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 Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications SEAsiaCenter (ISAAA), and AgBiotechNet

June 27, 2003

In This Issue:

 Ministerial Conference on S & T Identifies Priority Areas
 Negative GM Labels Sway Consumer Opinions More
 Biotech for Improved Biodiversity
 'White Biotech' for Sustainability
 NCFAP Study: Farmers Gain More from GM Crops
 EPO Upholds GM Soybean Patent
 Bt Corn in European Agriculture
 Announcement:
 Co-Existence of GM and Non-GM Crops
 Mentor's Kit on Biotech Updated
 Bush Bats for Biotech
 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON S & T IDENTIFIES PRIORITY AREAS

The three-day Ministerial Conference and Exposition of Agricultural Science and Technology held in Sacramento, California ended with the identification of emerging themes and steps to help find solutions to global hunger and poverty.

US Secretary of Agriculture Anne Veneman said that these broad themes will help determine the priorities to be addressed. "Harnessing information to help farmers; expanding the knowledge base through research and support for local institutions; and building partnerships among nations, academia and industry are areas where we can work together to find solutions," she explained.

Veneman stated that this will mean a rearranging of priorities to address critical areas. Among the recommended priority areas are the need to:

  • Strengthen education and agricultural research;
  • Enhance partnerships and international cooperation to help make scarce resources go farther; and
  • Facilitate the benefits of technology through supportive policies and regulations.

Some 60 ministers of agriculture, 26 ministers from the areas of natural resources and environment, 18 ministers of science and technology, 12 ministers of commerce and several from health and education ministries attended the conference.

The conference was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to discuss ways to end world hunger and poverty, notably through the use of biotechnology. One of the key international meetings prior to September's World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting in Cancun, it also attracted protesters who denounced the ministerial meeting as an effort to promote the interest of US agricultural and biotech companies.

Veneman's closing remarks are available at http://www.usda.gov/news/releases/2003/06/0232.htm. Complete information about the conference including speeches and presentations from the conference will be posted at http://www.usda.gov.


BIOTECH FOR IMPROVED BIODIVERSITY

Professor Klaus Ammann, Head of the Botanical Garden in Berne, Switzerland, released just recently the results of his research entitled "Biodiversity and Agricultural Biotechnology: A Review of the Impact of Agricultural Biotechnology on Biodiversity." Ammann observed that biotechnology has positive impacts on biodiversity, some of with are less pesticide and insecticide use, and farmer adoption of soil saving practices such as reduced soil tillage.

Other major findings of the study include:

  • Factors negatively affecting biodiversity are related directly or indirectly to the needs of agricultural production. Increased human population and limited arable land have demanded an increase in agricultural productivity which, in turn, requires the employment of more intensive agricultural practices.
  • GM crops can increase yields and decrease yield variability, thus reducing the need to invest additional agricultural land. Research shows that genetic uniformity can also be reduced up to 30%.
  • GM crops and other technologies that increase agricultural productivity can help preserve natural biodiversity, since it slows down the rate at which natural habitats are destroyed when in search for new agricultural land.

Ammann concludes that "GM crops are important tools in the preservation of biodiversity. Overall, creating agricultural systems with minimal impact on biodiversity will require utilizing all available technologies while simultaneously encouraging appropriate farmer practices."

See the full report at http://www.botanischergarten.ch/Biotech-Biodiv/Report-Biodiv-Biotech12.pdf


NCFAP STUDY: FARMERS GAIN MORE FROM GM CROPS

Three case studies of the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy (NCFAP) attest that planting genetically modified crops can help European farmers reap an additional 7.8 billion kilograms (17 billion pounds) of food and improve farm income over €1 billion, while using 9.7 million fewer kilograms (21.7 million pounds) of pesticide.

Leonard Gianessi, program director for NCFAP says that this is the first attempt to explain how biotechnology could impact Europe. NCFAP is a nonprofit, Washington-based research organization. The case studies were reviewed by plant biotechnology experts from European academic and government institutions.

The study shows that crops like Bt corn, currently planted in Spain on a small scale, have the potential to increase yields in Europe by 1.9 billion kilograms (4.2 billion pounds) while crops like biotech herbicide tolerant sugar beets could significantly lower costs to growers. A fungal resistant potato under development could reduce pesticide use by over 7.5 million kilograms (16.5 million pounds). See a related article in this e-newsletter.

NCFAP researchers say that among the European countries, France and Germany would gain the greatest production increase.

The three case studies are the first in a series that NCFAP will release in 2004. The complete study will include 15 case studies of fruits, vegetables and field crops where biotechnology solutions to major pest problems are under development in Europe.

The complete case studies are available online at http://www.ncfap.org/Europe.htm


BT CORN IN EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE

The improvement in profitability of corn production through the planting of Bt corn may offset the potential adverse effect on corn crop margins that are expected from EU Commission reforms in its agricultural policy. This is the conclusion of Leonard Gianessi and colleagues in a case study entitled "Plant Biotechnology: Potential Impact for Improving Pest Management in European Agriculture: Maize Case Study."

One of a series of case studies recently completed by the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy, Washington, DC, the corn study provides a summary of the potential impacts of Bt corn in Europe. It projects that Bt will be adopted on 1.599 million hectares (41% of corn hectares). Production costs will increase by 14.4 million euros. By increasing production by 1.9 billion kilograms per year, it is estimated that corn value would increase by 263 million euros. This would result in a net increase in farm income of 248 million euros. Insecticide use is also projected to decline by 52,600 kilograms.

The full report is available online at http://www.ncfap.org


CO-EXISTENCE OF GM AND NON-GM CROPS

Generally, genetically modified (GM) crop planting will have a fairly limited economic impact on non GM and organic farming. This is the conclusion of Graham Brookes of Brookes West, Canterbury UK in a paper entitled "Co-existence of GM and Non GM Crops: Economic and Market Perspectives."

Brookes examined the potential economic implications of co-existence among GM crops, conventional crops, and organic crops in the European Union (EU). He analyzed research data about the potential costs of complying with tolerance levels for the adventitious presence of GM material in non-GM products. Co-existence, as defined by the European Union, relates to "the economic consequences of adventitious presence of material from one crop in another and the principle that farmers should be able to cultivate freely the agricultural crops they choose, be it GM crops, conventional or organic crops".

The paper also says that the economic consequences for organic farming of the wider planting of GM crops in the EU will be limited, especially if the sector adopts tolerances and practices for GMO adventitious presence that are consistent with other organic tolerances and principles.

Brookes adds that with regards co-existence and liability (who should pay costs of adhering to specific tolerances of the adventitious presence of GMOs in non GM crops), some of the following points should be taken into consideration:

  • Regulations, laws guidelines and standards, which originate from government or industry can also affect the costs involved.
  • Imposition of regulation reflects a need to balance reasonable protection with reasonable cost burden.
  • The establishment of any regulatory based compliance requirements on farmers opting to grow GM crops will be considered when weighing perceived benefits against the costs.

View the full paper online at http://www.abcinformation.org/incubator/applications/
news/uploads/CoexistencepaperBrookes2003.doc


BUSH BATS FOR BIOTECH

US President George Bush reiterated his administration's commitment to supporting biotechnology so it "can serve the true interests of our nation and mankind" in remarks at the Bio 2003 Convention Center and Exhibition in Washington, DC.

Bush likewise called on the European governments to end their moratorium on GM crops. He said this has caused African nations to avoid investing in biotechnology since they worry that their products will be shut out of important European markets. "For the sake of a continent threatened by famine, I urge the European governments to end their opposition to biotechnology. We should encourage the spread of safe, effective biotechnology to win the fight against global hunger." In the long term, the US intends to help such nations "avert famine by sharing with them the most advance methods of crop production."

A transcript of Bush's remarks can be viewed online at the link below.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/06/20030623-2.html


NEGATIVE GM LABELS SWAY CONSUMER OPINIONS MORE

Negative information on food labels on GM products influence public opinion more, as compared to positive labels. However, source and content of information are also important considerations. These were the findings of an experimental auction research that was conducted by the Economic Research Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.

During the experiments, when the 172 subjects were given both pro-biotech information from leading biotech companies and anti-biotech statements from advocate groups, the subjects bid less for biotech-labeled foods from a range of 16% to 29%, depending on the type of food product. However, when the subjects were fed neutral science-based information from a third source (academe, religious leaders, and scientists), price bids for GM-labeled foods dropped from 0% to 11% less as compared to natural and organic foods.

See the full story at Nature Biotechnology, Vol 21, No 6.


'WHITE BIOTECH' FOR SUSTAINABILITY

Feike Sijbesma, Chairman of Europabio, stated that the use of microorganisms like molds, yeasts or bacteria and enzymes in industrial production can contribute to sustainability since these microorganisms can help conserve water, energy and raw materials. These were the results of six case studies that were carried out by independent organizations, such as the Oeko-Institute in Freiburg, Germany.

"White biotechnology" or industrial biotech, is a bioprocess that is used to produce antibiotics, vitamins, detergents, bio-plastics and new textile fibers. This new bioprocess is said to have a positive effect on the environment, and considerable economic benefits. All six studies showed important environmental benefits can be achieved using this bioprocess since, in the case of antibiotics, raw material requirements and energy consumption can be reduced by as much as 65%, while cost can be cut by 50%.

"To capture the potential of white biotechnology, a technology platform (with all stakeholders present) should be set up. Such a change cannot happen overnight in Europe, the EU must start to make long term plans right now," states Feike Sijbesma.

More on Europabio at http://www.europabio.org.


EPO UPHOLDS GM SOYBEAN PATENT

European patent 301,749, a broad patent covering GM soybean varieties and seeds regardless of gene and method of transformation used, was recently upheld by the Opposition Division of the European Patent Office (EPO) in Munich, Germany.

However, the EPO stressed that only GM soybeans are covered by this patent, and disregarded initial claims to the genetic modification of other crops. This patent was initially awarded to Agracetus in 1994, and was criticized back then for undermining food security and threatening biodiversity.

See the full story at Nature Biotechnology, Vol 21, No 6.


ANNOUNCEMENT:

MENTOR'S KIT ON BIOTECH UPDATED

Biotechnology: Providing Options for Philippine Agriculture, a mentor's kit containing a Powerpoint presentation tailored for Filipino audiences, was recently updated by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA). A collaborative project developed by ISAAA, SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center, and the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development, it is a prototype material for explaining biotechnology in layman's terms. While specific for a Filipino audience, the kit contains several slides that are global in orientation.

To download the kit, visit http://www.isaaa.org/kc

 

Do not hesitate to tell other colleagues/contacts about this mail list. If they wish to join, they should send an e-mail message to knowledge.center@isaaa.org leaving the subject blank and entering the one-line text message as follows: SUBSCRIBE Crop Biotech Network

To stop receiving this newsletter, please send an e-mail message to knowledge.center@isaaa.org and write, "unsubscribe newsletter" in the subject box.

Please visit CropBiotech Net web pages (http://www.isaaa.org/kc) to view previous issues of this newsletter and see other available resources for download.

While we are still developing this site, feel free to e-mail (knowledge.center@isaaa.org) us for your views and comments on any crop biotechnology product and related issues.
Home :: Global Status :: CBT Update :: Info Resource :: Events :: BICs :: Directory :: About Us :: Editorial Policy

Copyright © 2006. CropBiotech Net.