In This
Issue:
MEXICO
APPROVES GM RELEASE REGULATIONS
The Mexican Senate approved a law allowing the release of genetically modified
(GM) crops, but called for labeling of GM products. The ruling states that
the protection of the environment, including biodiversity, and human health,
must be considered along side the benefits to society that can be realized
from modern biotechnology.
The legislation was designed to be compatible with the Cartagena Protocol on
Biosafety, regarding the handling and export of living modified organisms and
role of competent administrative authorities. As such the law enables competent
authorities to deny permission to release organisms at any phase when the corresponding
Secretariat concludes that there are risks to humans.
The
law called for the responsible participation of society in the
adoption of decisions based on scientific studies and evaluation
of risks.
SCIMAC
REPORTS SUPPORT GM COEXISTENCE IN THE UK
Two
new reports were presented by the Supply Chain Initiative on Modified
Agricultural Crops (SCIMAC) at the European Union stakeholders'
forum that was recently held in Brussels. SCIMAC stated that majority
(94%) of the trial growers in the United Kingdom found the SCIMAC
guidelines to be an effective basis for the management of co-existence
of GM and non-GM crops at the farm level. The survey shows that
co-existence can be managed between crops on the same farm (97%
of growers), and between neighboring farms (91% of growers).
The
first report is a Farm-Scale Evaluation (FSE) survey of all farmers
who took part in the GM crop trials over the past three years.
Few practical difficulties were noted in managing GM and non-GM
crops based on the co-existence guidelines. While growers highlighted
the need for increased requirements for record-keeping and segregation,
they generally approved of the technology, with 95% saying they
would grow GM crops on their farm if they were available commercially.
The key advantages of GM crops cited by growers were:
- Reduced
sprays and cultivations;
- Reduced
dependence on residual herbicides;
- Greater
ease and flexibility of crop management;
- Improved
efficiency of weed control; and
- Control
of specific weed problem.
The
second report was an independent audit of growers conducted by
ADAS Consulting Ltd. ADAS confirmed high levels of compliance with
the requirements of the SCIMAC Code of Practice and Guidelines.
No major non-conformances in the eight critical control points
were observed. Also, information from the audits was effectively
used to ensure that high standards were maintained in the growing
of the GM herbicide tolerant crops.
The
survey results and audit report can be downloaded at http://www.scimac.org.uk.
ZAMBIA DEVELOPS BIOTECH
PLAN
The
Zambian government has developed a National Biosafety and Biotechnology
Strategy Plan for 2003 to 2007. This was developed seven months
after it rejected genetically modified foods and banned food donations
from the US. Without clear policies, the country had to devise
its own mechanisms to handle issues regarding GM foods.
Dr.
Paul Zambezi, director of science and technology in the Ministry
of Science, Technology and Vocational Training, says a national
biosafety and biotechnology policy has also been developed, pending
approval and adoption by the Zambian Cabinet. It also sets the
pace for Zambia to develop biosafety regulations to protect the
country's unique biodiversity. Efforts will now be made to enact
legislation that will govern the research, development, and utilization
of GMOs.
The
biotechnology plan identifies the following core program areas:
environment and biodiversity of crops, livestock, fish, and the
control of environmental pollution.
For
the full report visit http://ens-news.com/ens/apr2003/2003-04-29-01.asp
AFRICAN BANANA PROJECT
YIELDS FARMERS' GROUP
Participating
farmers in an on-going project titled "Biotechnology to Benefit
Small-scale Banana Producers in Kenya" recently organized
the Highridge Banana Growers and Marketing Association of Kenya
(HBGA). The HBGA is now the umbrella association for banana growers
in Central Kenya and is an outcome of the six- year collaborative
effort among ISAAA, KARI and several other partners. The project
aims to make available, clean banana plantlets for resource poor
farmers so as to increase productivity and reduce poverty through
widespread adoption of the technology. Banana production and marketing
in Kenya has been and still is a loosely structured affair and
small-scale farmers grow much of the banana consumed.
HBGA
aims to ensure sustainable provision of services required during
the technology transfer process. These services include: links
to laboratories producing the banana plantlets; easy access of
the plantlets and micro-credit for rural farmers; field management
of the tissue culture orchards; collective marketing to minimize
exploitation by middlemen; and, access to value-adding technologies
to improve post-harvest utilization. These services are currently
being supported with donor funding from the Rockefeller Foundation
and the International Development Research Center (IDRC) of Canada./
KBIC
More
on the KBIC email m.karembu@isaaa.org
EUROPABIO: FARMING
SYSTEMS MUST COEXIST
"Coexistence
is not a new concept. What we need is to agree on practical allowances
for traces of genetically modified crops in other crops including
farming produce," says Simon Barber, director of the plant
biotechnology unit at Europabio. He adds that there is no question
on the safety of these GM crops since they have all undergone rigorous
health and environmental safety assessments before they are authorized
for growing by farmers. "Coexistence is purely about enabling
choice in the marketplace," adds Barber.
Europabio
welcomed the holding by the European Commission of a stakeholders'
discussion on co-existence but warns against using the debate to
further delay the implementation of existing European Union legislation
on GMOs.
The
EuropaBio stance on coexistence of farming systems is available
online at http://www.europabio.org/upload/articles/article_181_EN.doc
THAILAND TO LABEL
GM FOODS
Producers
of food products containing genetically modified organisms in Thailand
are required to label them starting May 11, 2003. This notification,
Number 251, from the Ministry of Public Health contains the following
provisions:
- Soybean
and corn including its products derived from genetic modification
or genetic engineering shall be regarded as foods requiring food
labels.
- Labeling
applies to products which has DNA or protein derived from genetic
modification at the rate of 5% of the first three elements with
the quantity from 5% of the product weight.
- It
is prohibited to use the statement "Free from GMF" or "No
genetically modified element".
Twenty-two
food items were identified as needing food labels if derived from
genetic modification. These include soybean, popcorn, soybean cake,
soybean milk, corn, corn flour/starch, and food consisting with
corn grits.
A copy
of this notification is available from Thailand's Ministry of Public
Health.
WHY MOST EUROPEANS
ARE OPPOSED TO GMOS
Sylvie
Bonny of the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA-ESR)
in Grignon, France, answered this question by examining the factors,
actors and processes that led to such strong opposition to genetically
modified organisms (GMOs) in Europe. Bonny analyzed the case of
France, which is fairly representative in this respect of the various
European countries, even though the opposition movement is strong
in this particular country.
The
major factors identified by Bonny as affecting the acceptance of
GMOs in Europe were as follows:
- The
risk/benefit balance of GMOs is perceived as unfavorable because
the public often lacks confidence in the promoters of GMOs, and
its regulatory processes. Opposition to GMOs resulted from the
many potential risks highlighted by opposition groups and the
media, and from a stifling of possible advantages of GMOs.
- GMOs
have become a symbol for many negative aspects of global economic
development when they are by no means the only forms or embodiment
of that development. The criticism of GMOs applies to many other
products, which are often spared the same degree of criticisms.
- GMOs
are perceived as having little usage, as compared to other products
with the same characteristics, because they have to do with food
and nature which have a special place in human culture.
- GMOs
are suspected in themselves, and not in relation to the way they
are used. The impact of techniques should be evaluated on the
way and conditions in which they are used, the purpose given
to them, and the orientation of their applications.
In conclusion,
Bonny states that a change of attitude towards GMOs seems difficult
to achieve in the EU, particularly in France where the opposition
is greatest. GMOs should no longer be considered as the symbol
of various unpopular trends but rather for themselves, in relation
to their potential and the objectives set for them. Changes in
the general socio-economic context could play an essential part
by allowing GMOs to be perceived in a different light. Lastly,
another solution may be the development of other applications of
biotechnology and life-science research which would present new
prospects for plant breeding and farming, while downplaying the
concept of foreign gene transfer.
For
more information, email Sylvie Bonny at bonny@grignon.inra.fr.
GM PIGEONPEA EFFECTIVE
AGAINST RINDERPEST VIRUS
MS Shaila
and G Lakshmi, scientists at the Indian Institute of Science in
Bangalore, India have developed an "oral candidate vaccine" from
the genetically modified (GM) pigeonpea plant that was found to
be effective against the rinderpest virus. The researchers identified
the antigen from the pigeonpea plant, and are expected to test
its effectiveness on sheep and goats within a year's time.
Laboratory
experiments, field trials and other experiments with the edible
vaccine will be conducted before the final product will be brought
out in the market. The rinderpest virus is a deadly virus that
is affecting thousands of sheep and goats in India. This virus
has also killed thousands of cattle in Africa, West Asia and South
Asia.
The
news story is featured at the HindustanTimes.com at http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_241688,00040002.htm.
PLANT BIOTECH AND BREEDING: ALLIES IN CROP PRODUCTION
The
role of plant breeding in the generation of better varieties can
not be easily substituted by genetic engineering particularly when
a flux increase in complex metabolic pathways is required. This
is the view of Piero Morandini and Francesco Salamini of the University
of Milan in Italy, and Max Planck Institut fur Zuechtungsforschung
in Germany, respectively.
The
researchers said that plant breeding will not be substituted in
a few years by plant biotechnology, "rather the two different
approaches are and will be cooperating for years to come." They
said that plant metabolic engineering is lagging behind other kinds
of genetic manipulation of plants. Creating metabolic pathways
or improving yields may be better dealt with more effectively by
plant breeding. On the other hand, plant genetic engineering should
provide the tools (slow or unavailable in plant breeding) for producing
varieties with 'intelligent' phenotypes.
These
points are discussed in the paper "Plant biotechnology and
breeding: allied for years to come" published in Trends in
Plant Science, Vol. 8 No. 2 February 2003 issue. Email Piero Morandini
at piero.morandini@unimi.it
CCMB
AWARDED PATENT ON RICE DNA MARKERS
The Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in in Hyderabad, India,
has been awarded a US Patent (6,528,265) on DNA markers which can be used to
obtain the desired level of hybrid rice seed purity.
Ensuring
the purity of parental lines used in hybrid seed production is
an essential prerequisite for ensuring the purity of rice hybrids.
Contamination of the cytoplasmic male sterile lines with seeds
of the maintainer line is a serious cause for concern in hybrid
rice production because they cannot be distinguished from each
other prior to flowering.
CCMB's
Ramesh Sonti says the center has developed a DNA test that can
be used at the seedling stage to reliably screen seed lots. Only
those seed lots that have the desired level of purity will be retained
and used for hybrid seed production. Thus, a major cause for reduction
in hybrid seed purity can be eliminated.
Contact:
Dr. Ramesh Sontii at his email address: sonti@ccmb.res.in
UQ AWARDED GRANT FOR DROUGHT-RESISTANT RICE
The
University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia has been awarded over
$1 million to assist research aimed at providing disadvantaged
farmers in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand with drought-resistant rice
varieties. These countries do not have irrigation water to grow
rice so around 70 percent of their rice fields rely solely on rainfall.
The
Rockefeller Foundation provided the grant to Shu Fukai and Ken
Fischer from UQ's School of Land and Food Sciences to help fund
their research. Their work is attempting to identify the physiological
characters that provide drought tolerance for the rainfed rice
systems in the Mekong region of Asia.
Fukai
said part of the research would be conducted through partnerships
between UQ and the National Agricultural Research Systems in the
region. In addition to identifying drought resistant traits, the
research will also complement other programs that aim to identify
the genes responsible for this resistance.
Contact:
Shu Fukai, School of Land and Food Sciences, The University of
Queensland,at his email address: s.fukai@uq.edu.au
UNIVERSITY OF ABERTAY
TO HELP INDIAN BIOTECHNOLOGY
The British Council has facilitated a process by which academics of the University
of Abertay Dundee in the United Kingdom will work with their Indian counterparts
to develop a multi-million pound biotechnology industry. Researchers and lecturers
from the University of Abertay Dundee in the United Kingdom are expected to
visit the country to advise teachers and government on how India can emulate
Scotland's success. The Life Sciences sector in Scotland is growing at around
30% a year, twice the European average, and is served by 428 organizations.
Biopharmaceuticals
and plant biotechnology are two areas the country is investigating.
For
more of the University of Abertay visit
http://www.abertay-dundee.ac.uk/news/FullStory.cfm?NewsID=316
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
BIOTECH
BUSINESS EVENT IN JOHANESSBURG
A business
event entitled "Biotechnology & Genetic Modification" will
be held on May 26 to 28, 2003 at the Park Hyatt in Rosebank, Johanessburg.
This event aims to promote a clear understanding of the potentials
of biotechnology, and its current and potential future applications.
Accurate and detailed information for biotechnology startup organizations,
and applications of biotechnology within an organization will also
be featured. For more details about the event, email Timothy Perumal
at timothyp@marcusevanssa.com.
NEW GKC K-SHEET
The
Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology of the International
Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications has just
released its new K (Knowledge) Sheet. It summarizes the New Zealand
Government's cabinet papers discussing the possible coexistence
of GM crops and conventional agricultural crops. Download the summary
from http://www.isaaa.org/kc. | 
