Global

The 2008 World Food Prize will be awarded to former United States Senators Robert Dole and George McGovern for their inspired, collaborative leadership that has encouraged a global commitment to school feeding and enhanced school attendance and nutrition for millions of the world’s poorest children, especially girls. The two recipients worked diligently on behalf of the McGovern-Dole international school-feeding program. Since 2000, it has provided meals to feed more than 22 million children in 41 countries and boosted school attendance by an estimated 14 percent overall and by 17 percent for girls. The success of the McGovern-Dole program has also led to dramatically increased international support for expansion of school-feeding operations in developing countries around the world.

Readers can access the complete article at http://www.worldfoodprize.org/press_room/2008/june/08laureates.htm.

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Land degradation is increasing in severity and extent according to a new report released by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UN Environment Programme and the World Soil Information (ISRIC). The report revealed that more than 20 percent of all cultivated areas, 30 percent of forests and 10 percent of grasslands are degrading. Some 22 percent of degrading land is in arid areas, while 78 percent of it is in humid regions.

Land degradation results to reduced productivity, migration, food insecurity, damage to basic resources and ecosystems, and loss of biodiversity through changes to habitats at both species and genetic levels. FAO estimated that 1.5 billion people, or about a quarter of the world's population, depend directly on land that is being degraded.

View the complete article at http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2008/1000874/index.html Download the complete report at http://lprlada.fao.org/lada/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=58&Itemid=157

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Cassava is a staple food for millions of poverty stricken people in Sub-Saharan Africa, South America and parts of Asia. Cassava roots, similar to potatoes, are often eaten boiled or deep-fried. The root is rich in carbohydrates and starch, but low in protein and vitamins. Now, an international team of scientists has determined a way to fortify cassava with enough proteins, vitamins and minerals to provide the poor and malnourished with a day’s worth of nutrition in a single meal. The researchers have also developed virus-resistant lines and varieties that produce less cyanogens, compounds that can trigger the production of cyanide.

The scientists introduced genes that encode metal transport proteins to produce cassava that accumulates more iron and zinc. Genes that are involved in carotenoid and terpenoids production were also inserted to fortify the plant with vitamins A and E. The next step, according to researchers, will be to combine the bio-engineered traits into a single, farmer-preferred cultivar.

Field trials have already started in Puerto Rico, and the research team hopes to start field tests in Nigeria and Kenya by 2010.

Read the full article at http://researchnews.osu.edu/archive/tropicalag.htm

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A fungus that killed redbay and other trees in the coastal plains of northeastern Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina has been officially named, according to the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service Southern Research Station (SRS). Before this, the fungus was known as 'the laurel wilt pathogen'. It is carried by ambrosia beetles, a group of highly specialized wood-boring insects that feed on symbiotic fungi, which they carry from tree to tree in specialized sacs.

So what is its name? Iowa State University Plant Pathologist Tom Harrington, co-author and SRS Plant Pathologist Stephen Fraedrich, and Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Researcher D.N. Aghayeva unveiled the name, Raffaelea lauricola, in an article in Mycotaxon, the international journal of fungal taxonomy and nomenclature.

For the complete press release, visit http://www.srs.fs.fed.us/news/337. For more information about the fungus and the threat it poses to the laurel family, visit http://www.srs.fs.fed.us/news/153.

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Africa

In the face of rising commodity prices and pervasive hunger, Africa needs more than financial assistance and food aid. Africa itself should invest in transgenic crops, according to Robert Paarlberg, Associate at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University. In his interview, Paarlberg stated that the continent is lagging behind in terms of agricultural biotechnology use.  Aside from agri-biotech, there are other aspects of agriculture that Africa should consider: the use of  fertilizer, access to electricity and powered machinery, and proper irrigation systems.

Genetically modified (GM) crops are not widely accepted in Africa, with the exception of the Republic of South Africa. African governments practice the precautionary principle with regard to GMOs, after what Europe has been doing due in part to the fact that the major market for African agricultural commodities exists in Europe, and a big part of financial assistance comes from the European Union. To change the anti-GMO mindset, African scientists working in African research institutes should develop genetically engineered crops in Africa, specifically tailored to the needs of small farmers in Africa, and funded by philanthropic foundations.

The current increase in world prices will trigger the influx of financial aid for agricultural development in Africa. If these responses will continue, there is nothing to stop Africa from seeing its productivity climb.

To read the complete interview, visit http://www.harvardir.org/articles/1723/.

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Americas

The U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (JGI) has announced the DNA sequencing projects that its Community Sequencing Program (CSP) will support in 2009. JGI estimates that 60 million nucleotides of data, roughly the equivalent of 20 human genomes, will be obtained from the 44 sequencing projects.

Researchers will be looking at the genome of the Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) for genes that could be used to improve the pine as a biofuel feedstock, carbon sequestration tool and source of renewable materials for lumber and pulp fiber. JGI will also zero-in on the duckweed (Spirodela polyrhiza) genome. Duckweed can be used as a recombinant protein bio-factory, toxicity testing organism, animal feed and waste water remediator.

Other JGI sequencing projects include cotton, lignin-degrading fungus, oil producing microalgae, E. coli and several cellulose degrading bacteria among many others. “The scientific and technological advances enabled by the information that we generate from these selections promise to take us faster and further down the path towards clean, renewable transportation fuels while affording us a more comprehensive understanding of the global carbon cycle”, said Eddy Rubin DOE JGI Director.

The complete article is available at http://www.jgi.doe.gov/News/news_7_2_08.html For the complete list of CSP 2009 sequencing projects, visit http://www.jgi.doe.gov/sequencing/cspseqplans2009.html

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In 2008, genetically modified crops were cultivated on almost 60 million hectares in the United States, according to the statistics published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This represents a growth of ten percent in comparison to last year’s. GM soybeans now comprise 92 per cent of total soybean cultivation in the country, with the area planted to the crop rising from 23.6 million hectares in 2007 to 27.7 m ha this year. An increase of more than 95 percent has been recorded in the states of Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota and Nebraska.

The area dedicated to GM maize, on the other hand, has remained almost unchanged (from 27.4 to 27.7 million hectares) because of a general reduction in the maize area. Nonetheless, cultivation of GM types increased by seven percentage points and now represents 80 percent of all planted maize.

The complete article is available at http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/news/368.docu.html Read http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/BiotechCrops/#2008-7-2 for more information.

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A research project led by the University of Arkansas System's Division of Agriculture has a mission: to improve crop varieties through the study of genomics without creating genetically transformed varieties. RiceCAP, or Rice Coordinated Agricultural Project, is funded by a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

To speed up the process of plant breeding, scientists use genetic markers identified through genomic research. “Markers are genomic tools, but that doesn’t mean we are developing genetically engineered rice varieties,” said Jim Correll, a Division of Agriculture professor of plant pathology. Markers reveal the presence of genetic material linked to a particular genetic trait, which allows breeders to more efficiently screen plants for crossbreeding.

RiceCAP is focused on two genetic traits that have been difficult for breeders to improve — resistance of rice plants to the fungal disease sheath blight and milling yield, or the portion of rice kernels that remain whole after milling. Both are difficult problems because they are controlled by environmental factors as well as genetics, and because they involve multiple genes.

Readers can access the complete article at http://dailyheadlines.uark.edu/13139.htm.

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There’s one plant any gardener has no difficulty in growing: weeds. Farmers and commercial flower growers know all too well that invasive weeds cause trouble by lowering the value and deterring healthy growth of potted ornamental plants. Since most herbicides are not registered for use in greenhouses, growers have limited choices.

Scientists from the U.S. Department of Agriculture have discovered an ethanol-by product that can be used as a soil amendment to effectively suppress weeds in container-grown ornamentals. Dried distillers grains with solubles or DDGS, when applied to the soil surface after transplanting, prevented the growth of chickweed and annual bluegrass. However, when mixed with the plotting media, DDGS was found to be toxic for some plants. The scientists noted that additional research is needed to identify and confirm the safety of using DDGS to control weeds. DDGS is also being used as a non-petroleum additive in plastic manufacturing.

For more information, read http://ashspress.wordpress.com/2008/07/01/ethanol-byproduct-produces-green-results/ or http://hortsci.ashspublications.org/cgi/content/abstract/43/1/191

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Pioneer Hi-Bred recently announced that it has identified and incorporated new proprietary molecular markers into its soybean research program. The new markers will aid in the development of soybeans resistant to Asian soybean rust, soybean aphids and frogeye leaf spot. The company plans to commercialize soybean varieties carrying multiple sources of Asian soybean rust resistance by 2012 in Brazil and by 2013 in the United States. Frogeye leaf spot-resistant and soybean aphid-resistant soybean varieties will be released by the company in 2011.

Molecular markers act as genetic road signs, indicating where scientists should look on a segment of DNA for genes related to a specific trait. Once molecular markers are identified, researchers can use DNA analysis early in product development to screen for the presence of these specific traits. This ability to screen complements extensive trait-specific field testing, for complex traits, driving greater success in research programs.

To read more, visit http://www.pioneer.com/web/site/portal/menuitem.ada5e752304b6d5ca210a210d10093a0/.

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Monsanto Company announced that it has completed its purchase of Marmot, S.A., which operates Semillas Cristiani Burkard (SCB), a Central American corn seed company focused on hybrid corn production. SCB is also devoted to the development of seed for corn, grain sorghum, forage sorghum hybrids and soybean varieties. The Guatemala-based company works with more than 900 dealers in the Central American region and distributes Seminis vegetable seeds, a product of Monsanto's vegetable seed division. Monsanto acquired SCB for $135 million according to the company’s quarterly report filed June 27.

The press release is available at http://monsanto.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=620

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Asia and the Pacific

In conjunction with the upcoming Hokkaido Toyako G8 Summit in July 7-9, 2008, a Bio-Summit was held in Sapporo and Tokyo on the subject of Agri-biotechnology for Improving the Environment, a key area of discussion in the G8 Summit. The non-profit organization Hokkaido Bio-Industry Association (HOBIA) led the thirteen other biotechnology and molecular biology councils and societies including the Council for Biotechnology Information Japan (CBIJ) in hosting the events in the two cities.

Speakers included leading biotechnology experts: Dr. German Spangenberg, executive director of BioSciences Research Division of the Victorian Department of Primary Industries, Australia who expounded on the agri-biotech initiatives being conducted in the country; Dr. Abdul Hamid Zakri, from UN University in Yokohama presented some approaches for countries to benefit from biotechnology through enabling regulations; Dr. Suguru Sato, USDA-FAS Japan discussed current trends in US agri-biotechnology; Dr. Yutaka Sato, a scientist from the National Agricultural Research Center, Hokkaido presented the center’s strategies to combat cold and drought stresses through biotechnology; Dr. Takashi Yamakawa of Tokyo University presented his views on the pros and cons of GM crops in Japan; and Dr. Rhodora R. Aldemita of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotechnology Applications presented the Philippine biotechnology focusing on the development of golden rice.

At the close of the Bio-Summit, Dr. Fusao Tomita, president of HOBIA presented a declaration in support of biotechnology that includes:

1. A recognition that Biotechnology offers the solution for Japanese agricultural problems and that there be a rapid development and utilization of biotechnology and genetically-modified organisms in increasing the productivity of agricultural lands, in controlling pests and diseases, in developing new consumable products, and in tapping renewable energy source.
2. Establish a biotechnology arm that will oversee biotechnology policy and regulation
3. Improve the biotechnology policy in Japan that will give free hand to farmers on their farming preferences.
4. Strengthen the biotechnology awareness building strategies that would encourage and improve public participation in the decision-making process on biotechnology-related issues.
5. Support biotechnology awareness program by established private and public sectors to increase biotechnology perception in the country.

For details of the Bio-Summit contact Dr. Fusao Tomita of HOBIA and Nippon BIC at: YRL05042@nifty.com.

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The Victorian Department of Primary Industries has received an approval from Australia’s Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) for the limited and controlled release of more than 50 wheat lines genetically modified for drought tolerance. The release is expected to take place at two sites in the areas of Horsham and Mildura, Victoria, on a maximum total area of 0.4 hectares per year between June 2008 and March 2010. OGTR made the decision after a thorough consultation with the public, State and Territory governments and relevant local councils. Based on the prepared Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plant, the proposed release would pose negligible risk to human health and safety, or to the environment. None of the GM wheat will be permitted to be used as animal feed or human food.

For more information, read http://www.ogtr.gov.au/pdf/ir/dir080notifc.pdf

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India's Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh unveiled the National Action Plan on Climate Change which was prepared by the Prime Ministers' Council on Climate Change. The objective of the climate change action plan is to establish an effective, cooperative and equitable global approach based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and relative capabilities enshrined in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC). The National Action Plan reflected the importance the Government attaches to mobilizing our national energies to meet the challenge of climate change said Prime Minister.

The action plan will be implemented thorough eight national priority missions which represent multi-pronged, long-term and integrated strategies for achieving key goals in the context of climate change and agriculture including solar energy; enhanced energy efficiency; sustainable habitat; conserving water; sustaining the Himalayan ecosystem; a "Green India"; sustainable agriculture; and set up strategic knowledge platform for climate hange.

Full copy of the National Action Plan on Climate Change and the Prime Minister's speech during the launch ceremony are available at http://www.pmindia.nic.in/Pg01-52.pdf and http://mnes.nic.in/nap-climates.htm. For more information about biotech development in India contact: b.choudhary@isaaa.org and k.gaur@cgiar.org

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There is increasing interest in shift from traditional rice (puddled transplanting) to direct-seeding due to shortages of labor and water, escalating fuel price, and adverse effects of puddling on soil health particularly in Indo-Gangatic region. Resource conserving technologies (RCTs) such as zero-tillage (ZT) and bed-planting are being promoted in the rice-wheat cropping system of South Asia and ZT has been widely adopted in wheat in the region. However, full advantage of RCTs will be achieved when both rice and wheat will be grown using a 'double zero-till" system. Researchers have found that weed control is the biggest challenge in the success of non-puddled direct-seeded ZT/bed-planted rice. In the absence of weed control, reduction in rice yield has been reported ranging from 35-100% in direct-seeded rice/RCTs system. HT-rice will overcome weed management constraints of direct-seeded rice and therefore, will facilitate adoption of RCTs on the entire system as concluded in a series of review papers published in 2008 issue of Crop Protection.

The research papers titled "The role of herbicide-resistant rice in promoting resource conservation technologies in rice-wheat cropping systems of India: A review" and "Risks of herbicide-resistant rice in India: A review" are available at http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=PublicationURL&_tockey=%23TOC%235011%232008%23999729996%23679931%23FLA%23&_cdi=5011&_pubType=J&_auth=y&_acct=C000039346&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=701193
&md5=f172822e801f54eb9c9e626e028b7fd0 For copy of papers, contact Dr Virender Kumar at virender.kumar@cgiar.org

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The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) announced a US$32.3 million livelihood support program in Azerbaijan that intends to help rural poor households increase their incomes and achieve food security. The project will endeavor to reduce malnutrition in a sustainable manner by improving the olivewoods of small farmers and pastoralists in four districts of north-west Azerbaijan, namely Agstafa, Gazakh, Shamkir and Tovuz.

The project will rehabilitate the deteriorating irrigation infrastructure in north-west Azerbaijan. It will also assist small farmers in improving crop and livestock productivity through improved access to modern technology, rural finance and small enterprise development services. IFAD estimates that 22,300 rural poor households will benefit from the project.

View the press release at http://www.ifad.org/media/press/2008/33.htm

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In view of the success of the Revival of Green Revolution (RGR) project in Punjab, the Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) has further extended its financial support to the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) for the development of IPM modules for rice, maize and vegetable crops. Operational since 2002, the RGR has made Integrated Pest Management (IPM) a popular programme in the cotton belt of Punjab. The Sir Ratan Tata Trust is one of the oldest philanthropic institutions in India, and has played a pioneering role in changing the traditional ideas of charity and introducing the concept of philanthropy.   

In addition, the SRTT along with the World Vegetable Center (AVRDC) in Taiwan has initiated an ambitious project for designing state-of-the-art and economical net-house design, alternate vegetable crop sequences and matching production technology for the year-round cultivation of vegetable crops and establishment of nutrition home gardens. Dr. DS Chahal, Executive Director of RGR also revealed in the press release that a couple of new projects were initiated to seek solutions to critical issues like labour, water and profitable marketing, and has also launched the PAU for farmers' participatory exploratory project on direct seeded rice. 

For details of TATA Trust and Govt of Punjab's Revival of Green Revolution (RVR) project : http://www.icar.org.in/news/tatatrust_PAU.htm. Other activities of Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT) are available at the SRTT website: http://www.srtt.org/ or by emailing srtt@tata.com. For further information on biotechnology in India contact b.chaudhary@cgiar.org

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Sugarcane is an important crop in Indonesia because it provides the country’s sugar needs and it is also being considered as one of the feedstocks for ethanol production. Sugar yield can be increased by developing high-yielding varieties with resistances to pests and diseases. Many strategies have been reported to improve these traits in sugarcane. A study in Jember and Muhammadiyah University in Indonesia attempted to conduct genetic transformation in sugarcane through Agrobacterium tumefaciens in the hope of fast-tracking this endeavor.

Preliminary studies comparing the constitutive promoters CaMV35S and the rice ubiquitin RUBQ2 promoters to drive the expression of the gusA gene revealed the higher activity of the former in embryogenic callus and suspension cultures of sugarcane. The encountered somaclonal variation in the transformed callus did not produce any transgenic plants. Thus, a new strategy to produce transgenic plants by transforming in vitro plants and multiple shoots without intervening callus phase was developed. This procedure allowed the production of transgenic plants that express the GUS gene. Further studies will focus on transgene stability and ways to increase efficiency.

For more details, see the article at: http://journal.discoveryindonesia.com/index.php/hayati/article/viewFile/96/122. Contact Dewi Suryani of IndoBIC  for information on biotechnology in Indonesia at dewisuryani@biotrop.org

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Europe

Cultivation of genetically modified crops in the European Union (EU) remains very limited. Only Bt maize has been approved for cultivation, with Spain growing over 53,000 hectares of the crop in 2006. Bt maize, cultivated in 15 percent of Spain’s maize-growing areas, has been adopted by the country since its introduction in 1998. A study conducted by the European Commission Joint Research Center found that Bt maize produced variable impacts on maize yields in Spain, ranging from neutral to 12 percent yield increase (US $194 per ha per year).

The report used data from a survey carried out among 402 commercial maize farms in the Spanish provinces of Zaragoza, Lleida and Albacete. On average, growers of conventional maize applied 0.86 insecticide treatments per year to control borers versus 0.32 treatments per year applied by Bt maize growers. Reasons quoted by farmers for adopting Bt maize include lowering the risk of maize borer damage, obtaining higher yields and better quality of harvest. The report concludes that the differences in yields are attributable to the adoption of Bt maize varieties and not to differences in the socio-economic profiles or technical capability of the farmers surveyed.

Download the full report at http://ftp.jrc.es/EURdoc/JRC37046.pdf To view the report summary, visit http://ipts.jrc.ec.europa.eu/publications/pub.cfm?id=1580

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Citrus fruits are particularly rich in carotenoids, which give them their color and many of their nutritional properties. Recently, a team of scientists from the French Agricultural Research Center for International Development (CIRAD) has identified genes involved in the varying levels of carotenoids in different citrus species. The discovery may lead to citrus varieties with enhanced nutrient content.

There are five key stages in the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway, and on the last stage the pathway can proceed to two separate branches depending on the genes expressed. The scientists found out that mandarin and oranges, which naturally contain the highest carotenoid levels, use both branches of the carotenoid biosynthetic process, accumulating all the different compounds. Environmental factors were also found to play a major role in determining the fruits’ carotenoid contents. Grapefruit for instance, accumulates more lycopene in the tropics, boosting the red color of its flesh.

Read the full article at http://www.cirad.fr/en/actualite/communique.php?id=959

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A study conducted by a researcher of the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona concluded that genetically modified maize and maize grown through organic agriculture cannot coexist due to social reasons. The study was part of the European project ALARM (Assessing Large Scale Risks for Biodiversity with Testing Methods) and analyzes the application of coexistence between genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and conventional organic agriculture in the European Union. The concept of coexistence introduced by the European Commission should make it possible to operate freely in the market while reducing the political conflicts linked to GMOs.

Researcher Rosa Binimelis examined the situation in Catalonia and Aragon, where the commercial cultivation of transgenic crops began in 1998. Binimelis found out that cultivation of transgenic maize led to a decrease in the area allotted for organic cultivation of this grain. This is in part due to the social confrontation between proponents and opponents of GM technology regarding the consequences it can have and the measures to be taken in regulating and taking responsibility for any cases of admixture. Finally,  organic farmers would also face difficulties in claiming compensation if admixture took place due to technical reasons.

The complete article is available at http://www.uab.es/servlet/Satellite?c=Page&cid=1096476786473&pagename=UAB%2FPage%2FTemplatePlanaDivsNoticiesdetall&noticiaid=1214462302153.

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