In
This Issue:
INVESTMENTS
NEEDED TO CREATE TECHNOLOGIES
Given the necessary funding, conventional crop breeding, as well as emerging
technologies based on molecular biology, genetic engineering and natural resource
management, will continue to improve productivity in the coming decades.
This is the major point raised by Jikun Huang, Carl Pray and Scott Rozelle
in an article on "Enhancing the crops to feed the poor" published in the August
8, 2002 issue of Nature. The authors are from the Chinese Academy of Sciences,
Rutgers University, and University of California, respectively.
The article explores how technology can help the developing world to meet its
food needs in the 21st century. It discusses the constraints that are holding
back food production and assesses the technologies that are available and hold
promise in the future.
The agricultural economists say that for future generations, "the scientist
and policy makers must create an environment conducive to creative and rapid
technological change". A research-friendly environment depends on the following
critical elements: clear priorities, right mix of funding and research effort
between conventional plant breeding and modern genetic technology, and the
right combination of genetics and agronomic-based research.
In the short term, Jikun Huang and colleagues opine that conventional plant
breeding still has many important roles to play in developing countries. Over
the long run, however, agricultural research will depend on high-technology
methods. Ultimately, government commitment to support continued research on
agriculture is essential to ensure food security.
The full paper is available at: http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/
nature/journal/v418/n6898/full/nature01015_fs.html&content_filetype=pdf
US
PROPOSES NEW SYSTEMS REGARDING GM CROPS
The US Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) announced proposed federal
actions to update field test requirements for biotech-derived plants and to
establish early food safety assessments for new proteins produced by such plants.
Federal Register, Vol. 67, Number 149 states that "these measures are aimed
at preventing low levels of biotechnology-derived genes and gene products from
being found in commercial seed, commodities, and processed food and feed until
appropriate safety standards can be met".
Under this new system, the Food and Drug Administration will review data packages
while crops are still in small acreage plots and determine whether there are
allergenicity or toxicity concerns. The complete proposal is available at: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?
dbname=2002_register&docid=02-19746-filed.
Meanwhile, Reuters reports that the US Department of Agriculture may create
a voluntary system to verify if shipments of US corn, soybeans and other crops
were genetically altered. It would be a voluntary federal program to ensure
that conventional grains, oilseeds, rice and seed products were not inadvertently
exposed to genetically modified crops.
Under the planned program, companies could choose to detail to the USDA how
they keep their products separate from gene-altered crops at all levels of
the food chain--from farm harvesting equipment to storage bins to processing
plants. Federal inspectors would review a company's system and verify that
minimum requirements for crop production, handling and processing were followed.
The new system would verify "the process and not the final product", the USDA
said. Participating companies would be able to market their crops as "USDA
Process Verified". A similar voluntary program could be created for seeds.
However, US seed exporters could have the option of including a USDA-approved
label on their biotech-free products.
UPDATE
ON WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Leaders of more than 100 countries, joined by tens of thousands of delegates,
journalists, and industry and NGO representatives, will attend the World Summit
on Sustainable Development (WSSD) set for Johannesburg, South Africa from 26
August - 4 September 2002. The WSSD marks the 10-year anniversary of the Rio
Earth Summit. It will focus the world's attention and direct action towards
meeting difficult challenges in today's world.
Ten years after the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, the Johannesburg Summit presents
an exciting opportunity for today's leaders to adopt concrete steps and quantifiable
targets for implementing Agenda 21. After all, the best strategies are only
as good as their implementation.
During the 1992 Rio Summit, a number of important conclusions were reached
relating to sustainable development and two major conventions were signed -
the Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Furthermore, participating governments and other interested parties accepted
Agenda 21, a program of actions to promote sustainable development. At this
meeting, there was also consensus that developed countries would allocate resources
and technology to developing countries to enable them to build their capacity
in a more effective way.
The WSSD will not renegotiate Agenda 21 but will carry out a serious review
of progress, lessons learned, and assess its implementation over the last 10
years. There are expected to be three main outcomes from the summit, United
Nations organizers say.
* A political declaration, where heads of state and government commit to taking
the action needed to make sustainable development a reality
* A plan of implementation, negotiated by governments, which sets out in more
detail the action that needs to be taken in specific areas
* Commitments by governments and all other stakeholders to a broad range of
partnership activities that will implement sustainable development at the national,
regional and international level
For more details about the WSSD, go to http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/index.html.
The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications
(ISAAA) position paper can be downloaded at http://www.isaaa.org/kc/WSSD/Worldsummit.htm
PUBLIC
TO CHOOSE ISSUES FOR UK GM DEBATE
"The Government wants a genuinely open and balanced discussion on GM", said UK
Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett. She further said, "there is clearly a
wide range of views on this issue and we want to ensure all voices are heard".
The debate will start in autumn and would have three components: a public debate;
a review of scientific issues relating to GM; and a study into the overall
costs and benefits of GM crops which will be carried out by the Prime Minister's
strategy Unit.
Secretary Beckett said that the Ministry shares the Agriculture and Environment
Biotechnology Commission's analysis that the public debate will help deepen
public understanding of all issues about GM. It was further stated that, "the
Government wants to provide people with the opportunity to debate the issues
openly and reach their own judgments".
The full story can be downloaded from the UK Department for Environment Food
and Rural Affairs website at http://www.defra.gov.uk/news/2002/020726a.htm
NEW
AGRI-BIOTECH PRODUCTS COULD ENHANCE CONSUMER ACCEPTANCE
Over the next several years, crop biotech could be applied to develop crops
important to expanding world populations with enhanced nutritional traits.
These products should further enhance consumer acceptance of the technology.
This is according to a paper by Dr. Susan Harlander of BIOrational Consultants,
which appeared in the Journal of American College of Nutrition, Vol. 21, No.
3, 2002.
Harlander's paper entitled "The Evolution of Modern Agriculture and Its Future
with Biotechnology" discusses that genetic modification has been going on for
years through conventional breeding, radiation breeding and wide crosses. In
a short time, crops developed through biotechnology have had an enormous impact
on our food supply and on modern agriculture.
Harlander's paper states that given today's situation in population growth
and agriculture production, conventional breeding would not be enough to sustainably
meet the needed yield increases. "Biotechnology is an important tool in addition
to all other tools to produce a food supply that will be sustainable in the
long run and will be able to meet these needs in the future."
Biotechnology crops are the most rapidly adopted technology in the history
of US agriculture. Benefits from GM crops include resistance to pests, resistance
to herbicides that allows for easier management of crops and reduced pesticide
use.
Harlander further discusses that since their introduction, GM crops have been
required to undergo extensive food and environmental safety evaluations prior
to commercialization. There has been no confirmed adverse report to date.
Labeling of GM products is another controversial issue and highlights the difference
in views of Americans and Europeans. Harlander contends that labeling and identity
preservation issues could become irrelevant when new GM products come out.
This may include foods with allergens removed; improved taste, texture and
aroma; and better keeping quality.
The original paper is available online at http://www.jacn.org/cgi/reprint/21/suppl_3/161S.pdf.
JAPAN'S
BIO PLAZA 21 TO PROVIDE BIOTECH INFO
The Tokyo-based Life and Bio Plaza 21 Information Center, which aims to give
neutral and science-based information to the general public has recently been
recognized as a non-profit organization.
In order to ensure its neutrality, the center submitted an application for
a non-profit organization status to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office
earlier this year. Preparations for the establishment of the center were initiated
under the auspices of the Japan Association of Bioindustries Executives.
While maintaining its socially neutral position, Bio Plaza 21 aims to function
as a forum for deepening mutual understanding and the open, two-way exchange
of opinions between people with differing standpoints, concerning the impacts
that the application of biotechnology could have on society and industry.
Furthermore, while providing a forum for the discussion of biotechnology by
such means as setting up a homepage, publishing a newsletter, and planning
events in which anyone can participate, regardless of age, the center aims
to form linkages extending throughout the society.
The executive officers of Bio Plaza 21 are expected to be: Director-General:
Dr. Kunihisa Ota (Emeritus Professor, Tokyo University), Deputy Director-General:
Dr. Mieko Oshima (Vice-Principal, Tohoku University of Community Service and
Science), and Managing Director: Dr. Takeshi Mayama (Advisor, Meiji Seika Kaisha,
Ltd.).
HEPA
B IMMUNIZATION THROUGH POTATOES
Hepatitis B is a severe liver disease including liver failure and cancer. Aside
from being a sexually transmitted disease, it is a hardy virus that can exist
in almost any surface for one month. It is easier to catch than HIV and over
5,000 people die every year from Hepatitis B-related liver disease.
A highly effective and safe hepatitis B vaccine was licensed in the US in 1986.
However, the product is technology-intensive and is therefore expensive especially
for developing countries. A research team led by Qingxian Kong of the Department
of Immunology, New York, decided to use a potato in producing hepatitis B surface
antigen (HBsAg). Transgenic plants have the advantage of having low production
costs and the technology development cost can be fully borne at the outset
of the project.
Mice fed with the raw potatoes produced HBsAg-specific serum antibodies that
exceeded the protective level. However, cooking substantially reduced the immunogenicity
of the vaccine. Raw potatoes are unpalatable for people but HBsAg-transgenic
tomatoes are currently being evaluated.
The information about hepatitis B came from http://www.immunize.org/catg.d/p4115.htm.
The research on transgenic potatoes came from www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.191617598.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
POCKET KS 7 AND 8 AVAILABLE ON-LINE
Do you need a handy guide on labeling genetically modified foods, and the Cartagena
Protocol on Biosafety? The Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology has
made available on-line two of its latest Pocket K (Knowledge) series. Pocket
Ks are packaged information on crop biotechnology products and related issues
that are written in an to easy to understand style. Download the two materials
and other Pocket Ks for free at http://www.isaaa.org/kc/Services/
Media/PocketK_download.htm.
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