www.elsevier.com/homepage/sae/econworld/econbase/ecolet/frame.htm).
For more info, email Charles Noussair at noussair@purdue.edu
ANNOUNCEMENT: WORKSHOP
ON GE
The Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, United Kingdom is the venue for the
Workshop on Genetic Engineering and the Intrinsic Value and Integrity of Animals
and Plants to be held from September 18-21, 2002. It is sponsored by the International
Forum for Genetic Engineering.
This multidisciplinary workshop is open to people in the following subject
areas: farming, pharmaceutical production in genetically modified (GM) animals
and plants, environmental ethics, bioethics, marketing the products of GM organisms
to the consumer, public perception of biotechnology; animal welfare, sustainable
and organic agriculture policy making, plant/ animal breeding, rural development
socio-economics and governmental & EU policy making.
For more information please see the workshop web page at: http://www.anth.org/ifgene/2002.htm or
contact David Heaf, UK coordinator, at his email address: 101622.2773@compuserve.com
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