From searcabic at gmail.com Thu Oct 2 10:01:11 2008 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Thu, 2 Oct 2008 10:01:11 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] NEWS FEATURE: OFW lady turns biotech corn farmer Message-ID: Right click any image to view this page properly. If this e-mail does not appear as a web page, please click here. *Posted 02 October 2008* *OFW LADY TURNS BIOTECH CORN FARMER* *by Lorna M. Calumpang, SEARCA Knowledge Management Unit 29-September-2008 SEARCA News Release* On October 18, 2007, Rosalie Ellasus became the first Filipino to receive the Kleckner Trade and Technology Advancement Award1 given by the Truth About Trade and Technology (TATT) in Des Moines City, Iowa, USA2. The Bt Corn "Queen" who is also a councilor in her hometown in the Philippines acknowledges that because of the help of the Biotechnology Information Center (BIC) 3, she now enjoys the publicity of being a leading Bt corn farmer which brings her in some parts of the world to crusade for small farmers to enable them to benefit from biotech crops. "For years, I was an Overseas Filipino Worker in Canada and in Singapore. When my husband died, I went back home and tried to work in an office, but my salary was not as much as when I was working in Singapore. Although, I had zero knowledge on farming, I bought a 1.3 ha of rice and corn land, and put up a small piggery. My first exposure to farming was in 2000, when I attended a "Kasakalikasan Farmers Field School" offered by our government. Here I was taught the use of Trichogramma, and all the basics of organic farming. Every morning, I would bring a cup of coffee, and go to the cornfield to monitor pests: corn borer, armyworm, weeds, etc. It was tedious and labor-intensive. Despite the daily pest monitoring, my corn plants were still attacked and damaged by corn borer. In 2002, I visited a Bt corn field trial and was impressed with the clean leaves and ears because these were not attacked by corn borer. I immediately volunteered my land to become a demonstration site for Bt corn. In 2003, I planted Bt corn and after that, many of the farmers in my place also switched to planting Bt corn when they saw that the Bt corn plant was not infected by corn borer. Today, I have increased my corn yield, from 3.2 metric tons, with traditional corn variety, to 7.8 metric tons with Bt corn variety. I get almost 100 percent profit with Bt corn, that is why I was able to increase my farm from 1.3 ha to 10 ha at present and send my children to school. I have also adopted another biotech corn which is tolerant to glyphosate. The farmers in my small community enjoy the benefits from planting biotech crops. We get better yields and good buying price of our clean corn from feedmillers. What we need is government assistance for postharvest facilities. By sharing my story with other farmers in the world, I hope I can help create positive impact on their quest for better life by adopting innovative farming technologies like biotech crops." __________ *1**http://www.truthabouttrade.org/content/view/11698/75/ 2http://www.senate.gov.ph/14th_congress/resolutions/ResNo28.pdf 3http://www.bic.searca.org/* --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *DISCLAIMER*: Articles that are posted in this news service do not necessarily reflect the views of SEARCA. To post in e-group, e-mail bic at searcaweb.org. To UNSUBSCRIBE, click here . -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From searcabic at gmail.com Fri Oct 3 18:02:26 2008 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 18:02:26 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] Latest news postings on biotechnology, 03 October 2008 Message-ID: Right click images to view this page properly. If this e-mail does not appear as a web page, please click here. *Posted 03 October 2008* *PHILIPPINES* 1-CROP WASTES COMBAT POTATO DISEASES IN BUKIDNON 2-BAR HONORS TWO R&D ACHIEVERS 3-ANNUAL AGGIE R&D TILT SET *VIETNAM* 4-VIETNAM TO PLANT GENETICALLY MODIFIED CORN NEXT YEAR: EXPERT *INDIA* 5-COMMERCIALISE GM OILSEEDS: EXPERTS *GLOBAL* 6-ASIAN CONSUMERS ARE READY FOR FOOD BIOTECH BENEFITS *1-CROP WASTES COMBAT POTATO DISEASES IN BUKIDNON* by Josefina L. Acedera-Atienza, S&T Media Service 02-October-2008 PCARRD Crop wastes from crucifers left in the field after harvest have been found to be effective in the control of soil-borne diseases of potato such as bacterial wilt (BW) and root knot in Bukidnon. This is the finding of a team of researchers led by Ms. Fe Abragan of the Department of Agriculture-Northern Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center in Dalwangan, Bukidnon. This ingenious approach of using crop wastes from crucifers for disease control is anchored on the concept of biofumigation. Biofumigation is a process by which soil-borne pests and pathogens are suppressed by naturally occurring biocidal compounds called isothiocyanates (ITCs). These ITCs are released into soil when tissues of crucifers such as broccoli, radish, cauliflower, cabbage, etc., decompose in the soil. In crucifer-growing areas in Bukidnon, the survey showed that 60-80% of crucifer stems and leaves are left in the field after harvest. To evaluate the potential of these crop wastes as biofumigants against BW and root knot, the team gathered leaves, stems, and roots of crucifers left from the previous harvest. These were chopped, shredded, and incorporated in the soil at a rate of 50 t/ha or 5 kg/m2. The team found out that when soil is incorporated with a mix of different crucifers, BW incidence could be as low as 21%. If untreated, BW incidence can reach up to 58%. The mixed treatment also gave the highest yield of 11 t/ha. Without these mixed crucifers as biofumigants, yield could be as low as 6 t/ha. The use of mixed crucifers also showed the highest reduction of 87% in nematode counts on-farm. Nematode population increased to 17.2% without biofumigation. Based on the on-farm trials for BW in Lantapan, Bukidnon, the use of mixed crucifers as biofumigants resulted to higher yields of 8-11 t/ha, net income of P198,000?P286,000 and return-on-investment (ROI) of 133-193%. Without biofumigation, low yield of 6.67 t/ha, net income of P166,750, and ROI of 114% were noted. BW caused by Ralstonia solanacearum and root knot caused by nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are major constraints in potato production. In Benguet, Bukidnon, and Davao del Sur, BW infection can reach up to 90%, while root knot accounts for 25-50% yield loss in many crops including potato. Results of the project have been documented by PCARRD through its nationwide monitoring and evaluation activities. *------------------------------------------------------------* *2-BAR HONORS TWO R&D ACHIEVERS* by Rita T. dela Cruz 30-September-2008 Philippines Bureau of Agricultural Research The Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) will present citation awards to Dr. Virginia C. Cuevas of the University of the Philippines Los Ba?os (UPLB) and Dr. Louella Rowena A. de Jesus of the Regional Field Unit (RFU) IV-B MIMAROPA RIARC as R&D Achievers during the 20th National Research Symposium (NRS) awarding ceremonies on 3 October 2008 at the BSWM, Elliptical Road Corner Visayas Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City. Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap and Rep. Salvador H. Escudero III of the 1st District of Sorsogon, to be assisted by BAR Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar and Asst. Director Teodoro S. Solsoloy, will award the plaques. Dr. Cuevas, a dedicated professor for 34 years at the Environmental Division, Institute of Biological Sciences of UPLB specializing on plant and fungal ecology, is one of the Ten Outstanding Teachers of the Philippines for 2008 awarded by the Metrobank Foundation. The award-giving body was established to uplift the culture of excellence in education. Cuevas received a gold medal under the higher education category. Cuevas was recognized in her studies in agricultural biotechnologies on rapid composting technology and the Trichoderma. BAR supported a study on the efficacy of Trichoderma as a biological control agent of damping-off disease in lowland vegetables. The generated technologies have resulted in decreasing the dependence on agricultural inputs such as chemical fertilizers and pesticide by farmers. Dr. de Jesus, another R&D achiever, is this year's GAWAD SAKA Outstanding Agricultural Scientist. GAWAD SAKA was established to give recognition to scientists and researchers with outstanding accomplishments in agriculture and fishery researches. She pioneered research on the biology, behavior, ecology, and control of the quarantined pest, mango pulp weevil (Sternochetus frigidus). Her study resulted in the decrease in mango pulp weevil infestation in mango-growing areas of the country. Her study considerably uplifted the socioeconomic conditions of Palawan mango growers, hence, saving the mango industry. Cuevas was also a recipient of the Lingkod Bayan Presidential award and the Ten Outstanding Young Scientists award. Dr. Jesus now serves as the RIARC Manager for Region IV-B since October 2007 *------------------------------------------------------------* *3-ANNUAL AGGIE R&D TILT SET* 26-September-2008 Malaya The 2008 National Research Symposium will be held on October 2 to 3, the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Agricultural Research has announced. NRS is an annual competition to promote research and development excellence and give due recognition to outstanding researchers and their work in agriculture and fisheries. It aims to identify and disseminate new technologies and knowledge useful to agriculture and fisheries modernization. "To encourage participation of researchers in the fields of agriculture and fisheries, we will increase the cash incentives for this year's winners of the National Research Symposium," said Nicomedes Eleazar, BAR director. The competition categories are basic research, applied research, development research, and socioeconomics. Dr. Carmencita Kagaoan, BAR program development division head and NRS lead organizer, said cash incentives for this year have been increased by more than 50 percent. She said the 2008 best R&D paper will receive P50,000 (from last year's P20,000) and a trophy. The first and second runners-up will get P30,000 and P20,000, respectively. Qualifiers also get a cash prize of P7,000. Qualifiers are papers that garner the average point score of 80 percent and above. "We would like to embolden the spirits of our researchers/ scientists in the field and encourage them not only to conduct more relevant studies that will generate new technologies for the agriculture and fishery sector but more important, for them to join and present these new findings to the public," Eleazar said. *------------------------------------------------------------* *VIETNAM* *4-VIETNAM TO PLANT GENETICALLY MODIFIED CORN NEXT YEAR: EXPERT* by Van Khoa 30-September-2008 Thanh Nien News Vietnam will trial genetically modified (GM) corn for animal feed early next year and then possibly breed GM corn plants for local farmers, an expert said Monday. Dr. Nguyen Quoc Binh, executive vice director of the Biotechnology Center of Ho Chi Minh City, said local farmers would only be allowed to grow GM corn if, after two years of the experimental crops, GM corn was found to be biologically and environmentally safe. Vietnam cannot plant GM corn now because no biological safety regulations have been issued by the government, Binh said on the sidelines of the "Biotechnology: Growing the Future" seminar, co-organized by the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi and the Biotechnology Center. Initially, GM corn would most likely be imported from the Philippines, which has a similar climate to Vietnam, Binh said. Local breeds of GM corn would later be developed, he said. If Vietnamese farmers plant GM corn, they could earn US$100 a hectare more than what they earn from normal corn, Binh said. Currently, Vietnamese farmers harvest nearly four tons of normal corn per hectare, while American farmers get nine to 11 tons per hectare of GM corn, Binh said. Vietnam imports about $500 million worth of corn each year. The nation is expected to need about 5.5 million tons this year, demand that is forecast to rise to eight million tons in 2010. This year the country is expected to grow about four million tons. *------------------------------------------------------------* *INDIA 5-COMMERCIALISE GM OILSEEDS: EXPERTS *28-September-2008 Business Standard Concerned over limited growth of oilseed acreage in the country, experts have called for commercialising genetically modified (GM) oilseeds to increase the yield and reduce dependence on imports. Speaking at Globeoil 2008, a global edible oil conference, here on Saturday, T Nandkumar, secretary, department of agriculture and cooperation, told corporate bodies to look for agricultural lands abroad as there was limited scope for expanding the arable land in the country. He asked farmers to adopt science and technology to increase the oilseed yield. He added that the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), a government-appointed body, could possibly permit commercialisation of GM oilseeds, which are under field trials for several years. Speaking on the occasion, Forward Markets Commission (FMC) Chairman B C Khatua said: "Sugarcane farmers must switch to oilseeds for higher realisation as two divergent crops can be grown in 18 months, the period taken for the sugarcane crop to mature. This will not only double the farmers' income, but also help the edible oil market." Dorab Mistry, director, Godrej International, said the sooner the permission for commercialisation of GM seeds the better it will be for the Indian markets. Mistry further said it is the duty of the government to protect the interests of the domestic industry. But any further subsidised imports and supply through the public distribution system (PDS) may result into lower domestic prices, taking farmers away from oilseeds in the ensuing rabi season. Edible oil prices must rise to protect farmers' interests and prevent them from switching to other remunerative crops, he added. Davish Jain, chairman, Central Organisation of Oil, Industry and Trade (COOIT), had recently urged the government to increase the domestic oilseed output to avoid any adverse impact of a global change on the domestic demand and supply. The country consumes about 13 million tonnes of edible oil each year, of which 5.5 million tonnes are met through imports. The domestic output of 6.5 million tonnes of edible oil gets largely impacted with the rise and fall in global prices. According to an estimate by the ministry of agriculture, the total area for oilseeds increased marginally by 1.55 lakh hectares to 179.10 lakh hectares during the current kharif season as against 177.55 lakh hectares during the corresponding period last year. The acreage is estimated to result in 6.20 lakh tonnes of additional oilseed output at 177 lakh tonnes this year compared with 170.80 lakh tonnes last year. *------------------------------------------------------------* *GLOBAL 6-ASIAN CONSUMERS ARE READY FOR FOOD BIOTECH BENEFITS *02-October-2008 Asian Food Information Centre (AFIC) Press Release A consumer survey conducted by AFIC in five Asian countries shows that consumers are ready to accept benefits from biotechnology-derived foods. Genetically modified foods will most likely become an increasing feature of the Asian diet in light of the region's growing demand for high volumes of quality food, says a survey commissioned by the Asian Food Information Centre (AFIC). The survey was conducted by the Nielsen Company. It provides insights on how consumers in Asia perceive the use of biotechnology to produce foods and how likely it is consumers are accepting the various benefits biotechnology derived foods may bring. The research was conducted via an on-line survey of more than 1000 adults in China, India, Japan, Philippines and South Korea. George Fuller, Executive Director of AFIC, commented: "This recent survey is one of the few that objectively measures opinions and perceptions of Asian consumers in relation to food biotechnology and can be considered as a benchmark for the region. An important outcome of the survey is that amidst heightened media attention on food concerns, Asian consumers have high confidence in the role food biotechnology can play for future food supply and are open-minded about the various benefits food biotech products can bring." *KEY FINDINGS* *Food Biotechnology* Consumers in the food producing countries strongly believe that food biotechnology will bring benefits in the next few years: 73% of consumers in the Philippines believe biotechnology will bring benefits to them or their family in the next 5 years, followed by India (70%) and China (55%). In Japan (71%) and South Korea (45%) consumers are unsure about the future potential of biotech food. *Food Biotechnology Benefits* Consumers were positive about the broad range of potential benefits that biotechnology-derived foods can offer, expressed by a high likelihood of buying such products. The most popular benefits are country-dependant and can be linked to the dietary habits and the food sensitivities in each country. Chinese consumers favor nutritionally enhanced soy products (82% are likely to buy such products), followed by reduced pesticides use; Indian consumers indicated freshness and taste as the most important attribute (84% are likely to by tastier and fresher GM tomatoes) followed by less expensive foods; in the Philippines less expensive food such as rice is popular (98% likelihood) followed by products such as healthier cooking oil (reduced in saturated and trans fats). Korean consumers favor cooking oil and foods with a healthier oil profile, respectively 66% and 65% of the consumers indicate they are likely to buy such products. In Japan, freshness and taste are the most preferred benefits. *Food Biotechnology and Sustainability* Although most Asian consumers are not familiar with the concept of 'sustainable food production', once the concept is explained a majority of the consumers believe sustainable food production is important. Asian consumers also largely accept plant biotechnology if the technology contributes to a more sustainable way of producing foods. More than 90% of the consumers surveyed in China, India and the Philippines support food production using plant biotechnology if the technology contributes to sustainable food production. In Japan and South Korea, where local agricultural production is less important and where consumers are more dependant on imported foods, at least two thirds of those surveyed accept the technology in relation to sustainability. *Food and Biotech Labeling* The most important information consumers in Asia look for on food labels is expiry date. Presence of biotechnology-derived ingredients is not a labeling demand. None of those interviewed in China, India, Philippines and Japan suggested the presence of biotechnology-derived ingredients as an additional item to be included on labels. In South Korea, a small number of consumers (3% of total respondents) mentioned biotechnology contents as information to be added on labels. "The results of this survey are encouraging for the further development of food biotechnology in Asia since they indicate that consumers are willing to accept the benefits that food biotech products can bring", says Professor Paul Teng of the National Sciences and Science Education, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. "The new generation of biotechnology crops has the potential to deliver foods with nutritional benefits and these foods should be made available to Asian consumers." According to Professor Paul Teng, another important outcome of the survey is the acceptance by consumers in major food producing countries like China and India of food biotechnology to increase the production of food staples and to supply sustainable food. The rapid growth in population and standard of living in many Asian countries will lead to a higher demand for quality foods and agricultural practices will have to adjust in order to secure food to all. *Summary from the U.S. Food Biotechnology Consumer Attitudes Survey* The results from the survey in Asia are in many ways comparable to the preliminary results of a similar survey soon to be released by the International Food Information Council in the U.S. For example, crops produced through biotechnology do not generate a high level of concern in the U.S., with most consumers either favorable or neutral towards the technology. Consumers also expressed a high likelihood of buying products produced through biotechnology that have potential benefits. In addition, most Americans support U.S. policy, which does not require labeling for such foods except in special situations. When asked about sustainability, U.S. consumers believe it to be important and indicated that growing more food to feed the global population is the most important reason for sustainable food production. To access the summary report 'Consumer Perceptions of Food Biotechnology in Asia: 2008 consumer survey', click here . For more information, please contact info at afic.org. ### *For more information visit the Asian Food Information Centre website at www.afic.org. About US: Asian Food Information Center is a Singapore registered not-for-profit organization. Its mission is to effectively communicate science-base information on food safety, nutrition and health information to media, regulators, food/health professionals, and consumers in the Asia region. For more information please go to www.afic.org. * ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *DISCLAIMER*: Articles that are posted in this news service do not necessarily reflect the views of SEARCA. To post in e-group, e-mail bic at searcaweb.org. To UNSUBSCRIBE, click here . *OFW lady turns biotech corn farmer* *Pinoy is new president of Asian economists' body* *Nobel Peace Prize 2007 goes to IPCC with 6 Filipino Scientist Members* *SEARCA zeroes in on climatic risk management for agricultural production* *How can science reach the farmers?: The Importance of Good Science Communication* *How can science reach the farmers?: The Importance of Good Science Communication* *---------------------------------------------------------* *---------------------------------------------------------* *Download available paper and/or presentation handouts of some notable speakers presented at SEARCA Agriculture and Development Series. CLICK HERE. * *SEARCA ADSS: Hunger in the Philippines: Ten Years of Quarterly SWS Surveys * *by Dr. Mahar Mangahas Drilon Hall, SEARCA, College, Laguna Philippines 07 Octoberr 2008, 4:00 - 5:00 PM* *BIO Korea 2008* *Osong Bio Technopolis, Korea 08 - 10 October 2008* *5th Asian Conference on Food and Nutrition Safety* *Shangri-La's Mactan, Cebu, Philippines 03 - 07 November 2008* [image: visit discussion board] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From searcabic at gmail.com Tue Oct 14 13:15:00 2008 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:15:00 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] Latest news postings on biotechnology, 14 Oct 2008 Message-ID: Right click images to view this page properly. If this e-mail does not appear as a web page, please click here. *Posted 14 October 2008* *PHILIPPINES* 1-RP'S SCIENCE INNOVATIONS NEED TO BE COMMERCIALIZED 2-FILIPINO FIRM SEES HIGH DEMAND FOR BIO-FERTILIZERS IN ASIAN REGION 3-SCIENTIST ISSUES WARNING ON 'NANO-INGREDIENTS' *KOREA* 4-NORTH CHUNGCHEONG BETS ON BIOTECH *INDIA* 5-BIOTECH MAKES EGGPLANTS RESISTANT TO DEVASTATING INSECTS *GLOBAL* 6-BIOTECH'S GLOWING BREAKTHROUGH WINS NOBEL PRIZE *1-RP'S SCIENCE INNOVATIONS NEED TO BE COMMERCIALIZED* by Sara Fabunan (Correspondent) 12-October-2008 BusinessMirror THE progress in science and technology (S&T) in the Philippines should continue not only for innovations but also for investments to be able to bring progress and development to the country, Sen. Edgardo Angara said in his speech at the awarding of the 10 former Department of Science and Technology (DOST) administrators or secretary at the Manila Hotel on Friday. The DOST administrator-awardees was the last category to be awarded in the 50 Men and Women of Science by the science department in celebration of its 50th anniversary. "We should not wait another 50 years. We must act now. If we want to move up our global competitiveness, we must improve our S&T sector. And that requires massive concentration of attention," Angara said. He added that most Filipinos, especially politicians, have very short attention span. He then called on the S&T sector to capture attention by giving the spotlight to innovators of S&T by partnering with the private business sector for commercialization. "We should not only start on putting money into research. We have to go now into commercialization and that is lacking in the innovation movement in the Philippine S&T. There is so many creative ideas for the innovations, but we don't show or turn that idea into commercial use to make it work into the market," Angara suggested. Dr. Antonio Arizabal, one of the awardees, agreed. He said the country needs to maximize and utilize its resources. "As a developing country, our resources are definitely limited. Therefore, we should concentrate more on the commercialization of S&T to advance the socioeconomic development," Arizabal told the BusinessMirror. Another awardee, Dr. William Padolina, said the country's S&T is improving but there are still things that should be done. "A lot of catching up [needs to be done], but I think we are on the right track. Both Congress and the Executive are working together, because we now realize that we cannot survive in a very competitive world without the application of S&T," he said. Besides Arizabal and Padolina, the other eight administrator-awardees who each received a trophy by sculptor Juan Said Imao were Dr. Paulino Garcia, Dr. Juan Salcedo Jr., Brig. Gen. Florencio Martin Medina, Dr. Melecio Magno, Dr. Emil Javier, Dr. Ceferino Follosco, Dr. Ricardo Gloria and Dr. Filemon Uriarte Jr. They were awarded by Science Secretary Estrella Alabastro and Undersecretary Fortunato de la Pe?a. Former DOST secretaries Garcia, Salcedo, Medina, Magno and Gloria were given posthumous awards. Arizabal added that there are countries which are in a better position to create and innovate, so instead of focusing on innovators or creators for S&T, "we should shop around, look for the best and then utilize these to the maximum extent." Arizabal expressed concern in the progress of the country, especially in its competitiveness in productive enterprises. "We should never forget the fact that development is always associated with the better management of resources. And since our resources are very limited, we should manage [them] in such a way that we acquire technology that would enable us to be more competitive in the local and the world markets," he said. However, he said the Philippines' political system does not jibe with the socioeconomic situation. "We need a system that will do what is good for the nation, rather than talk of what is good for the nation; do what is good. We have a lot of people who know what is good for the country, but we don't have enough people who are doing what they can to do what is good for the country. Because our political system is not jibing with the socioeconomic condition. We need a government for the people, not necessarily of the people and by the people," he stressed. Dr. Arizabal was the secretary of the DOST from 1986 to 1989. During his term, he led the reorganization and staffing of the department's different institutions and reviewed their functions. He also implemented contract-research agreements and commercialization, or technology-transfer agreements, with private companies on technologies such as improved alcohol production, extraction of essential oils, coconut water beverage production, large capacity lumber kilns and many others. "Thank you for this honor. I am not so sure if I deserve it, but I have tried my best to set up the [DOST] as an easement of government to elevate the level of [S&T] in our productive enterprises," the former secretary said. Padolina said he was overwhelmed by the award bestowed on him, having mixed feelings of humility, pride and a sense of satisfaction because, somehow, in his term, he was able to contribute to the progress of S&T in the country. "I feel that my efforts have been appreciated because the science community is building an accomplishment and I can see that there is a sense of continuity," he said. During his term Padolina said he implemented a development agenda that included technological advances in agriculture, manufacturing and services, an education program focused on technological systems and industry application, and the improvement of research-management system. The development of S&T human resources also gained attention through the Engineering and Science Education Project, which supported scholars in science, engineering, science education and technology management. Padolina also agreed with Angara's statement that the Philippine S&T is "very weak" in the commercialization phase. "We need to do a lot of work so that the discoveries our scientists made will find their use in the marketplace. One way of doing that is to make a good reading of the market, the demand, so that you can respond to that demand. While it is true that you can create demand, it is more difficult to do that," Padolina explained. He recognized that the country is not left behind, but there are some areas that need improvements, besides commercialization, like in basic research, the emerging sciences, biotechnology, materials science and nano technology. "In some areas we need to catch up. But in geothermal technology, we are top, being second in the world. I think in seismology, we are very good, and also in marine science, we have many things to be proud of," he said. Angara also noted that most, or 75 percent, of the country's teachers in physics and mathematics are nonmajors in these fields. This, he said, is the reason the students are performing poorly in domestic and international examinations. During the budget hearing of the Department of Education, Angara required the department to submit a five-year plan where its investments and budget would be focused. "We shall now put money, and we are we willing to put money, within five years we are going to retrain our science and mathematics teachers. Those who are teaching [S&T] must hone their specialty, then, we can go on a massive recruitment because that is the only way I think that we can beat up the academic and educational standards of the Philippines. If we don't have science and mathematics in mind, we cannot train good engineers and scientists." The Philippines need to "confront this lack of education," he added, in order to advance the country's S&T and boost its global competitiveness. *------------------------------------------------------------* *2-FILIPINO FIRM SEES HIGH DEMAND FOR BIO-FERTILIZERS IN ASIAN REGION* by Melody M. Aguiba 05-October-2008 Manila Bulletin A Filipino biofertilizer company sees a high-growth market for environment-friendly fertilizers not only locally but in Laos, Thailand, and Australia with inorganic fertilizer's price soaring in the world market. Arnichem Corp. has already completed a field testing for its biofertilizer Vital N in Laos. It is seeking registration for the product in Thailand, Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and even in the United States. "There's so much interest in it because of the high price of fertilizer. People are looking for an alternative," said Dr. Saturnina C. Halos of Arnichem in an interview. In order to tap its target markets, Arnichem has been working with another Filipino firm which is already supplying agricultural chemical products in these countries. In the Philippines, it has reached 200,000 independent Filipino farmers through dealers nationwide. Among these dealers are Agrivet Marketing (Regions 1, 2, 3), Mandy Floro (Regions 9, 10, 11), Nene Torres (Negros Island), and other dealers in Panay Island, Bohol, and Laguna. This local market is growing too as Arnichem's farmer-users represent only five percent of rice farmers in the country. Bio-fertilizers have become the cheaper alternative to fossil fuel-based fertilizer. Arnichem's Vital N requires just half of the normal eight bags of urea fertilizer used to grow rice. It yields one metric ton (MT) more than rice fields applied with inorganic fertilizers. Inorganic fertilizers' cost has risen to P1,700 to P1,800 per bag while the equivalent amount that can be applied on the same area for a rice field only costs P450 using this local bio-fertilizer. The local bio-fertilizer also promotes the rice plant's resistance to bacterial leaf blight (BLB). While planning its market expansion, Arnichem is also into product development. This is in bio-pesticides which offer the same environment-friendly properties of being non-toxic to human and animals and non-persistent on the environment. Target pest of Arnichem for bio-pesticides are rice black bug, mango insects, vegetable pests, coconut brontispa (rhinoceros beetle), mites (papaya, malunggay), and a substitute for the effectively banned (but still being used due to the absence of a better alternative) endosulfan. "We want to come up with a good delivery system ? how farmers will use or apply it," said Halos. Such method may not involve spraying in order to prevent inhalation by farmers. A Department of Agriculture research consortium in Region 1 earlier identified Vital N as the most effective bio-fertilizer for hybrid rice in the market. *------------------------------------------------------------* *3-SCIENTIST ISSUES WARNING ON 'NANO-INGREDIENTS'* by Ira Karen Apanay 10-October-2008 The Manila Times AN award-winning leader of an international civil society group warned Thursday that the foods Filipinos may be eating and the cosmetics they are using may contain nano-scale ingredients that are harmful to human health. Pat Mooney, executive director of Erosion Technology and Concentration, said these nano-scale ingredients could go inside the body and may affect the immune system. "It is too small and mostly invisible, it could be found in your food, cosmetics, laptop, cellphone and clothing," Mooney said. Mooney is in the Philippines to speak before the government and the scientific community on the potential impacts of nanotechnology and synthetic biology. He was invited by The Third World Network and Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment. He worked with civil society organizations on international trade and development issues related to agriculture and biodiversity, for more than 30 years. He wrote or co-author several books on the politics of biotechnology and bio?diversity and received The Right Livelihood Award?known as the "Alternative Nobel Prize"?from the Swedish Parliament in 1985. In 1998, Mooney received the Pearson Peace Prize from Canada's Governor General. He also received the American "Giraffe Award" given to people "who stick their necks out". He explained nanotechnology manipulates matter at the scale of atoms and molecules, resulting to changes that scientists call quantum effects. "Scientists predict that within a decade, giving birth to a living, self-replicating organism from a simple bacterial genome inserted into an empty bacterial cell will become no big deal," said Mooney. He also urged the Philippine government to regulate the use of nanotechnology to assure that it will harm Filipinos. Mooney said the market for nanotech?nology is $700 billion and expected to hit $2.6 trillion by 2015. He cited 26 studies regarding the effects of nanotechnology and "no one said it is safe." Mooney also said there are about 800 products being sold in the country that went through the process of nanotech?nology, the latest being sunscreens and cosmetics. "No nanotechnology should touch a human skin," Mooney said explaining small organisms will sink through the skin and circulate with the blood. Mooney said any effort by governments or industry to confine the debate solely on the health and safety aspects of nano-scale technologies will be a mistake. "At stake here is the world's $3-trillion food retail market, agricultural export markets valued at $544 billion, the livelihoods of some 2.6 billion farming people and the well being of people like us who dependent upon the farmers for our daily rice and bread," Mooney said. *------------------------------------------------------------* *KOREA 4-NORTH CHUNGCHEONG BETS ON BIOTECH *by Kim Tong-hyung (Staff Reporter ) 08-October-2008 The Korea Times Korea desires to become a high-tech utopia and North Chungcheong Province expects to be the center of innovation, according to the region's governor. The small town of Osong is the venue for ``Bio Korea 2008,'' a three-day biotechnology conference and tradeshow that started Wednesday, aimed at helping local companies develop overseas trade and find investors and raise the region's profile as a hub for research and development. The event brings together nearly 400 companies from around the world, including Korean biotech players LG Life Sciences and RNL Bio, and multinational pharmaceutical giant, Merck. Also making appearances will be Ian Wilmut, the famous Scottish scientist responsible for the cloning of Dolly the sheep, and William Rutter, the founder of biotech pioneer Chiron, both delivering opening speeches for the academic conference held on the sidelines of the trade fair. ``The idea of the event is to provide a one-stop connection between biotechnology and industry, offering the world's most innovative researchers and firms the chance to share their ideas on technology and products, and find new business relationships,'' Governor Chung Woo-taik told The Korea Times. ``Leading Korean biotech companies and pharmaceuticals like Chong Kun Dang, Hanmi and Green Cross will be provided a chance to expose themselves better to the global market. And regional authorities and local research institutes like the Gyeonggi Bio Center, Gangwon Technopark and the Gyeongbuk Institute for Bio Industry will get the opportunity to court investors as well,'' he said. The event will be divided in three parts ? the trade show, conference and business forum. More than 250 companies will participate in the tradeshow to showcase their technology and products and negotiate with potential buyers. The business forum will feature more than 70 companies announcing their business plans and discussing partnerships. Last year's event generated about $30 million worth of export deals, Chung said. ``We have great participation especially from biotech firms from Australia and Scotland this year, who are seeking partnerships with Korean companies,'' he said. *Heralding Osong Complex * The Bio Korea event, now in its third year, will also be a somewhat lavish opening ceremony for the Osong Bio-Health Science Technopolis, a 4.6 square-kilometer industrial cluster which will be declared completed next week. About 558 billion won (about $408 million) has been invested since 1997 for the construction of the biotech complex where six state-run organizations ? the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA), Korea Health Industry Development Institute, Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Toxicological Research, Korea Human Resource Development Institute for Health and Welfare, and the National Institute of Health ? will be relocated by 2010. More than 50 Korean biotech and pharmaceutical companies, including LG Life Sciences and CJ, are planning to move their offices, production facilities or research and development centers to the new complex. About 4,300 apartment units are currently being built to house employees. The completion of the Osong Technopolis will create 13,000 new jobs and generate more than two trillion won annually in industrial production, North Chungcheong officials claim. The regional government is expected to complete the construction of a second Osong complex by 2015, a 6.9 square-kilometer site designed to lure firms from the information technology sector. By then, Osong will grow into a vibrant, industrial town with a population of more than 60,000, if everything goes as planned. ``The Osong complex will provide the heart to our efforts for regional development and we expect it to eventually establish itself as the `Mecca' of Asia's biotech industry,'' said Chung. ``The concentration of research and development centers, testing facilities, licensing organizations and also marketing and retail centers will benefit businesses. The complex will also allow a stronger connection between academic circles and the industry and grow into an international biotech hub,'' he said. As well as the Osong complex, the regional government is also investing heavily in the Ochang Scientific Industrial Complex, located in the neighboring county of Cheongwon, as an industrial area for information technology and the emerging area of bio-IT convergence, such as bioinformatics and biochips. The areas of Yeongdong, Okcheon and Boeun are collaborating to foster a research hub for agricultural technology, while another plan is to develop a production center for oriental medicine around Jecheon. *North Chungcheong Sees Fast Growth* Realizing the ambitions for ``Bio Chungbuk'' is dependent on the regional government's ability to attract investment. And Chung, elected as governor in 2006, is certainly proud of the results. In his past two years as governor, North Chungcheong Province has lured investment of about 17 trillion won from more than 100 companies based here and abroad, including LG Life Sciences and Hynix Semiconductors. During the process, 45,000 new jobs were created and the population rose by more than 20,000, accounting for the fourth largest increase among Korean provinces. On Tuesday, the provincial government signed a deal with Korean drug maker, Shinpoong Pharmaceuticals, with the company planning to spend around 260 billion won by 2018 to establish a production facility at the Osong complex. TheraJect, an U.S. company, is also planning to spend about 25 billion won to build a factory in Osong by 2013. ``We have been committed to ease regulations and provide dramatic incentives for companies willing to invest in North Chungcheong, and our plans for the industrial complex have certainly helped,'' said Chung. ``Gyeonggi Province has been the role model for regional governments in garnering investment, as former governor Sohn Hak-kyu lured more than 14 trillion won in investments during his four years in office. So I am proud to say that it took just two years for us to outdo them,'' he said. thkim at koreatimes.co.kr *------------------------------------------------------------* *INDIA 5-BIOTECH MAKES EGGPLANTS RESISTANT TO DEVASTATING INSECTS *by John Dale Dunn, M.D., J.D. 09-October-2008 The Heartland Institute Researchers in India have begun field testing on eggplants genetically improved to resist devastating attacks by the fruit and shoot borer. The pest currently destroys 40 percent of the eggplant harvest in South and Southeast Asia, where food shortages cause rampant malnutrition and resultant diseases and death. *Avoids Use of Pesticides* Efforts to fight the fruit and shoot borer currently entail massive applications of pesticides in eggplant fields. Such large amounts of pesticides are necessary that many eggplant farmers themselves are afraid to eat their own produce. "We have to spray pesticides on eggplants every two to three days," an Indian eggplant farmer reported in the Journal of Risk Research. "Because of this practice, we do not eat the eggplants that we grow. ... But we put them directly in the market and sell them anyway. If [biotech] eggplant is invented, we will be able to eat the eggplants we grow because there will be less chemical residue on the vegetable." "The fruit and shoot borer is a major threat to eggplant production, causing significant yield loss and reducing the number of marketable fruits," explained Henry I. Miller, a research fellow at the Hoover Institution. "Farmers often resort to intensive use of pesticides to control the insect, with varying results on the pest, but not infrequently causing toxicity to farmers and their families. "The new [genetically modified] varieties, which boast enhanced endogenous resistance to the fruit and shoot borer, have been exhaustively tested and evaluated for their agronomic performance, safety, and efficacy in controlling the pest, as well as for any effects on beneficial insects," Miller noted. *Improved Health, Yields* The new, borer-resistant eggplant has been created by the Indian agricultural company Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Co (Mahyco) and Monsanto. The fruit and shoot borer is similar to the corn borer that plagued corn and maize crops throughout the world over the years until defeated by pesticides and genetic improvement of corn. Experts believe the genetically improved eggplant will reduce pesticide applications by 30 percent, making eggplants much safer for human consumption. The reduced need for pesticide applications is also expected to have a strongly positive impact on the environment. In addition, initial research indicates the genetically improved eggplants may have higher yields than conventional strains. *Activist Obstacles Remain* Opposition from anti-technology groups trying to stop biotechnology, however, may delay Indian government approval of the improved eggplant, cautions Gregory Conko, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. "Although it is good news that the Indian regulators have finally permitted field trials of these plants, it's likely to be several more years before they are approved for commercial cultivation," Conko said. "There is a very strong anti-biotechnology presence in India from both Greenpeace and several homegrown activist organizations," Conko continued. "And, like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, India's Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), which is the biotechnology regulatory body, is very heavily influenced by the green movement. "So, like Bt cotton, we should expect this process to take quite a long time, with the GEAC demanding three or four years' worth of field trial results before finally doing what it should have done years ago," Conko said. Conko added, "a lot of Indian farmers are very excited about the possibility of growing Bt brinjal [eggplant] because they've been watching for the past four years how well cotton growers have done with crops that incorporate the same trait. "And," Conko continued, "because the fruit and shoot borer has developed increasing resistance to many of the frontline insecticides used in Indian agriculture, if Bt brinjal is even half as effective as Bt cotton has been, it could end up raising yields and saving farmers a lot of money they would otherwise spend on relatively ineffective insecticide sprays." Miller agreed, saying biotech opponents are the real danger to farmers and consumers alike. "The greatest 'biohazard' in the testing and commercialization of these new varieties is the opposition to them from dishonest, dissembling, antisocial, anti-technology activists," he said. ### *John Dale Dunn, M.D., J.D. (jddmdjd at web-access.net) is a civilian emergency medicine faculty member at the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center and a policy advisor to The Heartland Institute and the American Council on Science and Health.* *------------------------------------------------------------* *GLOBAL 6-BIOTECH'S GLOWING BREAKTHROUGH WINS NOBEL PRIZE *by Matthew Herper 08-October-2008 Forbes Three researchers won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry today for their work turning a protein found in jellyfish into a ubiquitous biotech tool that is used in drug discovery, genetic engineering and most types of research. Green fluorescent protein was first discovered by Osamu Shimomura four decades ago. Columbia University's Martin Chalfie had the insight that it could be used throughout biology. Roger Tsien at the University of California, San Diego, improved the protein by making it brighter and easier to use. Forbes.com wrote about the discovery of the protein in 2001. (See: "Biotech's Glowing Breakthrough" for lots of photos.) Shimomura first noticed green fluorescent protein (GFP) in 1962. At first, it was a mere footnote in a scientific paper about a small, bioluminescent jellyfish called Aequoria Victoria. The study of that jellyfish's glow became Shimomura's life's work. For 20 years starting in 1967, Shimomura made summer pilgrimages to Friday Harbor in Washington state. With his wife, son and daughter, he might gather more than 3,000 jellyfish per day. Over several months, that could add up to 50,000 jellyfish weighing a total of two and a half tons. >From that massive payload of jellyfish, it would be possible to purify perhaps a few hundred milligrams of the glowing proteins for study. A single jellyfish does not need much light-emitting protein to make its lens-shaped body glow. The average Aequoria Victoria is three to four inches wide and shaped like an umbrella, with 100 light-producing organs the size of poppy seeds spaced on its outer rim. Inside each organ, two chemical reactions produce the green glow. A protein called aequorin produces the light, through a reaction that involves calcium ions. But this light is blue. Green fluorescent protein absorbs this blue and re-emits it as a green glow. For years, aequorin received most of the attention. Seven years after GFP was first identified, a team of Harvard researchers "discovered" it, never having heard of it before. Aequorin proved useful, particularly as a tool for studying nerves, which use the calcium ions it reacts with. GFP would eventually become a vital tool that molecular biologists would use to earmark genes they want to study. But first, the gene that creates the GFP protein needed to be found. William Ward, a professor at Rutgers University, met Douglas Prasher on a jellyfish-hunting expedition in the 1980s. Ward, a professor at Rutgers University, had spent a decade becoming one of the world's experts on GFP and the Aequoria jellyfish. Prasher, a researcher at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, already knew Aequoria well. He identified the jellyfish's other glowing protein, Aequorin, while doing his graduate work at the University of Georgia. But finding the GFP gene would prove difficult. After scrounging for funding, Prasher landed a three-year grant from the American Cancer Society. He used up all three years trying to find a genetic sequence that matched the protein--a task that could be done quickly today. When he finished in 1992, he didn't have enough funding left to put the gene in bacteria--a necessary test if he was to be sure he had the right DNA sequence. He did not receive tenure at WHOI and became a population geneticist. In the early 1990s, a Columbia professor named Martin Chalfie heard about Prasher's work. Excited, Chalfie called Prasher and asked for a copy of the gene. But when Prasher finally found the gene, Chalfie was away on sabbatical at the University of Utah. "At the time, he was never at the phone," Prasher told Forbes in 2001. "He had a girlfriend out there." Prasher went ahead and published his description of the GFP gene; Chalfie found that scientific paper while working with a graduate student, and the two researchers finally made contact. Prasher sent Chalfie a copy of the gene. Many doubted the GFP gene would produce the glowing protein on its own. But when Chalfie put it in bacteria and shined a blue light on them, they glowed. Chalfie's 1994 paper on the gene popularized it as a genetic marker. Scientists could link GFP with another gene; were this piece of DNA present in a cell, it would shine. As for Chalfie's girlfriend, a noted fruit fly researcher name Tulle Hazelrigg: The two married, and both are professors at Columbia. Hazelrigg made her own large contribution to GFP research: She was among the first to attach GFP to other proteins, allowing scientists to watch where individual proteins go within a cell. Scientists found they could attach the GFP gene to other genes. Instead of running complicated tests to see if they had managed to insert a gene into an organism, scientists could just shine a blue light and watch for the glow. "It's like having a spell check that underlines words if you've made a mistake," says Rutgers Professor Bill Ward, who was shocked that Chalfie's bacteria shone at all. "The rest of us knew it wouldn't work," Ward told Forbes in 2001. Other bioluminescent proteins don't light up unless certain enzymes are present. But GFP is a concrete wall of a molecule--it curves around itself such that there is no place for an enzyme to bind. "It's like someone's feet in Jersey gangster movies where you're given concrete overshoes," says GFP researcher Roger Tsien. Another surprise: Many genes produce half-baked proteins that need to interact with other proteins, made by other genes, to function. But this is not true for GFP--it doesn't need any help at all. The green fluorescent protein was originally used to discover whether genes were present at all. Then Tulle Hazelrigg, a professor at Columbia, modified genes in fruit flies so that the proteins they make have GFP glued to them. The result is rather like tying a flashlight to your dog's head. Even in total darkness, you can see where he is. Using such fusion proteins, a scientist can follow exactly where a protein moves in a cell, or in an animal's body. In this case, Hazelrigg was studying a protein involved in the production of sperm and egg. The bright spots on this male larva are the fly's testes. The rest of the larvae is green because of bioluminescence in its gut; the GFP is expressed mostly in the reproductive organs. Creating transgenic animals that contain the GFP gene has become increasingly important. In mice, for instance, GFP has enabled adult stem-cell research. Stem cells taken from one mouse and put in another can be identified by their green glow. Scientists who want to insert green fluorescent protein into cells are no longer restricted to green. The protein now comes in yellow and blue varieties. Generally, the GFP seen in the lab is not the same stuff found in jellyfish. Roger Tsien, a professor at University of California in San Diego, mutated and otherwise altered the GFP gene to produce various colors. He also managed to make it brighter. The GFP found in the Aequoria jellyfish produces some of its light when hit by ultraviolet light, some when hit by various shades of blue. Tsien's version of the protein produces all of its light when hit by a single color. GFP is a valuable tool, and Tsien's tinkering made it more valuable. Along with Chalfie and Shimomura, he is sharing in today's Nobel Prize. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *DISCLAIMER*: Articles that are posted in this news service do not necessarily reflect the views of SEARCA. To post in e-group, e-mail bic at searcaweb.org. To UNSUBSCRIBE, click here . *Let's look for solutions?* *Ecotourism: enjoying nature at its best* *OFW lady turns biotech corn farmer* *Pinoy is new president of Asian economists' body* *Nobel Peace Prize 2007 goes to IPCC with 6 Filipino Scientist Members* *---------------------------------------------------------* *---------------------------------------------------------* *Download available paper and/or presentation handouts of some notable speakers presented at SEARCA Agriculture and Development Series. CLICK HERE. * *SEARCA ADSS: The International Protection for Foreign Investments in Agriculture: From UN, to BITS, to RTAs * *by Atty. Marvic M. V. F. Leonen Drilon Hall, SEARCA, College, Laguna Philippines 14 Octoberr 2008, 4:00 - 5:00 PM* *6th Scientific Convention of the Philippine Association for Plant Tissue Culture & Biotechnology (PAPTCB)* *Los Ba?os, Laguna, Philippines 26 - 30 October 2008* *5th Asian Conference on Food and Nutrition Safety* *Shangri-La's Mactan, Cebu, Philippines 03 - 07 November 2008* [image: visit discussion board] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From searcabic at gmail.com Wed Oct 22 16:19:56 2008 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:19:56 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] Latest news postings on biotechnology, 22 October 2008 Message-ID: Right click images to view this page properly. If this e-mail does not appear as a web page, please click here. *Posted 22 October 2008* *PHILIPPINES* 1-HONG KONG HOSTS SCIENTISTS OF THE FUTURE 2-DA PUSHES CENTRAL LUZON AS AGGIE BIOTECH HUB 3-UK EXPERTS URGE RP CONSUMERS TO PUSH FOR GMO LABELING 4-COMMERCIALIZATION OF 3-IN-1 RICE ANTICIPATED TO YIELD LOTS OF BENEFITS *CHINA* 5-CHINESE PREMIER SAYS HE SUPPORTS DEVELOPING TRANSGENIC ENGINEERING *AFRICA* 6-SWAZILAND: NATIONAL BIOSAFETY FRAMEWORK READY FOR PARTY APPROVAL *GLOBAL* 7-INTERNATIONAL FARMERS TO DISCUSS STRATEGY FOR INCREASING CROP YIELDS *1-HONG KONG HOSTS SCIENTISTS OF THE FUTURE* by Linda Bolido 20-October-2008 Philippine Daily Inquirer MANILA, Philippines?Two Filipino graduate students will be among some 95 participants in the Novartis International Biotechnology Leadership Camp (BioCamp) to be held Oct. 24-27 at the Hong Kong Science Park in Hong Kong. Joining the annual event organized by Novartis, a leading research-based pharmaceutical company, are Jun Ryan C. Orbina, a BS in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology graduate of the University of the Philippines Diliman who is taking his masters in Public Health at UP Manila and is a science research specialist of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine; and Christina Lora M. Leyson, a summa cum laude graduate of BS Molecular Biology & Biotechnology of UP Diliman who is taking her MS Molecular Biology & Biotechnology also at UP Diliman and is a research associate of the university's Plant Molecular Biology and Plant Virology Laboratory. The three-day Hong Kong event brings together graduate and post-graduate students from around the world who are interested in pursuing careers in biotechnology and have leadership and management potentials. The global program "aims to support the development of the biotechnology industry by providing high-level education to young talents ? Participants acquire in-depth knowledge of the latest developments in the global biotech industry, acquire cross-culture and disciplinary experience, as well as cutting-edge expertise and management skills essential for success in the biotechnology business." The future At the recent Novartis Philippines Biotechnology Leadership Camp that chose the two participants, speakers said "biotechnology is the future" and stressed its importance in dealing with existing and future problems. Biotechnology, dubbed "the science of the future," is defined as the application of scientific and engineering principles to the processing of materials by biological agents to provide goods and services. It is often associated with the manipulation of living organisms or their components, through genetic engineering, to produce useful commercial products like disease-resistant and/or high-yielding crops, new pharmaceutical preparations, etc. Peter Goldschmidt, Novartis Philippines president and chief executive officer, said, "Biotechnology has been pivotal in advances made in the life sciences, medicine, agriculture and food manufacturing." Novartis believed, he said, that biotechnology would also have an important role in promoting the growth of the national economy. Global careers The Hong Kong BioCamp, he added, was in pursuit of the company's mission "to help young researchers and scientists find ways to develop their global careers ? Just being with people of the same interest (would already be useful)." In a message read by Dr. Jaime Montoya, Science and Technology Secretary Estrella Alabastro said BioCamp participants represented the next generation of scientists and researchers. She stressed biotechnology's "limitless possibilities" as it was useful in the production of drugs, synthesis of hormones and the development of consumer goods. "The Philippines can benefit a lot from the application of biotechnology in food production, drug manufacturing, agriculture?" Alabastro said. Other speakers stressed the potential for success in business and industry, academe and other fields of those who pursued careers in biotechnology. Goldschmidt said BioCamp was part of Novartis' commitment to corporate citizenship. Through the annual program, the company "aims to enhance the global competitiveness of future Filipino scientists and managers and, ultimately, contribute to nation-building." *------------------------------------------------------------* *2- DA PUSHES CENTRAL LUZON AS AGGIE BIOTECH HUB* 16-October-2008 BusinessMirror THE Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office (DA-BPO) is eyeing to develop Central Luzon as a hub for agricultural biotechnology products and has conducted a series of seminars in the region to promote the cultivation of crops with many byproducts to raise rural incomes and improve nutrition. Zambales Gov. Amor Deloso and Bataan Vice Gov. Serafin Roman attended the seminars in their provinces. These seminars were attended by farmers, educators, businessmen, nongovernment organizations (NGOs) and representatives of local government units (LGUs). Malunggay production was a key topic in the seminars, since the versatile tree has proven to be a major source of iron, vitamin A, zinc and other micronutrients crucial to the improvement of health among children and adults alike. DA-BPO officials, led by director Alicia Ilaga, have been crisscrossing the country to expand the hectarage devoted to malunggay cultivation and, in the process, have increased the business opportunities offered by the lowly malunggay (Moringa oleifera Lmk). Malunggay has also been known to increase the motility of sperm and improve lactation among nursing mothers, which is a boost to children who need to suckle their mothers in order to avoid contracting primary complex, which leads to lung diseases in adulthood. Other studies conducted in India and other countries showed that the roots of malunggay have anticancer agents that can be isolated and used profitably by the global pharmaceutical industry. Moreover, LGUs interested in joining the biofuel bandwagon also have a ready energy source in malunggay since its trunk can be used to produce ethanol, while its seeds are a fount of biodiesel. Central Luzon is known as the primary rice producer of the Philippines, with 525,700 hectares of land devoted to the staple. Nueva Ecija alone produces about 8 percent of the total national production of palay. The total hectarage for rice comprises 41 percent of the region's total territory. Other agricultural products in the region are sugar cane, corn, mango and cutflowers. In Zambales alone, 25,412 hectares are utilized for rice production. On the other hand, Bataan has 29,938 hectares earmarked for rice cultivation. In the seminars conducted by DA-BPO, participants were shown malunggay's potential as a commodity with various applications and even bakeries, pastry shops and noodle manufacturers are now using malunggay leaves as ingredients for their products, some of which have already penetrated the international market. Secura International president Danilo Manayaga also joined the seminars and discussed how Moringa oil can be profitable for malunggay growers. He further said that as the world market shifts to biofuel as a primary energy source, the demand for Moringa oil will rise tremendously. In an interview, Roman said Bataan is now ready to make malunggay a primary product. "Bataan is a mountainous area, so [there's a lot of] upland farming. Malunggay doesn't need a lot of water, so if you're talking upland farming, that place is suitable for malunggay," he adds. When asked on the province's stand on biotechnology, he said Bataan has been cultivating Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn to help farmers gain more profit. Corn is a prime crop in Bataan. Roman added other crops like coconut and cassava are open to enhancement through biotechnology. While the land devoted to farming is small, the people of Bataan are very keen on intensifying agricultural production through the efficient use of farms. Lagundi, another plant that has gained fame for its medicinal properties, is cultivated in Bataan. A pharmaceutical company in Bagac is planting it and manufacturing various preparations from the active ingredient derived from the plant. There is also a plan to set up a malunggay nursery in the province to help boost the growing malunggay industry. This, he said, will be realized through the collaboration of the LGUs and the DA-BPO. Biotechnology is a major part of Deloso's vision to develop Zambales as a key agricultural producer. His long-term plan for Zambales is to create a community that can stand on its own. Biotechnology should play the role of realizing the industrialization of the province as well. Deloso said that while the province is undergoing industrialization, biotechnology should take care of the food and nutrition needs of the people of Zambales. "It was neglected," was his answer, when asked on the status of malunggay farming in the province. "It wasn't given so much attention. But if that's really given primary concern that will expand, because we can easily adapt to malunggay." He also revealed the provincial government's plan to buy malunggay seedlings and distribute these to his constituents. Zambales is also working on a project to build a biogas plant, where waste generated by Zambales, including Olongapo, will be used to produce butane. Aside from Bataan and Zambales, a malunggay nursery has been put up in Tarlac earlier in this year. This was done through the initiative of BIONet-Pilipinas, an organization that aims to help farmers and stakeholders reach their products to the market, DA-BPO and the LGU. Biolife News Service *------------------------------------------------------------* *3-UK EXPERTS URGE RP CONSUMERS TO PUSH FOR GMO LABELING* by Jennifer A. Ng (Reporter) 16-October-2008 BusinessMirror EXPERTS based in the United Kingdom urged Filipino consumers to push for the labeling of genetically engineered (GE) foods so they would know whether the product they are using or ingesting contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Given that the Philippines imports GM products and even propagate GM crops like corn, Dr. Peter Saunders, professor of applied mathematics at King's College London and cofounder of Institute of Science and Society (ISIS), said Filipino consumers should insist on mandatory GM labeling. "Labeling is very important. The information [on a particular product] is crucial, so consumers who don't want to consume GM products can avoid them," said Saunders in a forum on the failure of GM crops to deliver on its promise of increased food production held in Quezon City on Thursday. Currently, labeling of GM products is not practiced in the Philippines, since there is no law compelling companies to reveal whether the food or products they sell contain GMOs. Opponents of GMOs, led by the Network Opposed to Genetically Modified Organisms (NO2GMOs!), said there are pending bills in the House of Representatives which seek to compel companies to practice mandatory labeling, among others. Unfortunately, NO2GMOs! said House Bills (HB) 1350, 2085 and 1621, authored by Reps. Del de Guzman of Marikina City, Emmylou Tali?o-Santos (First District, North Cotabato) and Roseller Barinaga (Second District, Zamboanga del Norte), are still languishing at the Committee on Trade and Industry. The three bills were introduced in 2005. HBs 1350 and 2085 seek to require the mandatory labeling of food and food products containing GMOs and food produced by genetic-engineering technologies. In effect, the two bills will amend RA 7394, or the Consumer Act of the Philippines. HBs 1621, meanwhile, seeks to regulate the strict labeling of food and beverage products by manufacturing and distributing companies. But the best protection against the dangers posed by ingesting GMOs is for the Philippines to consider banning it altogether, said Saunders and Dr. Mae Wan-Ho, director and cofounder of ISIS. Citing the findings of project Encode (Encyclopedia of DNA elements) organized by the United States National Human Genome Research Institute, Wan-Ho said genetic engineering poses dangers to consumers. This is because the researchers found that "genes appear to operate in a complex network, and interact and overlap with one another and with other components in ways not yet fully understood." Apart from the "dangers" of GMOs, she also noted that GM farming is not cost-efficient and is unsustainable, compared with organic farming. "Only organic agriculture can truly feed the world. More than that, organic agriculture and localized food and energy systems can potentially compensate for all greenhouse emissions due to human activities and free us from fossil fuels, and we need to implement this urgently," said Wan-Ho. The experts cited the pronouncement made by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations that there is enough food produced to feed everyone using only conventional crops, and that it will remain the case for at least 25 years. *------------------------------------------------------------* *4-COMMERCIALIZATION OF 3-IN-1 RICE ANTICIPATED TO YIELD LOTS OF BENEFITS* by Dr. Sosimo Ma. Pablico Agriculture Magazine October 2008 issue Four years from now, a 3-in-1 rice variety that is now being developed by the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) is expected to be planted on a commercial scale throughout the country. The seven-year breeding project started in 2004, soon after PhilRice received genetically modified Golden Rice grants donated by the Gates Foundation. Field tests are expected to start before the end of 2008. The 3-in-1 variety will be the first of its kind as it will contain three important traits never before found at the same time in a rice variety, according to the PhilRice scientist Dr. Antonio A. Alfonso who leads the breeding team. With the use of conventional breeding techniques, the breeding work involves transferring not only the genes for beta-carotene biosynthesis into the grains of local varieties but also the genes for rice tungro disease and bacterial leaf blight resistance. Golden Rice, one of the parents of the 3-in-1 rice, is genetically modified since it is the result of genetic engineering that involved the deliberate artificial introduction of two genes from other organisms into the rice genome. The process completed the biochemical pathway that allows beta-carotene production in the rice grain, giving it the distinct yellow color. The latest version has about 23 times more carotenoid (pro-vitamin A) than the prototype, which has 1.6 micrograms per gram of grains. However, Golden Rice is a japonica rice variety, which thrives in temperahte rice-growing countries but not under tropical conditions such as in the Philippines. Research reports indicate that although the rice plant produces beta-carotene in its leaves and stems under normal condition, it does not produce any in its grains. For this reason, a rice-based diet contributes to high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency or VAD, particularly among the poor, who cannot afford to include vegetables, meat, and other foods rich in vitamin A in their meals on a daily basis. Vitamin A, an antioxidant needed in vision development and bone growth, is also important in the maintenance of the human immune system. It is stored in the liver, promotes good vision, enables proper reproduction and lactation among women, and helps in the formation and maintenance of healthy teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucous membrane, and skin. "Insufficient vitamin A and beta-carotene intake for long periods of time results in morbidity and mortality, particularly among children and pregnant and lactating women ? the most affected population groups," said a research team from the Sikap / Strive Foundation and PhilRice, who conducted an "Ex-Ante Impact Evaluation of 3-in-1 Rice." Depending on the degree and medical severity of VAD, its visible manifestations are categorized into four: night blindness, Bitot's spot, corneal ulceration and corneal scars. If left untreated, corneal ulceration and corneal scars may lead to permanent blindness. VAD also weakens the immune system, thereby exacerbating infections like HIV-AIDS (human immunodeficiency virus-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), diarrhea, and measles. The research team, led by the economist Dr. Leonardo A. Gonzales of Sikap / Strive Foundation, said: "All these VAD-related diseases, in turn, translate into increased health care costs and economic losses accruing years foregone and loss of potential productivity. But more than the economic costs, the VAD problem deprives those [affected] individuals ? of the basic right to an adequately healthy and active life." In the Philippines, VAD is considered a major health problem. A survey by the Food and Nutrition Research Council in 2003 showed that 71 percent of total households in the country did not meet their recommended vitamin A (retinol equivalent) nutrients. Four out of every 10 Filipino children (6 months to 5 years old) suffer from VAD. This is not surprising since 2 of every 10 pregnant and lactating Filipino mothers suffer from VAD. *Added Disease Resistance* Resistance to rice tungro disease and bacterial leaf blight are being incorporated into the 3-in-1 rice because these devastating diseases recurrently plague the country. Tungro rice disease is the most damaging viral disease of rice in the Philippines, particularly in the major rice growing areas like Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Camarines Sur, Albay, Bohol and North Cotabato. This disease is transmitted by the green leafhopper from diseased to healthy plants. Former PhilRice Executive Director Dr. Leoacadio S. Sebastian said there is no chemical control against rice tungro disease. Aside from being costly, the disease can still occur even if the green leafhopper population is low. Losses from rice tungro disease could be staggering. In Davao del Norte alone, crop losses in 1993 amounted to Php 10.6 million. Dr. Xuan Hoai Truong of PhilRice estimated in 1999 that crop losses from rice tungro disease could vary from 39 percent to 65 percent. On the other hand, bacterial leaf blight occurs in the many provinces with irrigated lowlands where farmers plant susceptible varieties like IR64. These provinces include Ilocos Norte, Cagayan, Ifugao, Isabela, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Bulacan. Bacterial leaf blight is more prevalent and destructive during the wet season. It causes poor development and low grain quality as it increases the number of underdeveloped grains and reduces weight, resulting in poor maturation and a high proportion of broken grains. Experts said that the earlier bacterial leaf blight appear, the greater damage it causes. Studies in the Philippines have reported losses if 10 percent to 60 percent from bacterial leaf blight. It was estimated that 8.1 percent of the total area planted to rice can be possibly affected by the bacterial leaf blight, and the resulting yield loss could mean about US$57.5 million of foregone production. Experts have pointed out that the most effective and economical way preventing and managing bacterial leaf blight could be achieved primarily through the use of resistant varieties. It is expected, therefore, that 3-in-1 rice will benefit both the farmers and consumers. For the farmers, it is expected that it will increase their profitability through reduced costs and higher yields. For the consumers, the new rice variety is expected to provide them with higher levels of micronutrients, thereby boosting the health of the rice-dependent population. *Ex-Ante Results* In their report, the research team said: "The benefits from the investments in research and development (R&D) and commercialization of 3-in-1 rice [will] outweigh the costs. It was estimated that R&D and commercialization would cost P 149 million in 2005 prices." In the foreword of their report, Dr. Gonzales said: "Under the conservative scenario (very low adoption rate), the net present value (NPV) of the project amounts to Php 309 million, and it has an internal rate of return (IRR) of 41 percent. The optimistic scenario predicts that the project will generate an NPV of Php 1.22 billion with an IRR of 63 percent. Aside from this, the project could generate health impacts similar to the projected impact of Golden Rice in the Philippines, which is US$16-88 million." Dr. Gonzales said consumption of 3-in-1 rice would not lead to intoxification due to an overdose of vitamin A because it contains only the vitamin A precursor beta-carotene, which is utilized by the body only when it suffers VAD. Beta-carotene is not known to be toxic. Even if the intake is high, any excess is excreted or stored in the body as beta-carotene, then converted to vitamin A only when the body needs it. "Simply put, there is no danger of vitamin A toxicity in 3-in-1 rice as there is no vitamin A in Golden Rice, only the non-toxic carotenoid precursors that enable the human body to make vitamin A," the report stated. Moreover, the chances of outcrossing to nontransgenic rice are very low. Research at IRRI has shown that the chance of outcrossing from currently cultivated rice species is very low since these varieties are self-pollinating. Thus, people should not be afraid, since the rice pollen is viable for only 3-5 minutes. Will farmers plant 3-in-1 rice? Two acceptability surveys were conducted to assess the perception and acceptability of genetically modified (GM) rice among farmers and consumers. In general, almost three out of five respondents or 58 percent are willing to plant / buy / sell GM rice. Among farmer-respondents, however, 67 percent are willing to plant GM rice, while only 7.5 percent refused to plant and 23.8 percent are undecided. Among consumers, 53.6 percent are willing to buy and sell GM rice; only 10.4 percent refuse, while 35.8 percent are undecided. The results also showed that 51 percent of the respondents are willing to pay price increases of 1 percent to 10 percent for vitamin A rice and pest-resistant GM rice. As the prices of GM rice increase to 11 percent to 30 percent, respondents' willingness to pay for GM products declines substantially at an average of 12 percent, then to 2 percent as prices of GM rice increase to greater than 50 percent. *------------------------------------------------------------* *CHINA 5-CHINESE PREMIER SAYS HE SUPPORTS DEVELOPING TRANSGENIC ENGINEERING* 17-October-2008 China Daily BEIJING - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao expressed his support for developing transgenic engineering, in a two-hour interview with Bruce Alberts, editor-in-chief of the Science Magazine of the United States on September 30. In the exclusive interview at the Zhongnanhai leadership compound, Wen said his support of the transgenic engineering was further strengthened by the recent global food shortage. When China didn't have the transgenic technology in cotton plants 10 years ago, the cotton bollworms would not die even when immersed in pesticides. Wen said," Since we began transgenic engineering of cotton, the plants not only increased their ability to resist bollworms but also increased yield." "Therefore, I strongly advocate making great efforts to pursue transgenic engineering. The recent food shortages around the world have further strengthened my belief (in it)," said Wen. Responding Alberts' words on some European states' objection to developing transgenic crops, Wen said if transgenic science was mixed with trade barriers," that would block the development of science". (Xinhua) *------------------------------------------------------------* *AFRICA 6-SWAZILAND: NATIONAL BIOSAFETY FRAMEWORK READY FOR PARTY APPROVAL* by Teetee Zwane 15-October-2008 The Swazi Observer via Agbios The ministry of tourism, environment and communications is lobbying parliament to adopt a National Biosafety framework that would enable farmers to try out new technology to address the country's food security and economic challenges. As recommended by former Tourism, Environment and Communications Minister Thandi Shongwe, if approved and adopted by parliament, a National Biosafety law would help the country protect its rich biological diversity. This, she said, would be through putting in place mechanisms for enabling the safe use and transboundary movement of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that may have adverse effects on humans and the environment. "The country needs to harness modern biotechnology to be able to meet the challenges of food security and poor agricultural production," she had recommended. "However, without a National Biosafety Framework, the technology cannot be harnessed within the country and our neighbours as well." Shongwe pointed out that most Southern African Customs Union (SACU) countries had already domesticated the Cartagena Protocol on biosafety. She added that as trading partners, it was imperative that Swaziland be on an equal footing with the world and other SADC member states as the GMOs would soon be traded locally. "There is support from Global Environment Facility and the secretariat of the protocol for capacity building and it is on condition that countries develop national frameworks for managing the transboundary movement of GMOs," motivated the former minister. "National resources alone are not enough to build the country's capacity to harness and manage the new technology. The country needs to adopt the framework as local farmers are eager to try the technology, which promises to address the food security and economic challenges we face." Meanwhile, Director of Policy Planning and Research Steven Zuke said Swaziland has great regards for the potential benefits of biotechnology in agriculture, environment management and human health. He said the country needs a national biosafety law because biotechnology involves the use of biological organisms to produce useful products. "Genetically modified crops promise to reduce the cost of production as it means less frequency of spraying or longer shelf life of agricultural produce," he said. Zuke added, however, that this new technology comes with lots of fears and uncertainties as the adverse effects of such on the environment and human health has not been fully investigated. He said there was fear, for instance, that the in-built toxin in such crops may kill non-target insects as well and that other traits like herbicide resistance may be conferred to wild relatives of species like cotton, which may turn them into super weeds that cannot be controlled in future. The director added that some of the health concerns include the potential for developing antibiotic resistance in the gut of humans as the marker genes used in the technology were antibiotics. He said common socio-economic and ethical issues for African countries include the fear of multi-national control of agriculture as these products were usually patented by these multi-nationals and had an element of restricting trade as well as dictating who should supply. "It is for this reason that during the Earth Summit in 1992, safety of modern biotechnology was raised as an issue to be looked at seriously," noted Zuke. "As a party to the protocol, Swaziland has an obligation to domesticate the international treaty by developing a national instrument that is in line with the protocol. "Swaziland as a country that is rich in biodiversity has an obligation to regulate the introduction and development of GMOs so that crops and humans are protected from any possible adverse impacts." *------------------------------------------------------------* *GLOBAL 7-INTERNATIONAL FARMERS TO DISCUSS STRATEGY FOR INCREASING CROP YIELDS *14-October-2008 Truth About Trade and Technology Des Moines, IA ? Approximately 20 farmers from Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, North and South America will gather in Des Moines Oct. 14-16 for the third annual Global Farmer-to-Farmer Roundtable. The Roundtable is organized by Truth about Trade and Technology (TATT), and will coincide with The World Food Prize Symposium that will be held Oct. 14-17, also in Des Moines. While the symposium will take a more academic view of agriculture and global development in the next 50 years, the farmers at the Roundtable will discuss what they must do over the next 5-10 years to increase crop yields worldwide. "There is one tool that farm operations worldwide can benefit from," says Dean Kleckner, the Iowa farmer who is chairman of TATT. "It is the technology that can be included in one seed. Technology that helps plants resist diseases, droughts, and rely less on nitrogen." The farmers at the Roundtable will discuss the barriers they face in accessing that technology, and how they can work together to overcome those barriers. The international farmers represent a variety of farm sizes and commodities. Each has used biotechnology to achieve personal goals in their farm operations, but they have faced trade and production barriers because of that choice. Also at the Roundtable, the TATT board will present the 2008 Kleckner Trade & Technology Advancement Award. The award recognizes a farmer for "exemplary leadership, vision and resolve in advancing the rights of all farmers to choose the technology and tools that will improve the quality, quantity and availability of agricultural products around the world." Truth about Trade and Technology (www.TruthAboutTrade.org) is committed to promoting free trade and agricultural biotechnology through farmer-led educational initiatives that target public officials, opinion leaders, and the agricultural community. Participating Farmers in the Global Farmer-to-Farmer Roundtable Argentina ? Mr. Enrique Duhau (80k hectares; corn, soybeans, wheat, sunflower, cattle, dairy) Australia ? Mr. Jeff Bidstrup (5k hectares of cotton, wheat, sorghum, chickpeas) Brazil ? Mr. Sergio Luis Bortolozzo (25k hectares, soybeans, eucalyptus, sugarcane) Canada ? Ms. Cherilyn Jolly-Nagel (8500 acres diversified grains) Colombia ? Ms. Angela Maria Cabal Barona (60 hectares white corn) Czech Republic ? Mr. Stepan Cizek (8000 hectares; winter wheat, rape seed; barley; maize; sunflowers; mustard; sugar beet; dairy) Germany ? Mr. Oliver Ransmann (400 hectares of maize, rye, energy crops) Honduras ? Mr. Roger Edgardo Padilla Ramirez (300 acres maize, sorghum) Hungary ? Mr. Csaba Machaty (25k hectares; livestock, corn, wheat, sunflower, rape seed, soybeans) India ? Mr. Mekala Velangan Reddy (27 acres; Bt cotton, chilies, maize, rice) Ireland ? Mr. Jim McCarthy (1800 acres wheat, barely, rape seed in Ireland; US dairy production; 30k acres crop in Argentina) Italy ? Mr. Giuseppe Elias (600 hectares; corn, wheat, dairy) Kenya ? Mr. Alfred Mwangi Nderitu (20 acres; banana, basmati rice, mango, dairy, various ? tomato, beans, pepper, onion, watermelon) Mexico ? Mr. Rub?n Ch?vez (Mainly Yellow corn; president Chihuahua growers association) Portugal ? Ms. Maria Gabriela Cruz (Sugar beets; various) Romania ? Mr. Valentin Petrosu (500 hectares; cereals, oilseeds; vegetables; seeds) Spain ? Mr. Jos? Luis Romeo Mart?n (400 hectares; sorghum, sunflowers, wheat, barley, alfalfa, beans, corn; grapevines and winery) Uganda ? Mr. Bruno B. Matovu (400 acres maize, hogs, cattle) US, North Dakota ? Mr. Al Skogen (Rotate wheat, soybeans, corn using minimum and no till practices) US, Iowa ? Mr. Bill Horan (Corn, soybeans, specialty crops). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *DISCLAIMER*: Articles that are posted in this news service do not necessarily reflect the views of SEARCA. To post in e-group, e-mail bic at searcaweb.org. To UNSUBSCRIBE, click here . Let's look for solutions? Ecotourism: enjoying nature at its best OFW lady turns biotech corn farmer Pinoy is new president of Asian economists' body Nobel Peace Prize 2007 goes to IPCC with 6 Filipino Scientist Members --------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------- Download available paper and/or presentation handouts of some notable speakers presented at SEARCA Agriculture and Development Series. CLICK HERE. The 10th Asian Regional Maize Workshop Makassar, Indonesia 20 - 23 October 2008 6th Scientific Convention of the Philippine Association for Plant Tissue Culture & Biotechnology (PAPTCB) Los Ba?os, Laguna, Philippines 26 - 30 October 2008 5th Asian Conference on Food and Nutrition Safety Shangri-La's Mactan, Cebu, Philippines 03 - 07 November 2008 [image: visit discussion board] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From bic at agri.searca.org Wed Oct 22 17:22:39 2008 From: bic at agri.searca.org (bic at agri.searca.org) Date: Wed, 22 Oct 2008 17:22:39 +0800 (CST) Subject: [searcabic] [Fwd: Fw: ILSI Seminar-Program (Nov 14)] Message-ID: <46101.124.107.109.18.1224667359.squirrel@www.searca.org> From: Glenda Soriano Subject: ILSI Seminar-Program (Nov 14) To: "ilsi" Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2008, 2:11 AM TO ALL ILSI MEMBES AND NON MEMBERS (INDUSTRY, ACADEME, STUDENTS) Dear All, Greetings from ILSI. The International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Southeast Asia Region ( Philippines ) would like to invite you and your staffs to attend the upcoming seminar on November 14, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at EDSA Shangri-la Hotel, Mandaluyong City . The title is "Immunity and Food Allergy: The Philippine Setting" Please see attachment re: program details thanks you, ILSI Management Contact Person: Ms. Bot Soriano -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: ILSI Seminar-Program (Nov 14).doc Type: application/octet-stream Size: 73728 bytes Desc: not available URL: From searcabic at gmail.com Tue Oct 28 21:30:54 2008 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 21:30:54 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] Latest news postings on biotechnology, 28 Oct 2008 Message-ID: Right click images to view this page properly. If this e-mail does not appear as a web page, please click here. *Posted 28 October 2008* *PHILIPPINES* 1-PHILIPPINES TO HOST ASIAN FOOD AND NUTRITION SAFETY CONFAB 2-WHO WILL WIN IN 4TH JOSE G. BURGOS BIOTECH JOURNALISM AWARDS? 3-FUNGUS CAN CONTROL DISEASE *INDIA* 4-MANDATORY TESTING OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED PACKED FOOD *AFRICA* 5-SCIENTISTS PREPARE TO FIGHT COTTON DISEASE AND PESTS *EUROPE* 6-PURPLE GM TOMATOES MAY WARD OFF CANCER *1-PHILIPPINES TO HOST ASIAN FOOD AND NUTRITION SAFETY CONFAB* 28-October-2008 SEARCA BIC News Release Scientists from international agencies, governments, health and research institutions, and industry organizations will convene at the 5th Asian Conference on Food and Nutrition Safety (ACFNS), slated on 3-7 November 2008 at Shangri-La's Mactan, Cebu, Philippines. The International Life Science Institute (ILSI) Southeast Asia Region and the Philippines Department of Science and Technology ? Food and Nutrition Research Institute jointly organize the 5th ACFNS, with the theme "Science-based Solutions - Sustainable Actions." The conference will focus on emerging global challenges, food and nutrition issues, and ways of harnessing new technologies for sustainable actions to secure safer and better food supply. At about the same time and venue, a Pre-Conference Satellite Symposium on Biotechnology and Nutritionally Enhanced Food and Crops will be held on 3-4 November 2008 to complement the main conference. The symposium will present updates on recent scientific developments and applications as well as regulatory issues on safety and nutritional assessments of nutritionally enhanced biotech-derived crops and products. To learn more about the conference, download its brochure at http://www.bic.searca.org/events/2008/5thACFNS_nov2008.pdf or poster at http://www.bic.searca.org/events/2008/5thACFNSPoster.jpg. Further details may be also viewed at the following websites: 5th ACFNS Conference Website: http://www.ilsiacfns2008.com/ Pre-Conference Satellite Symposium on Biotechnology and Nutritionally Enhanced Food and Crops: http://www.ilsiacfns2008.com/s_index.php *(Rochella B. Lapitan, SEARCA BIC)* *------------------------------------------------------------* *2-WHO WILL WIN IN 4TH JOSE G. BURGOS BIOTECH JOURNALISM AWARDS?* 26-October-2008 BusinessMirror Who will be the winners in this year's Jose G. Burgos Jr. Awards for Biotech Journalism? Who will join the ranks of perennial winners Melody Aguiba of the Manila Bulletin and Rocel Felix formerly of the Philippine Star? Now on its fourth year, the biotech awards recognize Filipino reporters who wrote exemplary news and feature stories on biotechnology in national dailies from August 2007 to July 2008. This year's awarding ceremonies will be held on November 27. Prizes of P30,000, P20,000 and P10,000 await the winners of the first, second and third prizes in the best news and best feature categories, respectively. They will also receive plaques. Three newspapers which printed the most number of biotech stories will receive recognition as well. This year's panel of judges is composed of individuals who are experts in their respective fields in biotechnology and communication. They are Dr. Patricio Faylon, executive director of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and National Resources , the panel chairman; Dr. Gaudencio Petalcorin Jr., national president of Biotechnology Information and Organization Network; Dr. Saturnina Halos, chairperson of the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Advisory Team; Rolly Estabillo, vice president for corporate communications of Philippine Airlines; and Angelo Palmones, president of Philippine Science Journalists Association of the Philippines Inc.). The articles which qualified in the awards were collected from among those monitored by the Biotech Media and Advocacy Resource Center (BMARC), a consortium that promotes the government's biotech program. BMARC has been conducting the awards to help motivate and sustain the interest of media practitioners in disseminating biotech information. BMARC is composed of the Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture, Biotech Coalition of the Philippines, Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources and Development and the J. Burgos Media Services Inc. *------------------------------------------------------------* *3-FUNGUS CAN CONTROL DISEASE* by Rudy A. Fernandez 26-October-2008 The Philippine STAR Pestered by the clubroot disease attacking your crucifer plants? Use a fungus called Trichoderma koninggi in controlling this disease that usually damages crucifer (a family of plants that include cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, mustard, and others). Attesting to this is a study titled "Trichoderma-based Management of Clubroot Disease of Crucifer" conducted by researchers Teresita Mangili, Trenesie Lorezco, and Rhonda Oloan of the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry-Baguio National Crop Research and Development Center (DA-BPI-BNCRDC) in Baguio City. A scientific report showing the results of the study won the Best R&D Paper Award (Applied Research-Agriculture category) given during the 2008 National Research Symposium (NRS) sponsored by the DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR). NRS is an annual competition sponsored by DA-BAR headed by Director Nicomedes P. Eleazar that gives due recognition to outstanding researchers and their scientific works. Participants are mainly researchers of DA bureaus and attached agencies and state colleges and universities. The study was conducted at the BPI in Baguio City and in the Benguet towns of Buguias and Bakun. It evaluated the best substrate (the base on which an organism lives) for the growth of Trichoderma koningii strain and identified the best application method of T. koningii for the control of clubroot disease of crucifers. "The application of Trichoderma koningii strain as biological control cultured in rice hull substrate significantly suppressed clubroot disease severity of cabbage by 72.20 percent," the DA-BPI-BNCRDC researchers reported. This was applied as basal three weeks before planting with rate of one tablespoon per planting hole. In terms of yield, the application of T. koningii applied as basal produced heavier weights of cabbage of 25.33 tons per hectare but was significantly comparable when applied as drenched with weights of 19.03 t/ha. On-farm trials conducted in severely clubroot-infested farms in barangays Loo (cabbage) and Bad-ayan (Chinese cabbage) applied with T. koningii strain cultured in rice hull substrate significantly suppressed the clubroot disease severity by 54 to 56 percent, the researchers noted. The same treatment raised the soil ph (expression of acidity and alkalinity) from acidic to moderately acidic and produced heavier weights of cabbage and Chinese cabbage heads, they concluded. *------------------------------------------------------------* *INDIA 4-MANDATORY TESTING OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED PACKED FOOD *22-October-2008 Press Information Bureau (India) The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) under the administrative control of Ministry of Environment and Forests has not ordered for mandatory testing of Genetically Modified Packed Food being sold in the country. However, Approval of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), the statutory body constituted under the 'Rules for the Manufacture, Use /Import /Export and Storage of Hazardous Microorganisms / Genetically Engineering Organisms or Cells, 1989' notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, is mandatory prior to commercial use of genetically modified organisms and products derived therefrom. The GEAC is following a case by case system of approvals for which extensive rules and guidelines have been framed for evaluating their environmental and health safety. As of date, the GEAC has approved the environmental release of only Bt cotton in India. The GEAC had received request only for import and commercial use of GM Soybean oil in India which was granted during July 2007. No other request has been received so far. The results of the biosafety studies including toxicity and allergenicity data of all commercially released genetically modified crops are available in the public domain at www.envfor.nic.in and www.igmoris.nic.in. Stakeholder comments are taken into consideration prior to their commercial release. This was stated by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests, Shri Namo Narain Meena in a reply to a question by Shri M. Raja Mohan Reddy in Lok Sabha. *------------------------------------------------------------* *AFRICA 5-SCIENTISTS PREPARE TO FIGHT COTTON DISEASE AND PESTS *by Lominda Afedraru 22-October-2008 Daily Monitor Scientists in Uganda will soon begin testing the genetically modified cotton in their laboratories to prove whether they are resistant to cotton wilt and other related cotton diseases, which has been destroying the conventional cotton plant. The government recently gave a go ahead for scientists to carry out the above research just as they have been doing to other crops such as the East African Highland banana and cassava. However, according the Regional coordinator for the Bio-safety System programme, Dr Thereza Sengoba, scientists will carry out this test in their laboratories and later confined filed trials will be conducted at two sites, in Western Uganda at Mubuku and Eastern Uganda at Serere. This is because the two regions are considered to be representing major cotton growing areas with different agro- ecologies. Dr Senbgoba said this while presenting a paper at the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology in Africa (OFAB) on the topic, Evolution of agro- biotechnology and the challenges of seed system in Africa. The British introduced traditional Cotton to Uganda in 1903. It quickly established itself as Uganda's export crop and became the main foreign exchange earner. According to scientists, cotton production in Uganda is mainly by peasant farmers and it is affected by a number of factors ranging from poor management of insects, pests, weeds, diseases and soil. This is the reason why scientists are trying a research on the genetically modified cotton hoping it may give yields compared to the traditional cotton. According to data information by the scientists, in 1994 the government under the Economic recovery programme decided to revive and support cotton production so as to diversify sources for foreign exchange earnings and avoidance on coffee. Structural changes were put in place and the Cotton Development Organisation was charged with overseeing production and marketing. The Cotton industry was also liberalised and services were privatised. This created conducive atmosphere, which enabled growth of the private sector such as Uganda Ginners and Cotton Export Association, Oil Millers and Textile millers. Despite this heavy investment in the cotton industry, research has shown that cotton production has stagnated at about 200,000 metric tones in the past several years. There are a number of constraints still affecting cotton production and these include among others, pests such as bollworms, weeds and soil fertility. The traditional cotton requires farmers to carry under the cotton plantation five to six times which farmers find tedious. In view of the above constraints, scientists have been looking for options to solve them in a bid to achieve the targeted amount of cotton production. This is the reason why they are venturing into research in the genetically modified cotton and one of the biotechnologies they have identified is the Ball guard11, which will be used to evaluate the modified cotton varieties by crossing the genes extracted from a soil bacterium called B. Thrugiensis to control the bollworms. According to the scientists, this genetically modified cotton will reduce the frequency of spraying cotton from six times to two to three times depending on the availability of secondary pests thus reducing on environmental pollution and health issues. Genetically modified Cotton is now grown in nine countries worldwide with the three leading countries as China, India and US. Studies from the World Bank indicate that if countries adopt the genetically modified cotton, they stand to benefit more than they would with the conventional cotton under the Initiative of the World Trade Organisation. Genitically modified cotton is one of the upcoming seeds with others being maize, banana, sorghum and cassava. *------------------------------------------------------------* *EUROPE 6-PURPLE GM TOMATOES MAY WARD OFF CANCER *by Ian Sample (Science Correspondent) 27-October-2008 The Guardian Tomatoes that have been genetically modified to be rich in antioxidants can give protection against cancer, a team of British scientists has found. Researchers at the John Innes Centre in Norwich created the crop of purple tomatoes by altering them with genes from snapdragon flowers. In tests, mice that were prone to cancer lived almost a third longer if their diet was supplemented by the modified tomatoes. The findings, which appear in the journal Nature Biotechnology, pave the way for a new generation of "functional foods" that could potentially offer protection against serious diseases. The team, led by Cathie Martin, a professor of plant biology, plans to investigate whether the anti-cancer properties of the tomatoes also protect humans. The scientists started by plucking genes from snapdragons that are responsible for the deep red pigment in the flower's petals. The colouring is due to an antioxidant called anthocyanin, which is also found in blueberries and blackberries. By inserting the genes into tomato plants, the scientists created a crop so rich in anthocyanin it turned purple as it ripened. Martin said she was "bowled over" by the results. "It's really clear that the mice eating the modified tomato start to die significantly later than mice on the normal tomatoes," she said. "At the very least, it suggests that what you eat can really make a contribution towards preventing disease and helping to keep you healthy." Derek Burke, former chair of the UK's regulatory committee on GM, said: "This is a truly positive outcome from genetic modification of plants, and a real help to people wanting to improve their diets." ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *DISCLAIMER*: Articles that are posted in this news service do not necessarily reflect the views of SEARCA. To post in e-group, e-mail bic at searcaweb.org. To UNSUBSCRIBE, click here . *Filipinos getting poorer and hungrier* *Let's look for solutions?* *Ecotourism: enjoying nature at its best* *OFW lady turns biotech corn farmer* *---------------------------------------------------------* *---------------------------------------------------------* *Download available paper and/or presentation handouts of some notable speakers presented at SEARCA Agriculture and Development Series. CLICK HERE. * *UNU-IAS Book Launching: Recent Progress in Medical Biotechnology and Nanomedicine: Achievements, Prospects and Perceptions* *Yokohama, Japan 29 October 2008* *6th Scientific Convention of the Philippine Association for Plant Tissue Culture & Biotechnology (PAPTCB)* *Los Ba?os, Laguna, Philippines 26 - 30 October 2008* *5th Asian Conference on Food and Nutrition Safety* *Shangri-La's Mactan, Cebu, Philippines 03 - 07 November 2008* *Philippines National Biotechnology Wee* *Manila, Philippines 24 - 28 November 2008* [image: visit discussion board] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From searcabic at gmail.com Thu Oct 30 09:58:26 2008 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Thu, 30 Oct 2008 09:58:26 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] NEWS FEATURE: Playing the same tune: Harmonizing biotechnology regulations across Southeast Asia Message-ID: Right click any image to view this page properly. If this e-mail does not appear as a web page, please click here. *Posted 30 October 2008* *PLAYING THE SAME TUNE: HARMONIZING BIOTECHNOLOGY REGULATIONS ACROSS SOUTHEAST ASIA1* *by Carlo G. Custodio, Jr., Program for Biosafety Systems [PBS] Southeast Asia* *SEARCA Policy Brief 2008 - 4* The tune is far from being synced. A wide variation exists on the status of biosafety regulations in Southeast Asia. Some countries have operational regulations, while others have no regulation at all. Lao PDR has no biosafety regulation in place; Thailand has no legislation specific for GMOs; Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam have biosafety regulations that are still under development or not yet fully operational; and the Philippines has already an operational system. With regard to approvals for planting, there have been none in Indonesia since 2001 when Bt cotton was approved for planting in limited areas in South Sulawesi. There are no approvals for commercial planting in Thailand, but there are fields trials of PRSV resistant papaya approved in December 2007 ? only in government facilities and subject to many conditions. In the Philippines, three single events and one combined trait were approved for commercial planting. *Are there ways to harmonize?* The answer is yes ? the tight way and the loose way. *? Tight harmonization* Centralized approvals ? a centralized regional approval committee exists. The committee may agree on a mutual policy recognition where there is a set up for a single region ? wide set of approval procedures. Decision ? making process is carried when one member government in the region grants an approval for the import or planting of a GMO crop, then that approval, if there are no objections from other member governments ? automatically becomes a generalized approval throughout the region. On the other hand, pre-emptive disapproval happens when countries in a region reach a pre-emptive decision to not approve GMOs at all for import, research, or commercial planting anywhere in the region. *? Loose harmonization* Four options can be taken: 1. Set a common minimum standard of precaution for the region regarding GMOs; 2. Centralize assessments but nationalize approvals; 3. Harmonize information and collaboration requirements. This is done by formulating agreements on the exchange of information regarding regulatory decisions, technologies assessed, and regulatory expertise / know how. This implies extensive use of Biosafety Clearinghouse and reciprocity between pact members. 4. Adoption of standards, procedures, and guidelines for testing. *What is happening right now?* *Technology transfer* There are ongoing biotechnology transfer projects in Asia. These include: ? Delayed ripening and PRSV resistant papaya; ? Bt, salt / drought tolerant Golden rice; ? Virus-resistant and late blight resistant potato; ? Virus-resistant tomato; and ? Bt eggplant. Countries can receive these technologies only when they have exiting biosafety regulations in place. *How can we harmonize Plant Biotechnology Regulations?* 1. Adopt standard testing methods based on sounds science for GM detection and risk assessment. A system of laboratory (and scientist) accreditation that will be recognized across the region should be developed. 2. Facilitate regulatory data exchange. The Biosafety Clearing House (BCH) provides a mechanism; however other mechanisms outside of the BCH need to be explored. An option is to form a consortium of public institutions involved in biotechnology R and D. 3. Prepare and share Consensus Documents on the biology of crops through the OECD model. For example, Thailand can be responsible for papaya, and the Philippines for eggplant, and Vietnam for rice. 4. Agree on standard system for identifying and collecting data sets (especially environmental risk data) to be required for biosafety approval. 5. Engage in capacity building activities for regulators. ### *1 In March 4 ? 7, 2008, the "Rationalizing and Harmonizing Plant Biotechnology Regulations in Southeast Asia: A Learning Forum" was held in Bangkok, Thailand to address this issue. The forum was co organized by SEAMEO SEARCA, PBS Southeast Asia and National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC). * *Harmonizing Plant Biotechnology Regulations* Efforts to rationalize and harmonize regulations in plant biotechnology in the Southeast Asian region have been done. The basis of all of these is the "ASEAN Guidelines on Risk Assessment of Agriculture related Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)", which was endorsed by the ASEAN Ministers for Agriculture and Forestry held on October 28 ? 29, 1999 in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. To facilitate implementation of the guidelines, a series of four workshops on "Safety and Risk Assessment of Agriculture related GMOs" held in 2001 ? 2004, were organized in collaboration with the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI). Since 1999, the S and T and the Food, Agriculture and Forestry Sectors of ASEAN have implemented a total of 13 projects relating to biotechnology. The latest ASEAN activity on biotechnology, the "ASEAN US Roundtable on ASEAN Agricultural Biotechnology Policy and Strategy", was held in Bangkok on April 4 ? 5, 2006. We also note the Singapore initiative to establish an "ASEAN Genetically Modified Food (GMF) Testing Network". The Special Senior Officials Meeting of the 25th Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry (Special SOM-25th AMAF) held on August 11 ? 13, 2004 agreed to establish a Task Force, led by Singapore, to drive this Network. The forum, therefore, saw the SEARCA ? led initiative to promote rationalization and harmonization of biotechnology regulations as a continuation of these efforts. The forum also recognized ASEAN as the appropriate organization to pursue these goals, and offer our cooperation to achieve them. We affirm the recommendations made during the recent "ASEAN US Roundtable on ASEAN Agricultural Biotechnology Policy and Strategy". --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *DISCLAIMER*: Articles that are posted in this news service do not necessarily reflect the views of SEARCA. To post in e-group, e-mail bic at searcaweb.org. To UNSUBSCRIBE, click here . -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: