In This
Issue:
EU PRESIDENT: EXPLOIT
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
Starting
January 2003, Greece takes on the Presidency of the European Union
(EU). Foreign Minister George A. Papandreou said that they have
adopted the central message "Our Europe. We share a future
in a community of values."
The
Foreign Minister averred that the EU "must not throw up new
barriers. We must bring political will and imagination to bear
in the creation of the Europe of our future". He added that "We
want a European Union with a strong and competitive economy; a
European Union that exploits the new technologies and the information
society with a view to fueling employment and economic development,
in the interest of European citizens."
Papandreou
added that Europe is confronted with new international political
and humanitarian challenges, to which the EU can and must rise
collectively - with sensitivity and solidarity to solve the humanitarian
problems being faced by developing countries.
For
more of Papandreou's message, visit http://www.eu2003.gr/en/cat/0/index.asp?#
PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS
OF BIOTECH
Researchers
from the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada say that public
support for a controversial technology such as agricultural biotechnology
is crucial for deriving any benefits associated with the technology.
K. Baline, S. Kamaldeen and D. Powell made this assertion based
on an analysis of public opinion surveys on some aspects of biotechnology
and its applications.
Some
of their findings are:
- Despite
much debate regarding the importance of public acceptance of
genetic engineering (GE) and its applications, there is evidence
that consumers do not reject GE outright, but focus on specific
applications of the technology.
- Global
differences in support for specific applications of agri-biotech
are based on factors like a country's culture and history, economic
conditions, and government initiatives or responses related to
the issue. Media coverage and activist opposition were pronounced
in countries where survey respondents were more negative.
- Overall,
support for the technology tends to be dependent upon perceptions
of benefits.
- Consumers
view risk very differently from scientists. Hence, scientists
need to understand how consumers perceive risks.
- While
increasing the amount of science and technology information available
decreases perception of scientific risks, it has been argued
that the amount of media coverage, not the content, creates the
negative perceptions.
- Surveys
have shown a significant increase in consumer awareness of GM
foods but understanding remains low.
- Biotechnology
is of less concern than chemical pesticides, microbial contamination,
and additives. Consumer acceptance tends to be conditional and
dependent of perceptions of benefits and moral acceptability,
which are tied to trust in regulatory agencies.
- The
single most important determinant of gain or loss of trust in
a source is whether the information is subsequently proven right
or wrong, and whether the source is subsequently demonstrated
to be unbiased.
The
Canadian researchers conclude that there is a strong need for government
and industry to engage in open dialogue with the public, both providing
information on their activities and decisions and listening to
their concerns. They also added that there is a need for ongoing
monitoring of public opinions and concerns to ensure communication
efforts are aligned with consumer needs.
Direct
inquiries to author Powell at dpowell@uoguelph.ca.
The full paper is published in the Journal of Food Science, Vol.
67, No. 9, 2002.
REPORT ON LARGE SCALE
RELEASES OF GM CROPS
The
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) in the
United Kingdom has released its report on Monitoring Large Scale
Releases of Genetically Modified Crops (EPG 1/5/84) Incorporating
Report on Project EPG 1/5/30: Monitoring Releases of GM Crop Plants.
The report represents the combined final reports of two separate
DEFRA monitoring contracts run between 1994-1997 and 1997-2000.
The
report concludes that the high levels of isolation from other oilseed
rape (OSR) crops flowering synchronously, and the relatively small
GM pollen sources and low levels of cruciferous weeds present at
the sites, limited potential gene flow at the sites monitored in
the first 3-year contract (1994 to 1997). Larger trials or crops
released during the second 3-year contract (1998 to 2000) and the
closer proximity of pollen receptive crops and related wild species
allowed greater opportunities for gene flow to be studied.
Results
from larger trials and crops indicate that commercial scale releases
of GM OSR in the future could pollinate other crops and B.rapa,
the levels of cross pollination depending on the environmental,
varietal and agronomic factors prevailing at the time. The report
suggests the need to review isolation requirements in keeping with
current legislation on contamination thresholds in crops.
The
National Institute of Agricultural Botany (NIAB) and the Laboratory
of the Government Chemists were commissioned by the Department
of the Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR) to monitor
the first agricultural releases of GM OSR for a three year period.
NIAB received a second contract in 1997 to continue monitoring
releases of GM OSR including all the previously studied sites and
any new sites over 1 hectare. NIAB also conducted studies of monitoring
methods and of the flow of transgenes to crops and wild relatives.
A summary
report is available at http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/gm/
research/epg-1-5-84.htm. The full report is also available
for downloading from the same site.
EC CALLS FOR IMPLEMENTATION
OF DIRECTIVE
The
European Union has officially requested nine Member States to implement
Directive 98/44/EC on the legal protection of biotechnological
inventions. Germany, Austria, Belgium, France, Italy, Luxembourg,
the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden were asked to comply with
the Directive which aims to clarify certain principles of patent
law to fully exploit the medical, environmental and economic potential
of biotechnology.
Given
the considerable amount of high-risk investment that is often required
in biotechnology, particularly genetic engineering, adequate patent
protection is essential to encourage the investment required to
create jobs and maintain the European Union's competitiveness in
the field.
According
to the European Union, Directive 98/44 was adopted by the Council
and the Europeans due to numerous discrepancies between the Member
States' laws. To date, however, only six Member States have implemented
the Directive into national law, which has created barriers to
trade and hampered the operation of the internal market.
The
EU says that life sciences and biotechnology offer considerable
potential in many areas, especially health care, agriculture and
environmental protection. By 2005, the European biotechnology market
could be worth over €100 billion. By 2010, global markets,
including sectors where life sciences and biotechnology constitute
a major portion of new technology applied, could amount to over €2,000
billion, excluding agriculture.
More
information at http://www.europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.gettxt
=gt&doc=IP/02/1928|0|RAPID&lg=EN
BIOTECH POTENTIALS
FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
"Governments
must establish new initiatives, capabilities and institutions that
can have a profound effect on legitimacy at a much more fundamental
level. Only when this is done will biotechnology in Third World
countries have the role and status it deserves." This was
reiterated in a paper entitled "Biotechnology and development:
threats and promises for the 21st century," written by N.
Clark, K. Stokes, and J. Mugabe of the Wolfson Centre, Graduate
School of Environmental Studies, University of Strathclyde in Glasgow,
United Kingdom. The authors clarified the "complex issues
of risk perception and management in connection with biotechnology
and Third World development."
The
authors summarized the main threats and promises associated with
biotechnology. Immense gains in food security, environmental protection,
agriculture, health and industrial production were the benefits
mentioned. However, threats are the alterations in life processes
that are done, and the probable impacts that are still unknown.
Moreover, the advent of third generation biotechnology has also
raised ethical issues that are deeply felt by people and organizations
at all levels.
The
article was written as a contribution to the current policy debate
about the status of biotechnology for international development.
Unless these are resolved, the UK researchers surmise, its economic
potential is certain to be compromised, particularly for developing
countries.
Clark,
Stokes, and Mugabe believe that "traditional approaches to
risk are flawed from both a scientific and an ethical standpoint." Therefore,
the authors suggest that decision-making "should not rest
solely upon narrow instruments of decision-making as conventionally
understood."
Email
N. Clark for inquiries about the paper at n.g.clark@srath.ac.uk.
The full paper is published in Futures 32 (2002).
NEW UNIVERSITY FOR
BIOSCIENCE
In a
bid to keep apace with rapid developments in the field of biotechnology,
Japan will open the Nagahama Institute of Bioscience and Technology
come April this year. The university will be located on a 4-hectare
land within the 12.5-hectare Bioscience Park in the city of Nagahama,
Shiga Prefecture.
The
new university is intended to specialize in bioscience and biotechnology
and will not only provide education and training in advance knowledge
and skills, but also help generate biotech businesses. The university
will have only one department of bioscience, covering five fields:
genetic science, molecular science, environmental life science,
cell life science, and life information science. Bio-informatics
will also be offered.
"In
the rapidly evolving field of bioscience and biotechnology, Japan
is far behind other industrialized nations in terms of having people
with expertise who are also able to apply it to business," says
Tamotsu Yoshida, chairman of the board of trustees of a foundation
preparing to set up the university.
The
university will provide education and training with emphasis on
research that can be applied in the real business world, according
to Yoshida. The university also plans to promote cooperation with
universities overseas, as well as with national research institutions.
For more details, see http://www.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/getarticle.pl5?nn20030101b3.htm
GM POTATO TO FIGHT
MALNUTRITION IN INDIA
A GM
potato, called "protato", has been developed by a team
of Indian scientists at the Jawaharial Nehru University in New
Delhi, according to a report in the New Scientist magazine. AmA1
gene from the aramanth plant, native to South America and sold
in Western healthfood stores, was added to the GM potato, which
makes it produce a third more protein and substantial amounts of
essential amino acids.
The
Indian government is keen on using GM potatoes to solve malnutrition
problems among India's poorest children. The use of GM potatoes
forms part of a three-pronged approach contained in a 15-year plan
to tackle malnutrition and reduce childhood mortality in India.
Govindarajan
Padmanaban, a biochemist at the Indian Institute of Science in
Bangalore, who outlined the plan at a recent meeting of the Royal
Society in London, said he hoped Western-based environmental groups
and charities would not criticize the GM potato as they did to "golden
rice".
"The
requirements of developing countries are very different from those
of rich countries. I think it would be morally indefensible to
oppose it," says Padmanaban.
Suman
Sahai of Gene Campaign, a Delhi-based sustainable development group
opposed to patenting of plants says the GM potato is a better use
of the technology. "If you're going to use GM at all, use
it for this," says Sahai.
Visit http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993219 for
the full release.
AUSTRALIAN SCIENTIST DISCOVERS NODULE DEVELOPMENT GENE
Peter
Gresshoff from the School of Life Sciences at the The University
of Queensland, Australia has identified the NARK gene that controls
nodule growth in soybeans. This discovery, according to the University
of Queensland scientist, lays the goundwork for creating designer
plants in the future.
The
NARK (nodule autoregulation receptor kinase) gene controls long-distance
communication and signaling in soybeans. "It means we will
eventually be able to genetically engineer or breed plants that
suit our environmental or production requirements. We need plants
that are very deep-rooted and therefore drought or salt tolerant,
plants that are genetically pruned to suit current growing practices,
or have multiple or single branches depending on requirements (tillering
in wheat vs. single stalk in sugar cane)", Gresshoff said.
During
the next three years, the research team hopes to identify some
of the signal substances moving up and down in the legume plant
and how they control lateral root branching, and within a five-year
time frame, to genetically alter the structure of roots.
This
discovery coincides with a $10 million Australian Research Council
funding for a Centre of Excellence for Integrative Legume Research
at UQ, which combines teams from Melbourne, Newcastle, and the
Australian National University.
For
more information, visit http://www.uq.edu.au/news/index.phtml?article=4047
US TO HOST MINISTERIAL
CONFERENCE ON S&T
Agriculture
Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced an international Ministerial
Conference and Expo on Agricultural Science and Technology to be
held June 23-25, 2003, in Sacramento, California. Ministers from
over 180 countries will be invited to attend this event which seeks
to strengthen global food security.
Jointly sponsored by the US Agency for International Development and the Department
of State, the conference will focus on the critical role science and technology
(S&T) plays in raising sustainable agricultural productivity in developing
countries, with the goal of boosting food availability and access, and improving
nutrition.
Agricultural
production, processing and marketing technologies from developed
and developing countries will be examined, as well as critical
issues regarding the transfer and indigenous development of technologies.
The Conference will also address low- and high-cost technologies,
and state-of-the-art and traditional methods. Crop and livestock
biotechnology are included in the array of technologies.
Conference
details are available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/icd/stconf/conf_main.htm
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
HORN BIOTECH
FORUM
The Horn Biotechnology Forum (HBF) has been established to contribute to greater
awareness and strengthen capacity building of biotechnology and biosafety in
the Horn Countries of Africa. HBF is a nonprofit organization which received
legal status in December 2002 from the Ministry of Justice in Ethiopia. Contact
Tilahun Zeweldu, Board Chairman of HBF, at hbf@telecom.net.et or tilazew@yahoo.com
NEW POCKET K ON HERBICDE TOLERANCE
The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications'
Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology has just released its 10th Pocket
K series on Herbicide Tolerance Technology: Glyphosate and Glufosinate. Pocket
Ks (Pockets of Knowledge), are packaged information on crop biotechnology products
and related issues. They are written in an easy to understand style and packaged
in a format that is easily shared and distributed.
Pocket
K No.10 discusses weed control practices and focuses on the development
of Glyphosate and Glufosinate herbicide tolerant plants. It also
provides a background on the technology, and explains advantages
of herbicide tolerant crops. Safety aspects of the technology and
current status of herbicide tolerance are likewise presented.
Download
a copy of this publication and back issues at http://www.isaaa.org/kc/Services/PocketK/pocketkpdf.htm.
Download the PDF version at http://www.isaaa.org/kc/Services/PocketK/pdf/Pocket
K9 (English).pdf.
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