In
This Issue:
INDIA APPROVES
RELEASE OF GM COTTON
Farmers in India can now commercially grow genetically modified (GM) cotton.
India through its Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), has approved
the release of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton into the environment subject
to certain conditions. This event is perceived as a significant milestone for
Indian agriculture as it is the country's first GM crop to be grown on a commercial
scale.
The GEAC, under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, approved the commercial
release of three transgenic hybrid cottons developed by the Maharashtra Hybrid
Seed Company (Mahyco) in collaboration with Monsanto. These three hybrids are
Mech-12, Mech-162 and Mech-184. A three-year approval period starting April
2002 to March 2005 was given to the three hybrids. A decision on a fourth hybrid,
Mech-915, was deferred pending the submission of its evaluation report.
GEAC chairman A.M. Gokhale said that conditions were being "fine tuned." Some
of the conditions that Mahyco would need to comply with include having to provide
information on the quantity of seeds produced, names of individual distributors/dealers
and quantities sold along season-wise acreages under each hybrid. In addition,
Mahyco will have to monitor and report incidence of any resistance build-up
or second generation susceptibility of the crop to the target insect pest as
well as possible negative impact of pollen transfer to neighboring fields.
Farmers accessing Mahyco's seeds are required to plant at least 20 per cent
of their field areas under non-Bt cotton hybrids or varieties. Gokhale clarified
that "farmers have to plant a minimum of five rows along the periphery of their
field or 20 per cent of the total area, whichever is higher, with non-Bt cotton.
This area would act as a refuge for the bollworm and will ensure that the Bt
cotton does not become susceptible over time to the pest." The requirement
for the "refuge area" would lie with the farmer and not with the company.
Gokhale added that the decision to clear the three Bt cotton hybrids "was totally
unanimous with none of the members expressing dissent either verbally or in
writing".
More information is available at http://www.blonnet.com/businessline/stories/
2002032702500100.htm
KOREA SETS UP BIOTECH INSTITUTE
The Korean government has identified biotechnology as one of the key technical
tools to help solve the country's low competitiveness in the domestic and foreign
markets. Aware of the significance of the "new biotechnology for future developments",
Korea established the National Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology (NIAB)
only this year.
Suhk Chul Suh, senior researcher of NIAB, said during the FAO-APAARI expert
consultation on the status of biotechnology in agriculture in Asia and the
Pacific, that the government believes that the institute can "contribute to
the improvement of Korea's agro-biotechnology competitiveness in the world
market". The Food and Agriculture Organization and The Asia Pacific Association
of Agricultural Research Institutions organized the three-day workshop which
was held in Bangkok, Thailand.
Korea has witnessed initial strides in its plant biotechnology program. Both
public and private companies are doing field trials of genetically modified
crops. The Hungnong Seed Company is conducting field trials on virus resistant
hot pepper. The Korea Ginseng and Tobacco Research Institute is carrying out
field trials of virus resistant tobacco plants while the Rural Development
Administration is working on a variety of transgenic plants including rice.
MISSOURI SCIENTISTS
MAP CORN GENOME
Corn researchers at the University of Missouri-Columbia have completed the
most comprehensive and detailed genetic map of corn. They are now integrating
that work with a physical map of the crop's 10 chromosomes.
The five-year research initiative, called the Maize Mapping Project, began
in 1998 with an $11 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The
project is expected to end next fall with. the US Department of Agriculture,
said that the integrated map will provide a baseline for future research that
might lead to increased crop yields, fewer environmentally harmful pesticides
and better food.
PIONEER HI-BRED
HAS NEW CANOLA HYBRIDS
Researchers at Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc., have added one herbicide-resistant
hybrid and one conventional hybrid to the company's canola product line for
the 2002 growing season.
Dave Charne, Pioneer canola research director, says hybrid canola offers higher
yield potential compared to many open-pollinated varieties. "In addition, it
demonstrates improved early vigor. Plants that emerge faster establish closed
canopies more quickly. The closed canopies block sunlight, reducing some early
weed competition, which brings us back to higher yields", he said.
Charne claims that in large plot trials in the United States and Canada, the
new hybrids showed an 8 to 11 percent yield advantage or a 3 to 4 bushel-per-acre
advantage over top-yielding, open-pollinated varieties.
Herbicide resistance is becoming an increasingly popular attribute when growers
select canola seed, Charne added. More than half of the US market is presently
planted to GM canola.
More information is available at http://www.pioneer.com/pioneer_news/index.htm
WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Ten years after the1992 Rio Earth Summit, the World Summit on Sustainable Development
(WSSD) will take place in Johannesburg from 26 August-4 September 2002. The
WSSD (also called Rio + 10) will seriously review the progress and lessons
learned as a result of the Rio Summit. The meeting will set the stage for the
development of fresh policies that will be implemented in the years to come.
It is expected that leaders will adopt concrete steps and identify quantifiable
targets for better implementation of strategies.
It was at the Rio Earth Summit that a number of important conclusions were
reached relating to sustainable development and where two major conventions
were signed, the Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biodiversity.
Participating governments and other parties accepted Agenda 21 as the blueprint
for achieving sustainable development.
The General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the long-awaited resolution
on the holding of this ten-year review. It will bring together heads of State
and Government, national delegates, leaders from non-government organizations,
businesses and other major groups. About 60,000 delegates are expected to participate
in this summit.
For more information visit: http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/
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