In
This Issue:
RESTRICTIONS ON
AGBIOTECH HAMPER EFFORTS TO BATTLE HUNGER
Needless restrictions on agricultural biotechnology harm the world's ability
to battle hunger in the 21st century, say Gregory Conko and C.S. Prakash, co-founders
of the AgbioWorld Foundation. They say that the concerns of anti-biotechnology
campaigners are not supported by peer-reviewed scientific reports or data from
extensive field trials.
This is the gist of a paper "Battling Hunger with Biotechnology" that the tandem
wrote to highlight the fact that "the biggest threat that hungry populations
currently face are restrictive policies stemming from unwarranted public fears".
They cited the fact that public reticence about transgenic plants has resulted
in extensive regulations that require many individual safety tests that are
often duplicative and largely unnecessary for ensuring environmental protection
or consumer safety. Over-cautious rules, according to Conko and Prakash, result
in very high research and development costs and make it harder for poorer countries
to share in the benefits of biotechnology.
Conko and Prakash also note that restrictions on transgenic plants and onerous
labeling requirements for biotech foods have caused many governments to block
commercialization. It is often not because of health or environmental concerns
but rather a legitimate fear that important European markets could be closed
to their exports.
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, according to Conko and Prakash, tends
to reinforce these counterproductive policies because it permits governments
to erect unwarranted restrictions. There is "the notion that even hypothetical
risks should be enough to keep new products off the market, regardless of their
potential benefits".
The full paper is available at http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/ites/0502/ijee/conko.htm
WHO SPONSORS MEGA BIOTECH STUDY
The World Health Organization's Food Safety Program is commissioning a study
on the implications of GM organisms and food products on human health and development.
It is an evidence-based study that began last February. Deadline for submissions
is set for June 30, 2002.
The study involves a wide range of stakeholders including the Food and Agriculture
Organization, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, other
international organizations, as well as research institutes, industries and
other groups. They are invited to respond to a questionnaire posted on the
website to address issues where evidence is not readily available. Evidences
on other issues not covered by the report are also welcome. Responses should
be short, concise and based on specific evidence such as cited scientific literature.
The questionnaire includes product research and development; impact on human
health; food security, cost and access to modern food biotechnology; ethical,
legal and social issues; and capacity building. The questionnaire encourages
a comparison between the effects of modern biotechnology and other traditional
technologies.
WHO places a high priority on the safe use and application of modern biotechnology
to food production and processing. The idea for the study came from a resolution
of the 53rd World Health Assembly last may 2000.
The study seeks to complement the efforts of other international agencies.
WHO will collaborate with FAO and involve various stakeholders and interest
groups to enhance transparency. The background of the paper as well as the
questionnaire can be found at http://www.who.int/fsf/
GMfood/mega_study_index.htm.
CHINA AND BRAZIL TO COLLABORATE
IN BIOTECH
The Brazilian Minister of Science and Technology, Ronaldo Sardenberg, met with
a Chinese biotechnology mission in Brazil to discuss a collaborative partnership.
The mission is led by Han Deqian, former vice-minister of Science and Technology
of China and presently a member of the Chinese government's Agricultural Consultative
Board. The sub-director of the National Center for Chinese Biotechnology Development,
Wang Yu, is also a member of the mission.
The governments of Brazil and China said they intend to inaugurate a partnership
in the field of Science and Technology. The partnership is innovative because
it involves two developing countries in the South Hemisphere that are beginning
to cooperate in high technology projects, said Sardenberg.
The Chinese delegation is visiting laboratories, foundations and research centers
in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Paraná. Science and Technology of
the Mo Hon Gjun from the Chinese Embassy said that the Chinese government had
paid special attention to the prominence achieved by Brazilian researchers
in the field of the biotechnology.
ROCKEFELLER STRESSES
IMPORTANCE OF JAPANESE FUNDING TO RICE GENOMICS
A public sector initiative led by Japan is key to completing a precise sequence
of the entire rice genome, says the Rockefeller Foundation. The public sector
International Rice Genome Sequencing Project (IRGSP), which uses a more systematic
and precise route to genome decryption than the recently reported efforts led
by Syngenta, a Swiss-based biotechnology company, and the Beijing Genomics
Institute, will release a high-quality draft sequence of the rice genome by
the end of 2002. Following its publication of the high-quality draft sequence,
the IRGSP will continue work toward the final stage of the sequencing research:
a precise, finished sequence of the rice genome.
The ten-nation IRGSP is led by Japan's Rice Genome Research Program and was
aided two years ago by the Monsanto Company's contribution of its draft rice
genome sequence. The IRGSP subscribes to a policy of immediate, public release
of its data and has adopted an accuracy standard for its finished sequence
of less than one error in 10,000 base pairs.
Only a precise, finished map of the rice genome will allow researchers to more
effectively identify and isolate the genes that control specific traits, such
as those related to vitamin production and drought and saline resistance. This
identification and elucidation of the function of individual genes, known as
functional genomics, is dependent on a finished sequence. Also, since rice
is related to other cereals, a precise, finished rice sequence can be used
to accelerate global efforts to improve major food crops including maize, wheat,
barley, sorghum and millet.
"Japan's leadership and commitment to accurately sequence the rice genome will
enable research leading to better food security throughout the developing world",
said Gordon Conway, president of the Rockefeller Foundation.
Conway, an agricultural ecologist and author of "The Doubly Green Revolution
Food for All in the 21st Century", said that a complete, accurate rice genome
will lead to the development of new varieties of rice that are more nutritious,
drought resistant and less vulnerable to disease than current strains.
For more information on the Rockefeller Foundation, visit http://www.rockfound.org
$22 M FOR PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY
IN NZ
New Zealand's Foundation for Research, Science and Technology says it is reinvesting
more than $100 M in some new and exciting research proposals with particular
emphasis on biotechnology, and information and communications technology as
well as some major initiatives in the social and environmental areas. The foundation
has allocated just under NZ$22 M to plant biotechnology, nearly $20 M to naturally
occurring bioactive agents and $1 M to studying the risks of modified genes
infecting other organisms and evaluating the attitudes of the New Zealand public
to genetic engineering.
The new investments will take effect from 1 July 2002 but some will be phased
in over the coming yeas. Details of the actual research projects will become
available as contracts with the various research organizations are finalized
over the next two months.
Foundation Chief Executive Gowan Pickering, says some of the investments are
designed to build a world-class biotechnology sector in New Zealand based on
its primary biological industries.
CLONAL OIL PALM
TARGETED BY MALAYSIAN COLLABORATION
Guthrie Biotech Laboratory Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of Kumpulan Guthrie Bhd, is
collaborating with University Putra Malaysia (UPM) and University Kebangsaan
Malaysia (UKM) on oil palm research. Guthrie Biotech Laboratory will use a
SELDI (Surface Enhanced Laser Desorption/Ionization) Protein Chip Array System.
The research project will cost RM1.76 million over a three year period.
Mohd Fuad Abdullah and Abdul Karim Abdul Ghani will head the UPM and UKM
research teams. The project aims to overcome problem associated with clonal
propagation to make it more reliable.
For more information, contact: Guthrie Industries Malaysia Sdn Bhd, 4th Mile,
Jalan Kg. Jawa, P.O. Box 2004, 41990 Klang, Selangor, Malaysia or at this email
address: gm@guthrie-industries.com
ELECTRONIC FORUM
ON GENE FLOW
An electronic forum to tackle the issue of gene flow from GM to non-GM populations
will be hosted by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The forum aims
to provide an avenue for different parties like government and non-government
organizations, policy makers and the general public, to exchange their views
about biotechnology in food and agriculture for developing countries.
While FAO has not yet posted a specific date, it will begin in about a month.
The forum will be done through a series of moderated e-mail conferences which
run for a limited period of time. FAO has already hosted six such conferences
regarding biotechnology in food and agriculture.
FAO is inviting people to participate in the conference. For more information,
contact biotech-mod@fao.org. An e-mail
may be sent to mailserv@mailserv.fao.org to
join the conference. All messages posted during the conference will be placed
at http://www.fao.org/biotech/forum.asp.
GM PARTHENOCARPIC
EGGPLANT
A recent article published by BMC Biotechnology reveals the results of a collaborative
research between Italy's Research Institute for Vegetable Crops and the University
of Verona on a GM parthenocarpic eggplant. The greenhouse and field trial results
showed that the new crop is capable of producing by as much as 33% more fruit
compared to the conventional eggplant. Other advantages noted in this new GM
crop are: a) good quality fruits during different types of cultivation; b)
seedless fruits with improved quality; and c) ability to produce fruits in
temperatures normally considered too cold for fruit production.
Researchers have incorporated into the crop the DefH9-iaaM gene. This gene
enables the plant to produce seedless fruits without undergoing fertilization.
The iaaM portion of the gene encodes for the enzyme tryptophan monoxygenase.
This enzyme is involved in the production of indole acetic acid, a hormone
that triggers the production of a seedless fruit. The DefH9, on the other hand,
makes sure that the indole acetic acid is expressed only in the flower buds
of the plant.
A full article of the study is available at http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6750/2/4 |
