In This
Issue:
USB STAND
ON BIOTECH
The
United Soybean Board (USB) has issued a statement saying that it "recognizes
that the future of agricultural biotechnology depends upon the
understanding and acceptance of consumers. As such, we advocate
the responsible development of plant biotechnology in a way that
provides long-term benefits to consumers, producers, and the environment."
Highlights
of their position paper include the following issues:
- Crops
and products enhanced by agricultural biotechnology are safe
to grow and safe to eat, as confirmed by the Food and Drugs Administration
following their thorough reviews of rigorous, scientific testing.
The USB claims that more than 1,800 scientific evaluations in
the United States - including tests for allergenicity and environmental
safety - have concluded that commercially available soybeans
produced through agricultural biotechnology are safe for consumers
and for the environment. They are just as nutritious and safe
as any other commercially available variety.
- The
USB supports a policy based upon good public health practices
and sound science, which will provide consumers with clear and
meaningful information about the foods they eat. It notes that
the current FDA labeling guidelines are exemplary and that if
anyone proposes to change these labeling requirements, proposed
changes should adhere to the same standard.
For
more of the United Soybean Board, visit http://www.talksoy.com or
email John Bissell at john.bissell@publicis-usa.com
AUSTRALIA SETS UP
BIOINFORMATICS CLUSTER
Australia's
Minister for Science Peter McGauran inaugurated recently the country's
largest dedicated bioinformatics computer cluster. It is based
at the Commonwealth Scientific & Industrial Research Organization
(CSIRO) in Canberra.
The
Bioinformatics Facility, according to CSIRO, will be used for a
range of research tasks. Specific activities include screening
chemical compounds, identifying potential pharmaceutical drugs,
and determining plant and animal genes to improve sustainable agricultural
production.
Dr.
Liz Dennis, joint director of the facility with Dr. Peter Willadsen,
says that the facility will allow a more efficient management of
information on genes and other biological resources which will
enable scientists to share data and speed up analysis.
More
information on CSIRO's Bioinformatics Facility is available at http://www.csiro.au/cbf
GENETIC DISCOVERY IN COTTON
Researchers
of Iowa State University and Oregon State University have uncovered
an unusual genetic pattern in cotton. According to Jonathan Wendel
and colleagues, their study showed that gene function responds
even more to small changes in the genome (the complete set of genetic
instructions) than previously thought. The researchers tested for
40 randomly chosen cotton genes and found "an incredible level
of alteration in gene expression."
Wendel
explained that cotton is a polyploid which means that it has two
copies of every gene instead of one. The researchers were surprised
that immediately upon polyploid formation, the duplicate genes
would change their form of expression. They noted that more than
a quarter of the genes changed the way they were expressed from
the parents. Studying the patterns they also found out that reciprocal
silencing or genes becoming inactive occurred in the duplicates.
The
study, which is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy
of Sciences, suggests that the discovery is likely to have implications
for other polyploid crops like corn and soybeans. Although the
researchers concede that while those implications are not clear,
they have far-reaching consequences. They hope to be able to harness
this finding to further improve plants.
More
on the University of Iowa initiatives at online@iastate.ed
SWISS PARLIAMENT APPROVES
NEW GM REGULATION
The
Swiss parliament recently approved a new law regulating the use
of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in food production. The
new law aims to protect Swiss farmers producing non-GM crops, and
guarantees consumers a choice. This decision of the Swiss parliament
heralds the end of Switzerland's status as a GMO-free country.
This law also follows the recent rejection of the imposition of
a five-year moratorium on commercial GM production.
The
new legislation allows the planting of GM crops, while at the same
time protects non-GM crops from cross-fertilization. This move
assuages fears by Swiss farmers that their crops could be contaminated
by pollen from GM crops. The Swiss parliament also stated that
field trials must first be conducted under closed conditions. Planting
of GM crops can only be moved outdoors if the desired results cannot
be initially achieved. GM crops can be grown commercially provided
they do not harm the biodiversity.
The
new law intends to protect humans, animals and the environment
against abuses of gene technology, and applies strict conditions
to the propagation of GM crops for research and commercial purposes.
See
the news release at http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=41&sid=1693087
ACCELERATED GROWTH
OF INDIA'S BIOTECH SECTOR SEEN
India's
biotechnology industry is projected to show substantial growth
in the future, even outsmarting the currently robust IT industry,
reports the Asia Times. Quoting from a paper released by the Associated
Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), India's
biotechnology sector is expected to grow by 40% annually, with
a projected 70% growth in exports. The number of biotech industries
is also expected to grow by more than 100% every year until 2005.
A more
rapid growth is seen in the pharmaceutical industry, expected to
become a US$25 billion industry with a market capitalization of
about US$150 billion by 2010. In the agriculture sector, significant
growth is seen with Bt cotton and huge potential for improvement
of other crops, including tomatoes.
India's
biotechnology industry currently comprise of 110 units in the health
care products sector, 140 units in agriculture, and over 300 units
in the industrial and other biotech products sector.
In a
related development, a biotechnology summit sponsored by ASSOCHAM
is scheduled for 21-23 March 2003 in New Delhi, entitled "Knowledge
Millennium III: The Business of Biotechnology". The three-day
international conference covers topics on the future prospects
of biotech industries in India.
For
more information visit http://www.bioindia.org/index.htm
PUBLIC SKEPTICISM CAUSES FOOD BIOTECH COMPANIES TO LEAVE
EUROPE
Most
Europeans are in favor of medical applications of biotechnology,
but they are still skeptical about its uses in agricultural and
food applications. These are some of the highlights of the result
of the new European Commission (EC) survey, presented in a published
report "Europeans and Biotechnology 2002". This lack
of information and public skepticism, coupled with the uncertain
legal situation and unstable commercial markets, have contributed
to the decision of biotech companies to leave Europe.
This
lack of support for agricultural and food applications of biotechnology
in Europe, according to the EC, is seriously slowing down biotech
R&D in the EU, particularly in the private sector, and may
put at risk Europe's competitiveness in a promising sector of new
technologies.
The
EC reports that all the EU countries, with the exception of Spain
and Austria, showed moderate to large declines in support for both
GM crops over the period 1996-1999. Since 2000, support for biotechnology
stabilized in France and Germany and increased in all the other
countries with the exception of Italy, which saw a 10% decline
in support.
Other
highlights of the survey are as follows:
- Forty-four
percent (44%) of Europeans believe that biotechnology can improve
their way of life, 17% are pessimistic and 25% said they did
not know. This rise in optimism holds true for all the EU Member
States, except for Germany and the Netherlands.
- Genetic
testing for inherited diseases and cloning human cells and tissues
are supported in all Member States. Xenotransplantation (use
of transgenic animals to produce organs to be transplanted in
human beings) is perceived to be both moderately useful and moderately
risky.
- The
use of genetically modified enzymes to produce environmentally
friendly washing powders is well perceived and supported by the
majority.
- Genetically
modified (GM) crops are judged to be moderately useful and are
seen as almost as risky as GM foods. Public opinion tends to
support GM crops in Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Belgium, UK, Finland,
Germany and the Netherlands. While France, Italy, Greece, Denmark,
Austria and Luxembourg are opposed to GM crops.
- Seventy
percent (70%) of Europeans trust doctors, university scientists,
consumer organizations and patients' organizations. Around 55%
have confidence in scientists working in the industry, newspapers
and magazines, environmental groups, shops, farmers and the European
Commission. However, less than 50% had faith in their own government
and in industry.
- There
is more confidence in the European Commission than in national
governments in relation to regulations and their implementation.
Europeans
and Biotechnology 2002 can be downloaded by visiting: http://europa.eu.int/
comm/public_opinion/archives/eb/ebs_177_en.pdf
PURPLE CARNATIONS IN AUSTRALIA
Florigene
Limited is proposing the commercial release of carnations that
were genetically modified to produce the purple/blue/mauve flower
color. This was announced by the Australian Office of the Gene
Technology Regulator which received Florigene's application to
undertake an Australia-wide commercial release of genetically modified
carnations into the environment.
Four
transgenic lines were transformed using one of two vectors. Each
line contains two genes that encode proteins essential for the
production of the blue flower color. Each line also contains a
gene for herbicide tolerance as a selectable marker.
For
more information, visit the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator
at http://www.ogtr.gov.au
EU AGRICULTURE COUNCIL
REACHES COMMON POSITION ON GMO REGULATION
In an
Agriculture Council meeting held in Brussels on 17-18 March, EU
agriculture ministers adopted common positions regulating the use
of genetically modified (GM) food and feed and the traceability
and labeling of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The common
positions were adopted by a qualified majority of the delegation
without further debate.
The
regulation on GM food and feed aims to guarantee a high level of
protection for human and animal health, the environment, consumer's
interest, as well as ensuring the proper functioning of the internal
market. The proposal also seeks to "establish a clear and
transparent Community procedures to assess, authorize and monitor
GM food and feed". The common position was adopted by the
Council without the support of Luxembourg, Austria, and the United
Kingdom.
The proposed regulation on traceability and labeling seeks to amend certain
aspects of Directive 2001/18/EC to enable accurate labeling and monitoring
of the effects of GM products to the environment and human health. Luxembourg,
Netherlands, UK, and Danish delegations voted against the proposal.
Both
common positions will be forwarded to the European Parliament for
a second reading.
Report
of the Council meeting can be downloaded at http://ue.eu.int/pressData/en/agricult/74983.pdf
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
BROCHURE ON BT COTTON
The
documented experiences of Bt cotton farmers in India are synthesized
in a brochure produced by the Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology
of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech
Applications. An updated version is available online at http://www.isaaa.org/kc.
CHINA FORUM ON AGRI-BIOTECH PRODUCTS
A China
Leadership Forum on Production and Trade of Agri-biotech Products
will be held on April 24, 2003 at the Great Wall Sheraton Hotel,
Beijing, China. Organized by the Beijing Means Consulting Company,
the forum will include topics on research and investments in biotechnology;
commercialization of biotech products; impact of agri-biotech on
Chinese economy; and foreign investment policies with regards to
biotech.
To register,
email registration@meanschina.com
INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF GENETICS
Science
sponsors the International Congress of Genetics on July 6 to 11,
2003 in Melbourne, Australia. The scientific theme of the Congress
is "Genomes - The Linkage to Life." The Congress aims
to assess the ongoing impact of genome projects. Find out more
about the Congress at http://www.geneticscongress2003.com
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