In This
Issue:
HIGH
PRIORITY FOR BIOTECH IN INDONESIA
Indonesia
is giving high priority to the development of biotechnology. The
Ministry of Research and Development has developed a new general
policy for biotechnology to guide national efforts for the next
two decades. It stipulates that the focus and direction for research
and development will be adjusted to obtain immediate applications
of the technology.
This
is the scenario for biotechnology in Indonesia as stated by Dr.
Inez Slamet-Loedin in her paper “Status of Agricultural Biotechnology
Research and Policy in Indonesia” presented during the International
Seminar of Biotechnology for Sustainable Agriculture” held
in Bogor, Indonesia. She says that the Indonesian Biotechnology
Consortium and Ministry of Research and Technology have drafted
future priorities to include exploration and utilization of novel
compounds that have economic value. Other concerns include areas
in food production, development of traditional medicine, and added
value of agricultural products for export production.
The
two-day conference was hosted by the Southeast Asian Regional Centre
for Tropical Biology and the Indonesia Biotechnology Information
Center (IndoBic). The IndoBic, which is part of the network of
the Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology of the International
Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications officially
launched its website. This electronic resource answers the need
for information on crop biotechnology with particular focus on
country developments in the area.
The
IndoBic website can be accessed through http://indobic.biotrop.org.
INDONESIA PLANS
BIOISLAND PROJECT
A 500-
hectare biotechnology research complex called BioIsland is being
planned to be set up in Indonesia this December. At least five
foreign companies from Japan, United States, Germany, Cuba and
Iran have already expressed interest in this complex. The Indonesian
government plans to construct an integrated biotechnology research,
development and commercial zone in the Rempang Island in Batam,
Riau.
The
Jakarta Post quotes Ashwin Sasongko, secretary to the minister
of research and technology, as saying that the companies can rent
about five hectares of land in the compound to do research about
the country’s biodiversity.
Ashwin
added that companies taking part in the BioIsland project will
enjoy tax incentives, good infrastructure and easy access to the
country’s biodiversity. Tenants are expected to establish
their own research centers. The biotechnology complex is expected
to be completed by 2007.
AMOAKO: SEIZE THAT GM OPPORTUNITY
“It
is important that we now focus on exploring the ways in which science
and technology can empower the poor to make beneficial changes
in their own condition,” says Kingsley Amoako, Head, UN Economic
Commission for Africa (ECA), as reported by the IRIN News Organization.
Amoako
reiterated his concern that Africa should seize the opportunity
offered by genetically modified (GM) food, and biotechnology which
has the potential to boost food production and cut back environmental
degradation. He added that biotechnology can play a vital role
in the development of the agricultural sector of Africa – a
continent which famine has placed 38 million people at the risk
of starvation.
This
speech was made by Amoako during a three-day conference on sustainable
development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The news release can be downloaded
at http://www.irinnews.org/report.asp?ReportID=37038&SelectRegion=
Horn_of_Africa&SelectCountry=ETHIOPIA.
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY PROTECTION OF GM CROPS
The
intellectual property protection of plant-related inventions is
also an important issue in relation to the commercial growing of
genetically modified (GM) crops, but this is a topic that is often
overlooked in debates, says Barbara Fleck and Claire Baldock, in
an article published in Nature Reviews Genetics.
According
to Fleck and Baldock, debates are often centered on the economic
and political issues, and the risk of transgene spread. Debates
should now focus on the differences between European patent law
and that of the United States law.
In Europe,
through the Community Plant Variety Right (CPVR), patents can be
granted for inventions that cover more than a single variety. However,
several member states are yet to implement this European Directive.
In the United States, three different systems are in place for
the protection of plant-related inventions and patents that concern
single or multiple plant varieties.
Says
the authors, “the debate has become increasingly political,
with the threat of a trade war between the United States and Europe
over the labelling of GM food. The public and many scientists are
often unaware of a crucial aspect of the GM debate: the intellectual
property protection of plant-related inventions.”
Access
to patents for plant-related inventions can influence the funding
that is available for research in the private biotechnology sector.
The national patent law determines how patents can be obtained
for GM plants.
The
article is featured at Nature Reviews Genetics, October 2003, Vol
4 No 10.
KAFERSTEIN ON
FOOD SAFETY
Food
should be seen not only as an agricultural and/or trade commodity,
but also as a public health issue that concerns developing countries.
Thus, the issue of food safety should be treated as an essential
public health function, and must be integrated along the entire
food chain, from farm to fork. Government, industry, and the consumers
should also share in the responsibility of ensuring food safety.
These
were the main points raised by Fritz K. Kaferstein in his article
entitled “Food Safety as a Public Health Issue for Developing
Countries.” Kaferstein reviewed the incidence and health
consequences of biological pathogens, the most important food safety
risks, in developing countries.
The
author also observes that a wide range of biological and chemical
agents, or hazards, cause food-borne diseases with varying degrees
of severity, ranging from mild indisposition to chronic or life-threatening
illness, or both.
The
full article can be downloaded at
http://www.ifpri.org/2020/focus/focus10/focus10_02.pdf.
FOOD SAFETY,
GM CROPS & DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
With
the ongoing public debate surrounding genetically modified (GM)
crops, the issue of food safety and food safety assessments has
now transcended the concern of its being a “science.” At
present, the entire gamut now includes perceptions, concerns, and
standards about how to assure “safety.”
“As
scientific opportunities advance, agreement on reasonable standards
of safety for developing countries will be critical. This will
also allow for and encourage exchange of data, which will help
ensure that data requirements are manageable not only among Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries, but
across the developing world as well,” says Joel I. Cohen,
Hector Quemada, and Robert Frederick, in their article entitled “Food
Safety and GM Crops: Implications for Developing-Country Research.”
The
authors also concluded that capacity building for biotechnology
and biosafety is critical for developing countries. These countries
should have high competency in assuring food safety for GM crops,
thus enabling them to conduct independent research if necessary.
Building such capacity also equips them in making scientific decisions
when faced with food safety questions.
The
full article can be downloaded at
http://www.ifpri.org/2020/focus/focus10/focus10_16.pdf
TAIWAN AND PAKISTAN
GEAR UP FOR BIOTECH
Taiwan's
Executive Yuan has earmarked NT$8.3 billion to set up a biotechnology
park in Pingtung County, Taiwan. Lee Chien-chuan, Vice Chairman
of the Council of Agriculture, announced that it expected an annual
production value for the park to reach NT$18 billion and revenues
generated by patented agricultural products to exceed NT$2 billion
a year. Lee anticipates 8,000 jobs at the site.
An Economic
Development Advisory Conference recommended in August 2001 that
the government should establish an agricultural biotechnology park
within six to 12 months. The annual production of Taiwan's agricultural
biotechnology industry amounts to NT$3.2 billion, or less than
1% of the overall agricultural sector.
For
more information, contact the Council of Agriculture of the Republic
of China at coa@mail.coa.gov.tw or
visit their site at http://www.coa.gov.tw.
Meanwhile,
Pakistan's Higher Education Commission approved an Rs35 million
($0.6 M) "Support to Biotech Education and Research Programme" project
for the NWFP Agricultural University, Peshawar. The Institute of
Biotechnology and Genetic
Engineering will also offer a major training program to facilitate the development
of universities into world-class centers of education, research and development.
Additional
information can be obtained from http://www.hec.gov.pk.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
FAO E-MAIL
CONFERENCE
The
FAO Electronic Forum on Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture is
devoting its next e-mail conference to the theme of marker assisted
selection for crops, forest trees, livestock and fish in developing
countries. It runs from 17 November to 12 December 2003. For more
information contact biotech-mod2@fao.org.
FIRST
ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON WORLD HUNGER
The
University of Maryland’s Office of International Programs,
Center for Sustainable Development, and Joint Institute for Food
Safety and Applied Nutrition (JIFSAN) are co-sponsoring a one-day
conference on world hunger at the University of Maryland’s
Grand Ballroom, Adele H. Stamp Student Union, on October 14, 2003.
More information can be seen at (http://www.intprog.umd.edu/hunger.html) | 
