Crop Biotech Update

November 7, 2018

13 WTO Members Support Policy Approaches to Enable Innovation in Agriculture

The International Statement on Agricultural Applications of Precision Biotechnology was released in Geneva by the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures on October 26, 2018. At the Committee's meeting on November 1-2, 2018, WTO members discussed the role that precision biotechnology techniques can play in agricultural innovation, with a view to providing farmers around the world with access to tools that increase productivity while preserving environmental sustainability.

USDA: The Philippines Remains as Asia's Leader in Biotech

The Philippines remain as Asia's biotechnology leader, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service-Global Agricultural Information Network Report on agricultural biotechnology. The Philippines is the first Asian country to allow the planting of GM crop and is moving towards developing a regulatory framework for GE animals. In 2016, the original GE plant regulations (Department of Agriculture Administrative Order No. 8) was changed to the Joint Department Circular (JDC), which led to the slow processing of biosafety applications. According to the GAIN report, such delay in approvals may affect U.S. trade as well as the country's biotech leadership status in the region.

Agriculture Minister of The Netherlands Opens Door to Genetic Modification

The Minister of Agriculture of The Netherlands, Carola Schouten, opens door to genetic modification. Minister Schouten wants to use genetic modification to make agriculture in The Netherlands more sustainable. She is currently working with companies, farmers, and Wageningen University to look at the possibilities for experimenting with gene editing CRISPR-Cas method. According to reports, Minister Schouten will send a letter to the Parliament about their progress in the coming weeks.

Farmers and University Students Call for Urgent Action on Biotech Legislation in Uganda

University students and educators from four universities have called for an expedited legislation on biotech crops under research and development in Uganda. This was during an inter-university dialogue on agricultural biotechnology, which was held at the School of Food Technology, Nutrition and Bioengineering Makerere University, Kampala on November 1, 2018. Students attending the event voiced the need for the National Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill to be passed by the parliament to enable Ugandan farmers access to improved biotech crops.

NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

PLANT BREEDING INNOVATIONS

GM APPROVAL UPDATES

The Philippines approved cotton MON88701 for food, feed, and processing.
The Philippines approved corn MON87427 x MON89034 x TC1507 x MON87411 x 59122 for food, feed, and processing.
The Philippines approved eggplant EE1 for food, feed, and processing.
The Philippines approved corn MON87429 for food, feed, and processing.
The Philippines approved rice GR2E for commercial propagation.
The Philippines approved (renewal) corn MON89034 for commercial propagation.

Visit GM APPROVAL DATABASE

The Crop Biotech Update is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a non-for-profit organization. The CBU is distributed for free to over 23,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in agricultural biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.

DONATE