In This
Issue:
INDIA STRENGTHENS BIOTECH INFO SYSTEM About 8,000 scientists
in India are benefiting from the bioinformatics program that the Department
of Biotechnology (DPT) in Delhi envisaged as a distributed
database and network organization. Dr. Manju Sharma, Secretary of the DPT,
said that the program has “become a very successful vehicle for transfer
and exchange of knowledge, information, technology packages and references
in the country.”
Involved in the bioinformatics program are ten distributed information centers
and 38 sub-distributed information centers located in universities and research
institutions in India. Six national facilities have been set up for interactive
graphics- based molecular modeling and other bio-computational needs.
Scientists have been noted to regularly use the bioinformatics facilities
as well as industry people who use the facilities to find out new product developments
and available markets. The interaction of these centers with computer scientists
has also been on the rise with some institutions jointly developing software
products and teaching aid packages.
A DPT publication “Biotechnology Information System” provides
a profile of the bioinformatics centers and a list of distributed information
centers and sub centers. For information about this publication and India’s
bioinformatics program visit http://www.btistnet.nic.in or email Dr. Madhan
Mohan, director and Program Coordinator, at madhan@dbt.nic.in. Visit the DBT
website at http://www.dbtindia.nic.in.
KELEMU: AFRICANS MUST TAKE A RISK TOWARDS AGRI-BIOTECH
“Africans must be willing to take some potential risks to gain substantial
immediate and future benefits…they themselves must decide on the future
of their agriculture, using the best available scientific data and, hopefully,
taking politics out of the equation. Food and its availability are basic human
rights issues – for people without food, everything else is insignificant,” says
Segenet Kelemu of the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT) in
Cali, Columbia, and his colleagues from the research institutions in Uganda,
Ethiopia, Kenya, and Rwanda.
Kelemu and his colleagues
from the Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute (Uganda), African Highland
Initiative (Ethiopia), University of Nairobi (Kenya),
and the ISAR/CIAT/USAID Agriculture Technology Development and Transfer Project
(Rwanda) prepared a report entitled “Harmonizing the agricultural biotechnology
debate for the benefit of African farmers,” which examines the potential
benefits and risks that agricultural biotechnology may bring to African farmers.
According to the authors,
new technologies and their products should be discussed and challenged, but
putting the science (agricultural biotechnology) into the
context of the food aid debate for Africa, where people are in dire need of
this assistance, is quite “irresponsible.” Technology issues like
crop and animal productivity, food security, alleviation of poverty and gender
equity must be the focus of the public debates, and not the political considerations.
Kelemu and his colleagues
stressed that agricultural biotechnology has the potential to improve the
food security and reduce the environmental pressures
in Africa – provided that the risks associated with the technology are
properly addressed. They added that although biotechnology may indeed have
the answer to the issues at hand, the public’s concerns must still be
prioritized and addressed responsibly.
For more information, email Segenet Kelemu at s.kelemu@cgiar.org. A full copy
of the report is also available at http://www.africabiotech.com/biotechinfo/reports/agbiodebate2003.pdf.
NEED TO ALTER PATENT POLICY FOR AFRICAN STATES
The current patent policy in the United States is impeding the use of biotech
advances in developing countries. Instead, a set of policy changes must be
put into place to help African farmers access these technologies, while leaving
intact the structure of the patent system and not undercutting the innovation
incentives it provides. This was the view forwarded by Michael Taylor and Jerry
Cayford of the Resources for the Future (RFF), an independent institute dedicated
exclusively to analyzing environmental, energy, and natural resource topics.
The RFF study noted that
modern biotechnology can help solve some of the productivity problems that
affect African farmers but that many of the technologies have
been patented in the US and elsewhere by companies with “little economic
incentive to develop and disseminate the technology to meet the need of these
farmers.” Taylor and Cayford argued that policy should, among others:
- Create a strong
research exemption
- Establish
a compulsory license requirement for agricultural biotechnology
- Exercise
US eminent domain authority or allowing developing country users
to be deemed as using the technology for the US
- Establish
a “working requirement” for
agricultural biotechnology patents such that anything not used for a developing
country purpose within
three years could be subject of a nonexclusive license.
The study entitled “American patent policy, biotechnology, and African
agriculture: The case for policy change” is available at http://www.rff.org/rff/Documents/RFF-RPT-Patent.pdf.
AFRICAN FARMERS INCREASE RICE HARVESTS DUE
TO “NERICA”
Farmers in nearly a dozen
countries in West and Central Africa are currently experiencing bountiful
rice harvests. They are growing enough rice to feed
their families, and have surpluses to sell in the markets. All these benefits
are now taking place due to the “Nerica” – a new rice variety
that is a cross between an ancient, hardy African rice variety, and a high-yielding
Asian variety.
The Nerica, which was developed originally by the scientists of the West Africa
Rice Development Association (WARDA), combines the features of both of its
parent plants. Developed thru tissue culture technology, the Nerica is resistant
to drought and pest, have higher yields even with little irrigation or fertilizer,
and has more protein as compared to the other rice varieties.
In an interview with Africa
Recovery, the WARDA Director-General Kanayo Nwanze said that the adoption
of the Nerica would mean “more food on each household’s
table and more money in the (African) farmers’ pockets.” Nwanze
added that this would also help women farmers, whose total labor input in rice
production (about 40% to 60%) is spent in weeding. Due to the Nerica’s
ability to reduce weed growth, women now spend less time weeding.
Read the full story from Africa Recovery at http://www.un.org/ecosocdev/geninfo/afrec/vol17no4/174rice.htm.
US TO STRENGTHEN BIOTECH REGULATIONS FOR GMOS
The United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) will update and strengthen its biotechnology regulations
for genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Agriculture
Secretary Ann Veneman said that “The science of biotechnology is continually
evolving, so we must ensure that our regulatory framework remains robust by
anticipating and keeping pace with those changes.”
Currently, companies creating new transgenic plants must submit an application
to the USDA and the new GM crops must undergo field tests to ensure that it
does not pose a threat to agriculture or other plants. The updated rules will
likely involve a wider scope, and will incorporate threats to the environment
and public health.
Veheman added that the
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
will prepare an environmental impact statement to evaluate biotechnology regulations
and several possible regulation changes. This will also include a multi-tiered,
risk-based permitting system to replace the current permit/notification system
as well as a more flexible process for monitoring.
Visit the USDA site at http://www.usda.gov.
TRANSFER OF TRANSGENES FROM GM SOYA NOT POSSIBLE
Ever since the introduction of genetically modified (GM) plants, its inclusion
in the human diet and the possible transfer of transgenes from GM plants to
intestinal microflora and enterocytes have been a major concern. The persistence
in the human intestinal tract of DNA from dietary GM plants is still an unexplored
area.
In a research conducted
by Harry J. Gilbert of the Schools of Cell and Molecular Biosciences, University
of Newcastle in the United Kingdom, and his colleagues,
they determined the survival of the transgene epsps from GM soya in the small
intestine of human “ileostomists,” or individuals whose terminal
ileum is surgically removed and where digesta are diverted from the body via
a stoma to a colostomy bag.
Results showed that the transgene did not pass through the intact gastrointestinal
tract of human subjects fed with GM soya. Three of the seven ileostomists also
exhibited a low-frequency of gene transfer from GM soya to the microflora of
the small bowel of the subjects before their involvement in the feeding experiments.
For more information, email
Harry J. Gilbert at h.j.gilbert@NewCastle.ac.uk. The article published in
Nature Biotechnology is also downloadable at http://www.nature.com/cgi-taf/DynaPage.taf?file=/nbt/journal/v22/n2/full/nbt934.html&filetype=pdf.
EU EXPLORES THE APPROVAL OF BT-11 SWEET CORN FOR FOOD USE
The regulatory dossier for the approval of Bt-11 sweet corn for food use as
corn on the cob and/or as a processed food product (i.e. frozen and canned)
was sent to the European Union (EU) Council of Ministers for their evaluation.
This type of crop was genetically modified to be resistant to the corn borer.
Last April 17, 2002, the EU Scientific Committee on Foods stated that the Bt-11
sweet maize is safe for human consumption.
At present, food products derived from the Bt-11 field maize are already approved
for use in the EU.
More information can be read from the EuropaBio website, http://www.europabio.org/upload/articles/article_285_EN.doc.
GM CROPS ENRICHED WITH QUALITY PROTEIN
Scientists as the National
Centre for Plant Genome Research (NCPGR) in India are working on improving
the content and quality of proteins present in starch
rich crops such as potatoes, rice, sweet potato and cassava through genetic
engineering. Professor Asus Datta, Director of the New Delhi-based NCPGR, said
that the essential amino acid rich AMA1 + Kufri potato variety developed by
the Center is approaching its release to the country’s farming communities. “This
nutritionally improved potato line gives higher yields of tubers to the extent
of 25% besides being richer in protein content by 35-45%,” he added.
Datta noted that attempts at introducing Ama1 gene in the commercial cultivates
of rice, sweet potato and cassava are likewise being made. The regenerative
protocols in the new plant systems have been developed. Considerable progress
has also been made in reducing the content of anti-nutritive kidney stone causing
substances, and oxalic acid in vegetables including tomato, spinach, groundnut,
Lathyrus and soybean by using the OXDC gene. The OXDC tomato lines are already
undergoing field trial and biosafety tests.
Details of these researches
are found in the Center’s Annual Report
for 2002-2003. For more information on the activities of the NCPGR email ncpgr02@bol.net.in.
GM PLANT DETECTION OF LANDMINES
It is now possible to produce a plant, which, in the presence of specific
compounds in the soil, can change color from green to red within three to five
weeks of growth. This biodetection system has several potential applications
like detecting explosives present in landmines and soil, as well as finding
and removing heavy metals in polluted soil. Aresa Biodetection, a biotechnology
company in Copenhagen, Denmark, said that this invention could significantly
speed the removal of landmines in areas where agricultural cultivation is possible.
The technology is based
on the genetic engineering of Arabidopsis thaliana. “This
is a pioneering example of how we will see GM plants applied for humanitarian
and environmental purposes in the future,” said John Mundy of the Department
of Plant Physiology, University of Copenhagen.
Visit Aresa Biodetection at http://www.aresa.dk or send an email at info@aresa.dk.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ASIAN BIO-NET
The Coordinator
of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) BiotechNet News announced
the launch
of Asian Bio-Net, the website of the FAO project
on Capacity Building in Biosafety of GM Crops in Asia, based at the FAO Regional
Office for Asia and the Pacific. The project, supported by the Government of
Japan, was formulated to "assist countries in the region in safe harnessing
of the benefits of biotechnology in accordance with relevant global agreements
on the subject." See http://asiabionet.org or contact nobuyuki.kabaki@fao.org for more information. View the FAO Biotechnology website at http://www.fao.org/biotech/index.asp (in
Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Spanish).
GENOMICS MOMENTUM 2004
A discussion forum on genomics for all Europe is set for August 31 and September
1, 2004 in De Doelen, Rotterdam, Netherlands. Organized by the Netherlands
Genomics Initiative, Genomics Momentum 2004 is open to all who have a stake
in genomics, particularly user groups, developers, policy makers, and scientists.
Specific themes in genomics and society will be addressed by international
keynote speakers. Details of the forum can be viewed online at http://www.genomics.nl/genomics_momentum_2004.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON POST-HARVEST FRUIT
An International
Conference entitled “Post Harvest Fruit – the
path to success” will be held on November 7 to 10, 2004 at the Universidad
de Talca in Talca, Chile. This conference aims to strengthen research and development
ideas and expertise in all aspects of post-harvest fruit. Sessions will highlight
the facets involved from the growth of the plant to the fruit that is eaten
or processed. For more information email fruits2004@utalca.cl.
The conference website is http://fruits2004.utalca.cl/english/indexeng.html
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