In This Issue:

	New Applications for Agro-Biotech		Science-Based Technology for African Agriculture
	FSA Contributes to GM Debate		Christian Environmentalism for Biotech
	Kenyan Organic Farmers Seek Biotech Info		Sweet Pepper Helps Build a Tougher Orchid
	Dublin Meeting Assess Role of S&T		Researches on the Benefits and Risks of GM Foods Encouraged
	Economic Impacts of Crop Biotech		Announcement:
	Economic Benefits Await UK Growers of GM Sugarbeet		New Reports from ISNAR
	Biotech Can Make US Diet Healthier

NEW APPLICATIONS FOR AGRO-BIOTECH

What are the future developments for biotechnology? The Agricultural Biotechnology in Europe (ABE), a group of private sector companies involved in the dissemination of information on crop biotechnology, says that there is a wide array of new applications or developments that have two things in common: real definable benefits, and demonstrated feasibility. In an issue paper entitled "Future Developments in Biotechnology" (2003), ABE contends that " there are a large number of beneficial applications still in development which would be impossible to accomplish in any way other than genetic modification."

ABE's survey listed these developments into the following categories:

• Quality traits to improve food quality: bananas with better keeping properties; improvements to oilseed crops; corn with improved feed value; tomatoes with high levels of flavonols; high lycopene tomatoes; corn with improved Vitamin E balance; and soya bean with improved protein

• Plants which benefit our environment: corn with improved phosphorus availability; stress tolerant crops; and bioremediation through arsenic-tolerant plants

• Plants which increase food production capacity: high yielding rice; corn for acidic soils; and virus resistant sweet potato

• Pharmaceutical production: corn to benefit cystic fibrosis sufferers; and vaccines from fruits and vegetables

• Non-food crops: low lignin trees for paper-making; and energy crops

While the survey has "really only scratched the surface of developments in crop biotechnology, in many cases, biotechnology will have been used because it is the best (or perhaps only) way to achieve the result," says ABE.

A pdf version of the full article can be downloaded at http://abeurope.dynamicweb.dk/
images/files/abe_issues_paper_6.pdf

FSA CONTRIBUTES TO GM DEBATE

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) in the United Kingdom is implementing several initiatives to independently assess people's views on the acceptability of genetically modified food as this relates to consumer choice. FSA considers this as part of its contribution to the government debate about genetic modification.

Among FSA's activities and or initiatives are:

• Citizens' Jury which has sessions on GM food and safety, GM food and the consumer, GM food and society, and GM food and choice. Witnesses will come from national and international social science, scientific, consumer, and industry organizations.

• Interactive website to give people information so that they can participate in the GM debate (http://www.food.gov.uk/gmdebate). A feature of the website includes a time tour to explore the history of gene manipulation, an animated explanation of the GM process, and an interactive quiz to test one's knowledge of GM.

• A booklet entitled "GM food- opening up the debate" which provides basic information that consumers can read to take part in the debate about GM food.

• Schools Debating Competition which attracts up to 100 teams from a mixture of state ad private schools across the UK and some from abroad.

For the full article visit http://www.foodstandards.gov.uk/gmdebate/gmpress/gm_pr

KENYAN ORGANIC FARMERS SEEK BIOTECH INFO

The Kenya Institute of Organic Farming (KIOF) hosted a workshop at the Agricultural Information Center/National Agricultural Research Laboratories of the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) on "Understanding Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Biotechnology in Kenya". A team from Zimbabwe and the Netherlands facilitated the workshop which was held on January 29-30, 2003. About 52 participants attended which included scientists, representatives from various non-government organizations, farmers, and regulators. A great percentage of the participants were promoters of organic farming.

The topics included an introduction to biotechnology and genetic engineering, global and national status of biotechnology, benefits and concerns of biotechnology, and GMOs in relation to human health, environment, food security and rural sustainability, among others.

Issues of concern raised during the workshop were:

• Biotechnology information flow to stakeholders and especially to farmers was slow and one-sided. KIOF and other agencies were asked to work together to ensure balanced information flow to the farmers. KIOF offered to take the lead.

• Mechanisms to test food in the supermarkets and also international food donations are lacking. The action suggested was 'whistle blowing' through educational programs.

• The need to come out with policy guidelines on biotechnology. Again KIOF and related agencies were charged with the responsibility of following up this felt need.

• Need for public sector investment in biotechnology research and development to avoid research that is donor-driven and to ensure appropriate application and adoption of the technology.

The participants concluded that a technology like tissue culture should continue without reservations since it posed no biosafety concerns. Genetic engineering, on the other hand, should proceed with caution to obtain its benefits.

Contact the Kenya Biotechnology Information Center (KBIC) for more information at http://www.isaaa-africenter.org

DUBLIN MEETING ASSESS ROLE OF S & T

A global consultative process was held in Dublin, Ireland to do an international assessment of the role of agricultural science and technology (S & T) in reducing hunger, improving rural livelihoods and stimulating environmentally sustainable economic growth over the coming decades. The meeting was convened by the World Bank and had participants from governments, the private sector, non-government organizations, farmer and other producer groups, consumers, scientists and international organizations.

The participants agreed that a broad and diverse potential audience exists for a well-focused assessment of agricultural S and T. Assessments were perceived to strengthen national and international science and decision-making structures, and possibly provide the justification for increased public sector funding and improved public-private partnerships given the "global public goods" nature of agricultural S & T.

Participants felt that the assessment would include areas where agricultural S & T knowledge is likely to inform producers and consumers, have policy implications, and stimulate sustainable development.

Among the core S & T issues which could include a critical evaluation are:

• The potential of current and future technologies

• The potential to reduce post-harvest losses and minimize wastes; the potential to improve crop traits

• The potential to increase productivity in rain fed, drought prone and marginalized areas where production is low, among others

• The limiting factors of present production systems in meeting producers' needs

A full report is available online at http://www.agassessment.org/reports/dublin/index.html

ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF CROP BIOTECH

The Agricultural Biotechnology in Europe (ABE), a group of private sector companies involved in the dissemination of information on crop biotechnology, says that farmers are rapidly accepting GM crops because of very real economic benefits. "Although other issues are important, it is the economic factors which are fueling the continued growth in the use of modern biotechnology in agriculture," ABE explains. This was the general conclusion made in an issue paper entitled " Economic Impacts of Crop Biotechnology.

ABE notes that farmers in developing countries including China, South Africa and India are starting to see the benefits from growing GM crops. Similar benefits, particularly in weed management, yield increase, reduced input costs, and overall profitability, are being gained by farmers in Spain and are likely to be made available to other European farmers as well.

The issue paper discussed the experience of corn farmers in Spain, a major corn producing country accounting for some 11 per cent of the European Union total in the 2001 growing season. Farmers in Spain noted increase in yields (12.54 tons/ha for conventional versus 13.35 tons/ha for Bt corn or a net increase of more than 800 kilos/ha) and reduced their use of pesticides. ABE noted that all GM corn from Spain was sold through normal channels for animal feed and that there was no need for segregation. Farmers tend to perceive the Bt corn to be of higher quality because of the lower mytotoxin levels compared to conventional crops which have suffered insect damage.

ABE notes that "it seems likely that rates of adoption by farmers across the country will increase rapidly when existing barriers are lifted.... There is every reason to suppose that there would be a comparable, though perhaps slower, uptake in countries like Italy and France when their governments allow commercialization."

The full paper is available at http://www.ABEurope.info

ECONOMIC BENEFITS AWAIT UK GROWERS OF GM SUGARBEET

A study of the potential economic benefit of commercial production of a GM herbicide tolerant (GMHT) crop in the UK suggests that it could save the industry £23 M per year, if the crop was grown exclusively. The study conducted by Mike May, Broom's Barn Research Station in UK estimates that overall savings, net of technology fee included in the seed price, would be £150 per hectare per year. A major part of this saving is the 80% reduction in expenditure on herbicides.

May notes that whether GMHT sugar beet is grown in the UK in the future will depend on political decisions and the results of key experiments, such as the farm-scale evaluations.

The study assumes that GM sugarbeet could command the same price as non-GM sugarbeet, and this may depend on public acceptance. He also points to a range of unquantifiable benefits such as the reduced need to spray early in the day, reduced tractor hours and potential for increased management time, and the potential to manage for wildlife. The risks to ground nesting birds from tractor hoeing would be removed by changing to GM sugarbeet. The growing of sugarbeet in itself provides environmental benefits by allowing arable rotations.

The paper "Economic Consequences for UK Farmers of Growing GM Herbicide Tolerant Sugar Beet" appears in Annals of Applied Biology 142, 41-48. For more information, contact Mike May at his email address: mike.may@bbsrc.ac.uk

BIOTECH CAN MAKE US DIET HEALTHIER

"Biotechnology can help improve the health-promoting profile of food by increasing levels of desirable substances and decreasing allergens and other factors that increase the risk of disease." So says Catherine Woteki, Dean of Iowa State University's College of Agriculture, talking about the need to changing health-risky American diets.

"Chronic diseases are a major burden on society," Woteki told participants at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meetings in Denver.

"Scientific evidence has shown diet to be a factor in many of the leading causes of death in the United States, including heart disease, cancer, diabetes and kidney disease."

Contact: Catherine Woteki at cwoteki@iastate.edu

SCIENCE-BASED TECHNOLOGY FOR AFRICAN AGRICULTURE

Eleni Z. Gabre-Madhin and Steven Haggblade of the Markets and Structural Studies Division of the International Food Policy Research Institute, recently conducted a research entitled "Successes in African Agriculture: Results of an Expert Survey." The discussion paper identified key successes emerging in African agriculture with the hope of expanding them into broad-based agricultural growth. The survey featured success stories that highlighted the dynamic African agricultural environment within which farmers, traders and agricultural policy makers operate.

The results of the study pointed out several insights on the dynamics of successful change in African agriculture. Gabre-Madhin and Haggblade stated that farmers and trading firms are central to the process of change. Changes in the internal asset base of these groups and in the external environment are also equally important. The researchers observed that neither type of intervention is sufficient in isolation.

Gabre-Madhin and Haggblade also stressed that "farmers cannot benefit from improved market opportunities if they do not have the means to access knowledge about improved practices, or seeds, or other inputs. Farmers cannot benefit from greater resources for production without injections of technology and outlets for their surplus."

The role of the public sector, civil society, and the other collective actors, in influencing the changes in both internal and external environments was also considered critically important. Lastly, the researchers concluded that science-based technology, particularly productivity-enhancing, is a key driver of Africa's agricultural growth.

For more details, the discussion paper can be downloaded at http://www.cgiar.org/
ifpri/divs/mssd/dp.htm.

CHRISTIAN ENVIRONMENTALISM FOR BIOTECH

Bishop Jesus Varela of Sorsogon, a member of the Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), recently introduced the term "Christian Environmentalism," for the safe management of biotechnology. Bishop Varela was one of the speakers during the Regional Forum on Biotechnology and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) that was jointly sponsored by Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), and the Biotechnology Coalition of the Philippines (BCP).

This new term, which Bishop Varela personally coined, adopts the following ethical framework of analysis. The ethical framework advocates the ideas of Custody (preserving the integrity of nature), Stewardship (responsible use of material things), and Right Ordering (establishing reasonable criteria and guidelines with emphasis on what is reasonable) for the exercise of Custody and Stewardship. The guidelines include sustainable development, thorough cost-benefit analysis, and keeping science at the service of man, and not vice-versa.

Applying this framework to the issue on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), Bishop Varela concluded that GMOs have the potential to provide a humane solution to the global problem of hunger and malnutrition. Bishop Varela pointed out that indicators show that "GMOs can significantly improve crop yields, offer an environmental friendly alternative to artificial pesticides, improve the nutritional properties of food, remove allergies and toxins contained in conventional foods, and improve the quality of food." In addition to these, before GMO products are released for consumption, they first go through more safety and health testing, as compared to conventional foods.

Bishop Varela also proposed a public dialogue between pro-GMO and anti-GMO scientists to settle the issues pertaining to the safety of GMO foods, Bt corn in particular. The full story can be downloaded at http://hoovnews.hoovers.com/fp.asp?layout=printnews&doc_id=NR20030218670.2_
7856002965247b3e.

SWEET PEPPER HELPS BUILD A TOUGHER ORCHID

Reseachers in Taiwan are using the sweet pepper ferrodoxin-like protein as a marker in developing transgenic orchids, with the added benefit of increased resistance to Erwinia caratovora.

The sweet pepper ferrodoxin-like protein was introduced into orchids using Agrobacterium by Ming-Tsair Chan and co-workers at the Institute of BioAgricultural Sciences, Academia Sinica in Taiwan, and colloborators at the Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica.

Chan points out that "we believe that the employment of this selection system may diminish the toxicity or allergenicity of the gene product to humans raised in relation to the use of antibiotic or herbicide resistance marker genes and their presence in transgenic plants."

There are several targets for orchid transformation. "We intend to create virus resistant and artificially controlled flowering time orchid cultivars by this quick transformation and selection system in the near future. We would like to obtain transgenic flower senescence delayed orchid plants," says Chan.

The paper, "Sweet Pepper Ferredoxin-like Protein (pflp) Gene as a Novel Selection Marker for Orchid Transformation" appears in Planta.

Contact Ming-Tsair Chan at mbmtchan@gate.sinica.edu.tw for more information.

RESEARCHES ON THE BENEFITS AND RISKS OF GM FOODS ENCOURAGED

"More work is needed to explore the other possible benefits, but further research also needs to be carried out into the potential risks that may be associated with genetically modified (GM) crops. Much of this work will need to focus on the impact on the diversity of plant and animal life, and assessed against the problems associated with the intensification of agricultural practices," states Lord Robert May, President of the Royal Society, in his speech during the Royal Society's scientific discussion of the GM crops debate.

Lord May stressed that the public has the right to know about both the potential benefits, as well as the possible risks, of GM crops. At present, the public debate has been skewed, so far, towards the risks, and these have resulted in mistaken impressions about GM food. This occurrence is due to the effective anti-GM campaigns, and partly because of lack of information from those companies developing the applications of GM technology.

He also added that consumers are already enjoying the benefits of GM technology as applied to food production. Other food products that were developed using GM technology are already being sold commercially, however, since they are not usually labeled as GM, few people appreciate how much their production depended on GM technology.

The full text of Lord Robert May's speech can be downloaded at http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/
templates/press/showpresspage.cfm?file=431.txt

ANNOUNCEMENT:

NEW REPORTS FROM ISNAR

The International Service for National Agricultural Research (ISNAR) announces the release of the following reprints and reports:

• Explaining restricted approval and availability of GM crops in developing countries, by Joel I. Cohen and Robert Paarlberg. AgBiotechNet Vol.4, October 2002.

• Regulating genetically-modified seeds in emerging economies, by Patricia L. Traynor and John Komen. Journal of New Seeds Vol.4 No.1/2, 2002.

• Managing proprietary technology in agricultural research, by John Komen, Joel I. Cohen, Cesar Falconi and Silvia Salazar. Chapter 11 in Economic and Social Issues in Agricultural Biotechnology, edited by R.E. Evenson, V. Santaniello and D. Zilberman. Wallingford: CAB International. 2002.

• Biotechnology and sustainable livelihoods - Findings and recommendations of an international consultation, by José Falck Zepeda, Joel Cohen, Ruth Meinzen-Dick and John Komen. ISNAR Briefing Paper No.54, September 2002. The Hague: International Service for National Agricultural Research.
  
  To order copies, contact: ISNAR-Biotech@cgiar.org