[searcabic] Latest news postings on biotechnology, 05 November 2008
SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center
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Wed Nov 5 16:24:25 CST 2008
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*Posted 05 November 2008*
*PHILIPPINES*
1-RP LEADS IN DEV'T OF GM CROPS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
2-MULTINATIONALS EYE MORE POTENT Bt CORN SEED
3-PANLILIO SAYS BIOTECH CAN REDUCE EXODUS OF JOB SEEKERS OVERSEAS
4-BIOTECH EXPERTS DEVELOP VIRUS-RESISTANT ABACA
*VIETNAM*
5-VIETNAM TO HOST INTERNATIONAL RICE CONGRESS
*GLOBAL*
6-SURVEYS SHOW CONTINUED STRONG SUPPORT FOR AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
7-SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS ENDORSE RICE ACTION PLAN
*1-RP LEADS IN DEV'T OF GM CROPS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA*
by Madel R. Sabater
05-November-2008 Manila Bulletin
The Philippines continues to take the lead in the development and approval
of genetically-modified (GM) or bio-engineered crops in Southeast Asia.
Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and
Development (PCASTRD) Executive Director Dr. Reynaldo Ebora said that the
Philippines is the "most advanced" in crop biotechnology in the region as it
has the highest number of GM crops being developed in comparison to its
neighbors.
Ebora presented the "Updates on Safety Regulation of GM Crops in the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)" during the two-day
preconference on Food and Nutrition Safety at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort
and Spa in Cebu.
Ebora said that as of last year, the Philippines has been developing seven
GM crops, with four already approved for planting or cultivation.
The four genetically-modified crop varieties approved for planting and
listed at the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) are Bt corn, round-up ready
corn, Bt 11 corn, and the stacked traits.
Filipino scientists are collaborating with the private sector in the
development of Bt eggplant, as well as papaya ring spot virus
(PRSV)-resistant papaya with delayed ripening trait.
The PCASTRD chief disclosed that the Philippines' success in developing GM
crops is due to its defined regulatory system and the strong support from
the scientific community, particularly the National Academy of Science and
Technology (NAST), one of the two national advisory bodies on Science and
Technology (S & T) under the Department of Science and Technology (DoST).
The Philippines' lead in developing GM crops is followed by Singapore with
three crops, and Thailand with two, particularly soybean and corn.
Ebora meanwhile said the use of biotechnology in Laos is "still at its
inception phase" while Brunei and Malaysia have yet to approve GM crop
varieties for commercial propagation.
He said other biotech-related developments in the ASEAN include Cambodia's
completion of its National Biosafety Framework and Malaysia's passage of its
Biosafety Act of 2007.
Thailand is also expected to pass the draft of its Biosafety Act by 2009.
Ebora noted however that although no GM crop have been commercialized in
Malaysia and Thailand, both are already advanced in terms of biotechnology,
pouring in a lot of investment in agri-biotechnology.
"ASEAN countries are in different stages of biosafety regulatory
development. The situation presents a unique opportunity to learn from each
other's experiences," Ebora said.
"Prospects exist for collaborative biosafety projects of mutual interest,"
he added.
*------------------------------------------------------------*
*2-MULTINATIONALS EYE MORE POTENT Bt CORN SEED*
by Melody M. Aguiba
05-November-2008 Manila Bulletin
Multinational seed firms Dow AgroSciences and Monsanto are looking into the
local commercialization of multiple benefit and 'second generation'
genetically modified (GM) corn.
Having successfully marketed since 2003 the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn
that had a sole trait of being Asiatic corn borer-resistant, US-based
biotechnology companies now eye markets for the GM corn that is more potent
and resists broad types of pests.
Dow AgroSciences started in 2005 in its field testing of the "TC 1507,"
branded Herculex in the US.
"We already completed two seasons of field testing. Hopefully it will be
approved for release next year," said Antipas R. Criador IV, regulatory and
field research and development head of Dow AgroSciences, in an interview.
Monsanto also started this year testing a multiple-gene GM corn that it
considers to belong to a second generation of GM corn. The first generation
corn only has one gene.
"The second generation Bt corn Monsanto is developing has three genes," said
an industry official.
If a corn plant has only one gene against borer resistance, the pest may
develop resistance to this GM corn plant over a shorter period of time. But
with the GM plant that has three genes, pests may find it more difficult to
develop resistance to this GM plant.
Monsanto is completing this November its first season field trial on what is
called the Mon89. Its trials are in Pangasinan, Isabela, Bukidnon, Sultan
Kudarat, and South Cotabato.
Dow AgroScience conducted its field trials in seven sites. These are
Angadanan, Isabela; Marbel, Koronadal, South Cotabato; General Santos;
Sumilao, Bukidnon; Tacurong, South Cotabato; Tupi, South Cotabato; and
Banga, South Cotabato.
TC 1507, aside from being corn borer-resistant, also prevents corn
infestation from lepidopterans such as catworm and earworm. However, the
company does not yet claim resistance to other pests prior to further
evaluation of its market strategy in the Philippines. The company also has
yet to resolve with the Bureau of Plant Industry in certain data
interpretation.
It claims to have achieved a good yield advantage for its variety.
"Based on field trial, we have a 99.7 percent advantage over non-Bt corn,"
said Criador.
Biotechnology companies see opportunities in starting out—before setting its
foot in other Asian countries-- in the Philippines. The country is
internationally-recognized for having a more established regulatory policy
on biotechnology.
Out of 1,000 plants with the borer resistance, only three plants were found
to have damage while the non-GM corn plant had 997 damages, claims Dow
AgroScience.
*------------------------------------------------------------*
*3-PANLILIO SAYS BIOTECH CAN REDUCE EXODUS OF JOB SEEKERS OVERSEAS *
by Ira Karen Apanay
05-November-2008 Manila Times
BIOTECHNOLOGY can help the country generate more jobs and would reduce the
exodus of Filipinos seeking jobs overseas, Gov. Ed Panlilio of Pampanga said
Tuesday.
"We could develop biotechnology, like malunggay. The Philippines is very
rich in terms of resources, if we could only improve our natural and human
resources, the Filipino will stay and not migrate," he said.
Panlilio also said that Pampanga is open to biotechnology and the province
is supporting its use in agriculture, as long as it is safe and benefits the
populace.
"I am not an agriculturist, but is the use of GMO [genetically modified
organism] harmful or beneficial?" he said.
"When it is beneficial, like this moringa, which is a good and affordable
source of nutrients and already has a market for its products, we promote
this kind of practice for our people."
Panlilio said that biotechnology is a "means of expression and improvement"
to uplift the economy and resolve problems in migration and political
squabbling.
Panlilio also credited the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program
Office (BPO) and Director Alicia Ilaga for promoting the use of
biotechnology to develop more products from the lowly malunggay.
Malunggay seeds are good sources of biofuel while its fruits and leaves
possess substantial amounts of vitamin A, iron, calcium, potassium and other
micronutrients.
The roots of malunggay are a good source of anti-cancer agents while its
trunk may be harnessed for the production of ethanol from cellulose.
Provincial agriculturist Dr. Mario Mangiliman reiterated the governor's
statement that Pam–panga is open to the use of biotechnology and the
province's Farm and Resource Management Department is now focusing on
malunggay cultivation.
Mangiliman emphasized that they are pushing for malunggay planting to fight
malnutrition. He added the provincial government has allotted P74 million to
purchase a shredder for the farmers to be able to manufacture their own
bioorganic fertilizers.
"We cannot treat agriculture with no importance because without agriculture,
industrialization cannot be a possibility. We should maintain it. We at the
provincial government support the initiatives of the agriculture
department," Panlilio said.
*------------------------------------------------------------*
*4-BIOTECH EXPERTS DEVELOP VIRUS-RESISTANT ABACA*
by Jennifer A. Ng (Reporter)
29-October-2008 BusinessMirror
THE Department of Agriculture's (DA) Biotechnology Program Office (BPO) is
seeking to prop up abaca production by developing better strains of the
plant that are resistant to the deadly mosaic, bract mosaic and the
bunchy-top viruses that crippled the country's biggest abaca producer in
1999.
Dr. Alicia Ilaga, director of the BPO, said the University of the
Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) College of Agriculture, the UPLB Crop Science
Cluster-Institute of Plant Breeding (CSC-IPB), Fiber Industry Development
Authority and the DA are now collaborating on developing varieties that are
resistant to the three viruses through radiation-induced mutation.
Dr. Teodora Dizon of the CSC-IPB in UPLB and her team worked on two
commercial varieties of abaca at the outset. These are the Tinawagang Pula
and Tangongon from Sorsogon.
Dizon's team tried to determine the lethal dose for the abaca varieties and
irradiate shoot cultures in order to find out the correct dosage to make
these varieties resistant to the viruses.
Suckers were collected from the two varieties and were analyzed for the
presence of viruses, with infected plants eventually being treated.
Tissue cultures of the Tinawagang Pula variety from Albay were also
obtained.
Both cultivars were successfully micropropagated through in-vitro culture
and system regeneration, and the rest were subjected to the process of trial
and error in determining the right lethal dose to attain the plants'
immunity.
Dr. Antonio Lalusin Jr. of the CSC-IPB in UPLB, also a member of the first
abaca project, worked on the development of molecular markers in abaca to
eliminate only one abaca virus, the bunchy-top.
The bunchy-top virus is the most deleterious among the three viruses. It
does not only destroy the fiber quality of abaca plants. Once the virus
hits, plant growth ceases. Therefore, the retrieval of fibers from the
infected plants would be impossible.
Lalusin's team utilized the bunchy-top resistant genes of Pakol, a variety
of banana, by cross breeding them with abaca plants and later on breeding
them back to the pure-bred abaca plants.
Tests for resistance to bunchy-top were later conducted by infecting the
plants with the virus.
The project aims to come up with bunchy-top-resistant abaca plants that
yield more fiber of good quality.
Ilaga noted that while Bicol accounts for 66 pecent, or 52,666 hectares, of
the total abaca area mapped by the department, it also reported a 27-percent
incidence of viral diseases, particularly bunchy-top.
The BPO noted that for the past three centuries, abaca production declined
by 0.15 percent, 0.84 percent and 0.12 percent, prompting the need to
reinvigorate the industry to respond to increased demand in the global
market.
*------------------------------------------------------------*
*VIETNAM
5-VIETNAM TO HOST INTERNATIONAL RICE CONGRESS
*24-October-2008 IRRI Press Release
The 3rd International Rice Congress (IRC2010) will be held in Hanoi,
Vietnam, in 2010, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the International
Rice Research Institute.
Hanoi - Vietnam will host the 3rd International Rice Congress (IRC2010) in
Hanoi in 2010. The world's largest gathering of rice scientists,
researchers, and technologies, the event will also mark the 50th anniversary
of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).
The decision was announced in a joint statement by H.E. Minister Cao Due
Phat of Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)and
IRRI Director General Dr. Robert S. Zeigler in Hanoi today. The IRC2010 is
the world's largest rice gathering focusing on a food that feeds almost half
the world.
Dr. Zeigler said he was very pleased that the IRC2010 would be held in
Hanoi, especially because of Vietnam's success with rice production over the
past two decades. "Vietnam's rice industry is outstanding and MARD's
commitment to research and the best science is an example for others to
follow," he said.
Dr. Zeigler explained that IRC 2010 will incorporate the 28th International
Rice Research Conference, 3rd World Rice Commerce Conference, 3rd
International Rice Technology and Cultural Expo, and the 50th anniversary
celebration of IRRI.
He claimed that with its theme, "The Future of Rice," the international
congress will increase public and private support to help poor rice farmers
and consumers.
IRRI and AsiaCongress Events Company Limited (AsiaCongress) are the
organizers of the international event.
Thousands of delegates attended the first and second international rice
congresses in Beijing in 2002 and Delhi in 2006.
# # #
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is the world's leading rice
research and training center. Based in the Philippines, with offices in 13
other countries, IRRI is an autonomous, nonprofit institution focused on
improving the well-being of present and future generations of rice farmers
and consumers, particularly those with low
incomes, while preserving natural resources. IRRI is one of 15 centers
funded through the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research
(CGIAR), an association of public and private donor agencies (www.cgiar.org
).
# # #
For information, contact Adam Barclay, IRRI, DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila,
Philippines;
tel +63-2-580-5600; fax: +63-2-580-5699; email a.barclay at cgiar.org.
Web sites: IRRI Home (www.irri.org), IRRI Library (
http://ricelib.irri.cgiar.org), Rice Knowledge Bank (
www.knowledgebank.irri.org)
*------------------------------------------------------------*
*GLOBAL
6-SURVEYS SHOW CONTINUED STRONG SUPPORT FOR AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
*03-November-2008 The Western Farm
Press<http://westernfarmpress.com/news/agricultural-biotechnology-1103/>
An International Food Information Council (IFIC) report released on Oct. 23
concludes that 84 percent of Americans have favorable or neutral impressions
of agricultural plant biotechnology, while less than 16 percent hold an
unfavorable impression.
According to the 2008 Food Biotechnology: A Study of US Consumer Trends
Survey commissioned by IFIC, the majority of Americans would be likely to
purchase foods from plants produced through biotechnology for specific
benefits, including 78 percent who responded that they would be more likely
to purchase foods produced through biotechnology that required fewer
pesticides as well as products that provide more healthful fats like
Omega-3.
The IFIC survey follows several recent studies published that demonstrate
growing support for agricultural biotechnology worldwide.
On Oct. 14, The European Union released a report entitled: Do European
Consumers Buy GM Foods? The EU funded study found that consumers are buying
foods containing biotech ingredients, despite a perceived opposition to
biotechnology in the EU.
The study traces consumers' actual shopping behaviors with respect to
agricultural biotechnology products in ten EU countries following the EU
introduction of a mandatory labeling program for biotechnology foods in
2003.
The results unveil significant discrepancies when comparing people's
everyday choices at supermarkets to the attitudes they expressed towards
biotechnology foods in questionnaires.
Nearly half of the people who bought agricultural biotechnology-labeled
foods said they would not buy such products, while 30 percent of consumers
buying them did not know whether they had bought them.
In September, EuropaBio, the European biotech industry association, released
data demonstrating that more European Union farmers are choosing to use
biotechnology crops to boost their productivity despite a 10-year moratorium
on new product approvals.
An Asian Food Information Centre (AFIC) survey published in early October
reported that in light of the region's growing demand for high volumes of
quality food, consumers in China, India, Japan, Philippines and South Korea
are ready to accept foods produced using agricultural biotechnology.
The report, entitled Food Biotechnology: Consumer perceptions of food
biotechnology in Asia, found that in the midst of heightened media attention
on food concerns, Asian consumers have high confidence in the role
agricultural biotechnology can play in increasing future food supplies and
are open-minded to the various benefits of food biotechnology.
In addition, the study found that Asian consumers are especially inclined to
accept plant biotechnology if the technology contributes to a more
sustainable way of producing foods.
Similar to the European Union consumer study, the AFIC report concluded that
the presence of labeling of biotechnology-derived ingredients is not of
significant importance to consumers in their choice of foods.
*------------------------------------------------------------*
*7-SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS ENDORSE RICE ACTION PLAN*
24-October-2008 IRRI Press Release
Hanoi, Vietnam - The world's biggest rice-exporting and -importing nations
have collectively endorsed a new Rice Action Plan targeting many of the
problems that triggered this year's rice price crisis.
At a meeting of the ten-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi this week, ministers of agriculture
unanimously endorsed a seven-point action plan presented by the
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). ASEAN includes two of the
world's largest rice exporters, Thailand and Vietnam, and several importing
nations as well.
The endorsement came at the 30th annual meeting of the ASEAN Ministers of
Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF). It was presented as part of a comprehensive
food security strategy being developed for the region, home to more than 500
million rice consumers, including some of Asia's poorest.
"The message is very clear," IRRI's director general, Robert S. Zeigler,
said. "We have the scientific expertise, knowledge, and partnerships to grow
the rice Asia needs and now-with this endorsement by these nations-we have
strong political support. The only thing missing are the financial resources
needed to implement this."
Dr. Zeigler told the ministers that IRRI needs an additional US$15 million a
year for the next ten years to adequately support the ASEAN Rice Action
Plan. "At a time of trillion-dollar bailouts for the global financial
sector, $15 million a year is barely the annual bonus of a former Wall
Street executive," Dr. Zeigler said.
The Rice Action Plan was developed by IRRI earlier this year during the rice
price crisis in consultation with its partners around the region. It
includes the following measures:
1. Bring about an agronomic revolution to reduce existing yield gaps.
Depending on production conditions, an unexploited yield gap of 1-2 t/ha
currently exists in most farmers' fields in the rice-growing areas of Asia.
This yield gap can be reduced through the integrated use of stress-resistant
varieties and better crop management practices. This requires funding
support to programs aimed at improving farmers' skills
in practices such as land preparation, water and nutrient management, and
the control of various pests, diseases, and weeds.
2. Accelerate the delivery of new postharvest technologies to reduce losses.
Postharvest includes the storing, drying, and processing of rice.
Considerable losses occur in terms of both the quantity and quality of rice
during postharvest operations because of the use of old and inefficient
practices. The active promotion of exciting new technologies that are
currently available for on-farm storage and drying will reduce losses
considerably.
3. Accelerate the introduction and adoption of higher-yielding rice
varieties.
New rice varieties are available today that can increase production, but
farmers are not using them because the systems that introduce new varieties
are under-resourced. Enhancing germplasm exchange, variety testing, and
release pipelines can make current high-yielding stress-resistant varieties
and hybrids more widely available to farmers in irrigated and rainfed
lowland areas of Asia.
4. Strengthen and upgrade breeding pipelines for developing new
varieties and hybrids.
Funding for the development of new rice varieties has declined steadily over
the past decade or more. This must be reversed in order to develop the next
generations of new rice varieties that will be required for productivity
growth in sustainable agriculture. Several opportunities are available to
accelerate the development of new rice varieties and hybrids with higher
yield, better grain quality, and increased tolerance of abiotic stresses and
with multiple resistances to insects and diseases through new molecular
breeding approaches.
5. Accelerate research on the world's thousands of rice varieties so
scientists can use the vast reservoir of untapped genetic resources they
contain.
Working with IRRI, the world's nations have spent decades carefully
collecting thousands of rice varieties. More than 100,000 rice types are now
being carefully managed and used at IRRI and in Asian nations. However, only
a small fraction of these vital genetic resources has been characterized in
detail or used widely. New molecular methods have now opened the door for
revealing the valuable genetic characteristics in each variety.
6. Develop a new generation of rice scientists and researchers for the
public and private sectors.
Part of the current rice crisis reflects the lack of investment in science,
including human capital investment. The education and training of young
scientists and researchers are also vital concerns for the riceindustry.
Asia urgently needs to train a new generation of rice scientists and
researchers to enable the region to exploit the latest developments in
modern science more effectively.
7. Provide rice policy support.
Conducive policy environments are needed to achieve the fuller use of
technology for rapid production growth in an efficient, equitable, and
sustainable manner. Rice production is being affected by several dynamic
economic factors and their potential impact can be manipulated through
suitable policy reforms. The identification of policy constraints, the
generation of alternative policy options, and policy advocacy are therefore
essential.
For more information on the Rice Action Plan, including detailed
budgets, please visit http://solutions.irri.org/.
# # #
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is the world's leading rice
research and training center. Based in the Philippines, with offices in 13
other countries, IRRI is an autonomous, nonprofit institution focused on
improving the well-being of present and future generations of rice farmers
and consumers, particularly those with low incomes, while preserving natural
resources. IRRI is one of 15 centers funded through the Consultative Group
on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), an association of public and
private donor agencies (www.cgiar.org).
# # #
For information, contact Adam Barclay, IRRI, DAPO Box 7777, Metro Manila,
Philippines;
tel +63-2-580-5600; fax: +63-2-580-5699; email a.barclay at cgiar.org.
Web sites: IRRI Home (www.irri.org), IRRI Library (
http://ricelib.irri.cgiar.org), Rice Knowledge Bank (
www.knowledgebank.irri.org)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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*Three-in-one: Trees, veggies, and animals
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*Filipinos getting poorer and
hungrier*<http://www.searca.org/web/news/2008/oct/web/22.html>
*Let's look for
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*Ecotourism: enjoying nature at its
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*---------------------------------------------------------*
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* <http://www.searca.org/web/adss/2008/index.html>
*International Symposium on the Biosafety of Genetically Modified
Organisms*<http://www.isbgmo.info/>
*Te Papa, Wellington, New Zealand
16 - 21 November 2008*
*Philippines National Biotechnology Week*
*Manila, Philippines
24 - 28 November 2008*
*2nd International Forum on Papaya* <http://www.ishs-papaya2008.com/>
*Fortune Pandiyan Hotel, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
09 - 12 December 2008*
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