CropBiotech Update: April 15, 2003

Crop Biotech Update

A weekly summary of world developments in agri-biotech for developing countries, produced by the Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications SEAsiaCenter (ISAAA), and AgBiotechNet

April 15, 2003

In This Issue:

	Genomics-Based Biosafety		Kwazulu-Natal Farmers Make Good from GM Corn
	EU Requests 12 States to Adopt GMO Legislation		USAID Says Africa Needs GM Crops
	New Zealand's "GM-Free" Labeling System		FAO Launches Crop Biotech Database
	Scientists Discover Gene Regulator of Rice Tillers		Announcement:
	Hastert: WTO Action for GMF Markets		GKC Releases K Sheets

GENOMICS-BASED BIOSAFETY

Putting emphasis on genomics-guided transgenes (GGT) based on native or homologous genes could allow regulators to make it much simpler to conduct certain types of genetically modified (GM) field trials. This means focusing on the source of introduced genes and their similarity to those already in the recipient plants. Steven Strauss, professor of forest science at Oregon State University, forwarded this view noting that in Europe, field trial regulations are preventing the exploration of GGT. This prevents potential environmental benefits from being introduced into agriculture.

Strauss says that GGT trials should have the same rules as conventional breeding trials at the exploratory field trial stage. "All agriculture has risks and large environmental impacts. The question is whether the risks seem within the range of those we accept daily."

The professor argues that current regulations make biotechnology difficult for small companies. It calls for a more realistic and cheaper approach to field trials which could lead to "democratization", hence, allowing more small companies to conduct them.

Strauss' paper entitled "Genomics, Genetic Engineering and Domestication of Crops" appears in Science (300, 61-62). Email Steven Strauss at steve.strauss@orst.edu for more information.

EU REQUESTS 12 STATES TO ADOPT GMO LEGISLATION

The European Commission (EU) has formally requested 12 Member States to adopt and notify legislation to implement the EU law on the deliberate release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into the environment. These Member States are France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Austria and Finland.

The twelve Member States failed to meet the October 17, 2002 deadline for the adoption and notification of such legislation. Some of the components in the EU directive include:

Principles governing environmental risk assessment

Mandatory post-market monitoring, including monitoring of possible long-term effects on the environment

A requirement to communicate information to the public

A requirement for Member States to ensure labeling and traceability at all stages of marketing

A requirement that initial approvals of GMOs be limited to a maximum of ten years

An obligation to consult the European Parliament on decisions to authorize the release of GMOs

This press statement from the EU is available online at http://europa.eu.int

NEW ZEALAND'S "GM-FREE" LABELING SYSTEM

In lieu of the Royal Commission's recommendation, the New Zealand government organized an interdepartmental working group, composed of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs and the New Zealand Food Safety Authority, to facilitate the development of a voluntary "GM-Free" Labeling System.

The government's purpose in facilitating the development of a GM-free labeling system is to assist businesses to meet consumer demands for information by labeling their food as GM-free. This labeling system also aims to ensure the accuracy of information provided to the consumers.

The scheme was discussed in a discussion paper entitled "Voluntary GM-Free Labeling" to raise some of the issues surrounding GM-free labeling, and to look at what is involved in the development, ownership and administration of such a labeling system. The paper discusses that a successful labeling system should meet various consumer and industry expectations or "drivers." Some of the required measures are as follows:

To meet Consumers' Expectations:

The labeling system should have low "transaction costs" (the cost to the consumer in obtaining information).

Meaningful and easy to understand information should be provided to the consumers at the lowest possible costs.

Consumers can place confidence in the source of information.

To meet Industry's Expectations:

Industry benefits (competitive advantage, increased profit, market penetration) must outweigh the risks (not meeting consumer demand, lacking credibility, being inconsistent with legislation) and costs (market research, development, marketing and verification).

Other issues that need to be addressed during the development of the system also cover the following areas: ownership and administration, technical expertise, consumer confidence, flexibility, on-going support, dispute resolution, and funding. The full paper can be downloaded at http://www.mfe.govt.nz/issues/organisms/food.html.

SCIENTISTS DISCOVER GENE REGULATOR OF RICE TILLERS

Xueyong Li and colleagues at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China, successfully isolated and characterized the gene Monoculm 1 (MOC1), which genetically controls rice branching and bud formation.

Rice mutants transformed with up to 3 copies of MOC1 gene produced 2-3 fold more tillers than wild-type plants. High-tillering transformed plants were also shorter than wild-type plants, indicating that MOC1 also affects plant height, another economically important trait. Since tillering in rice is an important agronomic trait for grain production, genetic manipulation of MOC1 gene can be a strategy to increase rice productivity.

Li and his colleagues screened rice plant collections for mutants with altered tiller numbers. Genetic analysis with reciprocal crosses between tiller mutants and wild-type plants revealed that the tiller mutants possess a recessive mutation in a single locus. The MOC1 gene was then mapped to the long arm of chromosome 6, and encoded a nuclear-localized protein of 441 amino-acid residues. Although MOC1 was confirmed to be a key regulator of rice tillering, they believe that this is still a complex process which involves expression of many genes.

Xueyong Li and colleagues' research is featured in Nature and can be downloaded at http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/nature/journal/v422/n6932/abs/nature01518_fs.html

HASTERT: WTO ACTION FOR GMF MARKETS

Official action by the World Trade Organization (WTO) is necessary to open markets for genetically modified foods (GMF). This was stressed by US House Speaker Dennis Hastert during a testimony at the House Agriculture Committee. Specifically, he said that the use of non-tariff barriers was becoming an imminent threat to free trade in GMF.

"Free trade will be rendered meaningless if it is short-circuited by non-tariff barriers that are based on fear and conjecture- not science," Hastert said. He cited two cases, one of which is the current European moratorium on GM products which has resulted in an annual loss of over $300 million in corn exports for US farmers. Another case is the rejection of US food aid because the shipments contained biotech corn. The impact of these policies, Hastert noted, would affect farmers' competitiveness and the ability to provide food for the world's population.

The full report is in the website of the American Society of Plant Biologists. Visit http://www.aspb.org/publicaffairs/agricultural/hastert.cfm

KWAZULU-NATAL FARMERS MAKE GOOD FROM GM CORN

Initial data from KwaZulu-Natal farmers in South Africa show that those who planted genetically modified (GM) white corn for the first time this season significantly boosted their yields and increased their income.

"This new technology is what Africa needs to overcome famine and food shortages," says Richard Sithole, chairman of the Hlabisa District Farmers' Union. The farmers' union has some 150 emergent farmers who plant on an average area of 2 1/2 hectares.

Sithole's yield on his 2 1/2 ha was 100 bags compared with 80 bags the previous season with normal hybrid seed. This was an increase of 20 bags or 25 percent. Paulos Mwelase, chairman of the Thubalethu Farmers' Union, planted 2 hectares of Bt corn. He was able to harvest 45 bags compared to six bags of low quality corn last year.

Sithole said that corn used to be planted for domestic consumption, but with the successful yield harvest they plan to focus on agriculture as a business venture.

USAID SAYS AFRICA NEEDS GM CROPS

Andres Natsios, administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), says that African nations should consider using genetically modified (GM) crops, particularly drought resistant wheat and corn, if they are to break the cycles of famine.

Speaking before the Committee on International Relations in the US House of Representatives, Natsios mentioned that aside from using GM crops, Africa needs to consider the use of small-scale irrigation as well as the education of future African scientists who would conduct appropriate research based on what is needed in Africa.