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NewsGlobal[Top]
Plant breeding and nuclear science might be at extreme ends of the technological spectrum, but scientists believe that ‘going nuclear’ could help bolster the efforts to produce high-yielding plants and help save millions from hunger. The United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is urging for increased use of mutation induction, or the use of radiation, to breed crops that can resist diseases and survive harsh conditions such as drought and flood. The Agency says that the technique is proven and cost-effective and has been used since the 1920s. “To provide sustainable, long-term solutions, we must make use of all available resources. Selecting the crops that are better able to feed us is one of humankind’s oldest sciences. But we’ve neglected to give it the support and investment it requires for universal application,” says IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei. “The IAEA is urging a revival of nuclear crop breeding technologies to help tackle world hunger.” Examples of successfully released mutant crops include disease resistant cassava in Ghana, rice tolerant to saline conditions in Vietnam, wheat that can survive Kenya’s arid regions and barley that grows well in the high Andes. The press release is available at ftp://ftp.iaea.org/dist/adpi/PressCampaign/PressRelease/FoodSecurityPressRelease.pdf [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
Global agriculture experts warned that cuts in funding for research or programs for implementing new discoveries would be catastrophic for millions of smallholder farmers and their families throughout Africa and much of Latin America and Asia. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) in Maputo, Mozambique, CGIAR chair Katherine Sierra noted that researchers have proven in the past that just small amounts of funding can boost crop yields, defeat devastating pests, and ultimately lift farmers and their families out of poverty. A new report by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) revealed that increase in public investment in agricultural research in developing countries would cut by more than half the number of people in sub-Saharan Africa living on less than $1 a day by 2020. "With both the financial and food crises already starting to affect us now - and with climate change impacts on the horizon - it is especially important to make well-targeted investments that bolster agricultural output across the world,'' said Ren Wang, CGIAR's director. For more information visit, http://www.cgiar.org/ The report can be downloaded at http://www.ifpri.org/PUBS/agm08/jvbagm2008.asp [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) warns that frequent tropical storms, ocean warming, flash floods and drought will take a heavy toll on food security in Pacific Island countries. According to the report “Climate Change and Food Security in Pacific Island Countries”, jointly published by FAO, the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Program and the University of the South Pacific, climate change-related disasters are already imposing serious constraints on development in the islands, which appear to be in a constant mode of recovery. A combination of droughts and floods will bring devastating effects on agriculture, including water stress, more pests and weeds, erosion and loss of soil fertility, the report says. The report calls for a more systematic approach to climate change, with national development plans serving as the basis of adaptation measures involving governments, the private sector and civil society. “Farmers should receive the best available information and guidelines on the choice of crop varieties, soil and water management options under changed environmental conditions to avert the risk of crop failures.” Read the press release at http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/8658/icode/ The report can be downloaded at http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/i0530e/i0530e00.htm Africa[Top]
Over 130 scientists from North African countries (Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Mauritania and Chad) attended the NEPAD biotechnology workshop in Ezzahra City, Tunisia to discuss the challenges for North Africa and the possibility for a regional integrated research program. NEPAD or the New Partnership for Africa's Development is a program of action of the African Union for the redevelopment of the African Continent. Prof. Mahmoud Sakr, head of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology division of the Egyptian National Research Center reported that "Through NEPAD, there are now on-going research projects aimed at improving crops’ nutritional quality, and tolerance to drought and salt. A collaborating team from Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia succeeded in collecting valuable North African germplasm with tolerance to drought and salinity, and with low level of phytic acids. These pioneering efforts although still in the infancy stage, will have a great positive impact in fighting poverty and malnutrition in Africa".” Participants forwarded several recommendations to enhance the network. These include: capacity building and human resource enhancement in Africa, need to clarify the role of NEPAD for African scientists to strengthen cooperation, identification of focal points in each North African Country, additional training in the field of biotechnology, and upgrading of agricultural communication in the network. For further information, contact Ismail AbdelHamid of the Egypt Biotechnology Information Center at ismail@isaaa.org or ismail@egypt-bic.com. [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute Biotechnology Center (KARI-Biotech) has unveiled a state-of-the art insect-proof biosafety greenhouse for research into the impact of transgenic crops on insects. KARI Biotech is currently conducting trials on various biotechnology crops such as Bt cotton, Bt maize, cassava, sorghum and sweet potatoes. Construction of the greenhouse was funded by the Danish government through the BiosafeTrain Project at a cost of about USD 40,000. The facility is an addition to the center's existing level-II biosafety greenhouse. While launching the facility, Dr Jamleck Mutugi, Chairman of KARI Board of Management, said Kenya being a severely food deficit country needs to expedite the process of biotech crop adoption to boost agricultural productivity. BiosafeTrain Project’s aims to build capacity in East Africa for biosafety and ecological impact assessment of genetically modified organisms. For more information, contact Daniel Otunge (d.otunge@cgiar.org ) of ISAAA AfriCenter. [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
Biosciences east and central Africa (BecA) is a biotechnology initiative working on plants, animals and microbes. The core of BecA is a joint venture of regional research partners linked to the global research community, with the aim to employ modern biotechnology to improve agriculture in eastern and central Africa. Recently, the BecA-ILRI Bioinformatics group hosted a training workshop on proteomics and bioinformatics for 23 students from the East Africa region. It was supported by The Regional Students Group (RSG) East Africa and organized by Dr. Etienne de Villiers, the BecA-ILRI Bioinformatics Group Leader. The training was conducted by Prof Anna Tramontano from the Department of Biochemical Sciences “Rossi Fanelli”, University of Rome La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. Through lectures, demonstrations and practical learning activities, the participants learned about protein structures, evolution of protein structures and protein structure classifications. Several methods for protein structure determination, such as homology modeling, fold recognition and fragment based methods were investigated. Students were also introduced to the Critical Assessment of Techniques for Protein Structure Prediction (CASP) project and how structure prediction can lead to protein function prediction. "The selection of the students was extremely effective. All of them showed a keen interest in learning, which was refreshing and stimulating, and many of them had specific problems that we could discuss. I do sincerely hope that most of them will be able to make use of what they learned and did in the course of their career,” Dr. Tramontano said. The BecA Hub with a state of the art shared Biosciences Platform is located at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya. For more information on this workshop and for future workshops on bioinformatics at the BecA Hub, contact Dr. de Villiers at e.villiers@cgiar.org. Americas[Top]
Genetically enhanced safflower producing insulin? That’s what Canada-based biotechnology company SemBioSys Genetics Inc. is developing. The company announced that it has initiated a phase I/II clinical trial of its safflower-derived insulin with the first injection of its drug in humans. The trial will take place in the United Kingdom and will include up to 30 volunteers in a three-arm study. The study aims to demonstrate the bioequivalence of plant-produced insulin to commercially available insulin products. The company expects that results will be available as early as first quarter of 2009. “The trial is the first in which plant-produced insulin has been injected into humans and supports the exciting potential for the establishment of plant-produced drugs in the pharmaceutical sector," said Andrew Baum, president and CEO of SemBioSys. "This trial verifies the viability of plant-made insulin and defines the regulatory path for plant-made biopharmaceuticals.” SemBioSys estimates the world market value for insulin to be in excess of US$7.1 billion today. Demand for insulin is projected to increase due to the growing incidence of diabetes in addition to the expanded use of insulin therapy. Read more at http://micro.newswire.ca/release.cgi?rkey=1612036526&view=36078-0&Start=0 [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
Crispy green lettuce leaves are top choices not only by salad lovers but also by troublesome insects known as leafminers (Liriomyza langei). Adult leafminers puncture lettuce leaves to feed on the sap. Females, on the other hand, lay eggs on leaf tissues. Worm-like larvae hatch from the eggs and feed on the upper and lower surface of the leaves, making distinctive winding, whitish mine-like tunnels. To combat the destructive pest, scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) developed the world's first leafminer-resistant green leaf lettuce. Beiquan Mou and Edward Ryder screened more than 100 kinds of lettuce from ARS' lettuce collection. In addition to its leafminer resistance, the attractive, robust new lettuce can shrug off attacks by lettuce mosaic virus. This disease, spread by green peach aphids (Myzus persicae), gives leaves a sickly mottled or mosaic appearance, rendering the lettuce unmarketable. Read the complete article at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2008/081201.htm [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
Genome sequencing could be considered as the first step in the development ladder of genetically modified crops. Once the sequence is completed, the next step is to identify the genes’ function. Scientists have completed the draft sequence of the soybean genome and the complete genome sequence is in sight. Taking the next step, researchers at the University of Missouri demonstrated the applicability of transposons in studying gene functions in soybean. Their work appears in the current issue of the journal Planta. Transposons are mobile genetic elements that can ‘jump’ around the genome and insert themselves randomly within genes, causing mutations and disruption in gene functions. By tagging transposons, scientists have found that they can screen plants for visible mutations in important agronomic traits, such as seed composition or root growth. Using the tool, the team has identified the gene responsible for male sterility. The scientists aim to construct a repository that will be a resource for the soybean community to study gene function and that, in the long run, "will aid in translating genomics data into information that will ultimately benefit crop performance.” Read the complete article at http://munews.missouri.edu/news-releases/2008/1201-stacey-jumping-genes.php The paper published by Planta is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00425-008-0827-9 [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
Monsanto Company reported the inadvertent harvest of a small amount of regulated Bt research cotton at a trial site in Dawson County, Texas. Approximately two-tenths of an acre of research cotton was picked from a trial plot regulated by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The research cotton contains a protein (Cry1A.105) which is present in YieldGard VT PRO™ corn. The protein has regulatory approvals in the U.S. and from various international regulatory agencies. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and USDA have confirmed that it poses no threat to humans or animals. “Monsanto has taken responsibility for this release and for resolving it in a manner that is satisfactory to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency,” said Jerry Hjelle, Ph. D., Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs. “We take product stewardship extremely seriously, and we moved quickly to notify the USDA, FDA and EPA as soon as we became aware of the inadvertent harvest, following established government procedures.” See Monsanto's media release at http://monsanto.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=666 [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
Monsanto Company announced that it has completed the US $290 million acquisition of Aly Participacoes Ltda., which it undertook in a bid to tap the growing demand for raw sugar and biofuels. Aly Participacoes Ltda. operates the sugarcane breeding and technology companies CanaVialis S.A. and Alellyx S.A., both of which are based in Brazil. Monsanto has previously established a licensing and trait-collaboration agreement with these companies to develop and commercialize Roundup Ready and Bt insect-protected technologies for sugarcane growers in the country. CanaVialis is the world's largest private sugarcane breeding company. Alellyx, on the other hand, is an applied genomics company that focuses on developing biotech traits primarily for sugarcane. Read the press release at http://monsanto.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=664 Asia and the Pacific[Top]
Dr. Vo-Tong Xuan, professor or agronomy and former rector of An Giang University in Vietnam, is the first recipient of the Dioscoro L. Umali Achievement Award in Agricultural Development. This regional award is aimed at promoting agriculture by recognizing exemplary individuals who have advanced agricultural development in Southeast Asia. Dr. Vo-Tong Xuan is widely recognized for his significant role in invigorating the rice industry in Vietnam and sharing his expertise in Africa. He received his award during the 42nd anniversary celebration of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA). The award is named after the late Dr. Dioscoro Umali, a National Scientist of the Philippines, first director of SEARCA, and former Assistant Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, among others, “whose quest for scholarship and excellence in agriculture fueled his vision for a progressive Southeast Asia.” [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
Cotton varieties genetically modified to resist pest infestation may soon take roots in the Philippines after the Bureau of Plant Industries (BPI) issued a permit to import Bt cotton seeds from India for greenhouse trials. The permit was issued in response to the request made by the Philippine Cotton Development Authority (CDA), an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture. CDA was earlier able to secure permission from the National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines to test Bt cotton lines. Commodity Online reports that CDA had planned to import and test Bt cotton seeds developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) from China but decided to source it from India due to some phytosanitary and quarantine issues. Bt cotton trials are expected to commence in early 2009 at three possible sites. The Philippine government is also looking into a possible collaboration with China to develop the technology. Read more at http://www.commodityonline.com/news/India%E2%80%99s-Bt-Cotton-to-spin-success-in-Philippines-12917-3-1.html The FAS GAIN Report is available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200811/146306584.pdf For more information on biotechnology in the Philippines, contact Jenny Panopio at jap@agri.searca.org [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has awarded California-based Arcadia Biosciences a three-year, US$3.6 million grant to develop genetically modified strains of rice and wheat that can survive on saline soils and use less water and nitrogen in India. Abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, heat or soil nutrient deficiencies are a constraint to rice and wheat production in South Asia. Arcadia will work with the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company Ltd. (MAHYCO) on product development and implementation for the program. “The importance of addressing the long-term challenges facing agriculture and natural resource management in the region cannot be overstated. With more than 70 percent of the population living in rural areas, sustaining increases in agricultural productivity and efficient use of land, energy and water resources will have a large impact on livelihoods of the poor,” said Robert Bertram, acting director of USAID’s Office of Environment and Science Policy, in a news release. Read more at http://www.arcadiabio.com/pr_0031.php Europe[Top]
Following its intended use, Pioneer’s 59122 x NK603 maize is as safe as its non-GM counterparts with respect to potential effects on human and animal health or the environment. This is the conclusion of the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA) Scientific Panel on Genetically Modified Organisms on its assessment of the insect-resistant, glyphosate- and glufosinate-tolerant genetically modified maize line. The scientific assessment included molecular characterization of the inserted DNA and expression of the new proteins, comparative analysis of agronomic traits and composition, and evaluation of the new protein and the whole food/feed with respect to nutritional quality, potential toxicity and allergenicity. Pioneer’s 59122 x NK603 maize has already been approved in seven countries to date. In the European Union, both individual traits have already been approved for import, food and feed use; 59122 in October 2007 and NK603 in March 2005. The paper is available for download at http://www.efsa.europa.eu/EFSA/efsa_locale-1178620753812_1211902200229.htm [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
Despite regulatory restrictions and political threat, the estimated area planted to biotech corn is expected to increase to 110,000 ha in 2009 in Spain, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Slovakia and Germany. This was the projection of the EU-27 Biotechnology Annual 2008 released by the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service GAIN Report. Although there is a European Union policy framework, Member States’ (MS) policy varies greatly. Most MS have national coexistence frameworks for biotech and non-biotech crops while others continue to maintain national bans on genetically engineered crops. There has been a drop in research with many scientists moving to the US where support is more favorable. The full report is available at http://www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200811/146306614.pdf Research[Top]
Thanks to cell surface receptors, plants can protect themselves from pathogen invasions. These cell receptors act as the plants’ intruder detection system. Once activated, they will trigger a cascade of signals that will ultimately lead to production of antimicrobial compounds to ward off or kill the bacterial invaders. Scientists from Imperial College London, Max Planck Institute in Cologne and Zurich-Basel Plant Science Center studied the pathogen that causes bacterial speck disease in tomato plants. They found that the pathogen is very effective at attacking tomato plants because it deactivates and destroys the cell surface receptors- pretty much how an intruder would deactivate the burglar alarm before gaining entry to a house. The researchers studied the mechanism of pathogen entry using Arabidopsis, the laboratory rat of the plant world. The findings may help scientists develop ways to tackle the bacterial speck pathogen, and other plant diseases, without the need for pesticides. The paper published by Current Biology is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2008.10.063 For more information, contact Danielle Reeves at danielle.reeves@imperial.ac.uk [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
Expression of a gene depends as much on its location as its primary DNA sequence. Epigenetic modifications, or the changes to the protein around which DNA is wound, can also alter gene expression patterns. Epigenetic changes can be passed on from parent cell to daughter cell, ensuring each cell line has the proper characteristics consistently over many generations. Transposons or jumping genes are quite distinct from other genes, because they are nearly always epigenetically inactivated. Silencing transposons is important to retain the integrity of the genome, since these mobile genetic elements can insert themselves randomly, causing deleterious mutations and gene silencing. Scientists have known that once triggered, the maize plant "remembers," and keeps the transposons "silenced" generation after generation, even after the trigger is lost. Researchers at the McGill University and University of California, Berkeley, found that this is not always the case. At certain positions in the genome, the transposon reawakens when the trigger is lost. The discovery suggests that the epigenetic landscape of plant genomes may be more subtle and interesting than previously thought, with the ability to remember epigenetic silencing varying depending on position. Erasure of heritable information might prove to be an important component of the epigenetic machinery. Read the complete article at http://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/news/item/?item_id=103077 Download the paper published by PLoS Genetics at http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1000216 [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
The fungus Botrytis cinerea, also known as the gray mold, is regarded as one of gardeners’ worst enemies because of the damage it can cause to a range of plants. It is the causal agent of the destructive gray mold disease that affects more than 200 ornamental and agriculturally important plant species, including potatoes, tomatoes and pepper. Gray mold secretes potent phytotoxins such as botrydial and botcinic acid. The only way to eliminate the pathogen is to spray plants with fungicides, which can be costly and can cause harm to human health and the environment. Scientists at the Brown University in the U.S., University de Cadiz in Spain and the French National Institute for Agricultural Research have figured out how the fungus’s deadly toxin is made and how it might be disarmed naturally. Led by Muriel Viaud and David Cane, the researchers identified a cluster of five genes that is responsible for production of botrydial, the toxin the mold uses to kill and invade plant cells. Introduction of a mutant gene that suppresses the function of sesquiterpene cyclase, the mastermind enzyme for botrydial production, resulted to molds that cannot produce the toxin. The discovery will allow scientists to devise ways to control the mold without using fungicides. For more information, read http://news.brown.edu/pressreleases/2008/12/mold The paper published by ACS Chemical Biology is available at http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.1021/cb800225v [Top]
AnnouncementsThe 2nd World Seed Conference, with the theme “Responding to the Challenges of the Changing World: The Role of New Plant Varieties and High Quality Seed in Agriculture”, will be held on September 8-10, 2009 at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy. The event is organized by the International Seed Testing Association (ISTA), Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). Visit the conference website at http://worldseedconference.org/en/worldseedconference/home.html The Second Biotechnology Fair (BIOFEVER) will be conducted on 11-13 February 2009 in Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) on the theme "Biotechnology: The Key to a Better Life". This upcoming event is an offshoot of the recently concluded first BIOFEVER conducted in 21-23 November 2008. The event is organized by the School of Life Science and Technology and ITB, Indonesia. A series of exposition, workshop, and public seminars will be held including a presentation on biotech products and exhibition by companies, research institutions and universities in Indonesia. There will also be interactive activities to introduce life science and technology, especially biotechnology and its application to students and academicians, as well as to introduce life science companies and institutions to the public. For more details on this event, email biofever@sith.itb.ac.id. For information on biotechnology in Indonesia contact Dewi Suryani of IndoBIC at dewisuryani@biotrop.org [Top]
Document RemindersBrinjal or eggplant is an important vegetable crop in India. It is planted to 550,000 hectares in the country. Brinjal cultivation, however, is often input intensive, especially for insecticide applications. Brinjal is prone to attack from insect pests and diseases, the most serious of which is the fruit and shoot borer (FSB). FSB-resistant brinjal varieties expressing Bt proteins have been developed. Results of studies submitted to regulatory authorities in India confirm that Bt brinjal offers the opportunity to provide effective control against fruit and shoot borer, and decrease insecticide input by as much as 80%. Bt brinjal also yields significantly more marketable fruit than conventional hybrids and open-pollinated varieties. Know more about Bt brinjal in India in the latest Pocket K produced by the Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications. Download the material at http://www.isaaa.org/kc/inforesources/publications/pocketk/default.html#Pocket_K_No._35.htm (Copy and paste the link to your web browser) Pocket Ks are Pockets of Knowledge, packaged series of information on crop biotechnology products and related issues. Other topics are also available at http://www.isaaa.org/kc. |
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