From searcabic at gmail.com Mon Jun 1 17:23:18 2009 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Mon, 1 Jun 2009 17:23:18 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] Public Seminars at SEARCA (02 June, Tuesday) and IRRI (04 June, Thursday) 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. *SEARCA AGRICULTURE & DEVELOPMENT SEMINAR SERIES (ADSS) Measuring the Transactions Sector in the Philippine Economy* *Speaker: Mr. Agham C. Cuevas* *Assistant Professor College of Economics and Management, University of the Philippines Los Ba?os * SEARCA, College, Laguna, Philippines *02 June 2009 (Tuesday)* 4:00 - 5:00 PM For further details, visit SEARCA website at http://www.searca.org. ------------------------------------------------------- *IRRI SEMINAR SERIES Myths and misconceptions on the management of the invasive rice black bugs (RBB), Scotinophara spp. in the Philippines* *Speaker: Dr. Alberto T. Barrion* *Senior Consulting Crop Protection Expert in Entomology Philippine Rice Research Institute - Los Ba?os* Havener Auditorium, IRRI Los Ba?os, Laguna, Philippines *04 June 2009 (Thursday)* 1:15 - 2:15 PM *Rice Black Bugs (RBB) are cryptic and invasive sap-feeding insects now widespread throughout the Philippine agricultural landscape. Yield loss during outbreaks ranged from 25% to total crop loss, all attributed to Scotinophara coarctata (F.). Farmers have relied mostly on chemicals to control the pest. This seminar offers a systematic review of Philippine RBB populations, along with information on the biology and ecology of the insect. Myths and misconceptions that have led to the mismanagement of RBBs are uncovered. Factors that affect mitigation are also presented.* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From searcabic at gmail.com Thu Jun 4 11:38:06 2009 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 11:38:06 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] NEWS FLASH: Agri experts want anti-GMO ordinance revised 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 04 June 2009* *AGRI EXPERTS WANT ANTI-GMO ORDINANCE REVISED* *by George M. de la Cruz 03-June-2009 Sun Star Bacolod Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/bacolod/agri-experts-want-anti-gmo-ordinance-revised * AGRICULTURE experts and scientists Tuesday unanimously declared that genetically-modified organisms (GMO) are safe for both humans and animals. However, there is still a possibility that GMO could still cause "risks" which Dr. Nina G. Gloriani theorized would only be "on a very low level." Gloriani opined that there is no exact definition for "safe" but stressed that "anything that has the affinity to thrive with ecology would always adapt to it on a certain level and strength." The group that presented scientific explanations and features of GMO in Tuesday's seminar on biotechnology and biosafety at the Business Inn, in Bacolod City, recommended the need to modify or revise some provisions of Provincial Ordinance 007-2007, which bans the entry of GMO-infected agri products into the province. But livestock, poultry raisers and grain growers, who were present during the seminar, remained vehement in opposing said ordinance. The provincial government, through the ad hoc committee, is presently studying possibilities whether to lift or not the ban it imposed on GMO-infected corn feeds. Provincial Board Members Patrick Lacson and Enrique Miguel Lacson, who chair the committees on commerce, trade and industry and on food security, respectively, represented Gov. Isidro Zayco in Tuesday's seminar. Dr. Randy A. Hautea, coordinator and director for Global and SEAsia Center, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), opined that those provisions, which are not consistent with its implementation need to be revised or modified. "To ban the entry of any agri-product believed to be GMO-infected is not as fair to the farmers (considering) the fact that the issue on GMO is not only exclusive to agriculture but in ornamentals, food production, among others, and those that has the affinity to biodiversity. Ban per se is selective and in the case of Negros, appears to have exclusivity, making some of the provisions of the ordinance inconsistent, which actually needed to be revised," Hautea said. He noted that if agri products are to be banned, then a ban on pesticides will also follow because it is as well genetically-engineered and the farmers are the group of people who would most likely suffer the consequence. Findings on the studies conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA), also with the Pontifical Academy for Sciences, proved that GMO is "praiseworthy for improving the lives of the poor, especially the farmers group." "We don't allow, as a rule of law, neither tolerate those that has a bad effect to biodiversity," said Dr. Saturnina Halos, chair of the Department of Agriculture Biotech Advisory Team. Distinctions between a GM-positive and non-GM organisms were also presented wherein those which are positive were said to be more cost-effective, safe for human consumption, and benefit human health, could help the developing world, cut down on pesticide and herbicide use, and help preserve natural habitats while those which are negative could increase herbicide and pesticide use, could damage non-GM farmers, have unpredictable health risks, won't help feed the developed world, and mainly benefits big biotechnology companies. Non-GM corn is infested with corn borers and is contaminated with bacteria and fungi. These fungi produce aflatoxins which can cause or associated with liver cancer, the presentation showed. "This corn may have also been treated with chemical pesticides but not protected against corn borer; and farmers are exposed to chemical pesticides with ill-effects on human health," Hautea said. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To post in e-group, e-mail bic at searcaweb.org. To UNSUBSCRIBE, click here . -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From searcabic at gmail.com Sun Jun 7 12:17:50 2009 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 12:17:50 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] Latest news postings on biotechnology, 07 June 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 07 June 2009* *PHILIPPINES* 1-FILIPINO FARMERS WELCOME NEW RICE VARIETIES 2 -PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE UNDERSECRETARY COUNTS ON BIOTECH IN MITIGATING WATER AND ENERGY CRISES 3 -AGRI EXPERTS WANT ANTI-GMO ORDINANCE REVISED 4 -UP MINDANAO GETS BIOTECH FACILITY 5 -ORGANIC AGRICULTURE GOES BEYOND GMO BAN *KOREA* 6 -SEOUL URGES ASEAN TO GO ?GREEN? *MEXICO* 7 -MEXICO OKs GM CORN *GLOBAL* 8 -VATICAN STUDY ENDORSES GMOS FOR FOOD SECURITY *1-FILIPINO FARMERS WELCOME NEW RICE VARIETIES* 04-June-2009 IRRI Press Release Los Ba?os, Philippines ? Three new rice varieties designed to help Filipino farmers grow more rice in difficult conditions have been officially recommended for approval for commercial cultivation in the Philippines and are expected to help the Philippines become less dependent on rice imports. Bred by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), one variety is flood-tolerant, one is drought-tolerant, and one is salt-tolerant. ?In the Philippines about 400,000 hectares of rice-growing land is affected by salinity, and in any year up to 370,000 hectares can be flood-affected,? said Dr. David Mackill, program leader and plant breeder at IRRI. ?Both these conditions can completely destroy a rice crop or decrease yield. ?Yield is also reduced by drought that occurs in upland and rain-fed areas where rice is not irrigated. Having rice varieties that can cope with difficult growing conditions such as flood, drought, and salinity will be particularly helpful for poor farmers who rely on marginal land to grow their rice. ?Rice-growing land that has limited productivity will become more productive when these new rice varieties are used ? this will help Filipino farmers produce more rice,? he added. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, every year Filipinos eat an average of more than 100 kilograms of rice per person. With population increasing, demand for rice continues to grow in the Philippines, which is already the world?s biggest rice importer. ?The development of these rice varieties demonstrates how IRRI and its partners can increase the yield of rice through research,? said Dr. Mackill. ?Ongoing investment in rice research, breeding, and extension will help to increase rice yields and improve the sustainability of rice production to help avoid future rice price increases.? The new rice varieties have been tested in field conditions and evaluated by the Rice Varietal Improvement Group through the National Cooperative Testing program of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice). ?The Rice Technical Working Group of the National Seed Industry Council will now recommend the varieties for official approval, which is expected to occur sometime in late 2009,? said Ms. Thelma Padolina, NCT national coordinator at PhilRice. As a nonprofit organization, IRRI provides the seed for these new varieties at no cost to PhilRice. PhilRice has already started distributing small amounts of seed to farmers for further adaptation tests. Seed increase of breeder and foundation seeds is now being done by IRRI and PhilRice. When officially approved, basic seed will be available to seed growers and selected farmers that can cater to other farmers. It is also expected that seed exchange among farmers in the target areas will be active with the new technologies. IRRI and PhilRice continue to work together and more new rice varieties especially designed for the Philippines are expected to be released soon. This research is financially supported by the Federal Government of Germany, the CGIAR Generation Challenge Programme, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and the Rockefeller Foundation. Contact Sophie Clayton: Tel. +63 2 580 5600 (ext. 2204), Mob. +63 917 552 6082, s.clayton at cgiar.org *------------------------------------------------------------* *2-PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE UNDERSECRETARY COUNTS ON BIOTECH IN MITIGATING WATER AND ENERGY CRISES *by Jenny A. Panopio 29-May-2009 SEARCA BIC News Release The Philippine?s Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Segfredo R. Serrano supports biotechnology as one of the interventions that can provide new set of tools in mitigating the challenges of water and energy crises in the country. ?Biotechnology is one of the emerging technologies which the Philippine government supports to develop a new platform of technologies in meeting these challenges. The Philippines is the only country in the Southeast Asia with an established and functional biotechnology regulatory system, and this will pave the way for the commercialization of biotechnology products that can help in meeting these challenges? shares Usec. Serrano during the opening of the Annual Conference of the Federation of the Crop Science Society of the Philippines last May 19, 2009 held in Silliman University, Dumaguete City. Usec Serrano added that the Department of Agriculture will continuously support biotechnology research, development and extension efforts to attain food sufficiency and improve health and well being of the Filipinos. In addition, Dr. Antonio C. Laurena of University of the Philippines Los Ba?os Institute of Plant Breeding shared the current research and development initiatives in biotechnology which are aimed in meeting the water and energy crises. These include drought-tolerant crops such as rice, corn, wheat and sugarcane, as well as genetically engineered biofuel crops as one option in boosting biofuel production. In the near future, products of these initiatives will be available to the farmers and to the entire community. For additional information about the biotech updates in the Philippines, visit www.bic.searca.org or send an email to bic at agri.searca.org. *------------------------------------------------------------* *3-AGRI EXPERTS WANT ANTI-GMO ORDINANCE REVISED* By George M. de la Cruz 03-June-2009 Sun Star Bacolod AGRICULTURE experts and scientists Tuesday unanimously declared that genetically-modified organisms (GMO) are safe for both humans and animals. However, there is still a possibility that GMO could still cause "risks" which Dr. Nina G. Gloriani theorized would only be "on a very low level." Gloriani opined that there is no exact definition for "safe" but stressed that "anything that has the affinity to thrive with ecology would always adapt to it on a certain level and strength." The group that presented scientific explanations and features of GMO in Tuesday's seminar on biotechnology and biosafety at the Business Inn, in Bacolod City, recommended the need to modify or revise some provisions of Provincial Ordinance 007-2007, which bans the entry of GMO-infected agri products into the province. But livestock, poultry raisers and grain growers, who were present during the seminar, remained vehement in opposing said ordinance. The provincial government, through the ad hoc committee, is presently studying possibilities whether to lift or not the ban it imposed on GMO-infected corn feeds. Provincial Board Members Patrick Lacson and Enrique Miguel Lacson, who chair the committees on commerce, trade and industry and on food security, respectively, represented Gov. Isidro Zayco in Tuesday's seminar. Dr. Randy A. Hautea, coordinator and director for Global and SEAsia Center, International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), opined that those provisions, which are not consistent with its implementation need to be revised or modified. "To ban the entry of any agri-product believed to be GMO-infected is not as fair to the farmers (considering) the fact that the issue on GMO is not only exclusive to agriculture but in ornamentals, food production, among others, and those that has the affinity to biodiversity. Ban per se is selective and in the case of Negros, appears to have exclusivity, making some of the provisions of the ordinance inconsistent, which actually needed to be revised," Hautea said. He noted that if agri products are to be banned, then a ban on pesticides will also follow because it is as well genetically-engineered and the farmers are the group of people who would most likely suffer the consequence. Findings on the studies conducted by the Department of Agriculture (DA), also with the Pontifical Academy for Sciences, proved that GMO is "praiseworthy for improving the lives of the poor, especially the farmers group." "We don't allow, as a rule of law, neither tolerate those that has a bad effect to biodiversity," said Dr. Saturnina Halos, chair of the Department of Agriculture Biotech Advisory Team. Distinctions between a GM-positive and non-GM organisms were also presented wherein those which are positive were said to be more cost-effective, safe for human consumption, and benefit human health, could help the developing world, cut down on pesticide and herbicide use, and help preserve natural habitats while those which are negative could increase herbicide and pesticide use, could damage non-GM farmers, have unpredictable health risks, won't help feed the developed world, and mainly benefits big biotechnology companies. Non-GM corn is infested with corn borers and is contaminated with bacteria and fungi. These fungi produce aflatoxins which can cause or associated with liver cancer, the presentation showed. "This corn may have also been treated with chemical pesticides but not protected against corn borer; and farmers are exposed to chemical pesticides with ill-effects on human health," Hautea said. *------------------------------------------------------------* *4-UP MINDANAO GETS BIOTECH FACILITY * by Yas D. Ocampo and Rene Estremera 31-May-2009 The Philippine STAR MANILA, Philippines - A research program on indigenous bio-resources once made headlines by transforming the ubiquitous sago into a very promising income generator in Mindanao. But sago is just the beginning. ?Other abundant indigenous resources like nipa, kaong, and some forest species ornamentals will soon be included in the program,? according to Dr. Dulce M. Flores, project leader of a research program that aims to shorten the process and reduce the cost of producing ?value-added? products such as industrial lactic acid, ethanol, and biodegradable plastics from starch. To boost the project, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and UP Mindanao (UPMin) recently launched the DOST-UPMin Biotechnology Facility at UPMin?s College of Science and Mathematics in Davao City. The facility is expected to help Mindanao utilize its unused indigenous bio-resources for economic development. ?We feel very proud of this. This is a milestone for UP Mindanao,? UPMin Chancellor Gilda C. Rivero told media in a press conference. She recounted how the project had been proposed almost two years ago. When the DOST approved a grant of P23 million for the UPMin Biotechnology Research Program and the establishment of the facility, UPMin was enabled to do more in-depth and advanced research work in biotechnology and has, at present, become a center of biotechnology in Mindanao. ?We are now on our first year, and I think we?ve met [our] goals,? the chancellor reported. According to Flores, sago was chosen for the initial phase of the project due to its abundance and high starch yield. The potential of sago to help in Mindanao?s economic development immediately captured the attention of program sponsors DOST and the Philippine Council for Advanced Science and Technology Research and Development (PCASTRD). During a press conference at the inauguration of the facility, PCASTRD Executive Director Reynaldo V. Ebora described sago as a viable food source that can serve as an alternative to corn and other local crops. DOST Secretary Estrella F. Alabastro praised UPMin?s efforts at biotechnology and held it as an example of how the academe can help lessen the dependence on non-renewable materials. Alabastro said UPMin has now become part of the network of older UP campuses involved in biotechnology research: UP Diliman, UP Manila, UP Los Ba?os, and UP Visayas - all of which have their own institutes of biotechnology. UPLB is focused on agricultural biotechnology, UPM on medical applications of biotechnology, and UPV on marine biotechnology. Aside from extracting ?value-added? products from sago, the UPMin biotechnology program has also embarked on an inventory of sago palms growing in the forests of Mindanao and other places in the country; the study of its pests, natural friends, and microbial growth regulators; and the micro-propagation of sago palms. President Emerlinda R. Roman said projects like these prove that UPMin can do more than offer degree programs to help the country. At a time when UPMin is still grappling with its identity as a constituent university, it has embarked on research works tailored to fit the needs of its clientele. The strengthening of its Science and Technology capabilities is also in line with its mandate to apply UP expertise to the concerns of Mindanao. According to Roman, studies on indigenous food and bio-resources found in Mindanao fall under Mindanao studies, a broad field UPMin can excel in. *------------------------------------------------------------* *5-ORGANIC AGRICULTURE GOES BEYOND GMO BAN* by Nanette L. Guadalquiver 28-May-2009 BusinessWorld BACOLOD CITY- The Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc., a non-government organization promoting sustainable agricultural production here, said the concept and promotion of organic agriculture in Negros Occidental should not be limited to the ban of genetically-modified organisms (GMO) or products. ?We encourage the provincial government to expound its concept and promotion of organic agriculture by not limiting it to a GMO ban but more importantly, instituting systems and mechanism for food security development and sustainability,? the foundation?s executive committee said in a statement. The statement was given amid the controversial enforcement of the provincial ordinance imposing the GMO ban. The foundation said support systems for organic agriculture development should also be put in place such as alternative organic fertilizers and feeds, subsidized trainings on organic agriculture, and technical and financial support for agrarian reform beneficiaries willing to engage in organic farming. Incidentally, the foundation developed the Ashden Award-wining renewable technology called the hydraulic ram pump used to bring water uplands through hydroenergy. There should also be certification of local organic producers, a market for organic products, and support for groups and institutions engaged in the development and promotion of appropriate and renewable technologies, it added. The foundation stressed the need for food sovereignty as a nation?s right to determine its agricultural, labor, aquatic, food and land policies, which it considers the best road map to a genuine and lasting people?s development. For food security to be sustainable, it must be based on nurturing multiple sources of food and not rely on the massive production of monocrops. Negros Occidental, being a sugar monocrop economy, yields about 60% of the country?s sugar. The foundation noted that the most food secure populations are those that harness biodiversity in their food production systems, noting that monocropping and a plantation economy have only brought devastation to community genetic resources and widespread disempowerment, poverty and disease to an increasing number of people. Biodiversity has provided the necessary resource base for different communities to adapt to varying conditions in the environment, it added. Nevertheless, the foundations said that along with its partners, they laud and support the efforts of the provincial government to promote and institutionalize organic agriculture because central to sustainable agriculture is organic farming. It added that sustainable agriculture also means that food products are distributed and marketed sustainably, and are thus not export-oriented. By marketing food locally, farmers save on fuel and labor costs, and focus on local markets also ensures that farming communities are able to earn a living. At a consultation last week at the Capitol, civil society representatives presented a resolution calling for the enforcement of the Negros Occidental and Bacolod City ordinances banning GMOs in both the province and the city. They added that while there are sectors seeking to amend, if not do away with Provincial Ordinance 007, civil society recognizes the dangers posed by GMOs on endemic and indigenous plant and animal species and on the health of the people. The resolution also asked Gov. Isidro Zayco to immediately constitute an enforcement unit under the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, joined by appropriate local and national law enforcement agencies and civil society organizations. *------------------------------------------------------------* *KOREA 6-SEOUL URGES ASEAN TO GO ?GREEN? *by Llanesca T. Panti (Reporter) 26-May-2009 Manila Times South Korea has called on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) for more investments in developing new and renewable sources of energy. Its President Lee Myung-Bak noted that if South Korea?s ?green technology??a fusion of information technology, biotechnology and nano technology?was combined with Asean?s opportunities in ?green? growth, both parties could move closer to creating ?low-carbon smart cities.? Lee disclosed that Seoul is working to put in place ?smart grids? that would help South Korea and Asean to drastically reduce carbon emissions, increase efficiency and reduce overall consumption. Asean, composed of the Philippines, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Singapore and Vietnam, is South Korea?s third-largest trading partner. It constitutes the second-largest overseas investment destination of South Korea. *President Lee?s speech* Seoul ?is making bold investments in developing new sources of clean energy in order to remain globally competitive. With climate change accelerating at such an alarming rate, we can no longer be complacent,? Lee said in his speech ahead of the Asean-South Korea Commemorative Summit on Jeju Island on June 1 to 2. The Manila Times had obtained a copy of the speech. The South Korean president said that while his country?s journey toward economic progress has been marked by many proud achievements, South Korea also made mistakes, particularly on its over-reliance on fossil fuels. He revealed that South Korea used to get more than 97 percent of its energy needs from abroad and, in the past, Lee said, many thought such situation was unavoidable. As such, he suggested that South Korea and Asean cooperate in research activities to develop various forms of alternative energies, as well as forestation projects that would play a pivotal role in tackling global warming. ?Climate change is a daunting challenge that requires concerted global effort, but it can also be an historic opportunity for promoting cooperation between South Korea and Asean,? Lee pointed out. ?Through this [cooperation] and much more, South Korea and Asean can become the world?s pioneering leaders and the world?s ?green? research hub that introduces new innovations and turn ?green? ideas into reality,? he said. The East Asia Climate Partnership that Seoul launched in 2008, according to Lee, can also strengthen such ?green? partnership. Additionally, the impending Asean Free Trade Agreement is expected to be a factor such team-up as it will facilitate not only trade and investment but also promote cultural, tourism and educational exchanges. ?Having spent a great deal of my time in Asean countries as a young businessman, I recall the warm hospitality, thriving entrepreneurship and the magnificent cultural splendor of Asean. This is why I know that there is so much South Korea can learn from and share with our Asean friends,? he said. Until Lee became the president of South Korea, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Hyundai Corp. *Leaders? meeting* He will meet with the leaders from the 10 Asean member-states and the secretary-general of Asean at the Jeju summit but will hold separate summits in Seoul with four Asean leaders?Philippine President Gloria Arroyo and Prime Ministers Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore, Hun Sen of Cambodia and Nguyen Tan Dung of Vietnam. All four will make official visits to South Korea on the occasion of the commemorative summit. Based on Department of Foreign Affairs records, South Korea is one of the Philippines? most dynamic bilateral partners. Bilateral trade between the two countries stands at around $5.06 billion, while over $3 billion in South Korean investments have topped the list of the Philippines? foreign direct investment inflows. Furthermore, at least 600,000 South Korean tourists visit the Philippines annually?the largest share of the visitor arrivals to the Philippines. *------------------------------------------------------------* *MEXICO 7-MEXICO OKs GM CORN *by Veronica Guerrero 01-June-2009 Nature Biotechnology 27, 404 (2009) via Truth Abut Trade and Technology Mexico has reformed its law to allow planting of genetically modified (GM) corn on experimental plots, ending 11 years of moratorium and controversy. Until this change in the law announced in March, Mexico had banned GM corn cultivation completely. Even though legislation governing GM crops had been passed in 2005, because Mexico is considered the birthplace of corn, rules related to GM were deemed to require special treatment. Fabrice Salamanca, director general of AgroBio Mexico, a Mexican biotech association, explains that the recently amended guidelines contained in the Biosafety Law on Genetically Modified Organisms, also establish the need to create a seed bank to preserve different types of native or 'criollo' maize and provide financial support to encourage the use and conservation of native varieties. The experimental plots will be located exclusively in the northern region of Mexico, far from the states with native corn diversity. Critics argue that, despite the rigorous specifications set out in the newly reformed law, data on the potential impact of GM corn on the crop's genetic diversity are lacking. But Salamanca points out that performing any survey in situ would have been impossible because the Biosafety Law prevented experimental GM planting. The new regulations, which include three phases-experimental, pilot crops and commercial planting-will ensure crops are assessed on a case-by-case basis. "If [the growers] don't provide evidence of the GM crop's value, they won't be allowed to continue cultivation." *------------------------------------------------------------* *GLOBAL 8-VATICAN STUDY ENDORSES GMOS FOR FOOD SECURITY *by John L Allen Jr 26-May-2009 National Catholic Reporter Rome, Italy - In what seemed largely a foregone conclusion, a May 15-19 study week on genetically modified organisms sponsored by the Pontifical Academy for Sciences ended with a strong endorsement of GMOs as ?praiseworthy for improving the lives of the poor,? and promising ?improved food safety and health benefits, better food security, and enhanced environmental performance in a sustainable manner.? Although the Pontifical Academy for Sciences is a prestigious Vatican body, it does not set official church teaching, and it remains unclear whether its conclusions will drive the Vatican toward a formal position on GMOs. While a concluding document from the study week had not been released as NCR went to press, participants who characterized its content said its pro-GMO conclusions enjoyed ?unanimous agreement? among the 41 experts from 17 countries who took part. Organized by German scientist Ingo Potrykus, the inventor of ?golden rice,? the study week had been criticized by anti-GMO activists for including only voices already convinced of the benefits of genetically modified crops. This is the second time that the Pontifical Academy of Sciences has endorsed GMOs, following an initial report adopted in 2001 and published in 2004. Critics charge that GMOs give excessive control over farming practices to large agribusiness corporations, and pose unknown risks to both the environment and human health. In general, the aim of the academy?s weeklong event seemed less to conduct an objective appraisal of GMOs than to mobilize public support, aiming to overcome what participants see as burdensome regulations and negative public images that sometimes stand in the way of the wider adoption of GMOs, especially in Europe and in parts of the developing world, above all Africa. Participants told NCR that after the final conclusions from this study week are published, plans call for three other documents: A set of short versions of the papers delivered at the study week, possibly including PowerPoint versions of the talks; A book-length collection of expanded versions of the papers, which could be published by winter 2010; A ?white paper? laying out the major conclusions and recommendations of the study week, intended for broad public distribution. ?In light of eight years of experience with growing transgenic crops, many additional field trials, and many additional published research reports, the conference concluded that the scientific evidence is overwhelming that transgenic crops ? improve the lives of the poor and offer additional significant improvements in their lives in the years to come,? said Drew Kershen of the University of Oklahoma, a professor of agricultural law at the University of Oklahoma and a study week participant. The Academy for Sciences event drew fire from Catholic opponents of GMOs. Irish missionary and environmental writer Fr. Sean McDonagh, who organized a small demonstration in Rome on May 18 to protest the event, charged that its purpose was ?to use the prestige of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, its good name, to beat governments so that you can reduce the minimal regulation that we have.? The demonstration near Rome?s Piazza del Popolo featured a banner reading, ?Pontifical Academy of Sciences, do not ally with those who, promoting GMOs, contribute to hunger in the world.? McDonagh objected that no Catholic critic of GMOs was invited. ?Who are the church?s real experts in this area?? McDonagh said. ?[They?re from] aid and development agencies, such as Misereor, Cafod and Caritas. [The academy] thought so little of the expertise in the Catholic church that they didn?t invite a single person from any one of those agencies. ? What are they afraid of?? It?s a point that study week participants largely conceded. ?We didn?t invite a bunch of naysayers to the table, who are convinced that GMOs don?t work or who are going to make fallacious scientific arguments that have been rejected by the bulk of the scientific community and by the regulators who approved them,? said Bruce Chassy, a food safety expert at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. ?This is not a ?balanced? meeting, in the sense that you bring every point of view to the table and seek some kind of idiotic consensus,? Chassy said. Though the position of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences seems clear, the broader Catholic debate over GMOs appears as yet unresolved. Two months ago, the working paper for next October?s Synod of Bishops for Africa appeared, containing critical language on GMOs. That document asserted that they risk ?ruining small landholders, abolishing traditional methods of seeding, and making farmers dependent on production companies.? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *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 . [image: Subscribe A Friend] [image: Subscribe A Friend] *SEARCA inks partnership with Powerbooks* *Bio- and Cultural Controls for a Pest-free Coconut* *---------------------------------------------------------* *Download available paper and/or presentation handouts of some notable speakers presented at SEARCA Agriculture and Development Series. CLICK HERE. * *---------------------------------------------------------* *JOB VACANCY @ SEARCA Special Projects Coordinator (Network and Linkages) Deadline of applications: 15 June 2009 View details here.* *SEARCA ADSS: Tropical Maize in Asia: Production Systems, Constraints and Research Priorities* *Speaker: Ms. Roberta V. Gerpacio, Project Development Specialist, SEARCA SAS Room, SEARCA, College, Laguna, PHILIPPINES 09 June 2009 (Tuesday), 4:00 - 5:00 PM* *2nd Annual Biofuels Summit* *Marina Mandarin, SINGAPORE 25 - 27 May 2009* *International Symposium on Second Green Revolution: Priorities, Programmes, Social and Ethical Issues (BIOSPECTRUM 2009)* *Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, INDIA 02 - 04 July 2009* *Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference (ABIC 2009)* *Bangkok, Thailand 22 - 25 September 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.* *-------------------------------------------------------------* *JOB VACANCY @ ASIA & PACIFIC SEED ASSOCIATION APSA Executive Director Deadline of applications: 15 June 2009 View details here.* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From searcabic at gmail.com Mon Jun 8 18:35:21 2009 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 18:35:21 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] ANNOUNCEMENTS: Public Seminars, Job Opportunities and Knowledge Products 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. Dear Friends and Colleagues, We are pleased to announce the following: *Public Seminars SEARCA ADSS: Tropical Maize in Asia: Production Systems, Constraints and Research Priorities* Speaker: *Ms. Roberta V. Gerpacio* Project Development Specialist, Research & Dev't Dept., SEARCA SAS Room, SEARCA, College, Laguna, Philippines 09 June 2009 (Tuesday), 4:00 - 5:00 PM *IRRI Seminar Series: Global Rice Food Security: What does it mean and how can we achieve it?* Speaker: *Dr. Samarendu Mohanty* Senior Economist and Head, Social Sciences Division, IRRI Havener Auditorium, IRRI, Los Ba?os, Laguna, Philippines 11 June 2009 (Thursday), 1:15 - 2:15 PM *Job Opportunities Special Projects Coordinator (Network & Linkages)* Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study & Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Deadline of applications: *15 June 2009* Click here for details. *Executive Director* Asia & Pacific Seed Association (APSA) Deadline of applications: *15 June 2009* Click here for details. *Knowlege Products ISAAA Video: Knowledge, Technology and Alleviation of Poverty* *Abridged version:* http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/default.asp *Abridged version with Tagalog subtitles:* http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/abridged/tagalog/ *Full-length version:* http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/gs2008/default.asp *Highlights of the ISAAA Brief 39-2008: Global Status of Commercialized Biotech / GM Crops 2008* *Local translations (in PDF):* *Tagalog:* http://www.bic.searca.org/highlights/2009/HighlightsTagalogVersion.pdf *Ilocano:* http://www.bic.searca.org/highlights/2009/HighlightsIlokanoVersion.pdf *Cebuano:* http://www.bic.searca.org/highlights/2009/HighlightsCebuanoVersion.pdf *Other languages:* http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/39/highlights/default.html For more events and announcements, visit SEARCA BIC website at http://www.bic.searca.org. Best regards, E-group Moderator SEARCA BIC -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From searcabic at gmail.com Tue Jun 16 14:53:20 2009 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:53:20 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] NEWS FEATURE: This widow grew rich from growing corn, 16 June 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. *Posted 16 June 2009* *THIS WIDOW GREW RICH FROM GROWING CORN* *by Zac B. Sarian* *01-June-2009 Agribusiness Week* *Source: http://www.agribusinessweek.com/this-widow-grew-rich-from-growing-corn/#more-1216 * One outstanding farmer we met lately is a widow who could easily beat many male counterparts in the business of farming. She is 54-year old Lydia Lapastora of Yeban Norte, Benito Soliven, Isabela. We met her at the media presentation on biotech crops under the auspices of the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) headed by Dr. Emil Q. Javier, and the International Service for the Acquisition of Agribiotech Applications (ISAAA) represented by Dr. Randy Hautea. Lydia was invited to share her experiences in planting transgenic corn because she is an example of a farmer who is progressive because she readily adopts the latest technologies. When transgenic corn, more popularly called GMO or genetically modified organism, was finally allowed to be commercially planted in the Philippines in 2005, Lydia was one of the first adoptors and has been growing the same two times a year (sometimes three times) on 10 hectares of farmland. She remembers that there were so many people who were against biotech crops, including a priest in her hometown who told his parishioners not to plant the so-called GMOs. But she didn?t heed the admonition and is glad she didn?t. There are actually two transgenic corn varieties that Lydia is growing. One is the Bt corn in which the genes of the Bacillus thuringiensis (a bacterium) is implanted in the plant so that it is not attacked by the every destructive corn earworm. The other GMO corn is the so-called herbicide-tolerant variety. This enables the farmer to save on the cost of weeding. When the corn plantation is sprayed with herbicide, only the weeds are killed and not the corn. Since manual weeding is very expensive, the use of herbicide makes it easier and less expensive to weed a farm, especially when a big area of several hectares is involved. With herbicide, weeding a big area can be done in just a short time. Last year, Lydia planted the two transgenic corn two times and averaged 6.4 tons per hectare. That is almost double the average of 3.57 tons per hectare harvested by corn farmers planting conventional corn. On the average, she realized an additional profit of P11,000 per hectare as a-result of planting transgenic corn. Since she planted two times on the same area, she really made a substantial income from the GMOs. Because of her success in growing corn, Lydia has been invited on so many occasions to speak on her experience in growing corn in particular and farming in general. One of her latest speaking engagements was before land reform beneficiaries during the 25th anniversary of the Department of Agrarian Reform. When she got married to Ricardo Lapastora in 1971, they started literally from scratch. She recounts that they started farming by planting corn on one-half hectare. She remembers very well that from that first planting, they grossed the princely sum of P600. And what did they do with the six hundred pesos? They used it to buy a 4,000 square meter farm from her brother. The couple also planted the 4,000 square meters to corn and made P800 from their first harvest. They used the income to buy their first carabao which also cost them exactly P800. They continued to plant corn and continued to reinvest their income in new farmlands and in other projects that enabled them to make more money. For instance, in 1996 the couple made a net income of P20,000 from one corn harvest. Instead of buying a new farm, they bought six native female cattle which they dispersed to relatives and friends for them to take care and to breed. Under the scheme, if the dispersed animal is still very young when it was dispersed, the caretaker will keep the first calf while the next would be given to the Lapastoras, and so on. Up to this day, even if Lydia is now a widow (her husband died in 2005), her dispersal project is continuing. She has at present 15 cattle breeders distributed to different caretakers. If her share is a male calf, she would sell it. But if it is a female, she would disperse it to a caretaker she trusts. Aside from cattle, she also disperses carabaos. At present she has five female carabaos being taken care of by other farmers. Another money-making activity is financing other corn farmers who need money for their inputs. She usually provides loans to several farmers cultivating a total of 100 hectares. For each hectare, she advances P20,000. The amount is returned after six months with an interest of 20 percent. When they were already making a lot money from farming, they were confident enough to borrow money from the bank to buy three big brand new tractors. They used these to prepare the farms of other farmers for a fee. They used to charge P1,800 for plowing one hectare. When her husband had become sickly, Lydia decided to give the tractors to her children for them to operate. The children now have their own families and are farming on their own. Lydia, of course still uses the tractors to till her 10 hectares but she has to pay for the fuel. Thanks to corn, Lydia, who only finished sixth grade in school, has really gone a long way in achieving financial success, considering the fact that she and her husband started farming on just half a hectare after marriage in 1971. She now farms 10 hectares, lives in a big house, travels in a late model car and has trucks for hauling her corn harvests. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *DISCLAIMER*: Articles that are posted in this news service do not necessarily reflect the views of SEARCA. To post in e-group, e-mail bic at searcaweb.org. To UNSUBSCRIBE, click here . -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: From searcabic at gmail.com Fri Jun 19 17:13:06 2009 From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center) Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:13:06 +0800 Subject: [searcabic] Latest news postings in biotechnology, 19 June 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 19 June 2009* *PHILIPPINES* 1-IRRI DEVELOPING WATERPROOF RICE TO EASE CLIMATE-CHANGE EFFECTS 2-GMO BAN TO STAY 3-FINGERPRINTING MAKES RICE BREEDING EASIER *INDIA* 4-MONSANTO, BASF ANNOUNCE FIRST DROUGHT-TOLERANT BIOTECH CROP *GLOBAL* 5-ETHIOPIAN SCIENTIST NAMED 2009 LAUREATE 6 -DEBATE OVER GM WHEAT IGNITES ONCE AGAIN *1-IRRI DEVELOPING WATERPROOF RICE TO EASE CLIMATE-CHANGE EFFECTS* by CHRISTIANE OELRICH 19-June-2009 Manila Bulletin LOS BA?OS, Philippines (dpa) ? Sigrid Heuer is doing her bit to help feed the world. The 43-year-old German molecular biologist breeds new rice varieties, which can survive boiling heat, floods or exhausted soils. Rice is the main foodstuff for 3 billion people, 90 percent of them in Asia. The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Ba?os in Laguna province works on the front line of agricultural crop research, as climate change threatens millions of hectares of farmland. A rice variety developed by IRRI that is capable of surviving floods has just been approved for release in the Philippines and parts of India, a success for the research center and the result of 20 years' development work by the scientists. Heuer contentedly surveys her research paddy outside IRRI's headquarters located at two-hour drive south-east of Manila. Twenty plots are set up on a 5-by-20-meter field grid. The scientist grows different rice varieties, with and without the submergence1-gene variation, or Sub1, which ''waterproofs'' the plants. "We flood the paddy for two weeks, then you see the difference," Heuer said, pointing out some plots where hardly any plants survived after being totally submerged, while the rice varieties containing the flood-resistance gene prosper. "What we are doing is a mix of classic plant breeding and new technologies," Heuer explained. The submergence- tolerant gene variant was found in a certain Indian rice variety in the lab, isolated and then interbred with the high-yield variety IR64, also developed by the IRRI. "With DNA analysis we can determine whether the gene is present or not. That speeds up the process and makes it more precise. The DNA analysis saves us a whole growing season,'' she said. Every year, 10 to 15 million hectares of rice-growing land are flooded, leading to the loss of crops worth around 1 billion dollars. "Sub1 can help millions of farmers," Heuer said. This new method for breeding crops is known as marker-aided selection and makes the process of developing new varieties easier. IRRI, a non-profit organization, does not register patents for its rice breeds. "Rice is being farmed in coastal regions and river deltas, like Bangladesh, Myanmar and Vietnam,'' said biologist Reiner Wassman, who coordinates the IRRI's climate change research. ''If ocean levels rise, it affects rice more than any other crop. More people are dependent on good rice harvests than any other grain." However, arable land has to make space for construction and demand for rice has been higher than the harvests for many years. Crop failures caused by heat, drought or floods are additional catastrophes. Farmers urgently need new rice varieties so that they can continue to produce profitable harvests in spite of changing climatic conditions. Rice flowers turn sterile if they open in temperatures higher than 36 degrees Celsius and therefore cannot produce grains. Most breeds are biologically tuned to open their flowers in the late morning. ''We are now looking for varieties that open in the early morning, when temperatures are still lower,'' Wassman said. In greenhouses on IRRI's 250-hectare research facility the scientists also simulate higher night-time temperatures. ''We have a correlation between higher night-time temperatures and lower yields,'' Wassman said. Now the question is whether there are rice varieties that are able to better withstand those higher temperatures. *------------------------------------------------------------* *2-GMO BAN TO STAY* by George M. De La Cruz 17-June-2009 Sun Star Bacolod NINE of 14 members of the ad hoc committee formed to tackle the controversial issue on genetically-modified organisms (GMO) voted to continue with the implementation of Provincial Ordinance 7-2007, which bans the entry of GMO-infected crops into Negros Occidental. Board member Adolfo Mangao Sr., chair of the ad hoc committee and head of the Provincial Board (PB) committee on agriculture, said the committee members voted 9-5 for the stay of the ordinance. A report consolidated by the ad hoc was also submitted to Gov. Isidro Zayco, who will study and forward it to the PB for final action. But because the province lacks equipment for implementation, the ad hoc committee also recommended for a one-year extension to allow the entry of non-living GMOs or GM products such as flour from GM maize. Mangao said the nine members who voted for the continued implementation of the ordinance were silent on the extension given to non-living GMs. ?The ban on living organisms will continue and will therefore cover whole corn like those seized at Bredco Port and other ports in the province,? Mangao said, adding these pose more danger as they will propagate and may contaminate other non-living GMOs in the province. Mangao said the committee opted for a win-win solution so as not to hurt the food security of the province. The lack of equipment of the province to detect non-living organisms is one of the many reasons that calls for an extension of the provision, Mangao said. ?What the province has is only the equipment for the living organisms.? Zayco also said that the local farmers will have the chance to plant more non-GMO corn in the province especially now that facilities such as corn processing plant are already available in Sagay, with one to operate in Kabankalan City soon. The provincial government has assured of post-harvest facilities and equipment to these farmers. *------------------------------------------------------------* *3-FINGERPRINTING MAKES RICE BREEDING EASIER* 15-June-2009 Business Mirror PHILRICE, Nueva Ecija?A fingerprint has a lot to say about a person. However, fingerprinting is not solely done on humans nowadays. There is genetic fingerprinting which is a major technique in crop-biology research. In the paper, ?Genetic Fingerprinting: Advancing the Frontiers of Crop Biology Research,? Dr. Gabriel Romero, Cheryl Adeva and Zosimo Battad II documented how Filipino scientists seize the benefits of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fingerprinting in crop research. Fingerprinting is used to characterize a DNA that contains the traits of an organism. Through crop fingerprinting, as in humans, the crop?s traits are revealed that help breeders select the traits that they can use in the plant breeding, the scientists said. Previously, DNA fingerprinting was a tedious process, until the discovery of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that has paved the way for a more convenient analysis of DNA variation, the paper said. PCR magnifies a section of a DNA that makes it possible for scientists to study and/or characterize a specific trait of the crop. Scientists are now using markers, which make assaying a lot more convenient. Markers are specific DNA sequences attached to a trait. Hence, the presence of a marker signifies that a trait is present. Taxa identification and phylogeny, diversity analysis, hybridity testing, gene mapping, marker-aided introgression, somaclonal variation and patenting are some of the areas where genetic fingerprinting is useful, the scientists said. Through genetic fingerprinting, they said, scientists can tell the sequence of events involved in the development of a rice plant, for example. This information can give inferences on traits of a rice variety. For example, through genetic fingerprinting, it can be learned that PSB Rc28 is one of the parents of PSB Rc82, they said. Rice varieties always interest farmers. While seeds may thrive in different conditions, there are just a few that can deliver the highest yield given challenging environments. Varietal recommendation, therefore, is crucial and genetic fingerprinting is useful in diversity analysis, measuring the level of genetic similarities or differences among materials. Decoded traits of a variety are good inputs in rice breeding. This will guide the breeders in selecting the traits they can transfer to another variety. Moreover, genetic information provides good input in conservation. There are germplasms requiring stringent measures for conservation. Gene-banking is very important to maintain a repository of varieties so that at the advent of environmental woes, such as pests and diseases, there would be ready substitutes for farmers. In making hybrid-rice varieties where 50:50 parental contribution is crucial, genetic fingerprinting is also very useful. Scientists claim that proper identification and selection is crucial for ?proper identification and varietal protection, genetic identity stability, complete characterization and measurement of crop genetic diversity, and for uniformity of appearance and agronomic performance of produced variety that will meet the demand of the farmers and consumers.? Genetic fingerprinting gives precise results, minimizing mistakes in the breeding process. *Rice outputs* In plants, as in humans, there are recessive and dominant traits. Recessive traits are characteristics not commonly expressed by plants that show a uniform trait. Hence, if the physical appearance will be the sole basis for some traits possessed by a rice plant, that will not be very accurate. Through the use of markers, the recessive genes are identified, easily making it possible for scientists to select properly the traits that they want to incorporate into another variety. Tubigan 7 (NSIC Rc142) and Tubigan 11 (NSIC Rc154) are the first two products of marker-aided selection. They have resistance genes Xa4 and Xa21 against bacterial leaf blight. Somaclonal variation refers to the variations seen in plants via plant-tissue culture. The variations may be in the form of mutation, such as alteration of the cell?s ability to repair damaged and mutated DNA. The team, led by Dr. Nenita Desamero, uses somaclonal variation to breed varieties that can live in drought-prone areas. IVC-2 and IVC-21 are the first two products of somaclonal variation in rice breeding that qualified in the National Cooperative Trial. *Prospects* Genetic fingerprinting can strengthen the claims for patenting rice varieties. The physical appearance of varieties cannot exactly express the distinction between two almost similar varieties. Through genetic fingerprinting, the traits within the variety can be seen and, hence, strengthen the claim of plant breeders. There?s no way back from here. Genetic fingerprinting solely used before on humans has found its way to hasten the breeding process, having immense impact on crop-biology research in general. *------------------------------------------------------------* *INDIA 4-MONSANTO, BASF ANNOUNCE FIRST DROUGHT-TOLERANT BIOTECH CROP *10-June-2009 Business Standard Monsanto and Germany-based BASF have discovered a naturally-occurring gene that can help corn plants combat drought and confer yield stability during periods of inadequate water supplies. The scientists of both companies announced the discovery in Germany on Tuesday. The companies stated they would use the gene in their first-generation, drought-tolerant, corn product. This is designed to provide yield stability to their farmer customers. The product will be the first biotechnology-derived, drought-tolerant crop in the world. The announcement comes at a time when recent studies, including one by the US National Academy of Sciences, are warning of declining crop yields and global food shortages as a result of climate change. According to a United Nations? Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report prepared for ministers of the G-8, the number and duration of dry spells, especially in already drought-prone areas, is expected to increase. The product is targeted for as early as 2012, pending appropriate regulatory approvals. Both companies also recently announced that they have completed regulatory submissions for cultivation in the US and Canada, and for import by Mexico, the European Union and Colombia. Submissions in other import markets will follow in the months to come. In any given year, 10-13 million acres of farmland planted to corn in the US may be affected by at least moderate drought. In field trials conducted last year in the Western Great Plains, drought-tolerant corn met or exceeded the 6-10 per cent target yield enhancement ? about 7 to 10 bushels per acre in some of the key drought-prone areas in the US, where average yields range from 70 to 130 bushels an acre. The companies said the drought-tolerant corn contains the cspB gene, from Bacillus subtilis. CspB codes for an RNA chaperone, which are commonly occurring protein molecules that bind to RNAs and facilitate their function. The gene was first identified in bacteria subjected to cold stress conditions and further research has shown that cspB helps plants cope with drought stress. Monsanto scientists have published those findings in a peer-reviewed paper in the journal, Plant Physiology. *------------------------------------------------------------ GLOBAL 5-ETHIOPIAN SCIENTIST NAMED 2009 LAUREATE *12-June-2009 The World Food Prize Dr. Gebisa Ejeta of Ethiopia has been named winner of the $250,000 World Food Prize for his monumental contributions in the production of sorghum, one of the world?s five principal cereal grains, which have dramatically enhanced the food supply of hundreds of millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clintonwas the featured speaker as Dr. Ejeta was announced as the 2009 Laureate at a ceremony at the U.S. State Department on June 11 that also featured Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, World Food Prize President Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn, and World Food Prize Chairman John Ruan III, among others. Dr. Ejeta?s personal journey would lead him from a childhood in a one-room thatched hut in rural Ethiopia to the height of scientific acclaim as a distinguished professor, plant breeder, and geneticist at Purdue University. His work with sorghum, which is a staple in the diet of 500 million people living in sub-Saharan Africa, began in Ethiopia in the 1970s. Working in Sudan in the early 1980s, he developed Hageen Dura-1, the first ever commercial hybrid sorghum in Africa. This hybrid variety was tolerant to drought and out-yielded traditional varieties by up to 150 percent. Dr. Ejeta next turned his attention to battling the scourge of Striga, a deadly parasitic weed which devastates farmers? crops and severely limits food availability. Working with a colleague at Purdue University, he discovered the biochemical basis of Striga?s relationship with sorghum, and was able to produce many sorghum varieties resistant to both drought and Striga. In 1994, eight tons of Dr. Ejeta?s drought and Striga-resistant sorghum seeds were distributed to Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Yield increases were as much as four times the yield of local varieties, even in severe drought areas. ?By ridding Africa of the greatest biological impediment to food production, Dr. Ejeta has put himself in the company of some of the greatest researchers and scientists recognized by this award over the past 23 years,? said Vilsack. ?The Obama Administration is inspired by the tireless efforts of Dr. Ejeta has demonstrated in the battle to eliminate food insecurity and is committed to employing a comprehensive approach to tackle the scourge of world hunger.? Dr. Ejeta?s scientific breakthroughs in breeding drought-tolerant and Striga-resistant sorghum have been combined with his persistent efforts to foster economic development and the empowerment of subsistence farmers through the creation of agricultural enterprises in rural Africa. He has led his colleagues in working with national and local authorities and nongovernmental agencies so that smallholder farmers and rural entrepreneurs can catalyze efforts to improve crop productivity, strengthen nutritional security, increase the value of agricultural products, and boost the profitability of agricultural enterprise ? thus fostering profound impacts on lives and livelihoods on broader scale across the African continent. ?Even while he was making breakthroughs in the lab, Dr. Ejeta took his work to the field,? said Clinton. ?He knew that for his improved seeds to make a difference in people?s lives, farmers would have to use them ? which meant they would need access to a seed market and the credit to buy supplies.? ?Dr. Ejeta?s accomplishments in improving sorghum illustrate what can be achieved when cutting-edge technology and international cooperation in agriculture are used to uplift and empower the world?s most vulnerable people,? added Dr. Norman E. Borlaug, founder of the World Food Prize. ?His life is as an inspiration for young scientists around the world.? The 2009 World Food Prize will be formally presented to Dr. Ejeta at a ceremony at the Iowa State Capitol on October 15, 2009. The ceremony will be held as part of the World Food Prize?s 2009 Borlaug Dialogue, which focuses on ?Food, Agriculture and National Security in a Globalized World.? *------------------------------------------------------------ 6-DEBATE OVER GM WHEAT IGNITES ONCE AGAIN *12-June-2009 International Centre for Trade & Sustainable Development-Bridges Trade BioRes Volume 9 Number 11 Farmers associations and environmental groups are rekindling the debate about whether to support research for genetically modified (GM) wheat. A group of nine wheat organisations in the US, Canada, and Australia - the world?s largest wheat exporters - issued a statement on 15 May calling for ?the synchronized introduction of biotech wheat.? Two weeks later, fifteen groups opposing GM wheat issued a response offering point-by-point counterarguments against the crop?s introduction. The GM supporters? statement revived a debate many believed had run its course. In 2004, biotech company Monsanto shelved plans to develop an herbicide-resistant GM wheat due to fears from farmers, buyers, and exporters, over losing export markets. This concern has not changed in the past five years. Many consumers, particularly in Europe and Asia, are apprehensive about eating genetically modified food. Six European countries have now invoked national bans on the cultivation of a GM maize variety produced by Monsanto, despite the EU?s approval of the crop (see Bridges Trade BioRes, 1 May 2009, http://ictsd.net/i/news/biores/45945/). Opponents cite this as a principle reason for prohibiting the introduction of GM wheat. But GM proponents say this is a challenge worth pursuing. ?If the consumer perceives that the benefit is just for the producer or worse still, just for some big company that?s making a profit out of it, why would they want to adopt it?? Robert Henry, director of the Center for Plant Conservation Genetics, told Reuters. ?They really need to be convinced there?s some benefit for the environment from a point of view of their own health.? Proponents hope to build this support by highlighting the crop?s unique characteristics. According to their statement, GM wheat would offer increased insect and disease resistance and improved tolerance of extreme weather, both of which contribute to higher crop yields. The crop could also be designed for consumption by people with wheat intolerance. Critics argue that GM wheat offers no agronomic improvement other than easier application of pesticides, according to their statement. Additionally, they suggest that ?there is no evidence to substantiate the claim that GE [genetically engineered] crop varieties increase yields.? The GM wheat debate is complicated by the ease of seed movement throughout the environment. When wheat seeds are carried by the wind, they can cross-pollinate with other seeds. ?If GE wheat is released commercially, contamination would be inevitable and markets would view all wheat produced from these areas as GE unless proven to be non-GE,? the opponent groups stated. Some farmers would unwittingly become subject to gene patent restrictions and labelling requirements. ?Once you introduce it, it?s over and it?s over and it?s over and it all becomes GMO just like we now have in canola,? Canadian farmer Percy Schmeiser told the Canadian Press. Monsanto sued Schmeiser in 1998 for using the company?s genetically modified seeds without a license. Schmeiser claimed that the seeds could have blown over from a neighbouring field. Even if proponents build the necessary political support for GM wheat research, the new crop would not be introduced for some time. Supporters estimate that it could take six to eight years for new biotech wheat crops to be ready for commercial introduction. ICTSD reporting; ?GMO wheat acceptance hinges on public benefit,? REUTERS, 7 June 2009; ?Debate on growing GM wheat rises again, but experts say issues are the same,? THE CANADIAN PRESS, 6 June 2009. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- *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 . [image: Subscribe A Friend] [image: Subscribe A Friend] *SEARCA inks partnership with Powerbooks* *Bio- and Cultural Controls for a Pest-free Coconut* *---------------------------------------------------------* *Download available paper and/or presentation handouts of some notable speakers presented at SEARCA Agriculture and Development Series. CLICK HERE. * *---------------------------------------------------------* *2nd Annual Biofuels Summit* *Marina Mandarin, SINGAPORE 25 - 27 May 2009* *International Symposium on Second Green Revolution: Priorities, Programmes, Social and Ethical Issues (BIOSPECTRUM 2009)* *Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, INDIA 02 - 04 July 2009* *Agricultural Biotechnology International Conference (ABIC 2009)* *Bangkok, Thailand 22 - 25 September 2009* *International Conference on Knowledge Management in Agribiotechnology: The Asian Experience* *Bangkok, Thailand 01-02 October 2009* -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: