In This
Issue:
MODERN
GENETICS AND SOCIETAL DILEMMAS
Science
is a creative enterprise where ethics and values of individuals
and societies play an important role in determining what are publicly
acceptable in the use of science and the knowledge it generates.
Hence, it is important that science contributes to an understanding
of issues to enable people to make informed decisions. This is
the gist of a review by Dr. Gabrielle J. Persley of the Doyle Foundation
for the International Council for Science (ICS).
The
study entitled “New Genetics, Food and Agriculture: Scientific
Discoveries- Societal Dilemmas” analyzed the findings of
a selection of about 50 science-based reviews on modern genetics
and its application in food and agriculture and the environment.
Persley
noted that “the science underpinning developments in modern
genetics is not informing the public in a manner that adequately
reflects the volume and quality of scientific data and analysis
available.” She called on the scientific community to play
a more active and organized role in raising public awareness about
emerging genetics and what these mean for society.
The
complete documentation of the study is available at the ICSU website http://www.icsu.org.
A CD is also available for those without access to the internet.
For further information, see also http://www.doylefoundation.org.
GM CROPS COULD
LESSEN IMPACT OF GLOBAL WARMING
The
genetic modification of crops offers a solution on how to lessen
the impact of global warming on indigenous species of plants and
trees. Thru this technology, plant species could be modified to
adapt to the steady rise in temperatures. This was according to
Simon Thornton-Wood, head of science, Royal Horticultural Society
(RHS) in the United Kingdom. Adds Thornton-Wood, as quoted by Reuters, "there
are solutions to all the sorts of problems like climate change,
and all the pest and disease problems that we have today...and
the answer might in large part be GM."
Scientists
predict that average temperatures could rise by around two degrees
centigrade over the next half-century, and these could have a serious
effect on plants that are accustomed to a particular weather condition.
Thornton-Wood said that while such an environmental impact is a
minor concern at the moment, it would actually have a significant
impact on growing conditions for all types of plants from fruits
to flowers.
"It
is certainly true that scientists can foresee ways in which GM
could help. It is a question of whether public opinion is going
to allow scientists to make those explorations. This is more than
a debate about food safety. It is no longer a matter of what you
are buying in your supermarket. It is the very environment in which
you live," concludes Thornton-Wood.
Read
the news release from the MABIC website at http://www.bic.org.my/FMPro?-db=news.fp5&-format=news%5fbody%5fdetail.html&-
lay=layout%20%231&body=GM&category=science&-max=10&-recid=33526&-find
MORE GM CROPS
APPROVED IN THE EU, INDIA & PHILIPPINES
Genetically
modified (GM) crops, specifically GM rapeseed, Bt cotton, and Bt
corn have received separate field trials and health approvals in
the European Union (EU), India, and the Philippines. In the EU,
the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) gave a positive assessment
to Monsanto's GT73 rapeseed, declaring it safe for consumption
by humans and animals, and to the environment. In a statement from
EFSA, the panel declared that herbicide-tolerant GM oilseed rape
GT73 is as safe as conventional oilseed rape.
In India,
the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) have, likewise,
approved the large scale field trials and seed production for 12
varieties of Bt cotton hybrids developed by Rasi Seeds, Ankur Seeds
and Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco). In North India,
the GEAC approved the large-scale field trials and seed production
of RCH 317 Bt, Ankur 651 Bt, and Ankur 2534 Bt. Also, RCH 118 Bt,
RCH 599 Bt, Ankur 651 Bt, Ankur 09 Bt, MRC 6301 Bt, and MRC 6160
Bt were allowed for Central India, and RCH 368 Bt, MRC 6301 Bt,
and MRC 6322 for South India. Seed production of the above hybrids
was approved in an area of 100 hectares (maximum) for each variety.
Further, Monsanto will be testing another GM corn
variety in the Philippines called the "stack trait" which
is a combination of the corn borer-resistant, and the herbicide-resistant
corn. Field
testing of this new variety might be done next year after the field
testing of the herbicide-tolerant corn which is now on its second
multi-locational testing stage.
Read
the press releases at http://www.efsa.eu.int/press_room/press_release/179_en.html, http://www.mb.com.ph/BSNS200404106810.html,
and http://www.indianexpress.com/
full_story.php?content_id=45127#.
JAMES: BIOTECH
CROPS ARE ESSENTIAL
"No
single approach will provide a solution to food, feed and fiber
security - conventional crop improvement alone will not double
food production by 2050, biotech crops although not a panacea are
essential." This was stressed by Clive James, Chairman of
the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications
(ISAAA), during a press lunch in Brussels. His talk was sponsored
by the EuropaBio, an association of bioindustries in Europe.
This
view gains importance as James said that by 2050 the world will
have to at least double food production in order to feed 9 billion
people. To do this sustainably the world should not have to increase
the land area used today for agriculture.
ISAAA
predicts that within the next five years, at least 10 million farmers
in 25 or more countries will plant 100 million hectares of biotech
crops.
Visit http://www.europabio.org/pages/ne_200404.asp to
view Clive James' Powerpoint presentation.
KENYA'S AGRIC
MINISTER SUPPORTS GM PRODUCTS
The
Kenya Government may soon allow genetically modified products to
enter into the country once the biosafety and biotechnology bill
becomes law by the end of this year.
In an
exclusive interview with Kenya Television Network, a local channel
with national reach, the country's agriculture minister, Mr. Kipruto
arap Kirwa, said Kenya was ready to embrace the technology to fortify
its food production.
“We
can not isolate ourselves by not embracing biotechnology because
we will be doing so at the risk of being left behind by the rest
of the world. Biotechnology in the long run will be able to assist
us in improving food production and also in the multiplication
of other crops like cotton,” the Minister said.
Speaking
on the same channel, the Director of the International Service
for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) AfriCentre,
Dr. Sam Wakhusama, supported the Minister, saying that claims that
transgenic foods are unsafe are unfounded.
“Many
countries all over the world are using these foods because they
are safe. In fact these foods go through several severe tests before
they are allowed into the human food chain unlike the conventional
ones,” explained Dr Wakhusama. He added that the crops also
go through vigorous environmental impact assessments tests and
are only released to the environment if they pass the tests.
The
Minister's positive remarks on the possibility of Kenya adopting
transgenic products came hot on the heels of Ugandan President
Yoweri Museveni's recent announcement that his country was ready
to import transgenic foods.
Kirwa
assured environmentalists that strict measures will be put in place
to enable safe introduction and use of transgenic products in the
country. Presently, the government issues licenses for laboratory
and controlled tests of transgenic crops such as cotton. /Kenya
Biotechnology Centre
BIODIVERSITY
TREATY SOON TO BECOME LAW
The
United Nations (UN) Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) International
Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture will
enter into force on June 29, 2004. This came about after new ratifications
were done last month by 11 European countries, Egypt, and the European
Community.
Due
to the treaty, a multilateral system of facilitated access and
benefits-sharing for crops and forages will be instituted for the
first time. This system will give scientists, international research
centers, and plant breeders from the public and private organizations "enhanced
access" to genetic biodiversity. Fair sharing of benefits
derived from the use of genetic resources is also envisioned to
take place. The benefits-sharing provision of the treaty further
requires the obligatory sharing of monetary benefits arising from
the utilization of genetic resources, including the commercialization
of new varieties by the private sector.
Says
Jose Esquinas-Alcazar, Secretary of the Commission, FAO, "Years
of multilateral negotiations under the auspices of FAO's Intergovernmental
Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture have finally
been successful. The Treaty provides an international legal framework
that will be a key element in ensuring food security, now and in
the future. The challenge is now to ensure that the treaty becomes
operative in all countries."
The
press release can be viewed online at http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/
2004/39887/index.html.
BIOTECH
RESEARCH CONTRIBUTES TO K-BASED ECONOMY
Plant
biotechnology is helping to create a vibrant knowledge-based economy
throughout the United States. C. Ford Runge, director of the Center
for International Food and Agricultural Policy in the University
of Minnesota said that “the vast stock of plant breeding
and genomic research and development knowledge that led to the
biotech revolution will generate billions of dollars in additional
economic benefits for farmers and others in the agrifood value
chain and within public and private research communities."
Runge's
study, "The Economic Status and Performance of Plant Biotechnology
in 2003: Adoption, Research and Development in the United States," provides
a detailed view of biotechnology's value at the farm level and
beyond the farm gate.
Aside
from the farmers, new plant biotech firms and research facilities
are being created throughout the United States. Runge explained
that individual states are reaping the benefits of this investment
and job-related activity. "The jobs that are being created
are knowledge-based, high-paying and highly specialized."
For
more information about Runge's study, view: http://www.whybiotech.com/index.asp
?id=4188
Q & A ON GMO
REGULATIONS IN EU
The
European Union legislation on genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
set in place since the early 1990s has the following regulations:
- Directive
2001/18 on the deliberate release into the environment of genetically
modified organisms is a 'horizontal' Directive, which regulates
experimental releases and the placing on the market of genetically
modified organisms.
- Regulation
1829/2003 on GM food and feed which regulates the placing on
the market of food and feed products containing or consisting
of GMOs and also provides for the labeling of such products to
the final consumer.
- Regulation
1830/2003 on traceability and labeling of GMOs and the traceability
of food and feed products from GMOs that introduces a harmonized
EU system to trace and label GMOs and to trace food and feed
products produced from GMOs.
- Regulation
641/2004 on the detailed rules for the implementation of Regulation
1829/2003
- Directive
90/219/EEC on the contained use of genetically modified micro-organisms
(GMMs), regulates research and industrial work activities involving
GMMs under conditions of containment. This includes work activities
in laboratories.
These
information are some of the facts contained in a question and answer
module which was developed the European Union on its website. To
see this resource, visit: http://europa.eu.int/rapid/start/cgi/guesten.ksh?p_action.
gettxt=gt&doc=MEMO/04/85|0|RAPID&lg=en&display=
RUSSIA AND BELGIUM
ADOPT STRICTER GM RULES
All
foods containing 0.9% or more genetically modified (GM) material
must be clearly labeled, says Gennady Onischenko, Russia's Chief
Sanitary Inspector. The Inspector also added that this rule also
applies to foods made of GM products that do not contain protein
or DNA. In the past, the Russian regulation permitted foods with
GM content below 5% to go unlabeled. This new legislation is said
to be in line with the current European Union (EU) standards. Currently,
14.8% of Russia's meat products and 20.4% flour and grain-derived
foods are made from GM material, while several agricultural crops
(tomatoes, squash, papaya and melons) are yet to be approved by
Russian authorities.
A similar
scenario also took place in Belgium with the introduction of a
new law which stated that any food containing 0.9% or more of GM
substances must display details of the amount on the product's
packaging. The same law also applies to non-packaged foods, such
as bread sold in bakeries. Records of the destinations of sales
of GM crops will also be kept for five years. This latest decree
by the Belgian government is perceived to be a necessary step in
lifting the European moratorium on GM foods.
Read
the news articles from MosNews and Expatica News at http://www.mosnews.com/news/2004/04/08/gmfoods.shtml and http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=48&story_id=6661
ANNOUNCEMENT:
FOSNNA
CONFERENCE
The
Food Science and Nutrition Network for Africa (FOSNNA) in partnership
with the Ethiopian Health and Nutrition Research Institute (EHNRI),
and the International Program in Chemical Sciences, will hold the
2nd Biennial Conference Food Science and Nutrition Network for
Africa on November 28 to December 1, 2004. For more details, contact
the conference secretariat in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia at FOSNNA@telecom.net.et and EHNRI@telecom.net.et.
The FOSNNA website can also be seen at http://www.fosnna.org. | 
