In
This Issue:
PROSPECTS BRIGHT
FOR GM CORN IN KENYA
Laboratory trials at the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute
(KARI) have identified varieties of insect resistant corn for
the Africa Region. This is
a significant output of a collaborative project code-named Insect Resistant
Maize for Africa (IRMA) between KARI and the International Maize and Wheat
Improvement Centre (CIMMYT) with funding from the Syngenta Foundation in Mexico.
The project's goal is to increase corn production and food security for African
farmers and to develop corn that offers resistance to destructive insects.
It aims to develop and deploy corn varieties resistant to the stem borer. CIMMYT
is also involved with KARI in the development of improved locally adapted strains
of corn with tolerance to drought and low nitrogen. These projects target farmers
who rely on corn for their upkeep and who are badly affected by changes in
weather conditions.
According to Dr. Romano Kiome, Director of KARI, 17 corn
genes identified worldwide are currently undergoing trials
for their ability to confer insect resistance
in corn plants.
KARI has conducted tests on identified genetically modified (GM) plants for
efficacy against insects with some positive results. The research work involved
screening local germplasm from KARI and imported germplasm from CIMMYT for
resistance to stem borers under artificial and natural infestation. The objective
was to identify superior germplasm as well as germplasm for crossing with local
corn varieties to confer insect resistance to them.
Speaking at a recent field day at the trial site at a KARI
Research Centre in Kiboko, Dr. Kiome said that it could
take three to six years before the
GM corn hits the market. Once approved, the crop will undergo trials in green
houses, followed by on-station and on-farm settings.
The Kenyan Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Bonaya Godana who was the chief guest
at the field day challenged KARI and other scientists to continue identifying
conventional and novel sources of resistance to stem borers and incorporate
them into corn varieties that are adapted to Kenya's agro-ecological zones.
He emphasized that one positive aspect of the IRMA project is that varieties
and technologies that are appropriate for other African nations may be extended
to them.
MULTIPLE SITE
FIELD TRIALS IN PHILIPPINES SHOW SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE OF
Bt CORN
Never has a technology in the Philippines spurred so much controversy as that
of Bt corn. Multiple field trials to test its effectiveness under local conditions
in Isabela, Bukidnon, Camarines Sur, and Pangasinan even had the drama of legal
battles and a series of confrontations among those for and against the technology.
One trial in South Cotabato was never completed as anti-Bt corn protesters
uprooted the crop.
What is the real score? Dr. Leonardo A. Gonzales, an international
expert on agricultural economics, found out that Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt) corn proved
to be relatively superior over non-Bt corn in terms of yield, costs, profit
and subsistence level carrying capacity (nutritional food security). Highlights
of his recently completed research entitled "Likely transcendental effects
of agri-biotechnology: the case of Bt hybrid corn in the Philippines" were
presented during the Symposium on Bt Technology held at the SEARCA Auditorium,
Los Banos, Laguna on the occasion of the University of the Philippines Los
Baņos College of Agriculture Foundation celebration.
Gonzales, who is also president and chairman of SIKAP/STRIVE
Foundation, provided an intensive socio-economic analysis
of the corn production environment where
the multi-location field trials of Bt corn are taking place. These include
six sites (three in Isabela; one in Bukidnon, one in Camarines Sur, and one
in Pangasinan). The analysis was limited to the wet season of 2001 and it analyzed
the likely transcendental effects of Bt corn. Transcendental effects are "probable
socio-economic impacts affecting trade, aggravation of the prosperity gap between
the rich and the poor, and disparity in income and wealth distribution within
societies".
Among the major findings were the following:
* On the average, Bt corn yields were higher by 41 percent
than non-Bt within the field trial sites. Likewise, in
comparison to non-Bt corn in farmers' field,
Bt corn had higher yields, averaging 60 percent.
* There was a cost advantage of 24 percent in favor of
Bt corn. This means that it cost P2.81 ($0.056) per kilo
to produce Bt corn within trial sites
as compared to P3.71 ($0.074) per kilogram, for non-Bt. In farmers' fields,
an average of 13 percent cost advantage of Bt corn in high yield group and
38.5% cost advantage of Bt corn in low yield groups were also observed.
* Bt corn also outperformed non-Bt in terms of profitability within the trial
sites by 25 percent or 15 percent better than farmers belonging to high yield
group, and 86 percent higher than farmers in low yield category. Profit gaps
are extremely large between Bt and non-Bt corn.
* Results of the subsistence level carrying capacity were
also in favor of Bt corn. This variable answers the question
of whether net income from corn
production can cover the minimum subsistence expenditure requirements of 2000
kilocalories per capita per day. Farmers' income on the average from Bt corn
were not enough to cover the cost of procuring a food basket of 2,000 kilocalories.
* About 84 per cent of farmer respondents expressed their
awareness and willingness to buy Bt corn seed once available
in the market. The major reasons cited were
high yields and less use of pesticides.
Gonzales recommends a continuing evaluation of the socio-economic
effects of the dry season multi-location field trials.
Initial findings, however, demonstrate
the potential of Bt corn as a viable option for farmers in the Philippines.
For further information, email Dr. Leonardo A. Gonzales at strive@lgn.csi.com.ph
EC PROPOSES TO RATIFY CARTAGENA PROTOCOL
The Commission of the European Communities (EC) made a
proposal to ratify the Cartagena Protocol. The Protocol
seeks to protect biodiversity from potential
risks connected with the transboundary movement of genetically modified organisms
(GMOs). Since the European Union has played a leading role in the conclusion
of the Protocol, a fast ratification would send a strong political signal that
its commitment to the protocol is not diminishing. The EU intends to implement
the Protocol in its domestic legislation in the light of the precautionary
principle, in accordance with the Union's own guideline.
After carefully assessing the Community's legal framework relevant to the Cartagena
Protocol, the Commission concluded that EC legislation is consistent with the
provisions of the Protocol. For legal clarity, there was a need to differentiate
the role of the EU as an importer and exporter. It is possible to address importer
regulations under existing Community regulations. But export rules have to
be formulated since Community legislation does not contain requirements for
export of GMOs to third countries.
The most appropriate way to implement the protocol within a reasonable time
is through a single, horizontal legal instrument and a Regulation as opposed
to a directive.
The legal instrument was entitled "Proposal for a Regulation of the European
Parliament and the Council on the transboundary movement of GMOs". Its objective
is to establish a common system of notification and information for export
to third countries of GMOs to contribute to ensuring an adequate level of protection
in the transboundary movement of such organisms.
The regulation will apply to the "export and unintentional transboundary movement
of all GMOs that may have adverse effects on the conservation and sustainable
use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health".
However, the regulation excludes Pharmaceuticals for human use and GMOs intended
for deliberate release into the environment that are not likely to have adverse
effects.
One chapter of the Proposal includes rules in the export of GMOs to third countries.
The GMOs are further classified to those intended for deliberate release into
the environment and those for direct use as food, feed or processing. Each
classification has rules discussing the responsibilities of the exporter.
The Proposal also tackled the unintentional transboundary movement of GMOs.
This chapter discussed the actions that a Member State should take as soon
as it becomes aware of such an occurrence.
This Regulation will enter into force 20 days following
its publication in the "Official Journal of the European Communities".
The Regulation will apply upon the entry into force of
Cartagena Protocol or ninety days after the Regulation's
date of deposit, whichever comes later.
UGANDA VENTURES
INTO AGBIOTECH
Agro Genetic Laboratories Ltd. (AGT) is Uganda's first
commercial agricultural biotechnology laboratory. A joint
investment by Ugandans and Swedes, AGT was
granted approval by Uganda's National Council of Science and Technology to
produce coffee and banana plantlets using tissue culture.
Erostus Nsubuga, AGT director, explained that the laboratory is capable of
producing millions of plantlets from high quality coffee and bananas. Private
sector involvement, says Otim Nape, senior scientist of Uganda's National Agricultural
Research Organization (NARO), is welcomed as there is a big demand for planting
material in a commercial scale basis which their organization cannot supply.
For more information, visit http://mail.merid.org/Rockefeller/biotech.nsf/Stories/2C86
WAKHUSAMA IS ISAAA AFRICENTER
DIRECTOR
The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications
(ISAAA) announces the appointment of Dr. Samuel Wakhusama as Director of the
ISAAA AfriCenter based in Nairobi, Kenya effective 1 March 2002. He is not
new to ISAAA having been Regional Project Coordinator of ISAAA AfriCenter since
September 2000 and Acting Director since October 2001.
Wakhusama is responsible for overall management and implementation of the AfriCenter's
program and projects, and collaboration and representation with all external
partners in relation to the AfriCenter's program.
The new Director brings to his new position a rich background
of professional expertise and experience earned from his
previous stint with the National Veterinary
Research Center in the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute and as senior
manager of the ISAAA Africenter. Wakhusama earned his bachelor's degree in
veterinary medicine from the University of Nairobi, and masteral and PhD degrees
in microbiology from the University of London.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Invitation
for Research Articles on Bt Applications
The Journal of New Seeds is inviting submissions of original research articles
and reviews on: applications of Bacillus thuringiensis in seed, field, and
post-harvest protection; Bt insecticidal proteins engineered into crop plants;
studies comparing Bt performance with other crop protection technologies; and
resistance management studies of Bt targeted pests.
Send article submissions and review proposals by mid July 2002 to Dr. Matthew
Metz, Department of Microbiology, Box 357242, University of Washington, Seattle,
WA 98195, USA. For more information, email metzilla@u.washington.edu
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