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NewsGlobal[Top]
It all began with wild red rice, a single gene, and two mutations. Now white rice is the staple food of more than half of today's world's population. Ancient farmers found that the white-grained rice that interspersed with their red rice cooked faster (requiring less fuel), had hulls that were easier to remove, and a color that made disease and insects easier to see. Thus began the epic diaspora of white rice varieties from the Himalayan region to the rest of the world. Researchers at Cornell University and elsewhere have found that 97.9 percent of all white rice is derived from a mutation (a deletion of DNA) in a single gene originating in the Japonica subspecies of rice; a mutation that is also found in the Indica subspecies of white rice. A second independent mutation (a single DNA substitution) occurred in the same gene in several Aus varieties of rice in Bangladesh, accounting for the remaining 2.1 percent of white rice varieties. Neither of these two mutations is found in any wild red rice species. Scientists are now studying how to introduce favorable genes from wild red rices into elite white cultivars to improve yields and provide better responses to stress. In the future, breeders can have red-grained rice without the undesirable weedy traits of wild red rice. Read the complete article at http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/Aug07/WhiteRice.kr.html. [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) announced the appointment of Dr. Ren Wang, former deputy director general of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) based in the Philippines, as director of its global network of 15 research centers. Dr. Wang was chosen as the director of CGIAR following an international search carried out by a special committee. During his service at IRRI, Dr. Wang developed collaborative initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa and Central Asia and managed IRRI programs in 14 countries. Katherine Sierra, Chair of CGIAR and Vice President of the World Bank’s Sustainable Development Network, said that they are fortunate to have Wang as their director because of his extensive experience as both a scientist and a manager of ambitious agricultural research initiatives in developing countries and his deep understanding of the strategic contribution of the CGIAR’s scientific expertise in helping various sectors to achieve sustainable growth in agricultural productivity. “I look forward to supporting our thousands of scientists and staff in their efforts to enhance food production around the world in the face of immense global challenges,” Dr. Wang said. He is set to prioritize helping developing country agriculture deal with the consequences of climate change. For more information read the press release at http://www.cgiar.org/newsroom/releases/news.asp?idnews=589 Africa[Top]
Egyptian agricultural biotechnology inspectors and members of Parliament visited the United States and Canada recently to to get first hand exposure on regulatory procedures for genetically modified organisms (GMOs). They were briefed on how public and private research institutions and industry ensure compliance with regulations regarding GM field trials. Tours to biotech laboratories and farms growing biotech crops were also part of the study visits. These series of activities which started in July 2007 are part of the capacity building initiatives of the Egyptian government. For more information, contact Hesham Elshishtawy, secretariat of the National Biosafety Committee, at hmmsh@yahoo.com. Americas[Top]
Diagnosing diseases of trees has been very expensive, tedious, and unreliable in the past. But, by using the DNA sequence of the pathogen, scientists can easily device ways to identify sick trees. This technology is going to be a very important tool in the recent discovery of sudden oak death disease for the first time in Long Island, New York. The disease has infected trees throughout California and the Southwestern Oregon since mid 1990’s, and was already seen in an ornamental plant in Los Angeles. This rapid disease spread is quite alarming that the US Department of Agriculture issued a ban against the transfer of any of the 40 types of plants known to carry the disease. Fortunately, the genome of the pathogen that causes the disease has been sequenced two months ago. Scientists will use this sequence to develop more specific diagnostic tests for detecting sudden oak death and how it spreads. This will be a significant help to prevent the decline of the tree and ornamental plant industry in the US. Similar technology was used in preventing the nasty and expensive soybean root rot disease. A California-based biotechnology company used the pathogen’s genome sequence so that scientists can analyze genes that are turned on and off during the infection of soybean. See details of the press release at: http://www.genomenewsnetwork.org/articles/2004/08/19/oaktree.php Details of the research can be downloaded at:http://nature.berkeley.edu/comtf/pdf/Monthly%20Reports/COMTF_Report_August_2007.pdf [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
On May 3, 2007 the United States District Court for the Northern District of California banned the continual planting of the Roundup Ready Alfalfa (RRA) unless the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) made an environmental impact statement. In July, the Court granted USDA and Monsanto’s motion to amend the May 2007 judgment. The following amendments are as follows:
APHIS recently announced that alfalfa growers can now obtain information on RRA field locations through a new toll-free number. The hotline may be used by conventional or organic alfalfa farmers and prospective alfalfa farmers to inquire about the proximity of their farms to RRA fields. For more information, visit http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/pdf/Alfalfa_Amended_Order_20070723.pdf and http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/biotechnology/content/printable_version/pa_contactinfo_re_alfalfa.pdf [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
At the Oklahoma State University, wheat research is a fast-paced science. It helps that Liuling Yan, a scientist widely recognized for his work in the cloning of genes from the complex genome of wheat, is one of OSU's researchers. Yan and his research group, working in collaboration with Brett Carver, OSU Regents professor of wheat genetics and breeding, recently discovered a genome region that has a significant effect on the development process of winter wheat. A DNA marker for this genomic region has been developed to select lines for biomass production that can be utilized as forage or as a supplemental biofuel feedstock. The Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology recently gave a two-year $90,000 grant to support Yan’s work in the cloning of this gene that is beneficial to the dual purpose wheat in Oklahoma. In 2006, Yan gained worldwide attention for his cloning of the third vernalization gene from wheat. Vernalization or long-term exposure to low temperatures to flower is required for Oklahoma winter wheat varieties. He also discovered key minute differences in the DNA of winter wheat varieties and their initiation of reproductive development. Read the complete article at http://www2.dasnr.okstate.edu/Members/donald.stotts-40okstate.edu/osu-wheat-breeder2019s-genetic-code-breaking-means-dollars-to-oklahoma-and-region. [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
The Brazilian National Biosafety Technical Committee (CTNBio) has approved Monsanto's genetically-modified (GM) corn MON 810 insect protection event, known in North America as YieldGard® Corn Borer, for future commercial use in Brazil. Maize hybrids that include the MON 810 event express the Bt protein. The CTNBio approval may be followed by a review from the National Biosafety Council (CNBS) to examine social and economic factors. Only after a favorable review by CNBS, and approvals of the individual MON 810 events in specific hybrid varieties, can farmers be able to plant maize with MON 810 event. The press release is available at http://monsanto.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=517. To read more, visit http://agenciact.mct.gov.br/index.php?action=/content/view&cod_objeto=45372 (in Portuguese). Asia and the Pacific[Top]
A 170 page- report on the "Economics of Bt cotton vis-ŕ-vis traditional cotton varieties (Study in Andhra Pradesh)" by the Agro-Economic Research Centre of the Andhra University in India concludes that Bt farmers earned three times more than non-Bt cotton farmers in Guntur district and eight times more in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh. The Government of Andhra Pradesh commissioned the study three years ago to examine the advantages, disadvantages, cost of cultivation and net return to Bt cotton as compared to other cotton varieties in selected districts. The study confirmed that the average Bt farmer had a 46 per cent higher yield and applied 55 per cent less pesticides than the non-Bt cotton farmer in Guntur district. Bt cotton farmers in Warangal district applied 16 per cent less pesticides and reaped 47 per cent more cotton yield as compared to non-Bt farmers. Farmers noted that Bt cotton gave early high picking rate due to less pest susceptibility and boll color was also good. Economics of Bt Cotton vis-a-vis Traditional Cotton Varieties in Andhra Pradesh
(Average exchange rate in 2006: Rupee 45 per US$) For a copy of the report, contact Prof. LK Mohan Rao, Honorary Director, Agro-Economic Research Centre (AERC), Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. More information regarding biotech in India from Bhagirath Choudhary at b.choudhary@isaaa.org. [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
The Cotton Advisory Board of the Government of India estimates that a bumper cotton crop in 2007-08 may boost cottonseed oil production by more than 22 per cent or more than 1.1 million tons from 0.9 million tons in 2006-07. India is expected to produce over 31 million bales of cotton in 2007-08 as compared to 28 million bales last year mainly due to the extensive use of Bt cotton by farmers. A press statement “Report on cotton and cottonseed oil production” released by the Solvent Extractors’ Association of India, adds that the recovery of cottonseed oil particularly in Bt cottonseed is higher by 1 to 2 percent from about 11 per cent in normal variety, which would further boost the cottonseed oil production in India. The cottonseed oil is cheaper than most other edible oils, and is gaining in popularity in the Indian market said industry officials. For the press release contact BV Mehta, executive director, Solvent Extractors’ Association of India at: solvent@mtnl.net.in or visit http://www.seaofindia.com/. More information on biotech in India can be obtained by emailing Bhagirath Choudhary at b.choudhary@isaaa.org. [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
A new report saying that GM crops can be safely grown and marketed alongside conventional crops in Australia was released by the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Peter McGauran. The report, A National Market Access Framework for GM Canola and Future GM Crops, looks at key supply chain issues that will need to be carefully managed to allow GM crops to co-exist with conventional crops. Key points of the report include:
“Australian farmers should be able to grow GM crops parallel with conventional crops,” Mr McGauran said. “State moratoriums on the production of GM crops prevent the release of licensed GM canola. If these bans are not lifted, farmers will be denied the opportunity to grow crops that will increase their international competitiveness”. He concluded that GM crops must first be licensed by the Gene Technology Regulator before they can be grown in Australia to guarantee they are safe for both human health and the environment. Read the press release at http://www.maff.gov.au/releases/07/07122pm.html or the complete report at http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0013/370021/gmcanola_pathway_to_market.pdf [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
At present genetically modified (GM) cotton is the only approved GM oilseed crop to be grown in Australia. But the situation may change soon. Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Peter McGauran, encouraged the adoption of other GM oilseed crops such as soybean and canola, saying that Australia will benefit from healthier oils, cheaper production costs and reduced environmental impacts by using GM oilseed crops. “Research is underway into the development of GM oilseed crops that produce healthier oils with better ratios of unsaturated fats, high levels of omega-3 oils which is normally sourced from fish, and increased levels of essential amino acids and vitamins,” McGauran said. “GM oilseeds also have the potential to cut production costs, increase product value and diversify the range of goods produced by the oilseed industry. With the acceptance of such GM oilseed varieties, Australia would successfully compete with GM canola and soybean varieties currently produced overseas.” To read more: http://www.maff.gov.au/releases/07/07119pm.html. [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
Known in English as moringa and in India as sajina, malunggay (Moringa oleifera) is the new darling of food nutritionists. Malunggay is found to be rich in Vitamin C, vitamin A, iron and "good" cholesterol. The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) is eyeing this once humble hardy tree as a means to reduce malnutrition and increase farmers' income. This early, the DA is encouraging experts from different government agencies, research institutes, and a local biotech firm to collaborate in pushing the wider cultivation and processing of malunggay. The Nutrition Council of the Philippines (NCP) has proposed a study on the efficacy of malunggay leaf powder and malunggay oil as additives to the diet in order to reduce the traditionally high micronutrient deficiency among Filipinos. It also plans to fortify different types of food using the vitamin A, iron and good cholesterol that are found in liberal quantities in malunggay. Manufacturers of instant noodles are now using substances found in malunggay to fortify their products. The value-added components found in malunggay will help open up the market for malunggay growers and boost industry formation. [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
SPS Khanuja, the Director of the Central Institute of Medical and Aromatic Plants (CIMAP) and his team received the first “Nina Saxena Excellence in Technology Award 2007.” The award in honor of the late Nina Saxena of the Indian Insitute of Technology (IIT) in Khargapur, India was given to recognize a scientific breakthrough in the improvement of the plant Artmersia annuam, the source of anti-malarial ingredient. Khanuja led the CIMAP research initiative to develop a DNA tagged super genotype "CIM-Arogya" with artemisinin content of 0.8 per cent to 1.05 per cent.The plant which used to be imported from China, was developed through molecular breeding and can now be grown in India. It is currently being grown in 2,000 acres with a projected increase of 10,000 acres next year. The cultivation of the plant in India will not only reduce the cost of treating the chloroquinone resistant cerebral malaria disease that is rampant in the rural areas of India, but also enhance the rural income of the country. For details see the press release at: http://www.ninasaxena.com/Award-2007.html [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
Agrisure RW, an insect resistant , genetically-modified (GM) corn developed by Syngenta was found to be safe for humans and animals by the Japanese Food Safety Commission. With this finding, the GM corn is expected to be approved for importation by the Japanese government from the USA next month. The USA is currently planting the GM variety for the first time in 0.5 percent of the total maize area. Japan is the most significant importer of US maize, receiving 11.8 million tonnes of maize worth approximately 1.7 billion US dollars per year. See press release in: http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/news/messages/200708.docu.html#151 [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
Monsanto Philippines Inc. has filed an application with the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) to extend its permit to commercially propagate Bt corn variant Mon 810. The permit, which was granted on December 4, 2002 will lapse at the end of December this year. Mon 810 was the first genetically modified crop approved for propagation by the Philippines Department of Agriculture in 2002. For the latest postings on biotechnology, contact Sonny Tababa of SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center at spt@agri.searca.org. [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
The cotton bollworm or the legume pod borer (Helicoverpa armigera) remains to be one of the biggest problems of farmers worldwide causing an annual crop damage of up to US$ 2 billion. Insecticide management systems necessary to minimize cotton bollworm damages cost an additional US$ 500 million. To address this issue, the International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), in collaboration with national agricultural research and extension systems and non-governmental organizations including the World Bank, has established biopesticide production units in India and Nepal. Bollworm larvae are used for multiplying the nucleopolyhedrosis virus (NPV), a biopesticide found to be effective in protecting the crops from the pest itself. The technology for NPV production, as presented by ICRISAT, involves collecting bollworm larvae and feeding them with an NPV-infected diet till they die due to infection. The NPV biopesticide is extracted from the dead larvae, which can then be sprayed to crops to manage Helicoverpa attack. During the use of NPV in some 96 villages in India and Nepal, farmers have reduced the spraying of chemical pesticide by 65% in cotton, 24% in pigeonpea and 21% in chickpea, resulting to significant reduction in costs. Through this project, ICRISAT and their partners have transferred the technical knowledge needed to combat the cotton bollworm using biopesticides in India and Nepal. For more information read the press release at http://www.icrisat.org/Media/2007/media12.htm Europe[Top]
Researchers at the University of Warwick and the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico unravelled some of the secrets of the genomes of two bacteria, which could one day save orchard trees and assist blood transfusions. The researchers were interested in how Erwinia amylovora and Streptomyces coelicolor naturally produce a family of chemicals called desferrioxamines. Desferrioxamine E is produced by Erwinia amylovora, which uses the chemical to damage apple and pear trees and acquire iron from them, causing Fire Blight disease. The bacterium Streptomyces coelicolor produces desferrioxamine B, which is used to treat iron overload in humans – for instance following extensive blood transfusions. The researchers were able to work out the biochemical pathway the bacteria use to produce desferrioxamines. The researchers purified the enzyme responsible and showed that it could speed up synthesis of the chemicals in a test tube. Harnessing the enzymes may result in much cheaper pharmaceuticals based on desferrioxamine B. Insights on how desferrioxamine E is created by Erwinia amylovora open the way for the creation of new chemical inhibitors that may prevent this bacterium from inflicting Fire Blight on orchards. The news article is available at http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/bacteria_genome_research/. [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
The available biomass in Europe will need to be increased through cultivation in a sustainable and competitive way in order to achieve the "ambitious goals of biofuel use set by the European Union (EU)". This was the reaction of EuropaBio, the European association for bioindustries, to the "Integrated energy and climate change package" proposal endorsed by EU Heads of State and which is currently being discussed in the European Parliament. EuropaBio added that the output per hectare needs to be increased as well as crop quality that offers more fermentable carbohydrates or higher oil content crops. They suggested doing this through modern plant breeding techniques and biotechnology in combination with state-of-the-art application of crop protection. View EuropaBio's press release at http://www.europabio.org/articles/PR_Biofuels_17Aug07.doc. Research[Top]
Transgenic tomatoes expressing the taste modifying protein, miraculin, was developed by a group of Japanese researchers. Miraculin was first isolated from the miracle fruit, the red berries (Richadella dulcifica), a shrub native to West Africa. Indigenous peoples often use these berries to improve the palatability of their acidic maize dishes and to sweeten sour beverages. Miraculin itself is not sweet, but can turn a sour taste to a sweet taste. The sweetness induced by citric acid after exposure to miraculin has been estimated to be around 3000 times that of sucrose on a weight basis. This unique property, including the possibility of being used as an alternative low-calorie sweetener for diabetic and obese individuals, led to increasing interests in this protein. Nine taste modifying proteins are known, but as with miraculin, the commercial feasibility of these proteins is limited, since their natural sources are tropical plants that are difficult to grow outside their normal environments. Although previous attempts have been made to produce miraculin in foreign hosts such as E. coli, S. cerevisiae and transgenic tobacco, resulting recombinant miraculins do not have taste-modifying activity. The miraculin gene was introduced to tomato cotyledons and recombinant miraculin accumulated at high levels in both leaves and fruits of up to 102.5 and 90.7 µg/g fresh weight, respectively. They found that the choice of plant species is an important factor in the stable production of miraculin, with tomato being a more suitable host than lettuce for miraculin production. This successful production of recombinant miraculin in transgenic tomatoes is thus a new method to make it more available for mass production of low-calorie sweetener and flavor enhancer. The paper published by the Plant Biotechnology Journal is available to subscribers at http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1467-7652.2007.00283.x [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
One of the most important challenges in plant biotechnology is the control of recombinant gene expression through a simple, inexpensive, efficient and safe activating mechanism. The activation of transgenic traits should only be when it is needed to prevent energy waste and avoid undesirable effects in plants. A number of chemical compounds control gene expression in plants. Ethanol is a suitable inducer since it is biodegradable, easy to apply, safe, and cheaper than other commonly used inducers. cDNA microarray technology was utilizedt to identify transcript changes in sugarcane leaves exposed to ethanol. A gene which codes for ERD4 protein was found to be strongly induced by ethanol. Currently, researchers are conducting the identification and characterization of the promoter region of this gene. This study will facilitate gene cloning and its utilization in developing transgenic plants. Diversity determination studies are also being conducted to the ethanol responsive gene in different sugarcane varieties. The complete paper published by the Journal Plant Cell Reports is available to subscribers at http://www.springerlink.com/content/b234l71v441121q6/fulltext.html [ Send to a Friend | Rate this Article ] [Top]
Aprotinin is a natural serine protease inhibitor used in medical procedures to lower inflammatory response and reduce blood loss associated with cardiac and liver surgery. This compound is also significant in preventing degradation of protein products in research and manufacturing processes and has been administered as a treatment for acute pancreatitis. Aprotinin was first identified in bovine lungs, but can also be obtained from recombinant yeasts. Although aprotinin-producing transgenic maize has been previously developed, an alternative production system for aprotinin was conducted in Spirodela a member of the duckweed family, using genetic modification. Twenty five Spirodela lines were generated producing up to 3.7% water soluble aprotinin, an amount comparable to industrial production. Aprotinin-produced in transgenic Spirodela can be collected continuously by passing the growth medium through an immuno-affinity column, reducing time and cost of extraction. Alternatively aprotinin can be concentrated from the growth medium after harvest of the plants, and then purified. The aprotinin molecules obtained from the growth medium have amino acid sequence and splicing patterns similar to the original, which is a plus for industrial production. Studies are now being made regarding the kinetics of the protein’s release in the growth medium and the use of other signal peptides to further increase the yield. Subscribers can access the full paper published by the journal Transgenic Research at http://www.springerlink.com/content/6531187h6lwj4352/fulltext.html [Top]
AnnouncementsThe first Global Agro-Industries Forum (GAIF) will be held in New Delhi, India from 8 to 11 April 2008. The GAIF will promote dialogue on strategies for developing competitive agro-industries that contribute to poverty reduction. The Union Minister of Agriculture, Government of India and the Director General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) jointly issued the first announcement of the conference in New Delhi on 8 August 2007. The Indian government, FAO and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) are jointly organizing the conference. For more information visit: http://www.icar.org.in/pr/8082007.htm. The International Congress on "Plants for human health in the post genomic era" will be held in Helsinki, Finland, from August 26 to 29, 2007. It will tackle current research on emerging technologies and possibilities to use plants as production hosts of pharmaceutically valuable recombinant proteins and small molecules. The congress is being organized by the Phytochemical Society of Europe, VTT, and Technical Research Centre of Finland. For additional information email Elisa Rosa Vianello of the Dott. Chimica e Tecnologia Farmaceutica at e.vianello@gmail.com. The East African Regional Programme and Research Network for Biotechnology, Biosafety and Biotechnology Policy Development (BIO-EARN) is looking for a regional programme officer. BIO-EARN is a joint effort between the Swedish Government and four Eastern Africa Countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia in maximizing the application of biotechnology under local conditions in the region. The recruitment of the Regional BIO-EARN Programme Coordinator will be administered by the World Agroforestry Institute (ICRAF) in Nairobi, Kenya. Send resume and other relevant documents to the Human Resources Unit, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), via email to icrafhru@cgiar.org on or before August 31, 2007.. |
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