In
This Issue:
NEW APPROVALS
AND INCREASE IN ACREAGE OF BIOTECH TRAITS: PROOF OF PUBLIC ACCEPTANCE
The new approvals and plantings in the world in 2001, in addition to the pre-commercial
biotech field trials underway, show that growers and government regulators
recognize the benefits of this technology, says Robert T. Fraley, Monsanto's
Chief Technology Officer.
The number of acres planted with biotechnology traits developed by Monsanto
increased approximately 14% to 118 million acres (48 million has) in 2001.
In the US alone, acreage for Monsanto's biotech-enhanced traits rose by 17%
in 2001 to more than 84 million acres (34 million has).
Aside from the increase in planting acreage, ten more new commercial approvals
were given in over eight countries worldwide in 2001. The US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) had also renewed several other registrations of GM
crops. These include Roundup Ready soybeans, YieldGard Corn Borer corn, Bollgard
cotton and Roundup Ready cotton.
Research and testing of biotech products also continued throughout the world
in 2001. Pre-commercial field trials of biotech products last year were conducted
in about 25 countries on five continents.
Future products in the pipeline for US growers include corn protected from
the rootworm pest that will reduce chemical insecticide use and Bollgard II
cotton that will expand Bollgard's insect control spectrum to include beet
armyworm, fall armyworm and loopers.
More detailed information is available at: http://www.monsanto.com/monsanto/
media/02/02feb11_approvals.html
ANZFA: BASELESS FEARS ABOUT LABELING
AND GM FOOD SAFETY
Australia New Zealand Food Authority's (ANZFA) Managing Director Ian Lindenmayer
expressed disappointment at some lobby groups that have been spreading misinformation
about the safety and labeling of genetically modified (GM) foods despite evidence
to the contrary.
Mr. Lindenmayer said that ANZFA as the food regulator, "carries no bias for
or against any particular food technology and that "we have now assessed about
20 GM commodities, using a very rigorous methodology."
"I don't pretend that we have all the answers about GM foods, but we have enough
to know that those we approve are at least as safe as their non-GM counterparts." ANZFA's
Greg Roche was likewise cited as saying that "...we know more about the genetic
make-up of these GM foods than any other food in the food supply".
ANZFA recently recommended the approval of genetically modified varieties of
corn and canola. There are now 22 GM foods recommended for approval since July
2000. Of these, 10 have received final approval, four are pending ministerial
approval and five are under public consultation.
Lindenmayer added that there are no loopholes in the labeling regulations.
He said that the Ministerial Council made a conscious decision to apply the
regulations to the final food, not to the process. Many ingredients which start
out as genetically modified are subsequently processed to remove the genetically
modified materials. For example, canola oil obtained from GM canola is identical
to that obtained from non-GM canola. ANZFA ruled last December 2001 that food
products have to be labeled as containing GM food only when the changes are
evident in the final product for sale.
NZ APPROVES TWO
MORE GM CROPS FOR TRIALS
The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator of the Australian Commonwealth
Department of Health and Aging has approved the extension for two field trials
of ACT New Zealand for GM barley and wheat. The field trails, which started
last June 2001, will be extended till June 2003. It will be carried out at
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization's (CSIRO) Ginninderra
Experimental Stations.
The current approval is for post harvest monitoring of the site for evidence
of gene transfer to surrounding plants conducted by researchers from CSIRO
Plant Industry, and funded jointly by CSIRO and the Grains Research and Development
Corporation.
The barley plant was modified to resist the yellow dwarf virus and enhanced
to improve germination rates and malting performance. Likewise, GM wheat was
modified to improve the baking performance of flour derived from the wheat
grains.
TIME FOR BIOTECH
IN INDIA
The time has come for clarity on biotech, says R.S. Paroda, former Director
General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, and biotechnology "will
have to be adopted". "India has the requisite strength and capacity to take
advantage of the developments in biotechnology".
Paroda provides these insights in his book "Relevance of Genetically Modified
Plants to Indian Agriculture" based on presentations in four workshops on genetically
modified crops organized by the Tata Energy Research Institute.
The former DG says that people are "inquisitive about potential deleterious
effects of transgenic varieties on biodiversity and environment, and that "these
doubts cannot be dismissed and due attention will have to be paid to them".
However, compared to Europeans, "we have to be a little more pragmatic, realistic
and look for what is good", given the plight of poorer farmers in India.
Paroda also highlights the need to induce the private sector "to join the biotechnology
race". "Since research in biotechnology is capital-intensive, biotechnology
firms can be given extra concessions including tax benefits, longer repayment
programme of loans and lower interest rates on credit."
Biotech can help solve problems relating to food and foreign exchange, says
Paroda. However for this to happen, "we must talk on scientific principles
and we must educate the NGOs and the farmers". "I think farmers are disillusioned
and misguided because the messages that reach them are based not on scientific
principles but on other reasons, and do more harm than good. It is our responsibility
to see that this does not happen" he concludes.
CANADA TO
MONITOR EFFECTS OF GM FOODS
Health Canada's Centre for Surveillance Coordination will monitor Canadians
to see if they get sick from eating genetically modified (GM) foods. However,
research will be difficult because no one knows who's eating what and there
are no labels on genetically modified food.
"A basic prerequisite for any kind of analysis of the effects of GM foods on
the population over time is that we know if people are consuming the items or
not," said epidemiologist Bryan Embree of the Ontario Public Health Association. "And
at this point, we simply don't have this information."
It is estimated that 70 per cent of processed food contains some GM ingredients.
None of the food is labeled and the genetically modified crops are usually
mixed in with other crops.
Environment Canada will also be monitoring the long-term environmental effects
of genetically modified organisms.
WORLD TRADE
TO SUPPORT TRADE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPING WORLD
Director-General Jacques Diouf of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) addressed the African Agriculture Ministers at the recent 22nd FAO Regional
Conference for Africa to support agricultural trade opportunities in the continent.
He stressed that the living conditions of both the developed and the developing
countries must be benefited by the globalization and liberalization of trade
for agricultural products, movement of capital and technology transfers that
takes place.
The notable improvement in some developing countries particularly in East Asia
is counterbalanced by the decline in other regions like the sub-Saharan Africa,
Central America and the Caribbean. Dr. Diouf pointed out that Africa is the
only region in the developing world whose vast sector of the population is
suffering from malnutrition and whose per capita food supply has declined for
the last four years. One of the reasons he says is the limited possibilities
of food production for local consumption and the lack of organized distribution
networks and markets.
FAO has put up a Trust Fund for Food Security and Food Safety to help alleviate
Africa agricultural dilemma. Currently, it has secured 20 percent of the funding
goal and hopes that more funding would come in before the FAO World Food Summit
in June 2002.
To obtain a full copy of the FAO's release visit:http://www.fao.org/WAICENT/OIS/
PRESS_NE/english/2002/2568-en.html |
