In
This Issue:
GM
CROPS PROFITABLE AND GREEN, SAYS US REPORT
A report, endorsed by major US farmer lobbying groups, takes issue with what
it sees as common assumptions about impacts of GM crops, arguing that farmers
and the environment have benefited from their introduction. It contrasts sharply
with views expressed in a recent report by the UK organic group Soil Association.
The report, called "Let the Facts Speak for Themselves" attacks the statement
that widespread growing of GM herbicide-tolerant crops has harmed the environment
and says that far from causing harm, herbicide-tolerant crops have transformed
much of US agriculture by reducing the need to plow the land.
Thanks to nil, or minimal plowing, says the report's author Kimball Nill, technical
director of the American Soybean Association, soil erosion is minimized. In
addition, soil health and water retention is maximized, less carbon escapes
from the soil to contribute to global warming gases in the atmosphere, and
there is a considerable reduction in the use of tractor fuel used in field
operations.
The report also says Bt corn and Bt cotton have reduced pesticide use dramatically
with the added benefit of yield increases.
The report challenges an assertion that farmers are losing money growing biotech
crops, saying "no one forces farmers to use biotechnology; farmers use biotech
because it offers many advantages". While direct profitability varies according
to studies, among other things, farmers save time through using GM crops, says
Nill. Despite US corn exports to Europe having been hit by the GM moratorium,
soybean and corn gluten exports rose from 2001 to 2002. "US crops continue
to be sought by customers in the international marketplace", adds Nill. Biotech
crops can be hardier than their non-GM equivalents and traits in development
are likely to increase yield too, he says.
Nill also attacks what he sees as myths relating to seed saving and the actions
of biotech companies. "For practical as well as commercial reasons, it is increasingly
rare to save seed," he says. "Many varieties of superior non-biotech seeds
cannot be saved, and some, such as hybrids, do not thrive from harvested seed." It
is not true that biotech companies have been regularly suing farmers following
accidental contamination of their crops.
Nill takes issue with the claims that biotech crops benefit only the biotech
companies, and that organic agriculture do just as well as GM crops. " Biotech
crops benefit every link in the food chain from the farmer to the consumer.
In the future, even more exciting innovations will continue to improve food
quality and make farming more sustainable. Biotech crops are crucial if the
food needs of the world's growing population are to be met reliably and without
unacceptable encroachment on bio-diverse habitats."
The full report, called "Let the Facts Speak for Themselves" is available at http://www.tomorrowsbounty.org/library/prepubvs91502a.htm
BIOTECH
REAL OPPORTUNITY FOR IPM, SAYS AUSTRALIA'S NFF
The effectiveness of Bt in minimizing insect attacks in the first half of the
growing season has seen a major reduction in the application of chemicals such
as endosulfan. If used inappropriately, endosulfan can result in major environmental
and residue problems, says Peter Corish, president of the Australian National
Farmers' Federation (NFF).
"This has provided Australian farmers with a real opportunity for Integrated
Pest Management (IPM)," he said. "Over the 6 years Ingard has been grown,
on average pesticide applications within production have been reduced by 40-60%
in comparison to conventional crops". While Corish said he was not there "to
advocate the potential benefits or dwell on the potential risks associated with
the broad scale uptake of genetically modified field crops," he noted that the
emergence of Bt varieties "has represented a major step in overcoming the cotton
industry's strong dependence upon chemicals within production."
He noted that the full realization of the benefits of this technology across
the entire industry has been limited by the imposition of a cap on the total
area of Bt cotton grown, to 30% of total planted area. This cap has been implemented
to overcome the potential build up of resistance within insects.
Recognizing the shortfalls of single gene cotton varieties, the Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) and technology developers
have been developing a modified variety containing two-genes. This development
phase has recently culminated in Monsanto Australia lodging an application
to the Gene Technology Regulator for the commercial release of their Bollgard
II product. Corish said Bollgard II will largely overcome problems relating
to resistance buildup, therefore allowing the variety to be planted on a greater
percentage of total cotton growing regions. Monsanto's current application
has requested approval for the variety to be grown in up to 70% of all cotton
growing areas.
"On the basis of field trials, technology developers claim that two gene varieties
will result in a 90% reduction in insecticide requirements," said Corish "and
assuming that regulatory approval is granted and the crop is planted across 70%
of cotton growing regions, then a quick sum suggests that introduction of such
varieties will result in a 63% reduction in pesticide requirements across the
entire industry."
Over the last six-years, Aventis Crop Sciences (now BayerCropScience), Monsanto
Australia, and the Victorian Department of Natural Resources and Environment
have been undertaking extensive research work on the development of genetically
modified canola varieties. This research culminated earlier this year with
Monsanto and subsequently Aventis Bayer lodging applications with the Gene
Technology Regulator for the limited commercial release of herbicide tolerant
GM canola in Australia in the 2003 growing season.
"While NFF is first to recognize the range of other concerns farmers are faced
with in considering the adoption of GM field crops, the potential benefits for
Australian farmers should not be discounted," Corish concluded.
WORLD
BANK ASKS FOR VIEWS ON BIOTECH AND HUNGER
What part can biotechnology safely play in increasing productivity and improving
crop traits? What can traditional plant breeding techniques offer? What is
the relevance of organic agriculture to food safety and nutritional security?
These are some of the key questions posed by a World Bank paper entitled "An
International Assessment on the Role of Agricultural Science and Technology
in Reducing Hunger and Improving Rural Livelihoods".
The World Bank and its partners are undertaking a consultative process to develop
an appropriate authorizing environment for an assessment, determine the scope,
objectives and value of an international assessment, the key questions to be
addressed, and the principles and procedures to be followed.
During this process, stakeholders throughout the world (farmers and producers,
NGOs, researchers, the private sector, governments, consumers and others) will
exchange ideas on how agricultural S&T can contribute to reducing hunger
and improving rural livelihoods.
The organizations are convening stakeholder meetings throughout the world to
determine the scope of any assessment, what questions it would answer and how
it would be organized.
To start the process of informing stakeholders and to begin obtaining feedback,
the World Bank has established a website (http://www.agassessment.org/)
which includes a concept paper about the consultative process and the potential
assessment. The website also has a feedback form to comments.
For more information, go to http://www.agassessment.org/pdfs/roleofag.pdf
AG-BIOTECH
IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE SOUTH
Developing countries have a fighting chance to compete internationally in agricultural
biotechnology. This is according to Atty. Jose Maria Ochave, Member of the
National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines, during a seminar entitled "Competing
for Space in the Policy Arena: The Political Dimensions of Biotechnology".
In the medical field, it is not possible for developing countries to compete
because it takes about 600 to 800 million dollars and about 15 years of trials
for one drug to be launched. The resources needed for medical biotechnology
are not available to developing countries but the case is different regarding
ag-biotech.
The first wave of biotech crops were the ones primarily important to the developing
world since they were export crops. Ochave said that we can not expect the
concerns of North and South countries to be the same. However, the next set
of crops that are being developed are the ones useful to developing countries.
Among all the issues regarding agricultural biotechnology, the most important
is ownership and access, according to Ochave. The question is: how can developing
countries develop the technology so that it can be used for its own people.
The technology must not be prevented from coming in. Rather, by working with
multi-nationals, local scientists will be able to acquire knowledge.
During the open forum of the seminar, Ochave responded to a comment from the
audience that ag-biotech is not benefiting the poor in the Philippines. He
said that the technology is not benefiting the poor precisely because it is
not yet commercialized. He directed the audience to studies in China showing
that farmers benefited by planting GM crops.
The seminar was held on September 18, 2002 at the Department of Agricultural
Extension and Rural Studies of the University of the Philippines, Los Baņos,
Laguna, Philippines.
ETHICAL
CONSIDERATIONS IN FOOD AND AG-BIOTECH
A framework for understanding the range of ethical concerns and for appreciating
the value judgments that underlie conflicting opinions on ethical responsibilities
associated with food and agricultural biotechnology is outlined in a paper
by Paul B. Thompson of Purdue University. The paper is entitled "Food and Agricultural
Biotechnology: Incorporating Ethical Considerations" and was prepared for the
Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee.
Thompson distinguished the following broad types of concerns. First, it is
possible that there is something about the manipulation of living matter at
the genetic level that is of ethical concern. Second, gene technology is of
ethical concern because it poses risks to animal, environmental and human interests.
Finally, there are ethical concerns that relate more to the social institutions
that develop, promote and regulate these technologies.
In conclusion, Thompson said "it seems likely that some of the ethical concerns
that have been raised in connection with food and agricultural biotechnology
will turn out to have been misplaced". Opposition to biotechnology based on
such concerns is expected to subside when matters are clarified and adequate
communications are established. However, the assumption for these possibilities
is that resources - time, money, and willingness to engage in dialogue - are
devoted to furthering understanding and practical ethical discourse on the
issues involved.
The paper can be downloaded at http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/agbiotech/
Thompsonpaper/Canadathompson.html.
PHIL
DOH ASSURES BIOTECH FOOD SAFETY
The Philippine's Department of Health (DOH), through the Bureau of Food and
Drugs (BFAD), assured local consumers on the safety of genetically modified
(GM) or biotechnology-enhanced food products that have been in the market for
a long time. Based on the bureau's findings, all processed and pre-packaged
food products, which are currently in the Philippine market, have passed the
food safety evaluation and have met international food safety standards.
In a statement released this month, DOH said, "the World Health Organization
(WHO) and the Food Agricultural Organization (FAO), in a joint committee finding,
found out that the risks from the GM foods are no different from traditionally-produced
foods." The focus of the review of the BFAD is on the characteristics and risks
of the product and not the process by which it was produced.
Health Secretary Manuel M. Dayrit, in a recent radio interview claimed that
food products being consumed today are safe since these undergo strict biosafety
regulatory measures in other countries before getting approval for human consumption.
He added there is no scientific evidence that GM foods pose any hazard to human
health, thus he advised anti-GMO groups not to claim that these goods would
cause adverse effects.
SOUTH
AFRICA FOOD CRISIS AFFECTS MORE THAN PREDICTED
Recent estimates predict that there will be 1.6 million more people affected
by drought than what was previously estimated. This was announced by James
T. Morris, the UN Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs. Morris said, "These
new figures confirm what the team and I witnessed during our mission: the humanitarian
crisis is not only devastatingly real, it is worsening faster than was originally
projected. This crisis must be an absolute top priority for the international
community".
This was backed up by a statement of UN Deputy Relief Coordinator, Carolyn
McAskie, who said that the number of people in six countries worst-hit by food
shortages had grown to 14.4 million from the previous estimate of 12.8 million.
The six worst hit countries are Lesotho, Swaziland, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe
and Mozambique.
The increase in number of people affected was mainly due to limited supplies
of maize and people's access to it. Food imports, both commercial and humanitarian
relief, have been lower than originally projected. The situation has been worsened
by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the area. While traveling through the region, the
UN Team raised many issues regarding humanitarian assistance with senior government
officials, including the status of GMO food importation. Ms. McAskie said five
of the six countries she visited had agreed to accept GMOs, provided it was
milled before distribution. The Governments had accepted that the food was
fit for human consumption but did not want the grains to be planted in their
land.
For more details, go to http://www.wfp.org/index.asp?section=2 and http://www.un.org/
apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=4780&Cr=food&Cr1=crisis.
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
NEW K SHEET
The International
Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications' (ISAAA)
Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology has put together a
new K-Sheet describing how science and technology (including biotechnology)
fared in two major documents resulting from the World Summit on Sustainable
Development (WSSD). These two documents are the Political Declaration
and the Plan of Implementation. The K Sheet is entitled "WSSD
Highlights Role of Science and Technology in Sustainable Development".
K Sheets are short synthesis of events and issues. It can be downloaded
at http://www.isaaa.org/kc/Services.htm.
BIOMALAYSIA 2002
BioMalaysia
2002 will run from 1-4 October 2002 at Putra World Trade Center,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The four-day affair, which will include exhibits,
symposium, and business partnering, is a global event that will generate
interest, business opportunities and awareness on biotechnology not
only in Malaysia, but also in the Asia-Pacific region. In particular,
the symposium covers various topics of interest, with special emphasis
on agriculture, biodiversity, medicine, convergence of new sciences
and platform technologies. Special symposium sessions dedicated to
the development of biotechnology clusters, strategic alliances and
the commercialization of biotechnology are also included.
For more information, visit their website at http://www.biomalaysia2002.com or
email the BioMalaysia 2002 Secretariat at secretariat@biomalaysia2002.com
SCIENTIFIC
CONFERENCE ON TISSUE CULTURE AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
A scientific
conference entitled "Enhancing Plant Tissue Culture and Entrepreneurship
in the Philippines" will be held in Tagaytay City, Philippines from
October 21-25, 2002. Deadline for submission of abstracts is on September
30, 2002. For any inquiry, please contact Dr. Nenita Desamero at nvdesamero@philrice.gov.ph
CONFERENCE
ON LIFE SCIENCES AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
An EU-Presidency
Conference on Biotechnology will be held in Copenhagen October 21,
2002. The conference will "kick-off" a discussion on how to implement
the EU Commission's Action Plan for the Strategy of Life Sciences
and Biotechnology. The conference is organised by the Danish Agricultural
Council, the Confederation of Danish Industries, the EU-Commission,
the Danish Ministry for Economics and Trade & the Danish Ministry
of Science, Technology and Innovation. Participants will be representatives
from industry, academia and the political decision-making system.
Participation is limited to 300 people. For further information and
registration go to www.eubiotech2002.dk. For questions or suggestions,
contact Morten Andersen Linnet, Senior Advisor, Danish Agricultural
Council at mal@agriculture.dk.
NEW BOOK
A new
book entitled "Plants, Genes and Crop Biotechnology" is available.
This textbook is about plants, genes, food, and agriculture, and
the changing relationships among them. It shows how agriculture is
changing throughout the world and discusses the roles that genes
and genetic engineering are playing in these changes. The text is
international in outlook and written for 2nd to 3rd year university
students. It has contributions by 21 experts that were subsequently
edited to make a flowing text of 550 pages in full color. For parties
interested in funding a gift of 10 to 100 copies for developing countries
write to mchrispeels@ucsd.edu
For details go to: http://www.plantbiotech.jbpub.com |
