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DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
TO BENEFIT MORE FROM BIOTECH
The
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE)
says that biotechnology offers the prospect of a more secure food
supply in developing countries through improved yields, improved
suitability for local conditions and improved nutrition. This was
a major point raised by the ABARE report entitled “Agricultural
Biotechnology: Potential for Use in Developing Countries” published
this month.
The
report notes that the largest percentage increases in gross national
product (GNP) resulting from the introduction of GM technologies
are expected to occur in developing countries. Percentages range
from 0.5% for middle income regions to 2.1% for low income regions.
Increases in high income countries are estimated to be under 0.2%
of their GNP.
Other
highlights of the report are:
- Global
economic gain from a worldwide full adoption of biotechnology
in crop production could amount to US$210 billion a year, by
2015. Potential restrictions on production and trade in GM crops
in the European Union are estimated to reduce this gain by US$43
billion to US$167 billion.
- If
poorer developing countries fail to adopt the technology, the
world gain could decline to US$134 billion.
- The
negative impacts of the EU policies on adopting regions' incomes
are estimated to be relatively minor. In contrast, the impacts
of EU restrictions on the use of GM technologies on the European
Union itself could be substantial.
ABARE
adds that while the technology has high potential benefits for
developing countries, there are significant barriers to biotechnology
uptake and investment due to inadequate technical, institutional
and regulatory capacity.
For
the full report, visit http://abareonlineshop.com/product.asp?prodid=12594
GM COTTON GIVEN GO SIGNAL IN AUSTRALIA
Australia’s
Gene Technology Regulator has issued licences to three genetically
modified cotton varieties developed by Monsanto and Syngenta. Monsanto
will undertake a limited and controlled release of GM cottons:
herbicide tolerant (Roundup Ready® Mon 88913), and herbicide
tolerant/insecticidal (Roundup Ready Mon 88913/Bollgard® II)
cotton. The trials will take place over three years on 50 sites,
covering a total area of approximately 950 hectares in shires in
New South Wales, Queensland, northern Western Australia and Northern
Territory.
The
other approval is to enable Syngenta Seeds Pty Ltd. to undertake
a limited and controlled release of GM insecticidal cotton in 30
sites, covering a total area of 10 hectares in Queensland and New
South Wales. The trial will take place for two seasons in 2004.
Details
of both approvals are available online at http://www.ogtr.gov.au/rtf/ir/dir035notific.rtf
SCIENCE COMM
AND THE GM PUBLIC DEBATE
“Science
communication is developing a new approach that promotes dialogue
between scientists and the public,” says Rosie Hails from
the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology in Oxford, United Kingdom;
and Julian Kinderlerer of the University of Sheffield. Hails and
Kinderlerer cited the recent GM public debate as an example of
this new approach, and notes that the task of providing up-to-date,
accurate and accessible information as a stimuli for public opinion
should be given the highest priority.
In the
recent GM public debate, the authors noted that the information
exchange was in two directions: members of the public who participated
in the debates should learn more about the issues on GM crops;
while at the same time, scientists, policy makers and the government
should be more perceptive and acquire a better understanding of
public opinion and concerns.
Another
observation pointed out by Hails and Kinderlerer is the importance
of incorporating “key inputs” from the public debate
into the entire decision-making process. Public opinion and attitudes
are important in determining the economic effects of GM crop commercialization,
and the future market for GM products.
The
article entitled “The GM Public Debate: Context and Communication
Strategies” was published in Nature Reviews Genetics, October
2003, Vol 4, No 10. It can also be viewed at http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/nrg/journal/v4/n10/full/nrg1182_fs.html
POTENTIAL MARKET FOR GM POTATOES IN CHINA
China
is on the radar for genetically modified (GM) potatoes. “Increased
demand for western-style convenience foods, growing income levels,
favorable import regulations, and positive consumer perceptions
of GM foods and the application of biotechnology to crops provide
grounds for optimism,” says Kynda Curtis and colleagues at
the Washington State University.
In an
article entitled “Is China the Market for GM Potatoes?,” the
researchers noted that a dual marketing system for GM and non-GM
products is needed to market GM potato products to China. They
suggest evaluating consumer attitudes toward GM potato products
so that retailer marketing strategies can be properly implemented.
They also recommend that a certification may be needed to reassure
consumers who are concerned about potential health and environmental
consequences of GM food products.
View
the full paper online at http://www.agbioforum.org/v5n4/v5n4a06-curtis.htm.
CIMMYT TO CHECK
ON TRANSGENES
The
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in Mexico
is spearheading efforts to develop protocols that ensure that transgenes
are not inadvertently introduced into its gene bank accessions
or breeding materials.
Suggestions
to make this possible were given during a workshop on "Technical
Issues Related to Sampling and Detection of Adventitious Transgenic
DNA Sequences" at the CIMMYT headquarters. These include:
- The
most appropriate technique is the use of immunological tests
(ELISA) that are commercially produced and extensively used by
the seed industry. This technique is easy to use, produces rapid
results, inexpensive, portable, and sensitive.
- Initial
tests will be conducted for the presence of certain coat proteins
in commercially available genetically modified (GM) corn seeds/products.
- The
acceptable adventitious presence of transgenes for commercial
grain currently ranges from as high as 5% for Japan to as low
as 0.9% for the EU. The working group recommended that CIMMYT
consider a conservative level of 0.5%.
- For
its maize gene bank, CIMMYT will continue to collect and maintain
genetic resources without modifying their genetic structure.
All introductions and regenerations introduced into the bank
after 1996 (the year commercial transgenic corn was brought into
the market) will be analyzed for the presence of transgenes.
- CIMMYT
will screen all corn introductions, regardless of the country
of origin, to ensure that transgenes are not inadvertently incorporated
into its breeding program.
CIMMYT
is currently reviewing the protocol developed during the workshop.
For
more information on CIMMYT, visit http://www.cimmyt.org.
NON-FLOWERING
GM CROPS IN NEW ZEALAND
The
Environmental Risk Management Authority (ERMA) announced that certain
species of genetically modified (GM) crops in New Zealand will
be engineered further to stop them from flowering. This will take
place after the moratorium on the commercial release of GM crops
has expired.
This
move was made in response to concerns that pollen from GM crops
could be easily spread via thermal currents. Capable of lifting
pollen and other small matter to altitudes of more than 2000m,
Australian aphids, butterflies and other insects are said to have
been lifted by thermals, and blown to New Zealand on several occasions.
Aside
from the different plant characteristics that need to be carefully
studied, crop scientists stated that the viability of the pollen
lifted by thermal currents is another factor that needs to be considered.
Most pollens are highly observed to be highly vulnerable to temperature
and moisture. They also have a limited life span of a few hours.
Read the full story at http://www.lifesciencenz.com/news-detail.asp?newsID=5050.
OVERVIEW ON EU FOOD LAWS
The
European Union (EU) recently released a report that gives an overview
of the EU food laws that are currently adhered to by its member
states. These food laws will also be implemented in the ten Central
and Eastern European countries that will join the EU on May 2004.
Stated in the report are rules on: labeling requirements, packaging
and container requirements, food additive regulations, pesticides
and contaminants, copyright and/or trademark laws, and import procedures.
The
EU’s single market concept ensures that all food products,
whether produced within the EU or imported from developing countries,
are able to move freely throughout the EU markets upon compliance
with the directives.
Further,
free movement of food products is also guaranteed only when all
aspects are covered by the harmonized legislation: e.g. when a
food product has complied with the labeling directive but poses
a health risk for which harmonized rules do not yet exist. In cases
where EU regulatory harmonization is not yet in place, imported
food products must also meet the existing requirements of the member
state concerned.
The
full report can be downloaded at http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200310/145986463.pdf.
EFSA TO GUARANTEE
FOOD SAFETY
The
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has been set up to restore
consumer confidence in Europe’s ability to assure food safety
and quality through a strong scientific focus. This independent
body created by several European institutions is expected to be
fully operation by 2004.
The
EFSA is expected to be the first point of reference for expertise
on food safety. It is composed of four separate components to cover
tasks ranging from general management to scientific analysis. The
latter will be implemented by the Scientific Committee and eight
panels of experts to give independent scientific and technical
opinions to help EFSA carry out risk assessments.
More
on EFSA at http://www.eufic.org/gb/food/pag/food39/food392.htm
INDIA TO DEVELOP
COFFEE GENOMICS DATABASE
An Indian initiative on coffee biotechnology will try to make a database of
genomic information available by 2004. It is part of the Government of India’s
efforts to support the research for genetic improvement of coffee.
Ramesh
Aggarwal of the Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad,
says that they are planning to “develop a query-based database
on coffee comprising the voluminous fingerprinting and sequencing
data generated under the project in the form usable by others working
on coffee genetics anywhere in the world."
The
Network Program on Coffee Biotechnology is largely supported by
the Indian Government's Department of Biotechnology, in partnership
with the Coffee Board, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Ramesh
Aggarwal can be contacted through email at rameshka@ccmb.res.in. | 
