Articles in the April 23, 2010 Issue of Crop Biotech Update

NEWS

Global
40th Anniversary of Earth Day 

Africa
COMESA in Pursuit of Regional Harmonization of Biosafety Policies 
Ethiopia Committee on Biotech Formed 
Improved Cowpea Varieties In Nigeria's Savanna Region 

Americas
Americans Value the Nutritional Essence of Brown Rice 
Ending the Food vs Fuel Debate 
ISU and Kenyan University to Establish Africa Seed Institute 
Stanford Study on Organic vs Conventionally Grown Food 
USDA Deregulates GM Corn with Insect Resistance 
Biofortified Maize: Cure for Children Malnutrition 
IRRI Launches Fund-Raising Campaign for Rice Research 

Asia and the Pacific
GCP Develops Molecular Marker Toolkit for Breeders 
GM Papaya Gets the Nod in Japan 
Comments on the Environmental Release of GM Wheat and Barley for Abiotic Stress Tolerance 
Bangladesh Crops & Forest Biotech Policy Guidelines Finalized 
Profs Discuss Biotech in Bangladesh 
Form R&D Network, Bangladesh VC Tells Biotech Researchers 
Pigeonpea Hybrids Provide Food Security to Asians and Africans 

Europe
Bt Tobacco Cleans Up Liver Toxin From Ponds 
Crop Diversity Increasing Says Dutch Researchers 
UK DEFRA Permits GM Potatoes Testing 
European Commission Lifts Emergency Measures on US Long-Grain Rice 

Research
Smoke Brings Seed Germination Stimulants that Activate Light Response 
Dual-Purpose Maize: Genetic Analysis of Traits Relevant to Food and Fuel Production 
Positive Link Between Population Growth and Emissions of Greenhouse Gasses from Agriculture 

Announcements
Weeds Across Borders Conference 
Agrigenomics World Congress 

Americans Value the Nutritional Essence of Brown Rice

Half of the world's population regards rice as part of their traditional diet. However, Americans are still on the process of appreciating the nutritional importance of rice. Some consumers are not yet aware that brown rice is a whole grain which gives a lot of health benefits like reducing the risk of heart illness and some cancers.

The 2007 workshop series entitled Rice Utilization Conference delivered by USA Rice Federation and ARS Southern Regional Research Center (SRRC) is one of the key factors that led more Americans to appreciate the value of rice. The planners of the workshop were inspired by the daily whole-grain consumption cited in 2005 Dietary Guideline for Americans. After the workshop, the USA Rice Federation submitted a petition to FDA to allow brown rice to qualify for the whole-grain health claim.

To further encourage the consumption of brown rice, ARS food technologist Harmeet Guraya developed a brown rice with reduced cooking time. Traditional brown rice usually takes up almost an hour to cook; but this new treated rice only takes 20 minutes, just like the cooking duration of white rice.

See the complete news report at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/apr10/rice0410.htm.


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This article is part of the 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 Aquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications SEAsiaCenter (ISAAA)

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