In
This Issue:
CHINA SECOND
TO US IN GM PLANT RESEARCH
A recent survey participated in by 80% of China's plant biotechnology research
laboratories showed that the country has the largest plant biotechnology capacity
outside of the US. The study also revealed that China is focusing on improving
food crops such as disease or drought resistant rice, wheat and potatoes, which
have been mostly ignored in the laboratories of industrialized countries. Out
of the total field trial acreage, more than 90% target insect and disease resistance
in crops.
Some of the benefits gained by Chinese farmers in using GM crops include reduction
in pesticide use and increase in production efficiency.
The research team of Jikun Huang, Scott Rozelle, Carl Pray and Qinfang Wang
who conducted the two-stage survey in 2000 note that "many competing factors
are putting pressures on policy makers to decide whether or not to continue
commercializing transgenic crops...The current size and rate of increase of
research investments, and past success in developing technologies suggest that
products from China's plant biotechnology industry will one day become widespread
in the country."
As of 1999, China has already put an estimated $112 million to plant biotechnology
research most of which are solely funded by the government. Furthermore, China's
officials announced that it will raise the budget for plant biotechnology research
by as much as 400% before 2005.
Since 1996 till year 2000, the Chinese Office of Genetic Engineering Safety
Administration approved 251 cases out of the 353 GMO applications. Approval
was given to 45 GM plant applications for field-testing, 65 for environmental
release, and 31 for commercialization. The study identified more than 50 plant
species and more than 120 functional genes which scientists have used in their
plant biotechnology research.
Professor Julia Goodfellow, chief executive of the Biotechnology and Biological
Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) believes that the report shows real and tangible
benefits that can be gained from advanced plant biotechnology and such science
can be put to use effectively.
"We keep getting fed this line that developing countries won't receive the benefits
of biotechnology, instead they're deciding for themselves," says plant geneticist
Nigel Halford of the Institute of Arable Crops Research in Long Ashton, England.
A full copy of the report can be downloaded at http://www.sciencemag.org/.
EUROPE REVERSES POSITION TO SUPPORT
BIOTECHNOLOGY
The European Commission recently issued a manifesto in favor of biotechnology
and called for stronger backing for a sector seen as critical to future competitiveness.
The communication proposes adopting "the highest standards of governance" to
win over a skeptical public.
In his speech on the potential of biotechnology, Mr. Erkki Liikanen of the
European Commission, responsible for Enterprise and the Information Society
believes that biotechnology will be the next wave of technological revolution
after information technology. The Commission recognized that they have a choice
of accepting "a passive role, reacting to developments elsewhere, or develop
pro-active policies to exploit the potential in a responsible manner consistent
with our societal values". The Commission also acknowledged that Europe's biotechnology
industry is lagging behind the US. To reap the benefits of life sciences and
biotechnology, the Commission formulated a comprehensive strategy proposal,
which focused on 4 main areas:
Area 1: Focus on education and research; develop entrepreneurial management
skills in our enterprises to take advantage of the challenges ahead; develop
risk capital sources that take into account the specificity of the sector;
complete a coherent and accessible patent system.
Area 2: Need for a pro-active role for public authorities to monitor the impact
on competitiveness and to anticipate emerging issues and adapt responsible
policies. In addition there is a need to continuously involve the public in
the debate. The EU should complete the regulatory framework in the areas of
GMOs and pharmaceuticals as soon as possible to ensure such confidence. Public
trust in the role of science in our societies needs to be enhanced, also through
better communication on EU regulation of these new technologies.
Area 3: The Community should continue to take a leading role in developing
international guidelines, standards and recommendations. Europe has a particular
responsibility to support the developing world, in particular, to ensure that
they deal with the risks, challenges and opportunities that biotechnology brings.
Area 4: Regarding the implementation of this Strategy, the Commission will
ensure implementation of the strategy and the action plan through: A regular
Life Science and Biotechnology Report, including a rolling work programme for
legislation.
GMO LABELING
MIGHT DECREASE GLOBAL FOOD SAFETY
Kim Nill, the biotechnology and technical director of the American Soybean
Association (ASA), fears that mandatory GMO labeling would have adverse impacts
on global food safety.
Nill's analysis of the Codex standard calling for special labeling of GMO products
shows that this would reduce the use of biotechnology crops and thereby decrease
the safety of food supply. Food manufacturers and consumers will be driven
to less safety options as a result of a mandatory GMO labeling thus, undermining
Codex's goals to improve food safety. An examination of current agricultural
production practices reveals however, that foods produced prior to the advent
of the new biotechnology had significant risk inherent in their creation and
production.
GMO labeling would entail added cost to both the manufacturers and consumers.
Studies done on segregations of GM and non-GM showed that it is impractical
and costly. "A Canadian food industry study recently estimated that the segregation
handling and labeling alone would increase Canadian retail food costs by 9-10%;
and that estimate did not include the costs for inevitable mis-labeling product
recalls," Nill explains.
The ASA director also explained that mandatory GMO labeling would slow or halt
the development of future biotech crops possessing even greater food safety
improvement properties. Benefits offered by GM crops such as lower incidence
of aflatoxin contamination of Bt corn, reduced chemical pesticide use, effective
weed control using herbicide-tolerant crops, and other environment-friendly
technologies derived from GMOs will be put to waste.
In like manner, the development of future GM technologies that would ensure
much safer foods (e.g. meat free of the deadly Escherichia coli O157:H7) will
be shelved leaving consumers with less safer options.
For more on Nill's analysis, go to: http://www.inpulsemag.org/english/features/fl8.html
PHILIPPINES NEARING RELEASE
OF BIOTECH GUIDELINES
The Philippine's Department of Agriculture (DA) will soon release guidelines
for the commercialization of biotechnology. DA was scheduled to release the
guidelines last December 2001 but exhaustive dialogues between concerned sectors
on the provisions of the guidelines caused the delay. Agriculture Secretary
Leonardo Q. Montemayor said that the series of consultations have already been
finished and that the next step would be to put up a good regulatory framework
in order for the guidelines to be successfully implemented.
Arnold B. Estrada, product development manager of Monsanto Philippines Inc.
(MPI) says that it is important that government should come up soon with the
commercialization guidelines on genetically modified (GM) crops since the company
will be completing its multi-locational testing of its GM corn by April or
May this year.
The field trial evaluation guidelines which stipulates for multi-locational
field tests to assess the performance of the GM crop and its effect on the
environment as well as human and animal health, is mandated by the National
Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines. The guidelines, however, do not
cover the commercial production of approved GM crops.
BRAZIL FAVORS
COMMERCIALIZATION OF GMOS
After nearly four years of struggle to lift the ban on genetically modified
organisms (GMOs), the Brazilian government recently declared that it would
again push through its plans to commercialize GM crops as soon as possible.
Brazilian president Fernando Henrique Cardoso expressed to members of the cabinet
that he wanted to end disputes within the government and all would have to
follow the party policy. The president handed over the task to lift the injunctions
to the Federal Prosecutions Service.
The setback started after the government's approval for the commercialization
of Monsanto's RoundUp Ready soybean was blocked by a court injunction in 1998.
Further court rulings led to the restriction to import GM corn into the country.
Benjamin Sicsu, Development Ministry executive secretary, voiced out the government's
opinion that "we completely endorse the use of GMO. Brazil needs this to expand
in the foreign market."
Brazil is the only major grain exporting country that still has to adopt GMO
technology.
UNILEVER CHAIRMAN
CALLS FOR FRESH START ON GM CROPS
In a speech given at the Annual City Food Lecture in London, Niall FitzGerald,
Chairman of Unilever, showed willingness to reconsider the industry's stand
on GM crops. Unilever was one of the food companies that yanked its GM food
products when the crisis broke a few years ago.
"The mistake that has been made with GM crops and food is the failure to reach
the consumer," said FitzGerald. "We need to begin afresh. That doesn't mean following
public opinion. It means setting a lead, communicating directly and honestly
with the consumers and answering all the questions that people have."
FitzGerald brought forward five key points: 1) the need for a fresh approach
across Europe regarding food safety, farming and innovation; 2) the need for
regulations which would focus on issues that are a real risk to health but
would not prevent consumers in having access to the products they want; 3)
the need to cast off agricultural subsidy and embrace a diverse use of the
countryside and a concentration on foods which offer real added value to both
farmers and consumers; 4) the recognition of the need for change; and 5) the
need to open up European markets to the developing world.
BIOSAFETY SYMPOSIUM
ON GMOS
The International Society for Biosafety Research will be hosting the 7th International
Symposium on the Biosafety of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) on October
10-15, 2002 in Beijing, China. The symposium, which is conducted biennially,
aims to address the scientific basis for biosafety spanning environmental as
well as human and animal health issues associated with GMOs.
The symposia will greatly benefit senior scientists, policy makers, regulators,
environmentalists and industry representatives involved in the commercial release
of GMOs.
For more details about the programs, agenda, and how to register, please visit http://www.worldbiosafety.net |
