In
This Issue:
PEW
INITIATIVE PAPER ANALYZES CORN AND MONARCH BUTTERFLY CONTROVERSY
The Washington DC based-Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology says that
three critical issues emerge as key elements, both for the creation of the
public controversy as well the resolution of the biotech corn controversy.
These issues were highlighted in a paper entitled "Three years later: genetically
engineered corn and the monarch butterfly controversy". Pew researchers did
a retrospective of events surrounding the monarch butterfly controversy from
the perspective of a number of key players. The report also provides a brief
review of the current state of scientific knowledge on the issue.
The
three critical issues identified are:
-
First,
the events highlight how scientific questions get raised and
resolved in the midst of a highly politicized environment. Initial
scientific efforts to respond to the research results were not
viewed as credible by some scientists and by environmental groups
because they were largely seen as industry-funded or industry-driven.
Eventually, various government, industry, academia and environmental
groups worked to develop a consensus set of experiments. The
effort was found to be credible and useful to answer many of
the key scientific questions.
-
Second,
the monarch controversy raised broad and important questions
about the role of scientific journals as well as the mainstream
press in covering scientific news, particularly in those areas
that have politically controversial implications. Scientists
and journalists need to continue to discuss these issues.
-
Finally,
the events raise important issues about the adequacy of the US
Environmental Protection Agency's process of reviewing GM crops
for potential adverse environmental effects.
The
paper, according to the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology,
will hopefully "promote understanding of the issues and stimulate
broader discussion about how this issue unfolded and how innovative
methods were used to ultimately resolve some key issues on this debate".
For a copy of the full paper, go to http://www.pewagbiotech.org/resources/issuebriefs/monarch.pdf
GM
CORN APPROVED FOR AUSTRALIA AND NZ
GM corn has been approved for sale and use in Australia and New Zealand. Ministers
agreed to a recommendation from the Australia New Zealand Food Authority (ANZFA)
to approve food derived from glyphosate-tolerant corn line NK603 for sale and
use in Australia and New Zealand.
The glyphosate-tolerant corn line underwent a scientific safety assessment
by the ANZFA. The assessment showed no evidence of any public health and safety
risk associated with the consumption of the food.
The news about this development can be viewed at http://www.lifesciencesnetwork.com/
news-detail.asp?newsID=1259
NATURE
BIOTECHNOLOGY: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF GM CROPS
"We can find no compelling scientific arguments to demonstrate that GM crops
are innately different from non-GM crops", say scientists led by Philip Dale
of the John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK.
In a paper on the "Potential for the environmental impact of transgenic crops" published
in Nature Biotech (Vol. 20, June 2002 issue), Dale and his colleagues conclude
that the kinds of potential impacts of GM crops fall into classes familiar
from the cultivation of non-GM crops, i.e. invasiveness, weediness, toxicity,
or biodiversity. It is likely, however, that the novelty of some of the products
of GM crop improvement will present new challenges and perhaps opportunities
to manage particular crops in creative ways".
The researchers explain that one of the biggest concerns for the future is
to manage the introduction and widespread commercialization of GM crops in
a way that favors the environment. "It will be necessary to provide incentives
that will require GM crops to be combined with agronomic practices that nurture
crop diversity, sound crop rotation, soil fertility, and wildlife biodiversity,
and that minimize the impact of agriculture on the environment".
The full paper can be accessed at http://biotech.nature.com
NIGERIA
ADOPTS BIOSAFETY GUIDELINES
The Nigerian government is set to adopt a set of biosafety guidelines which
awaits passage into law by the National Assembly. The approved set of guidelines
was derived from the initial draft guideline, which was modified to conform
with the International Biosafety Protocol that Nigeria signed in 2001.
The Federal Ministry of Environment acknowledged the efforts of an inter-ministerial
committee which included the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
(IITA), other national research centers, universities and the Ministries of
Agriculture and Rural Development; and Science and Technology. Egypt, Kenya
and South Africa are the only other African countries with such guidelines.
Taye Babaleye of IITA reports that the committee addressed a number of issues
that will promote the rational application of biotechnology. With the guidelines
in place, Nigeria is now set to establish a national biosafety committee which
will grant permission for the testing and handling of genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) in the country.
Dr. Peter Hartmann, IITA director general, says that the application of biotechnology
to improve agriculture and food security in Africa is necessary. He explained
that even though the world as a whole produces enough food, domestic priorities,
distortions and other shortcomings will not allow equitable global distribution. "Our
priority in Africa must be to meet our needs in Africa...We need to keep moving
scientific advances to our farmers and growers until we reach the yield-take
off point, which is the transition point where traditional agriculture moves
into modern agriculture".
PHILIPPINE
PRESIDENT SIGNS PLANT VARIETY PROTECTION ACT OF 2002
President Gloria M. Arroyo of the Philippines signed today, June 7, 2002 the
Philippine Plant Variety Protection Act of 2002 (RA 9168). The Act provides
a transparent system that grants ownership or rights over new plant varieties
to plant breeders.
The new Law essentially conforms with the 1991 UPOV Convention in regard to
the grant of plant breeder's rights. It also creates the National Plant Variety
Protection Board mandated to promulgate guidelines for the effective implementation
of the Law, and having original jurisdiction over petitions for compulsory
licensing, nullification and cancellation of Certificates of Plant Variety
Protection.
To support national genetic conservation activities, the Law further establishes
a Gene Trust Fund for the benefit of organizations or institutions managing
and operating an accredited gene bank. It also encourages farming communities
and organizations to build an inventory of locally-bred varieties.
This development is expected to encourage investments in the breeding of superior
varieties since breeders are now able to get exclusive rights over their creation
and innovations. These rights assure them of getting a fair return of such
investments, while at the same time benefiting the farming communities and
society as a whole.
NATIONAL
BIOSAFETY TOOLKIT MODULE AVAILABLE
The second module of a toolkit aiming to provide a practical guide for countries
to assist them in developing their national biosafety frameworks has just been
published. This module covers scope of surveys; database design; data entry
and production of inventories; and hiring and contracting of surveyors pertaining
to biotechnology and biosafety within a country. The toolkit is under the United
Nations Environment Programme and the Global Environment Facility (UNEP-GEF)
Project on Development of National Biosafety Frameworks.
The toolkit is designed to be flexible and is tailored to meet the diverse
needs of different countries. It is divided into four modules, each addressing
a phase in the national project document. Phase 0 is the vision or rationale
of the project design; Phase 1 is about the instigation of surveys and the
preparation of inventories in the different sectors pertaining to biosafety
and biotechnology within the country, including their entry into national databases;
Phase 2 talks about the identification of stakeholders, and the consultation,
analysis, and training activities needed to identify the priorities and parameters
for the drafting of the National Biosafety Framework (NBF); and Phase 3 is
about the drafting of the NBF including consultation with stakeholders for
their endorsement.
The UNEP was established in 1972 and works to encourage sustainable development
through sound environmental practices. The UNEP-GEF global Project on the Development
of National Biosafety Frameworks began in June 2001. It is a three-year project
designed to assist up to 100 countries develop their National Biosafety Frameworks
so they can comply with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The module is
at http://www.unep.ch/biosafety/ToolkitBSF1.pdf.
PAKISTAN
PROMOTES BIOTECH RESEARCH
Pakistan's Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) has approved a project
for the promotion of biotechnology research and preparation of a biotechnology
action plan. The project will be implemented by the Pakistan Council for Science & Technology
in a period of 36 months with a Rs 38 million (around 634,000 USD) budget.
Pakistan is facing a variety of problems primarily associated with population
explosion and scarce resources. The Ministry recognized the need to devise
strategies for food security and sustainable economic development. The project
will undertake the promotion of biotech research programmes related to the
development of human resources; strengthening of the existing research laboratories
with the needed manpower, equipment and other essentials; and the establishment
of at least one biotechnology laboratory.
Biotechnology was declared among the top priority areas in the third meeting
of the National Commission for Science & Technology. The project was launched
to improve the existing research in agriculture, livestock and medical sectors
at universities and R&D organizations.
The MOST press release is available at http://www.most.gov.pk/frames/
press_releases/PressReleases/Rs.%2038%20million%20allocated%20for%20bio-tech
%20research%2021%20May%202002.htm
KENYAN
MINISTER: INTEGRATE TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE IN IP SYSTEMS
Kenyan trade and industry minister, Nicholas Biwott, says there is a need to
incorporate traditional knowledge and indigenous innovations in intellectual
property (IP) systems. He asserted that the failure to include traditional
knowledge in IP systems results in the exploitation of traditional peoples.
Biwott gave these remarks during the National Consultative Meeting on Needs
Assessment and Priority Setting in Biotechnology and Intellectual Property
Rights in Nairobi, Kenya.
In the same note, he stressed the importance of agricultural biotechnology
to increase food production and improve food quality. Kenya, according to Biwott,
needs "to maintain a competitive edge" in biotechnology by increasing awareness
about intellectual property rights.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Debate on Labeling in Chicago
The Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology will host a policy dialogue, "Labeling
Genetically Modified Foods: Communicating or Creating Confusion?" on June 27,
2002 from 12 noon to 1.30pm CST (1pm - 2.30 EST) in the Paris South Room of
The Hotel Monaco, 225 North Wabash, Chicago. Dan Charles, Contributing Science
Correspondent for National Public Radio and author of Lords of The Harvest:
Biotech, Big Money and the Future of Food, will moderate the discussion with
consumer activists, a major food company representative and academic researchers.
Note: The dialogue will also be presented via a live Internet webcast. To watch
go to http://www.PewAgBiotech.org or http://www.ConnectLive.com/events/pewagbiotech |
