In This
Issue:
POST-MARKET
OVERSIGHT OF BIOTECH FOODS
Gaps
in post-market oversight reveal some potential vulnerabilities
but agencies have substantial resilience and capability to react
to significant compliance problems when they do arise. The challenge
for the regulatory system is in dealing with future applications
of biotechnology that will require tighter regulatory control to
protect human health and the environment.
This
was a major conclusion of the Pew Institute on Food and Biotechnology
report "Post-Market Oversight of Biotech Foods: Is the System
Prepared?" The commissioned report examined the post-market
regulatory oversight of genetically modified (GM) crops and foods
by three US organizations: Department of Agriculture, Environmental
Protection Agency, and Food and Drug Administration.
Post-market
refers to the presence of the crop or food in the environment,
either released for pre-commercialization field trials or in the
commercial marketplace.
The
report prepared by Michael Taylor and Jody Tick of the Resources
for the Future group noted that "regulatory systems will have
to enhance resources devoted to post-market oversight and to consider
strategies that effectively harness public and private resources
to ensure that consistent and credible compliance with regulatory
requirements is achieved."
The
full report is available online at
http://pewagbiotech.org/research/postmarket/PostMarket.pdf
SCIENCE-BASED INFO AFFECTS DEMAND FOR GM FOOD
Information
has a powerful role in shaping consumer response to agricultural
biotechnology. Consumers react not just to the content of information,
but also to the source. Scientific, verifiable information had
a larger moderating effect on consumers' reaction to anti-biotech
statements than pro-biotech statements from biotech companies.
These
were a few of the major highlights of a study on "The Effects
of Information on Consumer Demand for Biotech Foods: Evidence from
Experimental Auctions" released by the US Department of Agriculture.
The
report prepared by a team led by Abebauehu Tegene notes that consumers'
willingness to pay for food products decreases when the food label
indicates that a food product is produced with the aid of modern
biotechnology. The experimental study showed that while gender,
income, and other demographical characteristics appeared to have
only a slight impact on consumers' willingness to pay for biotech
foods, information from interested parties and third-party (independent)
sources was found to have a strong impact.
For
the full report visit http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/tb1903/tb1903.pdf
"COEXISTENCE" FOR GM AND NON-GM AGRI CROPS IN NZ
"Coexistence
between genetically modified crops and conventional agricultural
crops is possible," states the two New Zealand Cabinet papers
recently made public by the New Zealand Government. The government's
motion towards the approval of coexistence is in support of the
recommendations made by the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification
which encourages the coexistence of all forms of agriculture and
different production systems to contribute to the overall benefit
of New Zealand.
The
first paper on coexistence entitled "Government Response to
the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification: Report on Managing
the Effects of GM Organisms and Coexistence in Primary Production
- Paper 1:Overview" states that the general concept of coexistence
is already in place within New Zealand's primary production, with
conventional, organic, and integrated pest management systems complementing
each other. The application of different agricultural production
methods also requires sharing of responsibilities between the different
agricultural producers.
The
first paper also illustrates the need for three essential elements
for achieving effective coexistence of GM with non-GM production
systems:
- An
effective regulatory approach that protects the environment and
ensures the safety of people and communities by preventing or
managing adverse effects, and identifying agencies responsible
for the management of such adverse conditions;
- A
case-by-case approach that responds to the specific characteristics
of each GM organism; and
- The "whole
of production chain" approach which address concerns starting
from seed production and follow-up paddock management to post-harvest
handling, management, and distribution.
The
second paper entitled "Government Response to the Royal Commission
on Genetic Modification: Report on Managing the Effects of GM Organisms
and Coexistence in Primary Production - Paper 2: Practicalities
of Specific Issues" discusses the practical issues, which
includes codes of practice for growing GM crops, and managing risks
for beekeepers and users of Bt insecticide.
The
Cabinet papers can be viewed at http://www.maf.govt.nz/mafnet/rural-nz/research-and-development/biotechnology/gm-coexistence-decision/.
KARI LAUNCHES USAID
BIOTECH PROGRAM
The
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) officially launched
a five-year USAID Biotechnology Support Programme at a ceremony
presided over by the Kenyan Minister for Agriculture, Kipruto Arap
Kirwa on April 23, 2003.
USAID
pledged a support of 25% to KARI's biotechnology programme estimated
to cost a total of US $ 12.5 million over a five-year period. The
USAID encourages public/private sector partnerships in the implementation
process to enhance capacity building and technology transfer. It
will focus on five key areas: 1). development and commercialization
of virus-resistant sweet potatoes, 2). development and commercialization
of corn resistant to storage pests, 3). development of livestock
disease vaccines, 4). biotechnology and biosafety awareness creation
among farmers, consumers, policy makers and journalists, and 5).
support to the development and implementation of a national biosafety
framework.
KARI
is currently using a variety of biotechnology approaches to address
constraints to both crops and livestock production:
- Plant
tissue culture micro-propagation techniques to produce clean
planting materials for banana and flower farmers with great impact
on small-holder livelihoods.
- The
use of embryo rescue techniques to generate double haploid wheat
varieties reducing the wheat varietal development period from
13 years to four years. Two new wheat varieties produced by KARI
are scheduled for release later in the year.
- Marker
assisted selection techniques have been used to breed for drought-tolerant
lines of corn currently undergoing National performance trials.
- Genetically
engineered virus resistant transgenic sweet potatoes, insect
resistant Bt corn and Bt cotton varieties have been approved
for evaluation in the country. Genetically engineered vaccines
and diagnostic tests for some priority livestock diseases (Rinderpest,
Rift Valley Fever and Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia) are
also under evaluation.
More
on KARI at http://www.hridir.org/countries/kenya/PROVCOUN/kenya_agricultural
_research_institute_kari/index.htm
UN COMMISSIONER: AFRICA MUST HARNESS BIOTECH
Africa
must take urgent steps to harness the power of modern technologies
if it is to effectively deal with the many tough and frustrating
developmental challenges that it faces. This is the key message
of the 5th Annual Peter Doherty Distinguished Lecture delivered
by K.Y. Amoako, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission
for Africa at the International Livestock Research Institute in
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Amoako
singled out biotechnology, and information and communication technology
as directly relevant to solving Africa's most critical problems
of sustainable development.
He reiterated
the specific policy recommendations for African governments that
were outlined in ECA's 2002 publication "Harnessing Technologies
for Development." These include:
- Promote
African-focused biotechnology research that emphasizes "orphan
crops", particularly cassava, millet, sorghum, sweet potato
and yams, and other cereals such as corn, rice and wheat;
- Develop
African-owned biotechnology policies that involve all relevant
stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector and
farmer organizations, in the formulation of national plans;
- Establish
national regulatory institutions for risk assessment and management;
- Increase
investment in modern biotechnology research;
- Promote
public/private sector partnerships in modern biotechnology research;
- Strengthen
the linkages between modern crop biotechnology and its use in
practical plant breeding.
Amoako
stressed that "The sustainable development of Africa is in
our collective hands... Africa cannot afford to miss the opportunities
that science and technology are now offering it. It's all there
in front of us. The time for speeches is past."
More
information on the UN Economic Commission for Africa at http://www.uneca.org
FRENCH ACADEMY CALLS FOR INDEPENDENT GM RESEARCH
The
French Academy of Sciences has released a report saying that public
funding of genetically modified research is crucial to its credibility.
It avers that an analysis of risks associated with GM plants can
parlay criticisms if based on strictly scientific criteria. Likewise,
the Academy believes maintaining financial support for research
ensures independence from economic pressures and is indispensable
to preserve the credibility of risk evaluation.
The
report noted that "an alarming absence of research on the
application of plant transformation, leaves this field of investigation
completely open to others." This may result in a relative
depreciation of cultivated varieties which will be detrimental
to the country's agricultural varieties.
Another
Academy recommendation is for a large scale pilot project to demonstrate
the usefulness of genetic engineering especially in developing
countries. It also suggests initiatives to prevent intellectual
property from inhibiting non-commercial uses, and to ensure that
public research institutes deal ethically with developing countries.
SORGHUM GENE CONTROLS PLANT CELL WALL HARDNESS
Wilfred
Vermerris, assistant professor, and Siobhan Bout, research technician,
of the Agronomy and Agricultural and Biological Engineering Department,
Purdue University have identified the sorghum gene that controls
plant cell wall hardness. Results from the study are envisioned
to improve the digestibility of livestock feed, produce hardier
crops and increase the yield of biofuels.
The
sorghum gene, Brown midrib (Bmr), encodes caffeic acid O-methyltransferase
(COMT), a lignin-producing enzyme. This gene is involved in forming
lignin, a plant cell wall hardening substance. When the gene is
not functioning, or mutated, the cell walls are softer.
The
researchers cloned Bmr after comparing the chemical composition
of the mutants' cell walls. They also identified the part of the
sorghum Brown midrib gene that is different in the three mutants,
bmr12, bmr18 and bmr26.
Based
on the study, sorghum mutants have reduced amounts of COMT, which
is responsible for the lower lignin in the mutants' leaves and
stems as compared to the wild-type crops. Mutant plants with these
genetic changes have brown vascular tissue, rather than the normal
green, and they are softer.
The
plant-softening mutations have improved the digestibility of the
food, and the livestock seem to like the new taste better. The
cloning of this gene can also aid in the introduction of similar
changes in other crops, such as rye grass and corn.
Contact
Wilfred Vermerris of Purdue University at his email address: Vermerris@purdue.edu for
more details of the research.
FLOWERING TIME FINDINGS
COULD EXTEND CROP OPTIONS
Long
day and short day flowering are controlled by the same genes but
with altered regulation. Hence, modified crops could be grown in
new areas and different times of the year.
Ko Shimamoto
and his colleagues at the Nara Institute of Science and Technology
in Takayama, Japan raised this possibility in their work on photoperiodic
control. Noting the many potential applications for agriculture,
the team said that "day length requirement for any plant can
be now manipulated so that we may be able to expand latitude of
the areas where certain crops can be grown." One obvious application
is the change of the photoperiodic requirements of crops so that
they can be grown at different times of the year." Rather
than there being a basic on/off switch for long days versus short
days, Shimamoto believes it should be possible to fine-tune the
flowering time.
The
paper, "Adaptation of Photoperiodic Control Pathways Produces
Short-day Flowering in Rice" by Ryosuke Hayama, Shuji Yokoi,
Shojiro Tamaki, Masahiro Yano and Ko Shimamoto appears in Nature
422, 719-722.
Email
the lead author at simamoto@bs.aist-nara.ac.jp.
MANNITOL GIVES GM WHEAT DROUGHT/SALT RESISTANCE
Genetically engineering wheat to express the sugar alcohol mannitol may make
it more resistant to drought and salt while improving yields.
Arron
C. Guenzi and colleagues at Oklahoma State University expressed
the mannitol-1-phosphate dehydrogenase (mtlD) gene of Escherichia
coli in wheat. Tissues or plants containing the novel gene were
able to withstand water and drought stress far better than wild-type
plants.
Guenzi
and colleagues point out that the technique involves adding genes
to synthesize the naturally occurring product. The gene occurs
naturally in many food plants and is routinely used as an additive
in many processed foods.
The
paper, "Tolerance of Mannitol-Accumulating Transgenic Wheat
to Water Stress and Salinity" by Tilahun Abebe, Arron C. Guenzi,
Bjorn Martin, and John C. Cushman appears in the april 11, 2003
issue of Plant Physiology (131, 1748-1755).
Contact
Arron C. Guenz at acg@okstate.edu
PROTEIN DISCOVERED
FOR DISEASE PROTECTION
Scientists
from the John Innes Centre, University of Edinburgh, University
of Toronto and the Noble Foundation have discovered a protein central
to a plant's ability to develop long lasting immunity effective
against a wide range of different diseases. Their work is expected
to lead to new genetic strategies for disease protection in crops
that will reduce pesticide use but maintain high yields.
According
to an article in the Winter 2003 issue of Advances, a publication
of the John Innes Centre and Sainsbury Laboratory , the protein
DIRI 1 is essential to a plant's internal warning system against
diseases. It enables cells attacked by disease to transmit a signal
that alerts other parts of the plant to the presence of infection.
The induction of disease resistance is an important element in
plants' strategies to protect themselves from disease attack.
More
on John Innes at http://www.jic.bbsrc.ac.uk
ANNOUNCEMENTS
EUROPEAN CONGRESS ON BIOTECHNOLOGY
The
European Congress on Biotechnology will take place on August 24
to 29, 2003 at the Convention Center Basel in Switzerland. The
Congress will discuss the most recent developments and achievements
in modern biotechnology. It also aims to bridge the gaps and promote
open dialogue between the Molecular and Engineering Biosciences,
Academia and Industry, and Bioscience and Society. See their website
at: http://www.efbweb.org/topics/ecb11.htm.
HARVARD TRAINING COURSE
The
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard University
will hold an Executive Training Course on "Science, Technology
and Innovation Policy" on November 30 to December 12, 2003.
This two-week executive session aims to help strengthen the capacity
of high-level decision-makers to integrate science and technology
into national development policies. For the full course description
and application, visit the Executive Programs course page at http://bcsia.ksg.harvard.edu/research.cfm?program=STPP&project=STG&ln=
Executive&pb_id=202&gma=27&gmi=45. | 
