From searcabic at gmail.com Wed Feb 4 08:31:00 2009 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Wed, 4 Feb 2009 08:31:00 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] Latest news postings on biotechnology, 03 February 2009 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 February 2009* *PHILIPPINES* 1-DETECTION KIT FOR FOOD CONTAMINANTS UP 2-IRRI GETS $11M TO DEVELOP NEW RICE STRAIN, IMPROVE YIELDS BY 50% 3-RP-INDIA AGRICULTURE AGREEMENT PUSHED *INDIA* 4-GM CROPS MAY DOUBLE AGRI GROWTH RATE *EUROPE* 5-AGBIOTECH CAN HELP MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE, BUT WILL EUROPE BENEFIT *GLOBAL* 6-SEQUENCING OF SORGHUM GENOME SIGNIFICANT FOR FOOD, BIOFUELS *1-DETECTION KIT FOR FOOD CONTAMINANTS UP* by Melody M. Aguiba 01-February-2009 Manila Bulletin The government is tapping the use of locally-developed detection systems for food contaminants like E. coli and salmonella as part of its effort to comply with international food safety standards. The National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) is adopting the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection kit developed by the University of the Philippines-Los Ba?os National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (NIMBB) which will substantially bring down cost of this function of food safety. Ronnie Violanta, development manager/officer of the NIMBB, said that a substantially discounted price of only P180 per tube can be taken advantage of by DA institutions like NMIS and the Department of Health's Bureau of Food and Drug Industry when using these kits. Imported detection kits cost more than P1,200 per tube. The detection kits involve a DNA amplification system that uses PCR, a technique that can enlarge the size of poisonous microorganisms that are not visible to the naked eye but whose presence can be detected with PCR. It is concerned about detecting four bacteria that can be dangerous to the human health or even fatal. One of these is the E. coli which is a generally harmless group of bacteria found in the gastrointestinal strain tract of human and animal but which has a strain called E. coli 0157:H7 which causes diarrhea and infections of the urogenital tract. *------------------------------------------------------------* *2-IRRI GETS $11M TO DEVELOP NEW RICE STRAIN, IMPROVE YIELDS BY 50%* 26-January-2009 BusinessMirror THE International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) through a group of scientists has received an $11-million grant to develop a new rice strain that uses less water and fertilizer and yields up to 50 percent more in production terms. Known as the "C4" rice project, the money for this ambitious task comes from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Scientists are optimistic that boosting rice productivity is crucial to achieving long-term food security. "This has not been attempted before, but we are optimistic that it will succeed because a lot of new knowledge has been gained in recent years," said Achim Dobermann, IRRI deputy director general for research. Dobermann told the BusinessMirror that various groups worldwide started research on this several years earlier. At present, he explained that the focus is to try to understand the genetic controls of C4-photosynthesis in plants and finding such characteristics in rice or species that are close to it. "We hope to have a proof of concept after three 3 years, but the whole project has a roadmap of about 15 years. At the end of it we hope to have a functioning C4 rice, but it requires to make major anatomical and biochemical modifications in rice," Dobermann added. IRRI scientists are experimenting with seed varieties that can withstand droughts and floods, and others are growing rice in dry soil?much like corn?rather than irrigated paddies. The latest of which is the strategy to alter how rice plants perform photosynthesis and concocting hybrid varieties that can boost yields by as much as 50 percent. John Sheehy, a British physicist heading the research at IRRI, told the BusinessMirror that the basic idea is to make rice behave more like corn and other plants that perform a particularly efficient form of photosynthesis involving four-carbon atoms. Rice photosynthesis has only three-carbon atoms. "This is a long-term project that will take about 12 years to 15 years to complete. The aim is to convert solar energy more efficiently in the rice plant to produce more grain," Sheehy said. Sheehy explained that there would be approximately three direct strategic approaches aimed at understanding how evolution alters the gene to produce an improved photosynthesis in C4 plants, like maize, and apply the technology in C3 plants, like rice. Three other approaches to the problem would be used to build tools and knowledge to support the direct approaches. "There are too many to simply list here, but we have to also begin to understand what effect a more efficient photosynthetic engine might have on the overall performance of the rice plant, e.g. rate of growth and size of the plant," the scientist said. ?Given the demand by an increasing population in Asia, combined with less available land and water, adequate future supplies of rice will need to come in large part through substantial yield boosts and more efficient use of crop inputs. "The result of this strategic research has the potential to benefit billions of poor people," Sheehy said. The C4 Rice Consortium project combines the strengths of a range of partners, including molecular biologists, geneticists, physiologists, biochemists, and mathematicians, representing leading research organizations worldwide. *------------------------------------------------------------* *3-RP-INDIA AGRICULTURE AGREEMENT PUSHED* by Melody M. Aguiba 26-January-2009 Manila Bulletin The government should follow up on its bilateral agreement signed last year with India where the Philippines can find insights on dryland farming or satellite farm monitoring as it pursues farm modernization. The Department of Agriculture (DA) signed a six-point farm cooperation agreement with India in August last year but should follow on these potentially free-of-charge technical assistance or grants on agriculture. "The government should follow this up because India has expertise on dairy, dryland agriculture or research on drought, biotechnology, dairy, and biofuel (sweet sorghum)," said India-based International Crop Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) Director General William D. Dar in an interview. Aiming to be a technology superpower as it has already sent late last year its first mission to the moon with its spaceship Chandrayaan-1, India can help the Philippines in areas in agriculture where it is more advanced even if India itself is also in the process of modernizing its agriculture. "This will really depend on the relations between the two countries. It has already been signed. And if we're able to demonstrate progress, you can go to an identification of second areas of collaborative projects," he said. Among the technologies the Philippines can adopt from India is its expertise in drought that's enabling it to export some commodities like rice, wheat, and pepper. Another cooperation may be on sweet sorghum biofuel where ICRISAT and Indian private firm Rusni Distillery are already extending technical assistance to African agencies which are putting up sweet sorghum biofuel plants with a daily capacity of one million liters. Former Indian President Abdul Kalam has started launching a farm satellite system during his administration from 2002 to 2007. IN a related technology, ICRISAT will be extending a technical assistance to DA on data management as part of a more accurate farm monitoring system, Dar said. "We need a business-based production system. We need data on market, production. We need remote sensing so we can plan out our cropping. Over the last five years, India has been enhancing this technology. They just started, but because they have a satellite system, they don't have much problems on its application in agriculture," he said. The Philippines does have Mabuhay Satellite, a company owned by the PHilippine Long Distance Telephone Co., which has been in operation since 1994 when it established an international satellite facility. But subscription to its services for satellite use for monitoring agricultural production systems of course involves cost. Dar said the Philippine Rice Research Institute has reportedly invested P6 million in a remote sensing capability to monitor agricultural production in Nueva Ecija. To apply this in all 80 Philippine provinces, there must be a budget of around P480 million. "You need to put up good data information system so planning will be nearer the target. ACEF (Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund) has lots of money, why not spend half a billion for this (remote sensing facility)?" he said. *------------------------------------------------------------* *INDIA 4-GM CROPS MAY DOUBLE AGRI GROWTH RATE *by Virendra Singh Rawat 31-January-2009 Business Standard India can replicate the success of BT cotton in other agricultural produce, including vegetables and food grain for sustaining the country's future food and nutritional security, as the genetically modified (GM) crops have the capacity to double agriculture growth rate to 4 per cent per annum from the present rate which is around 2 per cent. "Until 2001, our cotton production was largely stagnant. However, post BT cotton's launch in 2002, the output has doubled and on Friday India is the second largest producer and exporter of cotton," All India Crop Biotechnology Association (AICBA) director Sajiv Anand told Business Standard on Friday. BT (Bacillus Thuringiensis) cotton is a GM crop, which gives superior yield and almost 80 per cent of the Indian farmers on Friday grow this variety. He maintained it would become imperative to use GM technology in other crops to feed the population in future. "Not only GM varieties give more yield, they are disease-resistant, have more nutritional value and shelf-life and are eco-friendly as they need less pesticide," Anand underlined. AICBA is an industry association of major Indian companies engaged in agriculture biotechnology. It was formed in 2003 to promote the benefits of agri-biotechnology for modernising Indian agriculture. The Association actively works with all stakeholders including the regulators, farmers, scientists and media for advocating the cause of GM technology. Commenting on the growing debate in India over the safety and sustainability of GM food, the crop scientist said the fears were unfounded and lacked any scientific base. "Any GM technology is introduced after a thorough research of seven years and after getting the go-ahead from several departments, including health, environment and forest. Besides, these technologies have been successfully adopted in several developed economies with encouraging results," Anand added. The GM technology only needs to be adapted to suit India conditions and requirements, he said informing that GM brinjal, tomato, cauliflower, mustard, maize, rice and wheat varieties could soon be launched in India as research was on. *------------------------------------------------------------* *EUROPE 5-AGBIOTECH CAN HELP MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE, BUT WILL EUROPE BENEFIT *Press Release by EuropaBio 27-January-2009 EuropaBio BRUSSELS ? Agricultural biotechnology has a key role to play in helping Europe reach its ambitious carbon reduction targets and assisting farmers to better adapt to a shifting climate, according to a briefing (1) released today by the European Association for BioIndustries during a round table on climate change at the European Parliament. Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, Member of the European Parliament, and one of the speakers at the roundtable, said, "Agriculture biotech definitely has a role to play in Europe's fight against climate change. With over ten years experience of commercial biotech planting, it is very important to have an open and balanced debate in Europe on the contribution that modern agriculture technologies could make to help European farmers face today's challenges." "Farmers must respond to increased demand for food. We need access to modern technologies that help us to remain competitive. At the same time we have to protect our fragile environment" said Pekka Pesonen, Secretary General of COPA-COGECA and a speaker at the roundtable. Europe wants and needs to meet the ever increasing demand for food while mitigating the effects of agriculture on climate change. Ag biotech can contribute to meeting these goals by reducing the production of greenhouse gases, helping crops adapt to varied and often adverse environments and by helping to increase yields while using fewer hectares of land and other inputs. "If we want to feed people and create a viable bio-based economy without destroying our resources, we must use science and technology to support agriculture" said Willy De Greef, Secretary General of EuropaBio. "European farmers must be given the right to choose to grow GM crops. The benefits from ag biotech will only be seen in Europe as GM crops are more widely adopted and farmers are given the right to choose to grow them" he concluded. * For further information about EuropaBio please contact: Nathalie Moll Tel: +32 2 739 1185 Mobile: +32 473 88 4578 Email: n.moll at europabio.org Rebecca Weaver Tel: +32 2 735 0313 Direct: +32 2 739 1184 Email: r.weaver at europabio.org About EuropaBio EuropaBio is the European Association for BioIndustries, solely and uniquely bringing together bioscience companies from all fields of research and development, testing, manufacturing and distribution of biotechnology products. It has 79 corporate members operating worldwide, 5 associate members, 5 BioRegions and 25 national biotechnology associations representing some 1800 small and medium sized enterprises involved in research. Its mission is to promote an innovative and dynamic biotechnology-based industry in Europe. http://www.europabio.org/ * *------------------------------------------------------------ 6-SEQUENCING OF SORGHUM GENOME SIGNIFICANT FOR FOOD, BIOFUELS *by Lyn Resurreccion / Science Editor 02-February-2009 BusinessMirror 'HAVING the genome sequence of sorghum is a significant landmark of genomics research for sorghum community, in particular, and biofuel community, in general." This was the reaction of International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (Icrisat) to the completion of the sequencing of sorghum genome?that includes 34,496 genes?by scientists at the United States Department of Energy (DOE) Joint Genome Institute and several partner-institutions. The analysis on the genome project initiated in 2005 was published in the journal Nature on January 29. Icrisat considers the sequencing of the sorghum genome very important because sorghum?one of the mandate crops of the international research agency?is the fifth most important and relatively drought-tolerant cereal crop that is the dietary staple of more than 500 million people in more than 30 countries of semiarid tropics. It is grown in 42 million hectares in 98 countries of Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Americas, Icrisat said in a statement sent to the BusinessMirror. In addition, the sweet sorghum variety has emerged as a feedstock for ethanol production, in which Icrisat has pioneered, and also in its commercialization. "[Sweet sorghum] gives food/feed, fodder and fuel, without significant tradeoffs in any of these uses in a production cycle," said Icrisat, led by Filipino scientist Dr. William Dar, a former Department of Agriculture secretary. "This is an important step on the road to the development of cost-effective biofuels made from nonfood plant fiber," said Anna Palmisano, DOE associate director of Science for Biological and Environmental Research, as quoted by SeedQuest, a web site for the seed industry. "Sorghum is an excellent candidate for biofuels production, with its ability to withstand drought and prosper on more marginal land. The fully sequenced genome will be an indispensable tool for researchers seeking to develop plant variants that maximize these benefits," Palmisano said. Prized for its drought resistance and high productivity, SeedQuest said, sorghum is currently the second most prevalent biofuels crop in the United States, behind corn. Sorghum grain produces the same amount of ethanol per bushel as corn while utilizing one-third less water. The India-based research agency said having an inventory of sorghum genes identified "is of great use, though a bit challenging task, to the community for applying/manipulating them for crop improvement." "We anticipate to use a variety of approaches for harnessing this genome sequence in our applied crop-improvement programs," it said. It said candidate genes predicted or identified for drought tolerance or fuel quality, for example, "can be used in marker-assisted breeding and genetic- engineering approaches to develop the varieties with enhanced drought tolerance or with better fuel quality." Besides, the sorghum genome will help in the analysis and understanding of other cereal genomes, Icrisat said. It explained that the different cereal genomes (e.g., rice, wheat, barley, maize, sorghum and pearl millet), in general, show that conservation of gene number and gene order, as major cereal lineages, was derived from a common ancestor at about the same time. The published paper, written by scientists, led by Andrew Paterson of the Plant Genome Mapping Laboratory of University of Georgia, provides insights on comparative genome conservation/evolution of some cereals, Icrisat said. "On one hand, these comparative genomics approaches provide a better understanding of different cereal genomes. On the other hand, they provide the possibility of using genomic resources from one cereal species to other cereal species," Icrisat said. It noted that based on the sequence data of sorghum and rice, several thousands of conserved-intron scanning primers (CISP) markers have been developed and are being used in pearl millet, another important mandate cereal crop of Icrisat, but they are deficient in genomic resources. "Therefore, [the] sorghum genome sequence provides avenues to enhance the genomic resources and molecular breeding strategies in other cereal crops as well," it said. The significant new insight from the project is that since this is the first sequence of any C4 plant species, it provides several new findings on differences in C3 and C4 plant species, Icrisat said. Dr. Dar told the BusinessMirror that a C4 plant is one in which the carbon dioxide (CO2) is first fixed into a compound containing four carbon atoms before entering the Calvin cycle of photosynthesis. "They are better adapted than any C3 plant in an environment with high daytime temperatures, intense sunlight, drought and nitrogen limitation. In short, a C4 plant is more efficient in photosynthesis," he said. Examples of C4 plants include sorghum, corn and amaranth. Within C4 plants, they vary in their degree of resilience. Sorghum is more resilient than corn, he further explained. Dr. Dar noted that with climate change occurring with intense heat and drought, C4 plants are more resilient than C3 plants like rice. The comparison of sequence data of sorghum and maize (members of Panicoideae subfamily) with rice (member of Oryzoideae subfamily), Icrisat said, has suggested the duplication and recruitment of the C4 pathway after the Panicoideae-Oryzoideae divergence. "Identification and understanding of genes involved in C4 pathways should be useful to manipulate the fuel-production quality of sorghum," Icrisat said. Since this is also the first sequence of a dry-land agricultural crop that is adapted to drought, "we should have better understanding on genes that make sorghum, as compared to other cereals, more drought-tolerant." How will the sequencing of sorghum genome help agriculture and biofuel production? Icrisat said the availability of genome-sequence data should enhance genomics-assisted breeding in sorghum. It explained: "[A] few hundred molecular markers were available in sorghum until two or three years ago; [the] genome-sequence data has now provided >71,000 microsatellite markers." "We believe that availability of genome sequence, combined with modern genomics approaches, should boost our breeding activities to develop the desirable breeding lines. Genes identified in sorghum would not be useful only for sorghum but other cereal/plant species as well, especially for enhancing drought tolerance," it said. Furthermore, Icrisat said the sorghum genome-sequence data should provide candidate genes involved in nutritional quality, as well, which can be manipulated in sorghum and other cereals to reduce micronutrient malnutrition globally. It noted that sorghum grain has high levels of iron (>70 ppm) and zinc (> 50 ppm). "Icrisat, in collaboration with advanced research institutions, has been working to harness the genome sequence in applied breeding program so that knowledge-based breeding can speed up sorghum breeding and improved lines/varieties/ hybrids can be developed by our NARS [national agricultural research system] partners and poor farmers of semi-arid tropic regions can be benefited," it said. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *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 . *SEARCA organizes training on environmental economics * *SEAMEC President visits the Philippines* *Lessons from a DL Umali Awardee* *---------------------------------------------------------* *Download available paper and/or presentation handouts of some notable speakers presented at SEARCA Agriculture and Development Series. CLICK HERE. * *--------------------------------------------------------- JOB VACANCY SEARCA Director Deadline of Application: 14 February 2009 (via e-mail) or 16 February 2009 (via courier/post) * *Download Application Form* *View details* *IRRI Seminar Series: Genetic diversity for sustainable rice blast management in China: adoption and impact* *by Dr. Imelda Revilla-Molina,Associate Scientist,Social Sciences Division, IRRI Havener Auditorium, IRRI, Los Ba?os, Laguna, Philippines 05 February 2009, 1:15 - 2:15 PM* *5th Executive Forum on NRM: Environmental Economics for Decision-making* *SEARCA, Los Ba?os, Laguna, Philippines 23 - 27 March 2009 Course Brochure | Flyer | Registration Form | Expression of Interest | Special Rates* *Measures of Hope and Promises Delivered: An International Conference on Socioeconomic and Environmental Impact Assessment of Genetically Modified (GM) Crops* *Bangkok, Thailand 21 - 22 April 2009* *------------------------------------------------------------* *CALL FOR APPLICATION BIOTEC, Thailand: Human Resource Development Program in Biotechnology 2009 Deadline for application: 15 March 2009* [image: visit discussion board] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From searcabic at gmail.com Fri Feb 13 20:44:24 2009 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2009 20:44:24 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] Latest news postings on biotechnology 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 13 February 2009* *GLOBAL* 1-BIOTECH CROPS POISED FOR SECOND WAVE OF GROWTH *PHILIPPINES* 2-BIOTECHNOLOGY SAID KEY TO RAISING FARM YIELD 3-GOLDEN RICE ON TARGET FOR RELEASE IN 2011 4-PLATFORM TO TRANSLATE BIOTECH BREAKTHROUGHS *AFRICA* 5-INCREASING AFRICA'S GRAIN HARVEST *EUROPE* 6-13 MILLION FARMERS CAN'T BE WRONG - IT'S TIME EUROPE ALLOWED UK FARMERS ACCESS TO GM TECHNOLOGY *1-BIOTECH CROPS POISED FOR SECOND WAVE OF GROWTH* *Political Will Strengthens Globally* International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) Press Release 11-February-2009 ISAAA NAIROBI, KENYA (Feb. 11, 2009) -- Biotech crops, on the heels of a robust 2008 and bolstered by increased political will to meet food demands, are poised for a second wave of strong adoption that will drive sustained global growth through the end of the second decade of commercialization 2006 to 2015, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA). In 2008, three new countries and 1.3 million new farmers were able to experience the benefits associated with biotech crops. Additionally, total planted area grew 10.7 million hectares, according to the ISAAA brief Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops 2008. ISAAA has been tracking global biotech crop adoption trends since 1996. In its annual study, ISAAA found that 13.3 million farmers in a record 25 countries planted 125 million hectares of biotech crops last year, the sixth largest growth spurt in 13 years of reporting. The 2 billionth cumulative acre of biotech crops also was planted in 2008, just three years after the first billionth acre, a milestone which required a decade to reach. Most notably, in 2008 biotech farming began in the African nations of Egypt and Burkina Faso. Africa is considered the "final frontier" for biotech crops as it has perhaps the greatest need and most to gain. In 2008, Egypt planted 700 hectares of Bt maize and Burkina Faso planted 8,500 hectares of Bt cotton. They join South Africa, which since 1998 has benefited from biotech cotton, maize and soybean. "Future growth prospects are encouraging," said Clive James, chairman and founder of ISAAA and author of the report. "The positive experiences in these new regional footholds in south, north and west Africa will help lead the way for neighboring countries to learn by example. Additionally, political leaders globally are increasingly viewing biotech enhanced crops as a key part of the solution to critical social issues of food security and sustainability." For example, G-8 leaders in 2008 for the first time recognized the significance of biotech crops and called to "accelerate research and development and increase access to new agricultural technologies to boost agriculture production; we will promote science-based risk analysis, including on the contribution of seed varieties developed through biotechnology." The European Union also has acknowledged that biotech crops "can play an important role in mitigating the effects of the food crises." In China, Premier Wen Jiabao has said "to solve the food problem, we have to rely on big science and technology measures, rely on biotechnology, rely on GM." As a result, China has committed an additional US $3.5 billion over 12 years for continued research and development. Biotech rice alone, already developed and field tested in China, has the potential to increase food availability and net income by about US$100 per hectare for approximately 440 million people in the country. In the Philippines, at least 200,000 small farmers gained from biotech maize in 2008. A socio-economic impact study reported that for small farmers, the additional farm income from Bt maize was 7,482 pesos (about US$135) per hectare during the dry season and 7,080 pesos (about US$125) per hectare during the wet season of the 2003-2004 crop year. Using data from the 2004-2005 crop years, it was also determined that Bt maize could provide an overall income advantage that ranged from 5 to 14% during the wet season and 20 to 48% during the dry season. Overall, four independent studies, which examined net farm income as well as other indicators, confirmed the positive impact of Bt maize on small and resource-poor farmers and maize producers generally in the Philippines. "Biotech crops make two important contributions to global food security," James said. "First, they increase yields, which increase food availability and supply. Second, they reduce production costs, which will also ultimately help reduce food prices. With 9.2 billion people to be fed by 2050, biotechnology plays a crucial role in helping satisfy the growing demand." Further, biotechnology is beginning to identify solutions to the growing challenges with drought being seen in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America. Drought is the single largest constraint to increased productivity. For example, Argentina currently faces a drought so severe that farmers have made a loss on their wheat crop. Drought-tolerant crops, maize in particular, are an emerging reality with seeds expected to be commercialized in the United States by 2012 or sooner and by 2017 for Africa. By the end of the second decade of commercialization in 2015, ISAAA predicts that four billion accumulated acres will have been planted. Further, 200 million hectares of biotech crops annually will be planted in a total of 40 countries. Other indicators suggesting a new wave of adoption emerging include: o Bolivia, the ninth biotech country in Latin America and the eighth largest global producer of soybeans, planted 600,000 hectares of herbicide-tolerant soy in 2008, allowing its growers to gain the benefits its neighbors in Brazil and Paraguay have experienced for years. o There was a sharp growth in trait hectares or "virtual hectares" with 10 countries reporting 22 million additional hectares of biotech crops with more than one biotech trait. Stacked traits will be a strong driver of future growth. o A new biotech crop, herbicide-tolerant sugar beet was planted in the United States and Canada for the first time in 2008. Nearly 258,000 hectares or 59 percent of the U.S. crop was planted to the herbicide-tolerant variety, the highest launch adoption level ever signaling a strong desire among growers for the technology. o Brazil and Australia planted new biotech crops previously approved in other countries. Brazil, the world's third largest maize producer, planted up to 1.3 million hectares of Bt maize in 2008, while Australia grew herbicide-tolerant canola for the first time. o While France did not plant biotech crops in 2008, the seven other EU countries increased their planting 21 percent to again total more than 100,000 hectares, a milestone reached for the first time in 2007. The seven EU countries in order of biotech hectarage of Bt maize were Spain, Czech Republic, Romania, Portugal, Germany, Poland and Slovakia. o The number of growers benefiting from the technology may soon jump sharply. Initial reports from China indicate the use of Bt cotton to control the bollworm is also suppressing the pest in other crops like maize, wheat and vegetables, allowing a potential 10 million additional growers to benefit from the technology. For more information or the executive summary, log on to www.isaaa.org. The report is entirely funded by two European philanthropic organizations: a philanthropic unit within Ibercaja, one of the largest Spanish banks headquartered in the maize growing region of Spain; and the Bussolera-Branca Foundation from Italy, which supports the open-sharing of knowledge on biotech crops to aid decision-making by global society. The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) is a not-for-profit organization with an international network of centers designed to contribute to the alleviation of hunger and poverty by sharing knowledge and crop biotechnology applications. Clive James, chairman and founder of ISAAA, has lived and/or worked for the past 25 years in the developing countries of Asia, Latin America and Africa, devoting his efforts to agricultural research and development issues with a focus on crop biotechnology and global food security. ------------ *Biotechnology's Role in Sustainability* In addition to aiding in issues of food security, biotech crops have an important role to play in lessening the environmental impact and improving the sustainability of food production. Insect-resistant rice, for example, has the potential to benefit about 1 billion people. ? Biotech crops contribute to increased food availability and affordability, increasing production by 141 million metric tons in the 12 years, 1996 to 2007. ? Biotech crops help conserve biodiversity by saving land. Forty-three million additional hectares of land would have been required to create the production gain of 141 million tonnes generated by biotech crops. With 70 percent of the world's poorest dependent on agriculture and with income as low as US $1 a day, biotech crops can also contribute to economic sustainability and alleviation of poverty. In developing nations and transforming economies, agriculture is responsible for a substantial part of the GDP. Increases in agriculture productivity from biotech crops are evident, for example: o Research in India, China, South Africa and the Philippines shows biotech crops have already increased incomes $115 to $250 per hectare. Globally over 12 million resource poor farmers benefited from biotech crops in 2008. o Approval of insect-resistant rice has the potential to benefit more than 250 million rice households in Asia, or approximately 1 billion people. o Further, the global net economic benefit to biotech crop farmers in 2007 alone was $10 billion ($6 billion in developing countries and $4 billion in industrialized nations.) For the period 1996 to 2007 the economic benefit was $44 billion, equally divided between developing and industrial countries ? Biotech crops have already substantially reduced agriculture's environmental footprint by reducing pesticides, saving on fossil fuel use and decreasing carbon dioxide emissions and soil loss through less plowing. In particular, from 1996 to 2007 biotech crops saved 359,000 metric tons of pesticides (active ingredient). o The development of drought-tolerant crops also has enormous potential to increase yield where water is limiting. Approximately 70 percent of the world's fresh water is used for agricultural purposes. Importantly drought tolerant maize is expected to be available in the US in 2012, or earlier, and in Sub Sahara Africa by 2017. ? The environmental benefits associated with biotech crops have also helped reduce greenhouse gases. In 2007 alone, carbon dioxide savings were 14.2 billion kg, equivalent to removing 6.3 million cars from the road. ------------------------------------------------------------ *PHILIPPINES 2-BIOTECHNOLOGY SAID KEY TO RAISING FARM YIELD *13-February-2009 BusinessWorld A nongovernment group and some leaders of the academe have urged the government to acquire more biotechnology crops to increase production while developing the country's domestic crops. "We should adopt [biotechnology from abroad] so we can easily?incorporate that in our crops," Randy A. Hautea, global coordinator and Southeast Asian director of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA), said in a briefing yesterday. Hybrid crops have been reported to reduce crop production costs and increase yields. For instance, the RRC2/YG variety of yellow corn has a yield of 6.4 metric tons per hectare compared with the 5.5 MT/ha of conventional varieties. ISAAA said farmers that used Bt corn earned an additional P7,482 per hectare, compared with farmers planting convention corn. "We have to further sharpen our focus on the transgenic traits already commercialized in other parts of the world and incorporate them into our best cultivars," said Emil Q. Javier, president of the National Academy of Science and Technology. Crops under field testing in the country include delayed-ripening and ring spot virus-resistant papaya, the beta-carotene rich "golden rice", and virus-resistant sweet potato. The agriculture department has sought an increase of in ita R&D to P 2 billion this year from P267 million lat year. ------------------------------------------------------------ *3-GOLDEN RICE ON TARGET FOR RELEASE IN 2011* 13-February-2009 Reuters via Agbios http://www.agbios.com/static/news/NEWSID_10435.php GENETICALLY modified (GMO) Golden Rice may be available to farmers as early as 2011, possibly helping to save millions of children threatened with blindness or premature death due to Vitamin A deficiency. Robert Zeigler, director general of the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), said that it expected to release the GMO rice, enriched with Vitamin A, by 2011. It was conducting its first field trials in the Philippines this year. It would be 10 years since the invention in 2001 of Golden Rice, which scientists have said may prove that the controversial biotechnology can help feed the poor and needy if applied with care and caution. There is as yet no GMO rice grown commercially. Widely produced transgenic products, such as GMO soy, corn or cotton, are mostly pest- or herbicide-resistant. They are beneficial to farmers, but not necessarily to consumers. Golden Rice, which includes three new genes, including two from daffodil, is yellowish and contains beta-carotene, a substance that human bodies convert to Vitamin A. Its research has been seen as a model for cooperation between public and private sectors in pursuit of human welfare. Its inventors are claiming no property rights for the rice. Neither are the companies that own the technology involved. Zeigler was talking early this week after IRRI received a grant of US$20 million for three years ? equivalent to 17 per cent of its budget ? from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. High grain prices, climate change The executive said the funding came at a vital time when soaring food prices and climate change threatened the gains made through the Green Revolution over the past several decades. The concern that we have... is that these gains in productivity, food security, cheap rice, cheap food are in jeopardy, Zeigler said. We have to address this. IRRI says the fund will help it reach 18 million households, especially in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, with better rice varieties and raise yields by about 50 per cent in the next 10 years. IRRI calculated the world needed to increase the annual rice output by nearly 70 percent to 880 million tonnes by 2025 from 520 million tonnes currently to meet projected global demand. We are focusing on more difficult rice growing areas that do not have irrigation, Zeigler said. Drought tolerance and flood tolerance is the key for very impoverished areas. This year, IRRI plans to hand out to more farmers in Bangladesh and India a flood resistant non-GMO rice, for which scientists made a breakthrough in 2006. We have now moved that gene into commercial varieties, the varieties that can be are grown by farmers, he said. We tested them in Bangladesh this year. It went extremely well. Together with China, IRRI is also working on dry land rice, known as aerobic rice, that can grow on dry soil like wheat. Water for agriculture is becoming more and more scarce as water is diverted for urban use and industrial use, he said. We are working very hard to develop rice that can be grown almost like a wheat crop or corn plant. However, that again is a very difficult and challenging scientific problem. Reuters ------------------------------------------------------------ *4-PLATFORM TO TRANSLATE BIOTECH BREAKTHROUGHS* By Zac B. Sarian 12-February-2009 Manila Bulletin A new platform funded with $ 6.2 million has been launched in India to translate transgenic technology and harness its products to meet the needs of agricultural growth, it was learned from Dr. William Dar, director general of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) based in India. The Platform for Translational Research on Transgenic Crops (PTTC) is a collaborative project of ICRISAT and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the government of India. PTTC will serve as a facility of reference to strengthen national, regional and international linkages in transgenic R&D, exchange of materials and information, as well as support training, consultation and technology commercialization. Speaking at the launching of the project, Dr. Dar said that research breakthroughs in agri-biotechnology hold the potential for increasing crop productivity and the resistance of food crops to pests and diseases, thereby helping solve the food crisis. He stressed that the future food demand cannot be met merely from incremental gains from conventional plant breeding. A quantum change in yield improvement is needed, such as that which occurred during the Green Revolution. Dr. Dar added that finding solutions to major crop productivity constraints, developing new technologies that will increase yields in low-potential areas and creating opportunities for diversification in agricultural value chains are some of the major present day agricultural challenges. He explained that agri-biotechnologies are a further step in an evolution that extends from the dawn of agriculture. These technologies offer a new set of tools to enhance crop productivity and profitability. In 2008, another 40 million people were pushed into hunger due to high food prices. A majority of the world's undernourished, over 900 million, live in developing countries alone. The world hunger crisis may further deteriorate as the financial crisis combined with the energy crisis, and emerging climate change issues threaten livelihoods. Hence, combating the food crisis will require much greater investments in agriculture, Dr. Dar said. ICRISAT believes that biotechnology can contribute to global food, feed and fiber security, improve health and nutrition; use less external inputs for a more sustainable agriculture and environment; conserve biodiversity and help improve economic and social status and alleviate poverty in poor countries, Dr. Dar added. Transgenics offer a powerful tool for nutritional enhancement that may save lives or help farmers adapt to climate change through faster integration of genes for drought and flood tolerance, in the process generating social, economic and environmental benefits for resource-poor farmers. MEDIA BREEFING ON BIOTECH. Meanwhile, Dr. Emil Q. Javier, president of the National Academy of Science and Technology, will discuss today the national policies and strategies in bringing the benefits of science and technology in relation to the current food security and economic crisis. This will be at a media briefing co-organized by NAST, SEARCA, and the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA). The briefing is from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Richmonde Hotel in Pasig City. ------------------------------------------------------------ *AFRICA 5-INCREASING AFRICA'S GRAIN HARVEST *11-February-2009 VOA News http://www.voanews.com/uspolicy/2009-02-10-voa5.cfm Maize is the most widely grown food crop in Africa. It is the main food source for 300 million Africans. It is severely affected by drought, and Africa is a drought-prone continent. The effects of drought are especially devastating to small?scale farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, where crop yields diminished by inclement weather are common. The need to alleviate the devastation caused by frequent droughts led to the formation of a public-private partnership known as Water Efficient Maize For Africa, or WEMA. WEMA is an organization dedicated to reducing crop failure and alleviating hunger and poverty by developing drought-tolerant, high-yielding maize varieties that are adapted to African conditions. At the head of WEMA stands the African Agricultural Technology Foundation, an African-run organization. It is supported by Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. Other partners include Monsanto, a U.S.-based crop biotechnology company and the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, a Mexico-based non-profit institution dedicated to the development of improved varieties of wheat and maize. The project is in large part financed by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Howard Buffett Foundation, who pledged a total of $47 million to fund the effort. "This project, conducted mostly in Africa and for Africans, will result in improved maize hybrids, yielding an additional 25 percent more grain under moderate drought conditions, compared to the best African seed currently available," said Vanessa Cook, Monsanto's WEMA project lead. The new, less thirsty corn varieties will be developed using a combination of traditional plant breeding as well as molecular techniques, also known as biotechnology or genetic engineering. WEMA hopes to develop the new maize varieties in the next 5 years. Rajiv Shah, director of agricultural development at the Gates Foundation, said: "Our long-term goal with this project is to give farmers access to crops that can protect them from frequent drought, so they can feed their families, increase their incomes and build better, healthier lives." "Governments and nations are more likely to become unstable when their populations are hungry and underfed," U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said. "We are committed to building a new partnership among donor states, developing nations, UN agencies, NGOs, the private sector and others to better coordinate policies to achieve the Millennium Development Goals," she said. ------------------------------------------------------------ *EUROPE 6-13 MILLION FARMERS CAN'T BE WRONG - IT'S TIME EUROPE ALLOWED UK FARMERS ACCESS TO GM TECHNOLOGY *12-February-2009 Farming UK http://www.farminguk.com/news/13-million-farmers-cant-be-wrong---its-time-Europe-allowed-UK-farmers-access-to-GM-technology11377.asp 13.3 million farmers planted over 125million hectares of GM crops in 25 countries during 2008, the 13th year of worldwide cultivation. Today's figures, published by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), show that the global biotech crop area has continued to rise, growing by 9.4% (or 11 million hectares) in the last year. In 2008, seven of the 27 countries in the European Union officially planted Bt maize on a commercial basis. The total area for the seven countries increased from 88,673 hectares in 2007 to 107,719 hectares in 2008; this is equivalent to a 21% year-on-year increase equivalent to 19,046 hectares. The seven EU countries listed in order of biotech hectarage of Bt maize were Spain, Czech Republic, Romania, Portugal, Germany, Poland and Slovakia. Commenting on the news, abc Chairman Dr Julian Little said: "As the ISAAA figures show, more than 13 million farmers in 25 countries are using genetically modified crops to deliver more consistent and efficient yields of higher quality crops. Sadly, no GM crops of benefit to British farmers have been approved for cultivation in the past ten years, denying those who want to grow GM crops in this country the right to do so." He went on to say: "Farmers need the freedom to choose modern and efficient high-yielding farming methods based on tried and tested science in order both to produce enough food and to safeguard our natural resources. Agricultural biotechnology, particularly the use of GM, can be a valuable part of achieving those objectives, helping us to grow crops in more productive, efficient and sustainable ways." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *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 . *Pushing for Green Architecture* *SEARCA organizes training on environmental economics * *SEAMEC President visits the Philippines* *Lessons from a DL Umali Awardee* *---------------------------------------------------------* *Download available paper and/or presentation handouts of some notable speakers presented at SEARCA Agriculture and Development Series. CLICK HERE. * *--------------------------------------------------------- JOB VACANCY SEARCA Director Deadline of Application: 14 February 2009 (via e-mail) or 16 February 2009 (via courier/post) * *Download Application Form* *View details* *UPLB Interdisciplinary Program on Climate Change Seminar Series: Fossil Fuels, Climate Change and Philippine Energy Alternatives* *by Dr. Kelvin S. Rodolfo Drilon Hall, SEARCA, Los Ba?os, Laguna 17 February 2009, 10:00 AM* *SEARCA ADSS: Rice Black Bug: Experiences and Strategies of Laguna Farmers* *by Dr. Gil Magsino University Researcher III and Affiliate Assistant Professor, National Crop Protection Center, UPLB SEARCA College, Laguna, Philippines 17 February 2009, 4:00 - 5:00 PM* *5th Executive Forum on NRM: Environmental Economics for Decision-making* *SEARCA, Los Ba?os, Laguna, Philippines 23 - 27 March 2009 Course Brochure | Flyer | Registration Form | Expression of Interest | Special Rates* *Measures of Hope and Promises Delivered: An International Conference on Socioeconomic and Environmental Impact Assessment of Genetically Modified (GM) Crops* *Bangkok, Thailand 21 - 22 April 2009* *-------------------------------------------------------------* *CALL FOR APPLICATION BIOTEC, Thailand: Human Resource Development Program in Biotechnology 2009 Deadline for application: 15 March 2009* [image: visit discussion board] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From searcabic at gmail.com Mon Feb 16 16:13:10 2009 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Mon, 16 Feb 2009 16:13:10 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] ANNOUNCEMENT: UPLB IdPCC Seminar Series: Fossil Fuels, Climate Change, & Philippine Energy Alternatives by Dr. Kelvin S. Rodolfo, 17 Feb 2009, 10AM 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. The* Interdisciplinary Program on Climate Change of the UPLB School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM)* is inviting everyone to the Public Seminar on *Fossil Fuels, Climate Change and Philippine Energy Alternatives* *Dr. Kelvin S. Rodolfo **Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago Adjunct Professor, Nat'l. Institute of Geological Sciences, University of the Philippines Diliman Balik Scientist, Department of Science and Technology* Tuesday, *17 February 2009, 10:00 AM *Drilon Hall, SEARCA, College, Laguna, Philippines For further details, please contact: Dr. Ma. Victoria O. Espaldon Dean, UPLB SESAM Telephone no.: (63-49) 536 2251 E-mail: mvoespaldon at uplb.edu.ph The Seminar is co-sponsored by the *Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA)*. To view / download program, click here. -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From searcabic at gmail.com Thu Feb 19 08:32:38 2009 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 08:32:38 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] Fwd: FW: New Publications: biosecurity/aquatic animal health-related publications (FIMA) In-Reply-To: <44ACF4AB1BF0834DB42A3FD90DE8A19C060BB259@hqffex01.fao.org> References: <44ACF4AB1BF0834DB42A3FD90DE8A19C060BB257@hqffex01.fao.org> <44ACF4AB1BF0834DB42A3FD90DE8A19C060BB259@hqffex01.fao.org> Message-ID: ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Reantaso, Melba (FIMA) Date: Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 3:40 AM Subject: FW: New Publications: biosecurity/aquatic animal health-related publications (FIMA) To: searcabic at gmail.com -----Original Message----- From: Reantaso, Melba (FIMA) Sent: Wed 2/4/2009 8:23 PM To: FI-Professionals-List; FI-General-Service-List; Kenmore, Peter (AGPP); Robson, Mike (AGPP); Boutrif, Ezzeddine (AGND); Takeuchi, Masami (AGNS); Jutzi, Samuel (AGAD) Cc: FI-Registry Subject: New Publications: biosecurity/aquatic animal health-related publications (FIMA) Dear Colleagues Please find below a short description of new FIMA publications related to aquatic biosecurity and aquatic animal health for your kind interest. Please kindly circulate to those who might be interested. Thanks and regards Melba -------------------------- Bondad-Reantaso, M.G., Arthur, J.R. and Subasinghe, R. (Eds.).2008. Understanding and applying risk analysis in aquaculture. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper. No. 519. Rome, FAO. 304p. (Funded by PCA Norway (2006-2007, 2008) B.1 and D.1 Objectives). Risk analysis is an objective, systematic, standardized and defensible method of assessing the likelihood of negative consequences occurring due to a proposed action or activity and the likely magnitude of those consequences, or simply put, it is "science-based decision making". Risk analysis has been mainly applied in assessing risks to society and the environment posed by hazards created by or associated with aquaculture development, e.g. risks of environmental degradation; introduction and spread of pathogens, pests and invasive species; genetic impacts; unsafe foods; and negative social and economic impacts. Risk analysis provides insights and assists in making decisions that will help to avoid such negative impacts; it helps aquaculture development to proceed in a more socially and environmentally responsible manner. An integrated approach to risk analysis will assist the sector in reducing risks to successful operations from both internal and external hazards and similarly protect the environment, society and other resource users from adverse and often unpredicted impacts. This could lead to improved profitability and sustainability of the sector, while at the same time improving the public's perception of aquaculture as a responsible, sustainable and environmentally friendly activity. Part 1 contains 12 technical papers presented during an FAO expert workshop contributed by 23 specialists and peer-reviewed by 9 experts. Part 2 contains the highlights of the FAO/NACA Expert Workshop on Understanding and Applying Risk Analysis in Aquaculture, held in Rayong, Thailand in June 2007, with 42 experts participating. PDF: ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0490e/i0490e.pdf Title of the publication: Understanding and applying risk analysis in aquaculture. Series title: FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper Series Number: T519 Year of publication: 2008 Data Owner: FIM Job Number: I0490/E Arthur, J.R., Bondad-Reantaso, M.G. and Subasinghe, R.P. 2008. Procedures for the quarantine of live aquatic animals: a manual. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper. No. 502. Rome, FAO. 74p. (Funded by PCA Norway (2006-2007) D.1 Objective). Quarantine is an important risk management measure and a key activity that should be considered when developing national strategies on aquatic animal health management. This manual outlines the technical requirements for setting up quarantine facilities at three levels, based on the general level of risk (as determined by risk analysis) represented by the specific consignment of aquatic animal being moved: (i) the quarantine of "high risk" species (e.g. aquatic animals being moved either internationally (introductions and transfers) or domestically between regions of different health status) that are destined for use in aquaculture, capture fishery development or other applications where release or escape of animals or any pathogens they may be carrying into the natural environment is likely to occur; (ii) the quarantine of "lower risk" species (e.g. aquatic animals destined for ornamental fish trade) to improve biosecurity for aquatic animals whose trade is an established practice; and (iii) the routine quarantine of aquatic animals at production facilities (e.g. new, domestically produced or locally captured broodstock or juveniles or animals whose movement has been contingent upon additional, more stringent risk management measures, such as the use of specific-pathogen free stocks, international health certification and pre-border and/or border quarantine). HTML url: http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/i0095e/i0095e00.htm PDF: ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/i0095e Title of the publication: Procedures for the quarantine of live aquatic animals: a manual. Series title: Fisheries Technical Paper Series Number: T502 Year of publication: 2008 Data Owner: FIM Job Number: I0095/E FAO. 2008. Report of the FAO Workshop on Information Requirements for Maintaining Aquatic Animal Biosecurity. Cebu City, Philippines, 15-17 February 2007. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report. No. 877. Rome, FAO. 27p. (Funded under PCA Norway (2006-2007, 2008) D.1 Objective). The Workshop on Information Requirements for Maintaining Aquatic Animal Biosecurity was convened by FAO to increase awareness on general principles of biosecurity and to build capacity and deliberate on key information required for maintaining aquatic animal biosecurity focusing on aspects of risk analysis, diagnostics, health certification and quarantine, and epidemiological surveillance and reporting. In order to implement effective biosecurity at the national level, countries require strong global and regional coordination and interaction to identify and manage emerging risks. Information is a key element in any biosecurity programme and will be required to support national actions on surveillance and diagnostics, risk assessments for new and expanding aquaculture species, rapid response to aquatic disease emergencies, implementation of risk management measures and other national frameworks to manage biosecurity. Melba B. Reantaso, Ph.D. Fishery Resources Officer (Aquaculture) Aquaculture Management and Conservation Service (FIMA) Fisheries and Aquaculture Management Division (FIM) Fisheries and Aquaculture Department Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Vialle Terme di Caracalla, 00153, Rome, ITALY Phone: + 39 06 570 54843; Fax: + 39 06 570 53020 Mobile: +394308584179 E-mail: Melba.Reantaso at fao.org Web Site: http://www.fao.org/fi/default.asp -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From searcabic at gmail.com Thu Feb 19 19:19:07 2009 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Thu, 19 Feb 2009 19:19:07 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] ANNOUNCEMENT: 5th Executive Forum on NRM: Environmental Economics for Decision-making, 30 Mar - 03 Apr 2009 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. *5th EXECUTIVE FORUM ON NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT: Environmental Economics for Decision-making **30 March - 03 April 2009* SEARCA, College 4031, Laguna, Philippines Course fee: *USD 500 or Php 24,000* / USD 400 or Php 19,200 (live-out rate)* Download Registration Form here. Deadline of application is on *06 March 2009*. For inquiries, please contact: *Dr. Maria Celeste H. Cadiz* Training Manager Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) College 4031, Laguna, Philippines Tel. No.: (63-49) 536-2554, local 173/125 Fax: (63-49) 536-2283 E-mail: mchc at agri.searca.org or *Ms. Mayla H. Viray* Training Specialist E-mail: mhv at agri.searca.org For further details, please visit SEARCAwebsite . **covers cost of tuition, full board and lodging in a twin-sharing room, forum materials, and airport transfers.* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From searcabic at gmail.com Fri Feb 20 20:54:41 2009 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:54:41 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] Latest news postings on biotechnology, 20 February 2009 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 20 February 2009* *PHILIPPINES* 1-BIOTECHNOLOGY SAID KEY TO RAISING FARM YIELD 2-GOLDEN RICE ON TARGET FOR RELEASE IN 2011 3-PLATFORM TO TRANSLATE BIOTECH BREAKTHROUGHS 4-RP MAINTAINS STANDING IN WORLD BIOTECH LEAGUE 5-FORTIFIED WITH VITAMIN A: RP MAY BE FIRST TO OKAY 'GOLDEN' RICE 6-RP EXPANDS BT CROP AREA BY 100,000 HECTARES MORE 7-MORE FARMERS GO FOR Bt CORN 8-AREA PLANTED TO BIOTECH CORN UP 40% *VIETNAM* 9-VIETNAM TO GROW GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS BY 2015: CONFERENCE *AFRICA* 10-KENYA APPROVES GM AFTER YEARS OF DELAYS *GLOBAL* 11-GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS GAIN GLOBAL FOOTHOLD *1-BIOTECH RICE MAY BE IN THE MARKET BY 2010* by Lyn Resurreccion / Science Editor 16-February-2009 BusinessMirror BIOTECH rice?the insect resistant variety and Golden Rice?will lead the new genetically modified crops for commercial use in the second wave (2006 to 2015) of market availability, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agribiotech Applications (ISAAA). Dr. Randy Hautea, ISAAA global coordinator and its SEAsiaCenter director, told reporters that Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)-resistant rice from China "may be available within 24 months," or between now and 2010, and Golden Rice by 2012. Hautea made the disclosure last week at the press conference on the global launching of the 2008 Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM (Genetically Modified) Crops report authored by Dr. Clive James, founder and chairman of ISAAA board of directors. Bt rice is "extensively field tested in China and awaiting approval by the Chinese regulatory authorities" for commercialization, the report said. Golden Rice?or genetically biofortified rice with beta carotene that produces vitamin A?is being field-tested at the International Rice Research Institute in Los Ba?os, Laguna. Its adoption for the Philippines is being done by the Philippine Rice Research Institute with two other traits incorporated in the rice?tungro virus and bacterial blight resistance. The ISAAA report recognized biotech rice as "the most important of the new biotech crops that are now ready for adoption." This development is of great significance because rice is the most important food crop in the world, especially for the poor, aside from answering the current food security problem, James said. "[More than] 90 percent of rice is grown and consumed in Asia by some of the poorest people in the world?the 250-million Asian households whose resource-poor rice farmers cultivate on average a meager half a hectare of rice," the ISAAA report said. Bt eggplant may be available as the first biotech-food crop in India within the next 12 months, the ISAAA report said. India is the fourth-largest producer of biotech crops with GM cotton planted in 7.6 million hectares. Other crops that are expected to be available in the market before 2015 are potatoes with pest and/or disease resistance and modified quality for industrial use; sugar cane with quality and agronomic traits; and disease-resistant bananas. Biotech vegetable crops?such as tomato, broccoli, cabbage and okra?that would require reduced amount of insecticides are being developed, along with propoor biotech cassava, sweet potato, pulses and ground nut, the report said. Hautea noted the significance of 2015 as the end of the second decade when new biotech crops are available, because it is the target year under the Millennium Development Goals when a secure supply of affordable food is ensured and poverty and hunger have been reduced by 50 percent. James said in the report that 2 billion acres or 800 million hectares were planted to biotech crops from 1996 to 2008, and that 13.3-million farmers in 25 countries planted biotech crops in 125 million hectares last year. Among the notable developments, the report said, was the adoption of biotech crops in the African countries of Egypt (700 hectares of Bt corn) and Burkina Faso (8,500 hectares of Bt cotton), joining South Africa in biotech farming which, since 1998, has planted biotech cotton, corn and soybean. "...Africa is considered the 'final frontier' for biotech crops as it has perhaps the greatest need and most to gain," ISAAA said. In the Philippines, 200,000 small farmers planted about 350,000 hectares of Bt corn farms in 2008. A socioeconomic impact study cited by ISAAA said that small farmers in the Philippines earn an additional income of P7,482 a hectare in the dry season and P7,080 in the wet season from Bt corn in crop year 2003-2004. Multiawarded biotech corn farmer Lydia Lapastora of Isabela province said in the same media briefing she netted P11,021 a hectare from planting GM corn compared with the traditional varieties. Bt corn is the only transgenic crop commercially planted in the Philippines. However, 46 other products with GM traits, such as soya and canola, are allowed to be imported into the country, said Dr. Emil Javier, president of the National Academy of Science and Technology, in the same briefing. Javier said in a speech that in order for the Philippines to hasten the development of biotech crops, it should "sharpen [its] focus" on transgenic traits already commercialized by other countries and apply them in local crops so that it could "reap the full benefits of plant biotechnology with the resources and opportunities at hand." He cited as example the development of Bt eggplant, and ring-spot virus-resistant papaya and delayed-ripening papaya in the country. "We must put in more resources and speed up and scale up their testing and commercialization," he urged. He also raised the need for more lawyers and technical people with "business savvy" that would sort out the legal and financial applications of biotech technologies that could be applied in the country. He said almost all of the country's agribiotech research and development experts are in public hands but they do not have this kind of expertise in house. "We must explore new ways of sourcing these expertise from the private sector to free our scientists from these roles they have no aptitude for, in the first place. We need lawyers and 'techies' to negotiate with foreign technology owners as well as with domestic private investors who will put up the capital and manage the enterprise," Javier said. Besides the 25 countries growing biotech crops, Hautea said, 30 countries are not growing but importing such products, and three to four countries "unofficially" (not legally sanctioned by their governments) grow GM crops. The countries planting biotech crops are (according to hectarage): United States covering 62.5 million hectares with soybean, corn, cotton, canola, squash, papaya, alfalfa and sugar beet; Argentina, 21 million (soybean, corn and cotton); Brazil, 15.8 million (soybean, corn and cotton); India, 7.6 million (cotton); Canada, 7.6 million (canola, corn, soybean and sugar beet); China, 3.8 million (cotton, tomato, poplar, petunia, papaya and sweet pepper); Paraguay, 2.7 million (soybean); South Africa, 1.8 million (corn, soybean and cotton); Uruguay, 700,000 (soybean and corn); Bolivia, 600,000 (soybean); Philippines, 400,000 (corn); Australia, 200,000 (cotton, canola and carnation); Mexico, 100,000 (cotton, soybean); Spain, 100,000 (corn); Those planting biotech crops in less than 100,000 hectares are Chile with corn, soybean and canola; Colombia (cotton and carnation); Honduras (corn); Burkina Faso (cotton); and Czech Republic, Romania, Portugal, Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Egypt with GM corn. By 2015, the ISAAA projection is that from the current 25 countries 40 more will plant biotech crops with 20 million or more farmers involved in about 200 million hectares. *------------------------------------------------------------* *2-VITAMIN A-FORTIFIED RICE MAY SOON HIT RP SHELVES* by Riza T. Olchondra 16-Febuary-2009 Philippine Daily Inquirer THE PHILIPPINES COULD BE the first country to commercialize Vitamin A-fortified rice or golden rice by 2013, according to a non-government organization (NGO). Randy A. Hautea, global coordinator and Southeast Asian director of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA), said in a briefing that the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) was now conducting trials. The Philippine Rice Research Institute is also expected to conduct field testing within the year, he said. He said that golden rice will have about rice will have about the same average yield as traditional varieties at "easily 6 tons" a hectare, but harvest may be more consistent because of the variety's resistance to disease. An added benefit is the high Vitamin A content, he said. Hautea noted that the prospect of commercialization was high because Filipinos seem to be more open to having the fortified cereal. "Acceptance among Filipinos is found to be high when the technology is explained well," he said, citing the beneficial values of the crop. A prototype Golden Rice was developed in 1999 to provide the recommended daily allowance of vitamin A- in the form of beta-carotene-in 100-200-grams of rice, which corresponds to the daily rice consumption of children in rice-based societies. According to the World Health Organization, dietary vitamin A deficiency causes some 250,000 to 500,000 children to go blind each year. In late 2008, the Rockefeller Foundation said it would provide funding to Irri to shepherd Golden Rice through national, regulatory approval processes in Bangladesh, India, Indonesia and the Philippines. Besides golden rice, ISAAA and the academe are calling for the adoption of more biotech crops to increase production and improve the quality of farm produce. "We should adopt (biotechnology from abroad) so we can easily incorporate that in our crops," Hautea said. Hybrid crops have been reported to increase yields and contain costs due to disease resistance. *------------------------------------------------------------* *3-'Bt' CORN HECTARES INCREASE BY 4.8%* by Jennifer A. Ng / Reporter 16-February-2009 BusinessMirror FARMLANDS planted to Bt corn went up by 4.8 percent to 330,000 hectares last year, from 315,000 hectares a year earlier, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA). In a report on commercial biotechnology for genetically altered crops, entitled Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops 2008, ISAAA noted at least 200,000 small farmers gained from biotech maize in 2008 and an additional income of P7,482 per hectare during the dry season and P7,080 per hectare during the wet season. (See main story in this section.) "Farmers had additional income because Bt corn yielded more compared to the [traditional varieties] per hectare, the average yield is at around 6 to 7 metric tons [MT]," said Dr. Randy A. Hautea, Global Coordinator and Southeast Asia Center director of ISAAA at the sidelines of a media briefing held in Pasig City. Experts led by the Emil Javier, president of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), say that the additional income gained by farmers from Bt cotton could have reached P2 billion to 3 billion last year. In its annual study, ISAAA found that an additional 1.3 million farmers planted 10.7 million hectares of biotech crops, including Bt corn, in 2008. ISAAA also noted that 13.3 million farmers in a record 25 countries, including three new countries, planted 125 million hectares of biotech crops last year, the sixth-largest growth spurt in 13 years of reporting. This reflects an increase of 9.4 percent for 2008. The Philippines was ranked 14 among the top global countries that planted biotech crops in 2008. With these developments, ISAAA expects biotech crops to enter a second wave of "strong adoption" and that future growth prospects are encouraging. "Political leaders globally are increasingly viewing biotech enhanced crops as a key part of the solution to critical social issues of food security and sustainability," said Clive James, chairman and founder of ISAAA, who wrote the report. James noted that in 2008 Group of 8 (G-8) leaders for the first time recognized the significance of biotech crops and raised the call to "accelerate research and development and increase access to new agricultural technologies to boost agriculture production." *------------------------------------------------------------* *4-RP MAINTAINS STANDING IN WORLD BIOTECH LEAGUE* by Rudy A. Fernandez 15-February-2009 The Philippine STAR MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines has maintained its standing in the league of "biotechnology mega-countries." "Mega-countries" are those planting biotechnology or genetically modified (GM) crops (soybean, corn, cotton, canola, papaya, and others) in 50,000 hectares or more, qualified the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Application (ISAAA). ISAAA is a New York (USA)-based not-for-profit organization with an international network of centers designed to contribute to the alleviation of hunger and poverty by sharing knowledge and crop biotechnology applications. In 2008, Filipino farmers planted biotech or Bt maize in 350,000 hectares, from only 10,769 ha when the crop was approved for commercialization in 2003, reported Dr. Randy Hautea, ISAAA global coordinator and head of the Los Ba?os-based ISAAA Southeast Asia Center. Dr. Hautea, a former University of the Philippines Los Ba?os-Institute of Plant Breeding (UPLB-IPB) director, reported on the "Global Status of Biotech Crops 1996-2008" at a press forum held recently at the Richmonde Hotel in Pasig City. Other conference speakers were former UP president Dr. Emil Q. Javier, now president of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST); Dr. Rhodora R. Aldomita, ISAAA senior program officer; and Lydia Lapstora, a farmer from Benito Soliven, Isabela, who rose from an elementary school graduate land tiller to one of the most successful and multi-awarded biotech corn growers in the country today. Dr. Hautea, citing the global report launched at the forum and authored by ISAAA founder and board chairman Dr. Clive James, said the Philippines now ranks 11th among the "mega-countries" that planted GM crops last year in an aggregate of 125 million ha in 25 countries. The United States has maintained its top position, planting eight GM crops (soybean, maize, cotton, canola, squash, papaya, alfalfa, and sugar beet) in 62.5 million ha in 2008. Argentina followed with 21 million ha planted to soybean, maize, and cotton. Third was Brazil, with 15.8 million ha devoted to the same three crops. The other "mega-countries" were India, Canada, both 7.6 million ha; China, 3.8 million ha; Paraguay, 2.7 million ha; South Africa, 1.8 million ha; Uruguay, 700,000 ha; Bolivia, 600,000; Australia, 200,000 ha; Mexico and Spain, both 100,000 ha each. Other countries that planted biotech crops in lesser areas were Chile, Colombia, Honduras, Burkina Paso, Czech Republic, Romania, Portugal, Germany, Poland, Slovakia, and Egypt. About 200,000 Filipino farmers planted Bt corn in 2008. Usually, farmers planting GM maize corn earn an average additional income of P7,482/ha during the dry season and P7,080/ha during the wet season. "Overall, four independent studies confirmed the positive impact of Bt maize on small resource-poor farmers and maize producers generally in the Philippines," the ISAAA report stated. As attested by Lapastora, she harvested an average of 6.4 tons per hectare, which is much higher than the national average yield of 3.57 t/ha for yellow corn and 1.72 t/ha for white corn. Globally, 13.3 million farmers in the 25 countries planted GM crops in 125 million hectares, which James described as "the sixth largest growth spurt in 13 years of reporting." "Future growth prospects are encouraging," he said. Additionally, political leaders globally are increasingly viewing biotech-enhanced crops as a key part of the solution to critical social issues of food security and sustainability." For example, G-8 leaders recognized for the first time in 2008 the significance of biotech crops and called to "accelerate research and development and increase access to new agricultural technologies to boost agriculture production." The European Union (EU) also has acknowledged that biotech crops "can play an important role in mitigating the effects of the food crises." In China, Premier Wen Jiabao has said that "to solve the food problems, we have to rely on big science and technology measures, rely on biotechnology, rely on GM." China has committed an additional $3.5 billion over 12 years for continued R&D. Dr. Javier also pointed out that R&D continues to debunk the grim picture portrayed by anti-biotechnology groups ("Frankenfood") in the past decade. After 13 years and all these millions of farm hands who have handled these novel crops and billions of tons of products consumed directly as human food or as animal food, he said, "not a single claim of food toxicity and allergenicity and environment degradation had been verified." Dr. Javier concluded: "On the contrary, with the mounting evidence of higher productivity, less product costs, and for the pesticide- and herbicide-tolerant GMOs, the added health benefit of reduced use of chemicals, 13.3 million satisfied farmers in 25 countries are now benefiting from the use of transgenic crops." *------------------------------------------------------------* *5-FORTIFIED WITH VITAMIN A: RP MAY BE FIRST TO OKAY 'GOLDEN' RICE* by Melody M. Aguiba 15-February-2009 Manila Bulletin The Philippines may be the first to approve perhaps by 2012 the commercialization of Vitamin A-rich Golden Rice (GR) with multi-locational trials set soon and regulatory procedures in well-advanced stage. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is foreseeing the Philippines' becoming first in the release of GR with both IRRI and the state-owned Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice) collaborating on this. "The first approved Golden Rice may be in 2012, according to IRRI, that will likely happen in the Philippines," said International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Application (ISAAA) Global Coordinator Randy A. Hautea in a press briefing. IRRI, which is developing the genetically modified (GM) rice for the South East Asian market, has conducted its own field-testing in July last year of its GR variety and may do a second field trial this year, according to ISAAA Senior Program Officer Rhodora R. Aldemita. Moreover, Philrice is developing its own GR variety that will even have enhanced traits including tungro-resistance and bacterial leaf blight (BLB) resistance. Since the food crisis last year, Hautea said many companies and human welfare institutions have become aware of the need to support development of crops with important traits. In the case of golden rice, funding comes from the Harvest Plus, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Food and Agriculture Organization, and the International Atomic Energy Association. Philrice's development of GR with tungro virus and BLB-resistance is seen to strengthen the GM rice's commercial prospect. The disease resistance is incorporated by the breeders using conventional breeding rather than genetic engineering. Dr. Antonio A. Alfonso, PhilRice plant breeder, said that for PHilrice's part the commercial release of GR in the Philippines may be put off beyond 2011-1012 if the Humanitarian Board and the GR Network decide to use Golden Rice 2, which has the highest level of beta-carotene. So far, PhilRice has worked on GR1 that has lower betacarotene content than GR2. For the disease resistance, breeders used conventional breeding rather than genetic engineering. "The targeted release on 2011 or 2012 is not yet final and may have to be modified. We have to obtain additional important data particularly on the stability and bioavailability of betacarotene in the different Golden Rice versions before the final donor will be identified. That will definitely affect the timeline for commercialization," he said. The GR is eyed to have a yield level similar to other newly-released varieties or at least five metric tons per hectare. PhilRice needs to conduct several seasons of multilocational field trials prior to release of GR. For this variety to get the stamp of approval by the National Seed Industry Council, it should also pass certain standards for grain and eating quality, disease and insect pest resistance and, being a genetically modified organism, biosafety. Based on initial findings, betacarotene level in GR may fall significantly several weeks after harvest. "Betacarotene is not stable when exposed to light, and there are enzymatic reactions within the rice grain which lead to degradation of betacarotene," Alfonso said. Dr. William G. Padolina, International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) deputy director general, said IRRI is just stabilizing the backcrossed varieties at IRRI after which GR2 lines will be released to other rice research institutions. It is estimated that 100 to 140 million children worldwide suffer from Vitamin A Deficiency which is causing blindness, measles, and child mortality. While certain non-government organizations (NGO) have criticized huge budget allocation for Golden Rice as against the commodity's value, many believe that fortifying rice with Vitamin A would be an effective and sustainable means to help Vitamin A-deficient rice-eating populations. "For poor Filipinos, rice with a little amount of salt or a little amount of fish sauce will already make a meal (as no other)," said Dr. Evelyn Mae Tecson-Mendoza of the Institute of Plant Breeding-University of the PHilippines-Los Banos. IRRI is also fortifying rice varieties with zinc and iron as zinc deficiency in South East Asia is reaching to 71 percent, according to Harvest Plus, while anemia arising from iron deficiency is affecting 57 percent of studied population. IRRI plant breeders have already exceeded their targeted 24 micrograms per gram zinc content on rice while the target of 14 micrograms er gram target on high iron rice has yet to be hit at the prevent eight ug per g level. While it is possible to combine biofortified zinc and iron-rich rice with GR, Padolina said no work on this is yet on-going. Another genetically engineered rice is planned to be released in China . This is resistant to lepidopteran pests. However, breeders are confident that the bio-fortified rice varieties may likely have stronger acceptability among consumers and farmers. "We hope ( China will be the first to release a GM rice in Asia ). But we have to be careful to commercialize GM rice because we export rice to other countries. Maybe in China there's no problem, but there (may be a problem) in the export market," said Zhen Zhu of the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in a recent biotechnology forum. China is ready to commercialize its GM rice if not for the fear certain preparations that it hopes will also ready its export market for the rice. *------------------------------------------------------------* *6-RP EXPANDS BT CROP AREA BY 100,000 HECTARES MORE* by Melody M. Aguiba 15-February-2009 Manila Bulletin The Philippines has posted another biotechnology (Bt) crop growth with a 100,000-hectare expansion of genetically modified (GM) corn to 350,000 hectares, although expansion may later slow down as it saturates the market. The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) has reported the significant 40 percent growth for 2008 from the previous year's 250,000 hectare-area for the Asiatic corn borer-resistant Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn. However, ISAAA Global Coordinator Randy A. Hautea said growth in the future may slow down as Bt corn is now eating up on the hybrid corn area. "One-third of our yellow corn is now Bt corn," Hautea said in a press briefing, implying a saturation in the market. More technologically-advanced farmers planting hybrid rice are normally the ones who have the technical know-how and have the resources to shift to the genetically modified (GM) corn. ISAAA attributes the fast growth of the country's biotechnology corn area to the spread of information regarding the benefit farmers get from Bt corn. While organizations like religious ones may be blocking expansion of the technology, he said farmers in religiously-devout countries like Brazil and Argentina have influenced each other in adopting GM technologies. This, he said, may happen in the Philippines and its neighboring countries which are now adopting biotechnology crops after the country pioneered Bt corn's commercialization in 2002. Already 55 countries have officially adopted biotechnology crops of which 25 including the Philippines publicly declare their approval of it. The other countries with big areas are biotechnology areas are the United States, 62.5 million hectares; Argentina, 21 million; Brazil, 15.8 million; India and Canada, 7.6 million each; China, 3.8 million; Paraguay, 2.7 million; South Africa, 1.8 million; Uruguay, 700,000 hectares; and Bolivia, 600,000 hectares. While certain countries have policies against-growing GM crops, 30 countries including Japan publicly declare approval for GM crops' importation. Moreover, in South East Asia, there are three or four countries that are growing GM crops despite non-official approval. These are Vietnam, Thailand, and Malaysia. Lydia Lapastora, an Isabela farmer who has become millionaire out of growing Bt corn, said in the same press briefing that her average yield for the Roundup Ready yellow corn, a herbicide-resistant GM corn, is at 6.4 metric tons (MT) per hectare. Her yield even reaches to seven MT per hectare which is way higher than the 5.5 MT per hectare average for non-conventional corn. Lapastora, a Magsasaka Siyentista 2008 awardee, said her net income for the herbicide-resistant corn has increased to P45,215 per hectare, up from P34,194 per hectare using the conventional corn. This as she eliminated her P1,500 per hectare cost for corn borer control and as her weed control cost dropped to P1,240 per hectare in the GM corn compared to P2,750 per hectare in the conventional corn. *------------------------------------------------------------* *7-MORE FARMERS GO FOR Bt CORN* by Zac B. Sarian 14-February-2009 Manila Bulletin DON'T look now, but more and more farmers are planting Bt corn, the GMO or genetically modified corn variety that many anti-biotech people had been condemning. Last year, at least 200,000 small corn farmers planted and made money from Bt corn, planting some 350,000 hectares. The fast increasing popularity of Bt corn with local farmers could be easily gauged by the fact that in 2005, only 10,000 hectares were planted to this transgenic crop. Last year, the figure increased 35 times. One avid grower of Bt corn is a widow, 54-year-old Lydia Lapastora of Brgy. Yeban Norte, Benito Soliven, Isabela. She has been planting Bt corn since 2005 when the same was first allowed to be commercially grown in the country. Despite the admonition of the priest in her hometown, she planted Bt corn and is really glad she did. Last year, Lydia planted Bt corn on 10 hectares and harvested an average of 6.4 tons per hectare. That's almost double the average of 3.57 tons per hectare harvested by corn farmers nationwide. On the average, she realized an additional net profit of P11,000 per hectare as a result of planting Bt corn. Since she planted two times on the same area last year, she really made a significant income from this GMO The Bt corn, by the way, is more profitable to grow because it does not require any chemical spraying against the very destructive corn earworm that damages a lot of corn crops. This resists corn attack because the gene of Bacillus thuringensis, a natural enemy of corn earworm has been incorporated in the transgenic corn. Chemical pesticides are not only expensive, they also poison the environment. That is why Bt corn is actually considered environmentally friendly. Corn is the only genetically modified crop that is being commercially grown in the Philippines. In other countries like the United States, Brazil, China and India, millions of hectares are now planted to transgenic soybean, cotton, corn and a few other crops. Work is under way, however, on the development of transgenic papaya and eggplant. The potentials of transgenic crops are really great but adequate research and development funds are badly needed. So are the right policies of the government. *------------------------------------------------------------ 8-AREA PLANTED TO BIOTECH CORN UP 40% *By John Poquiz (Reporter) 13-February-2009 Malaya The country's adoption of biotech maize has increased consistently over the years. A study by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Application (ISAAA) showed that in 2008, area planted to biotech maize grew by 40 percent to 350,000 hectares from 248,000 hectares in 2007. Areas occupied in 2008 by stacked traits of Biotech Herbicide Tolerant (BT/H) maize is 200,000 hectares, up by 300 percent from 63,000 hectares in 2007. The research showed that farms planting biotech maize in the northern Philippine provinces were determined to have significantly higher populations of beneficial insects--such as flower bugs, beetles, and spiders--than those planted with conventional hybrid maize. Farm level economic benefit of planting biotech maize for the period of 2003 to 2007 was registered at about $66 million. Twelve million dollars of this was from the tolerance of maize from herbicide, and $55 was from insect resistance. The research showed that the gain profit at the farm level was P10,132 per hectare for farmers planting biotech maize. Overall, the study showed that the Philippines has already gained $30 million from biotech maize from 2003 to 2006. In 2008, stacked maize traits, BT/H, represent 60 percent of the biotech maize in the country. More biotech products are expected to be commercialized in the next five years. There are recent studies being conducted for the propagation of other biotech crops such as rice, eggplant, abaca and coconut. *------------------------------------------------------------* *VIETNAM 9-VIETNAM TO GROW GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS BY 2015: CONFERENCE *17-February-2009 VNA via Than Thien Daily Vietnamese farmers will be growing genetically modified crops by 2015, said Agricultural Genetics Institute head Le Huy Ham at a conference in Hanoi last week. Since gene-altered crop research here began in 2006, some species of plants have been grown in vitro, Ham said at the conference on "World Status and Achievements in Growing Genetically Modified Crops." Rice, corn and soybeans are the focus of current Vietnamese research in the field, he said. However, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development must issue regulations on testing and assessing the crops before such products could be officially launched here, said scientists at the conference. Coordinator Randy Hautea from the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) said 25 countries in the world had grown biotech crops, including 15 developing countries, on 800 million hectares of land. ISAAA is a non-profit organization that works to transfer agricultural biotechnologies to the poor in developing countries. Genetically modified crops have been a subject of controversy since they were first created in the 1980s. Some experts have warned that they could be problematic for environmental reasons and could also have ill effects on the health of people who eat them. *------------------------------------------------------------* *AFRICA 10-KENYA APPROVES GM AFTER YEARS OF DELAYS *18-February-2009 SciDev.Net [NAIROBI] Kenya has become the fourth African country to allow the production and use of genetically modified (GM) crops after president Mwai Kibaki signed off on parliament's approval of new biosafety legislation last week (13 February). The Biosafety Bill 2008 sees the East African nation join Burkina Faso, Egypt and South Africa as African nations which permit genetically modified farming, following years of fine-tuning to the proposed regulations and mechanisms to monitor and regulate GM technology, and protect farmers and. A National Biosafety Authority will now be created, under the National Council for Science and Technology, to implement the legislation and to follow priorities as stated in the National Biotechnology Development Policy passed in, Margaret Karembu, director of the Kenya-based African centre of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), told SciDev.Net. She adds that the new legislation will fast-track the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) project to develop drought-resistant maize, which had stalled due to the lack of a legislative framework. Charles Watoro, director of Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) says a lot of agricultural research has been delayed due to several postponements in passing the legislation. The new law will allow open field trials in several locations, removing previous restrictions and speeding up agricultural improvements, he says. "But we need implementation of this law very fast," he adds. Watoro says KARI researchers are working on cotton, maize, cassava, sweet potatoes and sorghum genetically modified to resist common pests. Meanwhile, an international survey of 13 years of genetically modified agriculture up until 2008, released in Nairobi in the same week (11 February) by ISAAA, says there is substantial evidence that crops genetically modified to withstand drought, salt, insects and diseases are safe for human consumption. ISAAA founder Clive James said at a press conference in Nairobi (12 February) that biotechnology delivers food that is as safe as those produced through conventional agriculture. "This technology is regulated more heavily than any other,'' said James. James applauded the ratification of the Biosafety Bill by the Kenyan president, saying the process indicated mature leadership responding to the food crisis, which has been declared a national disaster. He added that ISAAA is interested in helping developing countries like Kenya with the decision-making process but that ultimately it is up to the individual countries to make decisions on biotechnology. Link to executive summary of ISAAA report *------------------------------------------------------------* *GLOBAL 11-GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS GAIN GLOBAL FOOTHOLD *by Wandera Ojanji 19-February-2009 BusinessDaily Africa February 19, 2009: Genetically modified (GM) crops are gaining more popularity despite spirited campaigns against them. A report released last week shows a marked increase not only in the area under cultivation of GM crops, but also the number of farmers, countries planting the GM crops and the varieties of the GM crops, particularly those that have been engineered to carry multiple genes to address multiple production constraints. The area under cultivation of GM crops grew strongly reaching 125 million hectares in 2008, up from 114.3 million hectares in 2007 ? a 9.4 per cent increase that is also the sixth largest increase since the first commercialization of GM crops in 1996, according to the report, Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2008. However, although the number of countries planting biotech crops increased to 25, comprising 15 developing countries and 10 industrial countries, about eight countries dominate planting of GM crops ? with the USA accounting for 62.5 million ha, Argentina 21.0, Brazil 15.8, India 7.6, Canada 7.6, China 3.8, Paraguay 2.7, and South Africa 1.8 million hectares. Uruguay, Bolivia, Philippines, Australia, Mexico, Spain, Chile, Colombia, Honduras, Burkina Faso, Czech Republic, Romania, Portugal, Germany, Poland, Slovakia and Egypt are the other countries growing biotech crops. Growth in acreage under biotech crops was indeed expected. But what was surprising was the rate of increase. While it took it took 10 years to reach the first billion acres, it took only three years to reach the second billion. "These are very important developments given that biotech crops can contribute to some of the major challenges facing global society, including food security, high price of food, sustainability, alleviation of poverty and hunger, and help mitigate some of the challenges associated with climate change," stated Dr Clive James, founder and chair of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) at the release of the report in Nairobi last week. A notable trend in the adoption of the biotech crops is that more farmers are now preferring biotech crops with stacked traits, that is, GM crops with multiple genes introduced to fight multiple production constraints, particularly so among countries that were among the first to commercialize biotech 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 . *Pushing for Green Architecture* *SEARCA organizes training on environmental economics * *SEAMEC President visits the Philippines* *Lessons from a DL Umali Awardee* *---------------------------------------------------------* *Download available paper and/or presentation handouts of some notable speakers presented at SEARCA Agriculture and Development Series. CLICK HERE. * *UPLB Interdisciplinary Program on Climate Change Seminar Series: Fossil Fuels, Climate Change and Philippine Energy Alternatives* *by Dr. Kelvin S. Rodolfo Drilon Hall, SEARCA, Los Ba?os, Laguna 17 February 2009, 10:00 AM* *SEARCA ADSS: Rice Black Bug: Experiences and Strategies of Laguna Farmers* *by Dr. Gil Magsino University Researcher III and Affiliate Assistant Professor, National Crop Protection Center, UPLB SEARCA College, Laguna, Philippines 17 February 2009, 4:00 - 5:00 PM* *5th Executive Forum on NRM: Environmental Economics for Decision-making* *SEARCA, Los Ba?os, Laguna, Philippines 23 - 27 March 2009 Course Brochure | Flyer | Registration Form | Expression of Interest | Special Rates* *Measures of Hope and Promises Delivered: An International Conference on Socioeconomic and Environmental Impact Assessment of Genetically Modified (GM) Crops* *Bangkok, Thailand 21 - 22 April 2009* *-------------------------------------------------------------* *CALL FOR APPLICATION Department of Agriculture, Philippines: Biotechnology Research Fellowship Program 8 Slots Available for Senior Scientist Research Grant and Research Fellowship Grant View details here. BIOTEC, Thailand: Human Resource Development Program in Biotechnology 2009 Deadline for application: 15 March 2009* [image: visit discussion board] -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From searcabic at gmail.com Thu Feb 26 09:13:08 2009 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:13:08 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] NEWS FLASH: SEARCA invites media practitioners to a workshop on impact assessment and biofuels 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 26 February 2009* *SEARCA INVITES MEDIA PRACTITIONERS* TO A WORKSHOP ON IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND BIOFUELS* The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) is pleased to invite applications to participate in its workshop for media practitioners titled, *?Understanding Impact Assessment: the Biofuel Challenge"*, on 26-27 March 2009 at SEARCA, Los Ba?os, Laguna, Philippines. The workshop will accept 20-25 media practitioners from the different regions in the Philippines. It will review basics on impact assessment and data interpretation, and then allow participants to apply impact assessment literacy to evaluating options in biofuel development. It will also provide the framework for building awareness and understanding on the emerging biofuel industry, on the technologies to be developed and managed, on the policy and regulatory issues, and on socioeconomic development challenges. The workshop topics include an overview of the biofuels industry in the Philippines; overview of impact assessment; biofuel production and its effects on social and economic environments in the Philippines; interpreting and communicating biofuels impact assessment results; developing messages on impact assessment and biofuels; and insights, issues and experiences from public and private sector research and development on biofuels. The program of activities of the workshop and an application form are attached to this invitation. Interested participants may send accomplished application forms on or before *8 March 2009* to *Dr. Maria Celeste H. Cadiz *, SEARCA Training Manager , fax (63-49) 436-2283, or telephone (63-49) 536-2365 to 67 (local 125/173) to enable her group to notify accepted applicants by 12 March 2009. For additional information and forms, visit the following link at the SEARCA website: http://www.searca.org/web/training/courses/2009/biofuel_ia/ or email/call *Ms. Nova A. Ramos*, Training Associate at the same telephone numbers. **Open for Philippine-based media practitioners only. * ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To post in e-group, e-mail bic at searcaweb.org. To UNSUBSCRIBE, click here . -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: