From searcabic at gmail.com  Sun May  3 17:12:28 2009
From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center)
Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 17:12:28 +0800
Subject: [searcabic]  Latest news postings on biotechnology, 03 May 2009
Message-ID: <cfaa7ec0905030212j4d49d1a9lb329782c4d7d3795@mail.gmail.com>

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*Posted 03 May 2009*

*PHILIPPINES*
1-PROBLEM FORMULATION: A CRITICAL STEP IN RISK ASSESSMENT OF GM CROPS
2-BEARER OF NEW TECHNOLOGY
3-GMO BAN SEEN TO COLLAPSE ANIMAL INDUSTRY
4-FILIPINO SCIENTIST STUDIES GENES INVOLVED IN BANANA RIPENING

*INDIA*
5-VIRUS-RESISTANT GM POTATO, GROUNDNUT UNDER TRIAL STAGE

*PAKISTAN*
6-BIOTECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE FARM PRODUCTIVITY: SEMINAR

GLOBAL
7-INTERNATIONAL TEAM FINDS KEY GENE THAT ALLOWS PLANTS TO SURVIVE DROUGHT
     *1-PROBLEM FORMULATION: A CRITICAL STEP IN RISK ASSESSMENT OF GM CROPS
*
by Jenny A. Panopio
30-April-2009 SEARCA BIC News Release

The development of regulatory dossiers in the process of risk assessment of
biotech crops aims to avoid unnecessary cost and delay, and must improve and
provide guidance in decision making of the regulators. However, prior to
risk characterization and risk evaluation, the most essential step in any
risk assessment process is the problem formulation. This was shared by Drs.
Hector Quemada and Karen Hokanson of the Risk Assessment Research and
Biotechnology and Biodiversity Interface (BBI) Component of the Program for
Biosafety Systems during the Seminar on Improving Environmental Risk
Assessment, Problem Formulation and Tiered Testing held last April 28 at the
Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in
Agriculture (SEARCA) based at University of the Philippines Los Ba?os.

Identification of adverse effects or problem formulation is an important
initial step in rigorous risk assessment as it allows for discerning the
need-to-know from the nice-to-know biosafety concerns thus narrowing down
the risk hypotheses that need to be addressed. A well-designed and
implemented process for problem formulation will improve the quality,
consistency, clarity and transparency of environmental risk assessment. The
use of tiered approaches for testing relevant risk hypotheses were also
highlighted during the seminar. The established methodologies and
science-based risk assessment allows for the wider adoption and use of GM
crops.

The seminar which was attended by professors, scientists, regulators and
research managers was organized by SEARCA, SEARCA Biotechnology Information
Center and the Program for Biosafety Systems.

The pdf copy of the powerpoint presentations can be downloaded at
www.bic.searca.org.

For more information, please contact:
Ms. Jenny A. Panopio
Special Project Coordinator & Network Administrator
Biotechnology Information Center
SEAMEO SEARCA
College, Laguna 4031
Email: jap at agri.searca.org <jap at agri.searca.org>
Tel: (63-49)536-2290 loc 169 or 406
Tele/Fax: (63-49)536-4105
URL: www.bic.searca.org
*------------------------------------------------------------*
*2-BEARER OF NEW TECHNOLOGY*
by Zac B. Sarian
30-April-2009 Manila
Bulletin<http://mb.com.ph/articles/204148/bearer-new-technology>

If you ask progressive rice and corn farmers in Occidental Mindoro who
taught them improved techniques of grains production, they will most likely
point to Jose Paquibongan, an agriculturist who first worked in Mindanao but
who has already settled for good in Sablayan, Occidental Mindoro.

After finishing the agriculture course at the Bohol State College of
Agriculture and Fisheries in Bilar, Bohol, he first worked at a relative?s
coffee farm in Mati, Davao Oriental, and then with the local government of
Tagum, Davao del Norte. He was assigned as rice technician until 1987 in
Tagum until he saw an excellent opening at the Ayala Agriculture Co. based
in General Santos City which produced hybrid corn seeds.

Ayala assigned him as technical representative in Occidental Mindoro and
that?s where he disseminated the modern techniques of corn production. One
of the farmers who is very thankful for the technology he learned from Joe
is Dakila E. Danseco of Sitio Pandan, Brgy. Claudio Salgado, Sablayan town.

Danseco?s father was a fisherman and Dakila only started farming in 1975
when he got married. But it was what may be called marginal farming for as
late as 1989, he was farming only 2.8 hectares that he owned.

Then came Joe Paquibongan who brought with him the new seeds and the
improved techniques of planting. Instead of planting three seeds per hill
and spacing the hills about 70 centimeters in the row, Joe taught them to
plant a single seed per hill at distances of about 8 cm apart. Now, Danseco
has become a rich man because his production tremendously improved. Today,
he is planting corn on 40 hectares that he owns. When it is rainy season,
the farms (parcels are found in several places) are planted to rice.

Danseco has also diversified into onion production in a big way, producing
Red Pinoy, Batanes Jumbo and the native variety (Tanduyong) on 2.5 hectares.
Joe has helped many other farmers to become rich.

Now, he is busy teaching them how to use the bio-organic fertilizer called
Durabloom which has consistent quality as it is produced with the use of
special enzymes and beneficial microorganisms. He just started his campaign
when he joined Novatech last September but already his demo farms are
showing that indeed bio-organic fertilizer can tremendously increase
production of various crops.

What?s great is that Joe himself practices in his own farm what he preaches.

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*3-GMO BAN SEEN TO COLLAPSE ANIMAL INDUSTRY *
by Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas
30-April-2009 Philippine Daily
Inquirer<http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20090430-202273/GMO-ban-seen-to-collapse-animal-industry>

BACOLOD CITY, Philippines -- The provincial ban on genetically modified
(GMO) products could lead to the collapse of the local livestock, poultry
and game fowl industries, the provincial veterinarian warned on Wednesday.

Almost 90 percent of the ingredients for poultry and livestock feeds needed
in Negros Occidental are imported, and the majority of these are genetically
modified, Renante Decena said.

Average feed requirement is 140 metric tons a day, 60 percent or which is
corn and the remaining volume is made up of soybeans, wheat, fishmeal
vitamins and minerals.

The 91.5 MT of corn is needed for about one million broilers, four million
game fowls, half a million layers, 800,000 ducks and geese, and 400,000
pigs, Decena said.

The provincial government recently ordered the shipping out of tons of
genetically modified corn in compliance with an ordinance banning GMO
products.

But Decena said the the GMO imports were needed because the livestock
industry imports all of its soybeans, sorghum and wheat meal, and 90 percent
of its corn for feeds.

People involved in the livestock, poultry and game fowl industries will meet
today to discuss their feeds shortage problem.

If they will seek a moratorium on the GMO ban, the governor will have to
make a decision, Decena said.

Gov. Isidro Zayco said the provincial government is duty-bound to enforce
the GMO ban. But he said it would receive the position papers of those
aggrieved for consideration.

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*4-FILIPINO SCIENTIST STUDIES GENES INVOLVED IN BANANA RIPENING*
by Jenny A. Panopio
24-April-2009 SEARCA BIC News Release

Scientists from the University of the Philippines Los Banos were able to
successfully isolate and analyze the gene involved in the developmental
control of ripening in banana. Named as MaMADS2, the gene cloned from the
cDNA of ripe banana fruit, was found to have putative sequence that shares
structural sequences with Type II MADS-box transcription factors. MADS-box
gene transcription factors are regulating genes which controls flower
development and organogenesis. Promoter region analysis showed the presence
of known binding sites for MADS-box, hinting at possible autoregulation of
MaMADS2 gene transcription.

The gene expression of MaMADS2 was compared with a known-MaMADS1 gene in the
pulp and tissue of ripening banana. They found that MaMADS2 expression
starts to increase before the climacteric in both pulp and peel of bananas
while MaMADS1 expression increased only after the ethylene peak was
attained. The increase in MaMADS2 expression was earlier in fruits stored at
low humidity showing that the gene is expressed in response to stress
resulting in developmental shift and earlier ripening. MaMADS1 expression
appears to be ethylene- induced while MaMADS2 acts upstream of the ethylene
pathway and is involved in the developmental shift to ripening.

This is the first report of the presence of the MaMADS2 gene from banana, a
climacteric fruit. The results show the involvement of a regulatory gene
that acts upstream of the ethylene pathway, which has been the target of
many climacteric ripening control experiments. The identification of the
developmental factor in banana shows another avenue for regulatory pathways
in ripening that could also control the endogenous ethylene pathway. These
findings provide critical information in development of research strategies
in prolonging the shelf-life of banana.

To see the abstract and order the full paper visit
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=19911512. For additional
information about the research work, contact eteresaocampo at yahoo.com or
email bic at agri.searca.org.

For more information, please contact:
Ms. Jenny A. Panopio
Special Project Coordinator & Network Administrator
Biotechnology Information Center
SEAMEO SEARCA
College, Laguna 4031
Email: jap at agri.searca.org <jap at agri.searca.org>
Tel: (63-49)536-2290 loc 169 or 406
Tele/Fax: (63-49)536-4105
URL: www.bic.searca.org
*------------------------------------------------------------*
*INDIA
5-VIRUS-RESISTANT GM POTATO, GROUNDNUT UNDER TRIAL STAGE
*by Joseph Vackayil
27-April-2009 The Financial
Express<http://www.financialexpress.com/news/virusresistant-gm-potato-groundnut-under-trial-stage/451407/>

CHENNAI, India - Genetically modified virus-resistant potato and groundnut,
and drought and salinity-tolerant rice are under various stages of trials in
the green houses and confined fields of select universities and research
institutions in the country.

The programme is spearheaded by the Agricultural Biotechnology Support
Project-II (ABSP-II) of the Cornell University, which helped the development
of the fruit and shoot borer-resistant brinjal and led it to the Genetic
Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) gateway for commercialisation.

The GM brinjal was developed by the Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company
(Mahyco). The other three were developed by researchers in the US
universities. ABSP-II facilitated the transfer of the genetic technology for
all the four to public sector universities and institutions for the
development of native varieties.

Prof Ray Wu of the Cornell University has demonstrated that stress tolerance
in plants can be induced by manipulating the genes that are responsible for
the accumulation of the sugar 'trehalose'. Prof Wu's system is designed in
such a way that the bioengineered genes are specifically turned on when the
plant is under drought or salt stress.

Through ABSP-II, the trehalose genes has been transferred to Directorate of
Rice Research (DRR), Hyderabad, to be introduced into local rice varieties
and to evaluate the positive events in green house conditions and screen
them for drought tolerance.

According to information form Sathguru Management Consultants, regional
coordinator for ABSP-II, DRR will conduct confined field evaluations for
drought tolerance for the transgenic lines of IR64 and the Central Soil
Salinity Research Institute (CSSRI), Karnal, will evaluate the salinity
tolerance of the same. The Tamil Nadu Agriculture University is to evaluate
the efficacy of the selected events through limited field trials.

It is estimated that in India, 30% of the agricultural area receives less
than 750 mm rainfall and chronically drought-prone and 35% of the area with
750-1125mm rainfall is also subject to drought once in four to five years.
ABSP-II estimates show that 68% of the total sown area covering about 142
million hectare is vulnerable to drought conditions. Moreover India accounts
for nearly 47% of saline, 20% of sodic and 7% of acid sulphate soils of
tropical Asia.

For fighting the dreaded 'late blight' virus in potatoes, ABSP-II has
assisted the transfer of 'Rb gene' to the Central Potato Research Institute
(CPRI), Shimla. The gene was isolated from a wild relative of potato by
researchers at the University of Wisconsin and incorporated into a popular
potato variety in the US.

CPRI has transferred the Rb gene to two popular varieties 'kufri jyothi' and
'kufri bahar'. Confined field trials were conducted during November 2008. It
will be field evaluated during May-June 2009.

The disease, which attacks almost 50% of the crop in the country, could not
be controlled by pesticides or fungicides. Genetic engineering is giving an
affordable solution to poor farmers. Groundnut cultivated in 7.5 million
hectare in India by over nine million marginal farmers in semi-arid regions
is subject to the attack of 'tobacco streak virus' (TSV) leading to severe
crop and income loss.

Under ABSP-II, Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
and Donald Danforth Plant Sciences Centre, USA teamed up with Acharya N G
Ranga Agricultural University, Hyderabad, the International Crops Research
Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, and National
Bureau of Plant Genetic Research, New Delhi, to develop transgenic groundnut
with ability to fight TSV. Two varieties of groundnut plants were developed
and were being evaluated in green house.

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*PAKISTAN
6-BIOTECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE FARM PRODUCTIVITY: SEMINAR
*26-April-2009 The News<http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=174275>

LAHORE: The country?s cotton production has fallen to 11.5 million bales
from 14.5 million bales in 2004-05, while the cotton output of India in five
years has retained more than double from 16 million to 34 million bales.

Speaking at a seminar on ?Challenges and Opportunities in
Agri-biotechnology?, organised by the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, speakers pointed out that India leaped forward in cotton
production by adopting BT cotton hybrid technology that Pakistan has still
not adopted.

They said Pakistan would have to focus on genetically-modified and hybrid
crops to tap true potential of agricultural productivity in the country in
the shortest possible time.

Provincial Agriculture Minister Mohammad Ali Aulak, while stressing the need
for establishment of institutes both at provincial and federal levels for
creating awareness among the farming community about genetically-modified
(GM) technology, said that sustainability and improvement in crop yields is
the major challenge in coping with threats of increasing population and
depleting water resources.

He said biotechnology has shown considerable potential to raise agricultural
productivity by addressing problems which could not be solved through the
conventional research.

Among other applications of biotechnology, development of genetically
modified organisms is the promising tool to facilitate plant breeding in
development of insect-resistant and herbicide-tolerant crops.

The minister said GM crops have contributed to sustainable development in
several significant ways. These included contribution to food security and
more affordable food, conservation of biodiversity, alleviation of poverty
and hunger, mitigating climate change, reduction in greenhouse gases and
contribution to cost-effective production of biofuels and above all
contribution to sustainable economic benefits.

In addition to aiding issues of food security, genetically modified 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 potential to benefit about one billion people.

LCCI President Mian Muzaffar Ali said Pakistan?s agriculture sector was
losing heavily due to insufficient utilisation of biotechnology as the magic
progress of worldwide agriculture takes place only due to genetically
modified crops. He said the agriculture sector of Pakistan has a huge
potential.

?It continues to be the single largest and dominant driving force for growth
as well as the main source of livelihood for 66 per cent of population.? But
it has always faced two major problems.

First, production per acre is lower than many countries. Secondly, around 40
per cent of production is wasted in post-harvest losses due to insufficient
utilisation of biotechnology.

He stressed the need for utilising this beneficial technology for more and
more production in various economic sectors.

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*GLOBAL
7-INTERNATIONAL TEAM FINDS KEY GENE THAT ALLOWS PLANTS TO SURVIVE DROUGHT
*01-May-2009 via Checkbiotech
Green<http://greenbio.checkbiotech.org/news/international_team_finds_key_gene_allows_plants_survive_drought>

A team of scientists from Canada, Spain and the United States has identified
a key gene that allows plants to defend themselves against environmental
stresses like drought, freezing and heat.

"Plants have stress hormones that they produce naturally and that signal
adverse conditions and help them adapt," says team member Peter McCourt, a
professor of cell and systems biology at the University of Toronto. "If we
can control these hormones we should be able to protect crops from adverse
environmental conditions which is very important in this day and age of
global climate change."

The research team, led by Sean Cutler of the University of California,
Riverside, has identified the receptor of the key hormone in stress
protection called abscisic acid (ABA). Under stress, plants increase their
ABA levels, which help them survive a drought through a process not fully
understood. The area of ABA receptors has been a highly controversial topic
in the field of plant biology that has involved retractions of scientific
papers as well as the publication of papers of questionable significance. A
receptor is a protein molecule in a cell to which mobile signaling molecules
may attach. Usually at the top of a signaling pathway, the receptor
functions like a boss relaying orders to the team below that then executes
particular decisions in the cell. "Scientists have been trying to solve the
ABA receptor problem for more than 20 years, and claims for ABA receptors
are not easily received by the scientific community," says Cutler.

This team used a new approach called chemical genomics to identifying a
synthetic chemical, designated pyrabactin, which specifically activates an
ABA receptor in the model laboratory plant Arabidopsis. With pyrabactin in
hand it was now possible to directly identify the ABA receptor. "This
approach not only found a gene that had been long sought by the plant
science research community but also showed that chemical genomics can
identify new chemicals like pyrabactin that may have profound impacts on the
way we farm in both the developing and developed world," says McCourt.

The study results will appear April 30 in Science Express and in the May 22
issue of Science magazine. Lead author Sean Cutler is a former University of
Toronto scientist who is now an assistant professor of plant cell biology in
the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences at the University of California,
Riverside. In addition to the University of Toronto and the University of
California, Riverside, team members were from University of California, San
Diego, Universidad Politecnica, Spain, the University of Ontario Institute
of Technology, University of California, Santa Barbara; and the Medical
College of Wisconsin.

Research was funded by the Canada Research Chair program, the Natural
Sciences and Engineering Research Council. the National Science Foundation
and the National Institutes of Health.

CONTACTS:
Peter McCourt
Cell and Systems Biology
University of Toronto
mccourt at csb.utoronto.ca
416-978-0523
416-978-0837
Kim Luke
Arts & Science Communications
University of Toronto
kim.luke at utoronto.ca
416-978-4352

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*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.
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*SEARCA invites participants to International Training on Responding to
Changing Climate * <http://www.searca.org/web/news/2009/apr/web/28.html>

*Putting a price on clean air and
water*<http://www.searca.org/web/news/2009/apr/web/21.html>

*---------------------------------------------------------*
*Download available paper and/or presentation handouts of some notable
speakers presented at SEARCA Agriculture and Development Series. CLICK HERE.
* <http://www.searca.org/web/adss/2009/index.html>

*2nd International Training on Responding to Changing Climate:
Knowledge-based Strategies in Managing Risks in Agriculture and
Environmental Management* <http://www.bic.searca.org/>
*SEAMEO RETRAC, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
11 - 15 May 2009*

*Creating Public Awareness, Knowledge and Understanding of Biotech Crops:
Media Conference and Social Marketing of Public Sector Biotech Products in
Eastern Visayas* <http://www.bic.searca.org/>
*Ormoc, Leyte
12 - 14 May 2009*

*20th FCSSP Scientific Conference* <http://www.bic.searca.org/>
*Siliman University, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, PHILIPPINES
18 - 23 May 2009*

*2nd Annual Biofuels
Summit*<http://www.bic.searca.org/events/index2009.html#may>
*Marina Mandarin, SINGAPORE
25 - 27 May 2009*

*International Symposium on Second Green Revolution: Priorities, Programmes,
Social and Ethical Issues (BIOSPECTRUM
2009)*<http://www.bic.searca.org/events/index2009.html#july>
*Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, INDIA
02 - 04 July 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.

CALL FOR RESEARCH PROPOSALS

Enabling Bio-innovations for Poverty Alleviation for Asia: 2009 Small Grants
Competition Program of the Asian Institute of Technology
(AIT)*<http://www.bic.searca.org/home_files/announcement/bioinnovationasia2009.pdf>

*2009 iBoP SMALL GRANTS COMPETITION

Open to Individual researchers and groups/institutions who are working on
marginalized based of pyramid (BoP) sector issues and/or the development of
S&T-related policies can apply for grants of up to 25,000 CAD (Canadian
Dollars). Deadline of submission of applications is on 22 MAY
2009.*<http://www.bic.searca.org/>
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From searcabic at gmail.com  Sun May  3 17:43:50 2009
From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center)
Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 17:43:50 +0800
Subject: [searcabic] ANNOUNCEMENT: SEARCA Invites Participants to
	International Training on Responding to Changing Climate
Message-ID: <cfaa7ec0905030243i6e4fd5cfyede1f0d4d05e7e35@mail.gmail.com>

  Right click any image to view this page properly. If this e-mail does not
appear as a web page, please click
here.<http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/newsfeature/announcements.html>

*Posted 03 May 2009*

*SEARCA INVITES PARTICIPANTS TO INTERNATIONAL TRAINING ON RESPONDING TO
CHANGING CLIMATE* <http://www.searca.org/web/news/2009/apr/web/28.html>
*by Mayla H. Viray, Training Department, SEARCA
28-April-2009 SEARCA Training News Release*

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in
Agriculture (SEARCA) <http://www.searca.org/> with Southeast Asian Ministers
of Education and Organization Regional Training Center (SEAMEO RETRAC) and
Environment and Economy Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA) invites
participants to its *2nd International Training on Responding to Changing
Climate: Knowledge-based Strategies in Managing Risks in Agriculture and
Environment*. This will be held on 11-15 May 2009 at SEAMEO RETRAC, Ho Chi
Minh City, Vietnam.

SEARCA will accept up to 25 government planners and technical staff involved
in agriculture and rural development, in natural resource management, and in
disaster and risk management at the national, regional and local levels,
researchers and practitioners from centers of excellence engaged in
sustainable agriculture, representatives and staff of regional or national
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who are actively involved in
sustainable agriculture and community-based disaster and risk management
(DRM). It aims to provide a venue to gain better understanding and discuss
the factors that determine the vulnerability of the different sectors of
society. It will also guide the participants to prepare an action plan on
risk management that can be applied in their respective contexts.

? The training topics include:
? Concepts and source of risks;
? Framework for risk analysis, hazards and vulnerability;
? Systematic approaches to risk analysis and measures of risks;
? Managing risks due to climate variability;
? Analysis of risks due to climate variability and delineation of vulnerable
or risky areas;
? Hydrologic frequency analysis/vulnerable areas to floods and droughts;
? Risks due to extreme weather events;
? Seasonal climate forecasts and crop production;
? Risks in rice crop production due to climate variability;
? Managing risks in rice production systems in Southeast Asia;
? Economic impacts and valuation of climate risks;
? Economic valuation techniques and cases;
? Climatic and socio-economic risks in aquaculture;
? Elements of strategic framework plan for managing risks;
? Community-based disaster and risk management;
? Identification of issues, challenges, constraints, and solutions;
? Gender dimension of risk management;
? Mobilizing and using local resources in risk management; and
? Development of local plan for management risks;

Resource persons include: Dr. Felino P. Lansigan and Dr. Maria Helen F. Dayo
of the University of the Philippines Los Ba?os as lead experts, with Dr.
Pete Bueno of the International Organization of the Network of Aquaculture
Centers in Asia-Pacific (NACA), Dr. Herminia A. Francisco of Environment and
Economy Program for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA), Dr. Orapan Nabangchang of
EEPSEA, and Dr. Reinier Wassman of the International Rice Research
Institute.

Participation in this training is on a fee basis at US$850 per participant.
This covers the cost of tuition, full board and lodging, training materials,
field trip and airport transfers. Participants may also opt to avail of a
live-out training rate of US$600, which covers only the cost of tuition,
lunch and snacks during the training, training materials and field trip.

Additional information and forms may be further accessed at:
http://www.searca.org/web/training/courses/2009/climate_change2/.

For details/queries, please contact Ms. Mayla H. Viray, Training Specialist,
thru email (mhv at agri.searca.org) or call (+63-49) 536-2283/5362290 loc 40.

Downloads:
Registration Form<http://www.searca.org/web/e_library/event_materials/ClimateChange2_reg_form.pdf>
Programme<http://www.bic.searca.org/events/2009/climatechange/Programme.pdf>
Expression of Interest<http://www.searca.org/web/e_library/event_materials/ClimateChange2_EOI.pdf>

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From searcabic at gmail.com  Mon May  4 14:42:09 2009
From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center)
Date: Mon, 4 May 2009 14:42:09 +0800
Subject: [searcabic] ANNOUNCEMENT: Presentation on 'Problem Formulation and
	Tiered Approaches to Risk Assessment' by Drs. Quemada and
	Hokanson, now 	available for download!
Message-ID: <cfaa7ec0905032342j394ab31cx13bc61666229c045@mail.gmail.com>

  Right click any image to view this page properly. If this e-mail does not
appear as a web page, please click
here.<http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/announcement/announcement2.htm>
Dear Friends,

We are pleased to share with you the copy of presentation titled, *Problem
Formulation and Tiered Approaches to Risk Assessment*, presented by Drs.
Hector Quemada and Karen Hokanson (Program for Biosafety Systems) at SEARCA
Special Seminar last 28 April 2009.

To view or download, please click on the link below:
http://www.bic.searca.org/seminar_proceedings/2009/searcaspclseminar_quemada_and_hokanson.pdf

An article on this titled, *Problem formulation: A critical step in risk
assessment of GM crops*, has been also published at SEARCA BIC website
<http://www.bic.searca.org> <http://www.bic.searca.org/>.

Best regards,


E-group Moderator
SEARCA BIC
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From searcabic at gmail.com  Mon May 18 18:48:20 2009
From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center)
Date: Mon, 18 May 2009 18:48:20 +0800
Subject: [searcabic]  Latest news postings on biotechnology, 18 May 2009
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*Posted 18 May 2009*

*PHILIPPINES*
1-GMO SAFE FOR HUMANS AND ENVIRONMENT
2-FILIPINO SCIENTISTS HOPE TO DEVELOP VIRUS-RESISTANT SWEET POTATO
3-VISAYAN MEDIA ENLIGHTEN ON BIOTECHNOLOGY
4-BIOPROSPECTING

*TAIWAN*
5-CABINET HOPES TO DEVELOP SOPHISTICATED AGRICULTURE

*INDIA*
6-BT BRINJAL SAFE, PROFITABLE FOR FARMERS: MAHYCO

*AFRICA*
7-THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY HOLDS HUGE POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMY

*GLOBAL*
8-GROWERS IN U.S., CANADA, AUSTRALIA BACK GMO WHEAT
     *1-GMO SAFE FOR HUMANS AND ENVIRONMENT*
by Felipe V. Celino
18-May-2009 Panay News <http://www.panaynewsphilippines.com/capiz%201.htm>

ROXAS City - A respected scientist assured the public that genetically
modified organisms (GMO) products are safe for human consumption and the
environment.

During the media conference held at Sabin Resort Hotel in Ormoc City on May
12, Dr. Emiliana Bernardo, chairman of the Insect Resistance Management
Advisory Team of the Department of Agriculture, cited the controversial
?Bacillus thuringiensis? (Bt) corn took as an example.

She said the hullabaloo over the GMO comes from the use of the word ?toxin?
when it actually should have been ?protoxin?.

The modified corn simply has a gene that controls the infestation of Asian
Corn Borer, which does not even affect other organisms, Bernardo said.

?It does not even harm the borer?s relatives, so how much more the humans?
We?re not related to them,? she added.

Dr. Randy Hautea of International Service for the Acquisition of
Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) said GMO biotech is the most rapidly
adapted technology in agriculture.

?Twenty five countries are already planting GMOs and another 30 are
importing or directly consuming GMO,? he said.

Hautea explained that importing food from other provinces which are not GMO
would likely be impossible.

?All food and animal feeds now available in the country somehow use GMO,? he
added.

If Negros Occidental will not accept GMO products, he said, many chickens,
pigs, and most especially humans will be starved.

Rosalie Ellasus, a former overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who became a
farmer, said she decided to quit from her work abroad because her income
could not support family.

Ellasus now is one of the most successful biotech farmers in the country
using hybrid corn seeds in San Jacinto, Pangasinan.

As the first recipient of Kleckner Trade and Technology Advancement Award,
she has been receiving numerous invitations from other countries to share
her experience on agriculture.

Other speakers during the media forum were Julieta Roa, Philrootscrops
director; Rhodora Aldemita, ISAAA senior program officer; Dr. Angelina
Garces, senior research specialist of the Philippine Council for
Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and
Development(PCARRD); Manuel Palomar, Visayas State University vice
president; Julieta Fe Estacio, secretariat of the National Committee on
Biosafety of the Philippines (NCBP); Dr. Emiliana Bernardo; and Philippine
Star columnist Rudy Fernandez.

The participants were members of the tri-media from Visayas, researchers,
and public information officers from different government line agencies./PN

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*2-FILIPINO SCIENTISTS HOPE TO DEVELOP VIRUS-RESISTANT SWEET POTATO *
15-May-2009 SEARCA BIC News Release

The Philippines hopes to have a genetically modified sweet potato in the
next five years. Scientists from the Visayas State University (VSU) and the
University of the Philippines Los Ba?os Institute of Plant Breeding
(UPLB-IPB) are now working on the development of virus resistant sweet
potato (VRSP) through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.

Sweet potato is a popular cash crop abundantly planted to more than 120,500
hectares in the Philippines. Of fifteen known sweet potato viruses
worldwide, eight of these can be found in the country. The most widely
spread and important among these, is the sweet potato feathery mottle virus
(SPFMV) which is associated with leaf curl, a disease known as ?Kamote
Kulot? in Luzon. ?The virus disease complex has been reported to reduce
yield of sweetpotato by 40-60% in Leyte and 85-98% in Albay?, says Dr.
Manuel Palomar, VRSP project leader of VSU. According to Dr. Palomar, VRSP
sweet potato can be developed through the transfer of coat protein gene of
the SPFMV into local varieties of sweet potato through a phenomenon called
?cross-protection?.

?Currently, we already have our gene of construct for the VRSP, and it is
being validated. The transformation and tissue culture components are under
optimization and hopefully, we expect to have the field trials of VRSP by
2011,? shares Ms. Lolita Dolores, a virologist and project leader from
UPLB-IPB, during the Training-Workshop on Risk Assessment and Social
Marketing of Public-Sector Biotech Product held at Sabin Resort Hotel, Ormoc
City, Leyte on 13-14 May 2009. The workshop was organized by the
International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, the
Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in
Agriculture through Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA-BIC),
Department of Science and Technology - Philippine Council for Agriculture,
Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCARRD),
Program for Biosafety Systems Southeast Asia (PBS SEAsia) , and the VSU as
part of the capacity building initiatives for the scientists and regulators
in the region.

The VRSP project is being supported by the DOST-PCARRD and ISAAA Southeast
Asia.

For additional information regarding the VRSP project initiatives in the
Philippines, email lmd121552 at yahoo.com or bic at agri.searca.org or visit
www.searca.bic.org. *(Rochella B. Lapitan, SEARCA BIC)*

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*3-VISAYAN MEDIA ENLIGHTEN ON BIOTECHNOLOGY*
15-May-2009 SEARCA BIC News Release

?Biotech scare no more?, say print and radio media practitioners from
Visayas during the Media Workshop on Creating Public Awareness, Knowledge
and Understanding of Biotech Crops, held at Sabin Resort Hotel, Ormoc City,
on 12 May 2009.

The media workshop tackled basic concepts of agricultural biotechnology,
global status of biotechnology, biotechnology safety risk assessments, and
biotechnology R&D activities and adoption in the country.

During the workshop, Dr. Jose Bacusmo, president of the Visayas State
University (VSU), stressed ?the need to forge partnership with the media as
it is vital to communicate biotechnology to the public, especially to the
Visayas region, which is presently in the hype of scare issues on
biotechnology.? On the other hand, Dr. Juliet Roa, a VSU social scientist
and director of the Philippine Rootcrops Research and Development Institute,
said, ?Media must have a thorough learning of biotechnology, a cutting-edge
technology that our country must not fall again. By marrying the functions
of scientists and media, misconceptions and unresolved issues on
biotechnology will be scientifically answered.?

The media workshop was organized through collaboration among the
International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications
(ISAAA), the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research
in Agriculture through Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA BIC),
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research
and Development (PCARRD), Program for Biosafety Systems Southeast Asia (PBS
SEasia), and the Visayas State University.

For more information, email bic at agri.searca.org or visit
www.searca.bic.org<http://www.bic.searca.org/>.
*(Rochella B. Lapitan, SEARCA BIC)*

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*4-BIOPROSPECTING*
Nature for Life Column by Anabelle E. Plantilla
09-May-2009 Manila
Times<http://www.manilatimes.net/national/2009/may/09/yehey/opinion/20090509opi7.html>

We depend significantly on plants and animals for survival. We use them for
food, for medicine and even for cosmetics. Thus, the exploration for new
biological resources has increased in the last several years. With this
development, biodiversity-rich countries like ours have developed regulatory
and policy measures to ensure the protection of the resource and the
traditional knowledge about the use of the resource as well as recognition
of ownership of the resource.

Biological prospecting or bioprospecting is defined as the exploration and
collection of plants and animals (dead or living specimens) and the
extraction of their biochemical compounds as potential sources of medicines
and other products for future commercial purposes. When properly managed and
regulated, bioprospecting can contribute to biodiversity conservation and
generate income for the local communities who serve as stewards of these
resources (Sinha 2005). The urgency of a policy regulating bioprospecting is
reflected in the growing trend among developed countries with economic and
technological means to exploit natural resources for chemical substances and
genetic resources useful in industry, agriculture or medicine (Reid 1994).

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), an international treaty which
the Philippines has ratified, addresses the unregulated practice of
commercial exploitation for biological materials by biodiversity-rich
countries as well as using indigenous knowledge in harvesting and utilizing
these resources. The Convention also focuses on the equitable sharing of
benefits between biodiversity-givers (usually developing countries) and
biotechnology-users (usually developed countries), the latter having the
technological and financial capabilities to transform biological resources
into commercially profitable products.

Countries with regulatory policies on bioprospecting have a better chance to
negotiate for resource ownership and benefit sharing. It is said that the
patent for the ylang-ylang oil is with a French perfume maker, thus, we
cannot manufacture this commercially and benefit economically. Therefore, it
is preferable that we become biotechnolo?gically self-reliant by
strengthening our biotechnological base and improving the implementation of
property rights and patenting systems.

In 1995, Executive Order 247 on the development of guidelines and regulatory
framework for bioprospecting began to be enforced. The Department of
Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is the government agency mandated
to execute its implementing rules and regulations. Although the Philippines
is the first country in Southeast Asia to pass a policy on bio?prospecting
(La Vina et al. 1997), the DENR encountered problems in its implementation
due to insufficient funding and unclear operating mechanism. The policy was
also criticized for causing unnecessary bureaucratic delay in the issuance
of collection permits even for legitimate, non-commercial research studies
and on-going conservation projects. Thus, in April 2005, a new set of
bioprospecting guidelines was issued to clarify and improve EO 247?s
implementing procedures, including a provision exempting legitimate
researches with ?no commercial interests? from the stringent permit
requirements.

There is also the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food
and Agriculture (PGRFA) that came into force in June 2004 and is closely
linked to the CBD with respect to the conservation of genetic resources and
the ?fair and equitable? sharing of commercial benefits arising from the use
of these resources. Under this treaty, the negotiated list of the most
important agricultural plants (35 food crops and 29 forage species) can be
accessed through multilateral agreement, allowing farmers and researchers
worldwide access to genetic resources and information. It stipulates that no
genetic resources or information may be patented or used for chemical,
pharmaceutical and any other non-food/feed industrial uses. It emphasizes
access of a country to plant genetic resources deposited in a public
institution in any other country. For example, access to seeds of rice
varieties is free of charge and not subject to individual bilateral
negotiation. To ensure the success of this treaty, the provisions regarding
the sharing of commercial and other benefits from the use of these genetic
resources should be fair and transparent. There is a need to clarify the
provisions of the material transfer agreement between countries. This issue
is controversial especially in the rich-poor flow of resources, as rich
countries have the biotechnology to breed the species while the poor
countries are the origin of the majority of the most agriculturally
important genetic resources in the world (FAO 2005a).

*orgsus at haribon.org.ph*

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*TAIWAN*
*5-CABINET HOPES TO DEVELOP SOPHISTICATED AGRICULTURE*
by Shih Hsiu-chuan (Staff Reporter)
08-May-2009 Taipei
Times<http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/05/08/2003443075>

The Cabinet yesterday passed a proposal to promote sophisticated
agriculture, with the goal of doubling the niche market?s output value to
NT$158.9 billion (US$4.79 billion) and creating 31,000 jobs within four
years.
The proposal suggests promoting ?health agriculture,? with a view to boost
the percentage of toxin and pesticide-free farming land from 3 percent of
total arable land to 6 percent.

The second part of the proposal would promote Taiwan?s agricultural
biotechnology on the global market. The COA said it expected the global
market?s value to grow from US$37.4 billion in 2007 to US$63 billion in
2013.

Council of Agriculture (COA) Deputy Minister Hu Sing-hwa (???) said Taiwan
was already a global leader in the field.

Hu said the proposal reflected a shift in agricultural policy from focusing
on production to promoting a high-standard of living.

?Farmers were the only focus of policies for high-quality agriculture under
former administrations, but our proposal aims to benefit everyone,? Hu said.

The government would earmark NT$6.833 billion over a four-year period to
establish Taiwan as a global logistics center for the orchid market, expand
the overseas market for grouper fish, set up centers for incubation of
livestock, aquaculture and agriculture, and create six enclosed farms for
genetically modified crops.

The proposal also involves incorporating recreational activities into the
sector, with a goal of attracting 30 million visits per year to rural
villages by 2012.

Hu said the proposal included NT$15.908 billion to create three
lowland-forest recreation areas covering more than 1,000 hectares each, to
renovate more than 4,000 villages and to build two yacht harbors, two
recreational fishing ports and four recreational agriculture areas.

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*INDIA*
*6-BT BRINJAL SAFE, PROFITABLE FOR FARMERS: MAHYCO*
09-May-2009 The
Hindu<http://www.thehindu.com/2009/05/09/stories/2009050953580400.htm>

BANGALORE: The genetically engineered variety of brinjal, commonly called Bt
brinjal, is not only safe for human consumption but will also prove to be
more profitable for farmers, who earn can earn an additional Rs. 16,000 to
Rs. 19,000 from every acre, Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company Ltd. (Mahyco)
has claimed.

Addressing a press conference here on Friday, M.K. Sharma, Managing Director
of Mahyco, which has developed the Bt brinjal, said recent field trials
indicated that Bt brinjal required substantially less insecticide and
yielded a significantly higher quantity of marketable fruit than
conventional hybrids.

With brinjal cultivated across approximately 5.5 lakh hectares in India, the
net potential benefit for the country from Bt brinjal would exceed Rs. 2,000
crore, he said.

Dr. Sharma?s assertions come close on the heels of the submission of a
report to the Union Government?s Genetic Engineering Approval Committee
(GEAC) on multi-location field trials carried out under the supervision of
the Indian Institute of Vegetable Research. ?A report on the field trials
was submitted in the last week of April, and we are awaiting permission for
commercial release of Bt brinjal,? he said.

*Optimistic*
He was optimistic that the country?s farmers would prefer the Bt variety of
brinjal over the conventional varieties that are prone to fruit and shoot
borer disease, which forced farmers to repeatedly spray pesticides and
insecticides. Studies had shown that Bt brinjal required 70 per cent less
insecticide for fruit and shoot borer disease and resulted in a 116 per cent
increase in marketable yield of the vegetable, he said.

?We are sure that farmers will understand the benefits of Bt brinjal and
grow the vegetable. Our only challenge is to convince the section of people
who are misguiding the general public about genetically modified food
crops,? he said.

Dr. Sharma recalled a similar campaign against Bt cotton a couple of years
ago. ?But about 80 per cent of cotton farmers are now using Bt cotton and
reaping the benefits. Even if we wish to withdraw Bt cotton now, it is not
possible,? he said.

Dr. Sharma said India was on the threshold of a gene revolution. ?First, we
had the Green Revolution, which was followed by a hybrid revolution in the
seventies and eighties. Now, we are on the threshold of a gene revolution,
which could provide an answer to the ills of India?s agricultural sector,?
he said.

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*AFRICA
7-THE BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY HOLDS HUGE POTENTIAL FOR ECONOMY
*by Hopewell Radebe
12-May-2009 Business Day via
Agbios<http://www.agbios.com/static/news/NEWSID_10690.php>

DAKAR - South Africa is one of few African states with rich and diverse
species of flora and fauna that could be used to stimulate economic growth
in the same scale witnessed by India?s biotechnology industry, according to
a Nigerian scholar Precious Dike.

Addressing delegates at the Knowledge Management Africa conference in Dakar,
Senegal, Dike said if African governments followed India?s example of
strategically investing into Biotechnology research facilities and
institutional networks, this would open enormous potential and enhance the
economic growth.

This was in the paper she presented on the contribution on the economy of
the India?s investment on the development of its biotechnology industry.
Dike from the Covenant University (CU) in Ogun State Nigeria ? a fellowship
student from International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology,
New Delhi, India - said there were already lots of similarities that Africa
could build on, especially the unique and unexplored plant kingdom.

In the case of SA, she described it as already blessed with a large and
strong pool of qualified scientists and engineers within the country as well
as good network of research laboratories such as in India.

Biotechnology is the use of cellular and bio-molecular processes to solve
problems or make useful products. It involves the process of applying the
knowledge of biology to enhance the environment, health and food supply.

Dike described India as one of the primary players in the international
biotechnology field. Its biotechnology sector crossed the 2 billion USD mark
during 2006 ? 2007 and is still growing, showing 20% growth in 2007-2008.

She said the government of India took an initiative in the early 1980s and
identified a niche in the education and training field. It established
scientific agencies and the National Biotechnology Board to support research
initiatives in modern biology.

It also built the infrastructure such as laboratories and institutions of
learning with specific mandates to carry out research and development in
life sciences as well as knowledge, innovation and technology parks.

India also roped in the experiences of top academic institutions around the
world to take advantage of the knowledge that is already in existence.

In the past two and a half decade the focus on this industry has created
more than 300 college level educational and training institutes across the
country offering degrees and diplomas in biotechnology, bioinformatics and
the biological sciences. This has led to a knowledge pool in biosciences and
engineering of over 3 million under graduates, 700 million post graduates
and 15 million PhDs.

To stimulate entrepreneurship and public investments into the production of
newly invented or discovered products, the Indian government started with
the removal of duty on raw materials imported in a bid to support and
motivate those with interest.

?There was a move to simplify and streamline procedures for import,
clearance of storage of biological material, land acquisition, obtaining
environmental and pollution control approvals within shorter time lines,?
she said.

She added that other forms of encouragements included funding for new
researches like combination of vaccines, stem cells, Bio-Diesel etc.

She said a country like SA would only require minor adjustments to get
started including the provision of loans to small and medium scale
companies; creation of healthy competition between provinces by funding the
most successful ones as well as the implementation of policies which attract
foreign investment.

She said many African states need to invest in setting up Biotechnology
centres to explore indigenous knowledge for local plants. They will also
need to establish policies and regulatory structures for bio-safety and
intellectual property protection.

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*GLOBAL
8-GROWERS IN U.S., CANADA, AUSTRALIA BACK GMO WHEAT
*by Carey Gillam
14-May-2009 Reuters<http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssIndustryMaterialsUtilitiesNews/idUSN1450449920090514>

KANSAS CITY, Mo., May 14 (Reuters) - Farm groups from the world's top
wheat-exporting nations on Thursday said they had reached an agreement to
support a "synchronized" commercialization of biotech traits in wheat.

Though any market roll-out of a genetically altered wheat would be years
away, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) said Thursday it had
signed up grain growers in Canada and Australia in a deal that would align
the nations against any international backlash if and when a biotech wheat
was introduced.

The united front also was intended as an invitation to biotech companies to
push forward with biotech wheat development.

"This is a big, long-term issue for producers," said NAWG CEO Daren Coppock.
"We agree it is in our best interest to work together. And we are trying to
send a strong signal to developers so they can move ahead."

The key food crop currently lacks any genetically altered seed options,
unlike corn and soybeans, which have been tinkered with by a variety of
biotech agricultural companies.

Biotech strains of corn and soybeans that resist pests and tolerate
herbicide field treatments now dominate the U.S. market and are growing in
share around the world.

Wheat farmers who have eyed advancements made in other crops say similar
genetically altered opportunities for wheat could help them increase yields
and become more profitable.

Tops on the wish list are drought-tolerant wheat and wheat that makes more
efficient use of nitrogen.

"Wheat is not keeping pace with corn and soy yield increases," said North
Dakota Grain Growers Association president Byron Richard. "We have to be
competitive with other commodities."

In addition to NAWG, the groups signing onto the agreement include U.S.
Wheat Associates, the North American Millers' Association, the Grain Growers
of Canada, the Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association and the Alberta
Winter Wheat Producers Commission. Australian signatories include Grains
Council of Australia, Grain Growers Association and the Pastoralists and
Graziers Association of Western Australia.

It was five years ago this month that Monsanto Co (MON.N). shelved an
herbicide-tolerant "Roundup Ready" wheat that would have been the first
biotech wheat in the world.

The company was facing a storm of protest from U.S. wheat buyers, who
threatened to boycott all U.S. wheat if a biotech strain was rolled out.
Growers and export players feared a loss of customers and shied away from
backing the plan.

Discussions about genetically altering wheat remain sensitive in many parts
of the world, including major export markets in Europe and Asia. Biotech
crop critics argue genetically altering crops, particularly those used for
food, can have harmful ramifications on human and animal health and on the
environment.

Still, acceptance is growing, said wheat growers.

"There are a lot of benefits that come with biotech wheat -- higher
production, less reliance on pesticides, and better quality wheat," said
Western Canadian Wheat Growers Association president Kevin Bender.
"Acceptance is growing for it." *(Reporting by Carey Gillam; editing by Jim
Marshall)*

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*DISCLAIMER*: Articles that are posted in this news service do not
necessarily reflect the views of SEARCA.

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*Pigs got flu, and worse, humans get this
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*SEARCA invites participants to International Training on Responding to
Changing Climate * <http://www.searca.org/web/news/2009/apr/web/28.html>

*---------------------------------------------------------*
*Download available paper and/or presentation handouts of some notable
speakers presented at SEARCA Agriculture and Development Series. CLICK HERE.
* <http://www.searca.org/web/adss/2009/index.html>

*The Role of Communication towards Achieving Sufficiency Economy through
Huai Hong Khrai Royal Development Study Center Projects in Chiang Mai,
Thailand* <http://www.searca.org/>
*Speaker: Ms. Suphasiri Trirat
19 May 2009*

*20th FCSSP Scientific Conference* <http://www.bic.searca.org/>
*Siliman University, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, PHILIPPINES
18 - 23 May 2009*

*2nd Annual Biofuels
Summit*<http://www.bic.searca.org/events/index2009.html#may>
*Marina Mandarin, SINGAPORE
25 - 27 May 2009*

*International Symposium on Second Green Revolution: Priorities, Programmes,
Social and Ethical Issues (BIOSPECTRUM
2009)*<http://www.bic.searca.org/events/index2009.html#july>
*Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, INDIA
02 - 04 July 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.

CALL FOR RESEARCH PROPOSALS

Enabling Bio-innovations for Poverty Alleviation for Asia: 2009 Small Grants
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(AIT)*<http://www.bic.searca.org/home_files/announcement/bioinnovationasia2009.pdf>

*2009 iBoP SMALL GRANTS COMPETITION

Open to Individual researchers and groups/institutions who are working on
marginalized based of pyramid (BoP) sector issues and/or the development of
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From bic at agri.searca.org  Thu May 21 09:31:20 2009
From: bic at agri.searca.org (SEARCA BIC)
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 09:31:20 +0800
Subject: [searcabic] FW: 100 days left: 2nd World Congress of Agroforestry,
 23-28 August 2009, Nairobi, Kenya!
In-Reply-To: <4658B112D15C194CAC8A76DCFE75E22B04B72CF1@icrafmx.ICRAF.CGIARAD.ORG>
References: <4658B112D15C194CAC8A76DCFE75E22B04B72CF1@icrafmx.ICRAF.CGIARAD.ORG>
Message-ID: <0FA2C77DA264D3408CDECF585E39A73F515F6A524E@searca-mail.agri.searca.org>

Dear Friends and Collegues,

Please see below invitation to register for the 2nd World Congress of Agroforestry.

Best regards,


E-group Moderator
SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center
SEARCA, College 4031, Laguna, PHILIPPINES
Telephone nos. +63 49 536 2290 local 406/169
Telefax no. +63 49 536 4105
URL http://www.bic.searca.org
________________________________
From: Kimwaki, Jacinta (ICRAF) [J.KIMWAKI at CGIAR.ORG]
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 3:37 PM
Subject: 100 days left: 2nd World Congress of Agroforestry, 23-28 August 2009, Nairobi, Kenya!


[cid:image001.jpg at 01C9D7CE.A3CC2670]



Only 100 days left. Register NOW!!

2nd World Congress of Agroforestry

23-28 August 2009, Nairobi, Kenya!


If you have not yet registered for the Congress, please do so NOW<http://www.worldagroforestry.org/wca2009/Registration/> as time is running out.

The Global Organizing Committee has an exciting program<http://www.worldagroforestry.org/wca2009/wca_programme.pdf> and an impressive list of high-profile speakers that will make this Congress doubly attractive. Two Nobel Prize Laureates?Professor Wangari Maathai and Dr. Rajendra K. Pachauri?as well as world-famous paleoanthropologist and conservationist, Dr. Richard Leakey will all be making keynote addresses during the Congress.

The Congress will assess opportunities that will leverage agroforestry science and development to promote sustainable land use worldwide.  Through keynote presentations, symposia and technical sessions, Congress participants will explore how agroforestry is making contributions to the global challenges of food security, climate change, biodiversity conservation and human health.
The three themes of the Congress are:
?         Food Security and Livelihoods
?         Conservation and Rehabilitation of Natural Resources
?         Policies and Institutions

The 2nd World Congress of Agroforestry will provide a global forum for agroforestry professionals to share knowledge, experiences and ideas, and to plan future strategies in agroforestry research, education and training of knowledge-sharing initiated during the 1st World Congress of Agroforestry held in 2004 in Florida, USA.

Register now by visiting the Congress website www.worldagroforestry.org/wca2009<http://www.worldagroforestry.org/wca2009>

The website also provides more information on Side Events<http://www.worldagroforestry.org/wca2009/side_events>, Exhibitions<http://www.worldagroforestry.org/WCA2009/exhibitions> and Field Trips<http://www.worldagroforestry.org/wca2009/registration_info>.
If you have any enquiries, or need assistance with the registration process, or to plan your trip, please email us wca2009 at cgiar.org<mailto:wca2009 at cgiar.org>






__________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature database 4089 (20090519) __________

The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.

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From bic at agri.searca.org  Thu May 21 09:56:38 2009
From: bic at agri.searca.org (SEARCA BIC)
Date: Thu, 21 May 2009 09:56:38 +0800
Subject: [searcabic] FW: ipHandbook of Best Practices Website: Now Improved
	& Expanded
In-Reply-To: <0FA2C77DA264D3408CDECF585E39A73F515F636481@searca-mail.agri.searca.org>
References: <01e001c9d95f$5001b720$f0052560$@org>,
	<0FA2C77DA264D3408CDECF585E39A73F515F636481@searca-mail.agri.searca.org>
Message-ID: <0FA2C77DA264D3408CDECF585E39A73F515F6A524F@searca-mail.agri.searca.org>

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

The website for the 'Intellectual Property Management in Health and Agricultural Innovation: A Handbook of Best Practices' has improved and expanded features.  This on-line resource offers up-to-date information and strategies for utilizing the power of both intellectual property and the public domain, ideally prepared by and for policy-makers, leaders of public and private sector research, technology transfer professionals, licensing executives, and scientists.

For additional information, please see below an email from Anatole Krattiger and the attached press release.

Best regards,


E-group Moderator
SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center
SEARCA, College 4031, Laguna, PHILIPPINES
Telephone nos. +63 49 536 2290 local 406/169
Telefax no. +63 49 536 4105
URL http://www.bic.searca.org

________________________________
From: Anatole Krattiger, bioDevelopments-Int. Institute [no-reply at bioDevelopments.org]
Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 11:23 PM
To: Anatole Krattiger, bioDevelopments-Int. Institute
Subject: ipHandbook of Best Practices Website: Now Improved & Expanded

Dear Colleagues:
Major improvements and expansions to the ipHandbook<http://www.iphandbook.org/> website have just been launched thanks to a new collaboration with the Concept Foundation<http://www.conceptfoundation.org/> and funding by the Rockefeller Foundation<http://www.rockfound.org/>. The improvements include:

 1.  Special video presentations<http://www.iphandbook.org/handbook/globallearning/videos/>, downloadable with synchronized slides, prepared by the ipHandbook community. Includes a unique & growing list of links to other relevant videos.
 2.  An exclusive list of distance learning courses<http://www.iphandbook.org/handbook/globallearning/distance/>, including one prepared by and for the ipHandbook community in collaboration with UNIDO?s<http://binas.unido.org/moodle/> e-Biosafety Training Programme
 3.  Follow us on Twitter<http://twitter.com/iphandbook> for regular updates or use the new RSS Feeds on selected pages (click here to read our Twitter strategy<http://blog.iphandbook.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/iphandbook-twitter-strategy.pdf>).
 4.  Improved navigation with pull-down menus.
 5.  Integrated Google translation on each page.
 6.  Improved search<http://www.iphandbook.org/svc/searchadvanced> functions.
 7.  The full content now shared under a Creative Commons license<http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/us/>.
 8.  An updated and expanded Resources<http://www.iphandbook.org/handbook/resources/> section (more updates to follow soon).
 9.  A vibrant blog<http://blog.iphandbook.org/> on current IP topics, including a list of over 60 IP related blogs by third parties.
 10. Translation by PIPRA of 31 chapters into Vietnamese<http://vietnam.pipra.org/sach-tra-cuu-pipra-shtt.html>. Everyone is encouraged to request a royalty-free license to translate individual chapters or the executive guide into other languages.
Click here<http://blog.iphandbook.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/press-release-iphandbook-online-phase-ii-new.pdf> to download the full press release.
Over the next 6 months, we will gradually update and expand patent search tools, information resources, publications, sample agreements and much more. Most importantly, however, we are aiming at establishing a virtual global network of IP and innovation managers, policymakers, scientists and R&D leaders. We are in the process of developing interactive tools, allowing people from around the world to interact and build a social IP network. Specific features to become available include:
-          Networking features (using LinkedIn), capitalizing on the Web 2.0 possibilities.
-          Discussion boards, including the possibility for users to upload references, comments, upcoming events and links, thus allowing the content to be expanded and remain current.
-          An index of relevant statutory protection and licensing regulations in selected countries.
-          The addition of additional topics and resources, including Wiki-type features on such topics as ?knowledge governance? (or what lies beyond IP), ?global access strategies? and more.
Concept Foundation<http://www.conceptfoundation.org> is an international not-for-profit organization and one of the oldest Product Development Partnerships (PDPs), having been established under a collaborative agreement with WHO in 1989. It has extensive experience in the development to partnerships with pharmaceutical manufacturers in developing countries and in ensuring access of products of assured quality to lower and middle income countries. MIHR was established by the Rockefeller Foundation<http://rockfound.org/> in 2003. After a period of independent operation in Oxford, UK, it merged its programs with the Concept Foundation and is now a program of the Foundation. Continuing support for MIHR activities is provided by the Rockefeller Foundation.
Please visit www.ipHandbook.org<http://www.ipHandbook.org> and share this message and attachment with your colleagues. And do stay tuned and follow us on Twitter<http://www.twitter.com/ipHandbook> to be updated in real-time on new features and important developments.
Best regards,
[cid:image003.png at 01C9CF63.B907FC30]
Anatole Krattiger and the Editors of www.ipHandbook.org<http://www.ipHandbook.org>
Chair, bioDevelopments-International Institute, ASU and Cornell University
and bioDevelopments LLC (International Consultants)
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From searcabic at gmail.com  Tue May 26 17:52:46 2009
From: searcabic at gmail.com (SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center)
Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 17:52:46 +0800
Subject: [searcabic]  Latest news postings on biotechnology, 26 May 2009
Message-ID: <cfaa7ec0905260252ybc11f02v43f9aa633eaa4a43@mail.gmail.com>

  Right click images to view this page properly. If this e-mail does not
appear as a web page, please click
here.<http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/index3.htm>
*Posted 26 May 2009*

*PHILIPPINES*
1-?FINGERPRINTING? MARKS ESSENTIAL BREAKTHROUGH IN RICE
RESEARCH<http://www.bic.searca.org/news/2009/may/phi/21b.html>
2-TISSUE CULTURE SEEN TO ANSWER NEED FOR MORE FOREST
PLANTS<http://www.bic.searca.org/news/2009/may/phi/21.html>
3-AMEND GMO ORDINANCE <http://www.bic.searca.org/news/2009/may/phi/20.html>
4-MALUNGGAY TISSUE-CULTURE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERRED TO
BPI<http://www.bic.searca.org/news/2009/may/phi/18b.html>

*AFRICA*
5-KARI ADOPTS GENETICALLY MODIFIED
MAIZE<http://www.bic.searca.org/news/2009/may/afr/18.html>

*BRAZIL*
6-BRAZIL REGULATOR APPROVES SECOND MONSANTO GMO COTTON
SEED<http://www.bic.searca.org/news/2009/may/bra/21.html>

*CANADA*
7-DUPONT RECEIVES CANADIAN REGULATORY APPROVAL FOR HIGH OLEIC SOYBEAN
TRAIT<http://www.bic.searca.org/news/2009/may/can/18.html>

*GLOBAL*
8-BIOTECH CROPS MAKING IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUSTAINABLE
FARMING<http://www.bic.searca.org/news/2009/may/global/20.html>
     *1-?FINGERPRINTING? MARKS ESSENTIAL BREAKTHROUGH IN RICE RESEARCH*
by Armand Galang
21-May-2009 Manila Times <http://www.manilatimes.net/national/>

SCIENCE CITY OF MUNOZ, Nueva Ecija: Rice fingerprint, anyone? Rice experts
from the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) the country?s primary
rice institution revealed that fingerprinting, which is used to characterize
a DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) was essential for crop breeding.

?DNA contains the traits of an organism,? said the experts Dr. Gabriel
Romero, Cheryl Adeva and Zosimo Battad 2nd in a paper called ?Genetic
Fingerprinting: Advancing the frontiers of crop biology research.

In the paper, they documented the way how DNA fingerprinting was used by
Filipino scientist in rice research.

The paper which publication was disclosed by the PhilRice on Wednesday,
showed that crop fingerprinting helped the breeders select the traits they
needed to create new upgraded seeds.

?The discovery of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has paved the way for
a more convenient analysis of DNA variation,? said the PhilRice explaining
how DNA testing has been made easier from the tedious process it used to be.


PCR, the paper explained, magnifies a section of a DNA making it possible
for scientists to study and/or characterize that area. Scientists are now
using markers, which make assaying a lot more convenient. Markers are
specific DNA, sequences attached to a trait.

The presence of a marker signifies that a trait is present.

Genetic fingerprinting was particularly useful in taxa identification and
phylogeny, diversity analysis, hybridity testing, gene mapping, marker-aided
introgression, somaclonal variation, and patenting, the rice scientists
added.

The genetic fingerprinting, they said, traces even the historical background
of a particular seed. For instance, genetic fingerprinting showed that PSB
Rc82 came from PSB RC28, among others.

The process was also found vital in diversity analysis that measures the
level of genetic similarities or difference among materials that is crucial
for breeding. Diversity makes specific rice variety productive or otherwise.


Genetic fingerprinting decodes the traits of a variety and will guide
breeders in selecting the traits that scientists can transfer to another
variety, the trio explained in their paper.

The process was also useful in gene banking, an important act in maintaining
the repository of varieties, they said. Gene banking is essential since
pests and diseases would attack at any unforeseen time.

Genetic fingerprinting further improves the viability of hybrid production,
according to the research. Romero, Avela and Battad 2nd said that the
fingerprinting gives scientists precise results in proper identification, as
well as genetic identity stability, complete characterization and
measurement of crop genetic diversity.?

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*2-TISSUE CULTURE SEEN TO ANSWER NEED FOR MORE FOREST PLANTS*
21-May-2009 Malaya <http://www.malaya.com.ph/may22/envi2.htm>

With deforestation continuing unabated and the demand for quality wood
remaining on the rise, the success of efforts at regaining Philippine forest
cover may lie on the quality of seedlings being planted to replace lost
vegetation. The UPLB College of Forestry and Natural Resources (CFNR) has
been pursuing this track of providing quality forest trees and other plants
via tissue culture.

Dr. Portia Lapitan, director of the UPLB Forest Biotechnology Program, said:
"We want planting materials that grow fast and perform very well under
adverse conditions in the field. Although the work now is still in the
experimental stages, the commercial scale production of quality forest
species may soon be realized."

A tree physiologist and forest geneticist, Dr. Lapitan believes that
biotechnology is necessary to meet the increasing demands for planting
stocks. As of now, the Philippines is said to need an estimated 195.4
million seedlings a year to meet the annual planting target for 100,000
hectares. At present, there are not enough existing seed sources of forest
species for reforestation and production in the country.

In the UPLB campus, the program?s modest laboratory is home to hundreds of
glass bottles with tiny, cloned seedlings of various tree and non-tree
species growing in modified Murashige and Skoog media. The Forest
Biotechnology Laboratory has been operational since 2002 and has produced a
number of valuable seedlings, all of which have been grown from tissue
culture.

The seedlings come from germinated seeds of trees with superior quality. The
tissue-cultured seedlings are expected to reach maturity earlier and perform
better than the conventionally raised trees. They also retain the quality of
the mother tree, including its disease and pest resistance.

The Forest and Biotechnology Program has developed tissue culture protocols
for Acacia mangium (mangium), Gmelina arborea (yemane), Paraserianthes
falcataria (falcate, Moluccan sau), Tectona grandis (teak), and Calamus
(rattan) species. Future work will include species such as the Falcata tree
(Paraserianthes falcataria), Jathropa, and the Moringa tree, commonly known
as "malunggay." These will be developed to answer the need for sources of
bio-fuel in the country.

According to Dr. Lapitan, the protocol for out-planting still has to be
refined in order to ensure higher seedling survival. She and her team of
scientists and researchers are now working to perfect the breeding and
biotechnology work to develop and produce planting materials in order to
meet the demand for reinstating the country?s forests and tree plantations.

At present, the program needs to find continued funding for its operations,
which require around P500,000 to P800,000 a year. The team is looking at
options to make the laboratory self-sustaining. Currently, it is being
supported by donations from the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources and PCARRD.

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*3-AMEND GMO ORDINANCE*
by Carla P. Gomez
20-May-2009 The Visayan Daily
Star<http://www.visayandailystar.com/2009/May/20/topstory9.htm>

Board Member Enrique Lacson yesterday said he will support amendments to the
ordinance banning the entry of Genetically Modified Organisms into Negros
Occidental if it will affect the food security of the province.

He noted that the ban has, so far, been selective, with action only taken
against corn entering the province.

Insulin and other vaccines are also GMOs, Lacson also pointed out.

?We cannot have an ordinance that we cannot implement fully,? he said.

Lacson said he does not want to preempt the findings of the ad hoc committee
created by Negros Occidental Gov. Isidro Zayco to look into the call of
livestock and poultry raisers for the lifting of the ban, and the opposition
from those opposed to GMO products.

?But if the findings are that the ordinance will greatly affect the food
security of the province, I will support moves for its amendment,? he said.

?We do not want our livestock and poultry industry to collapse,? he said.

He said it would be better if GMO labels are placed on products to give the
consumers a choice on whether to buy them or not.

The provincial government had earlier ordered the shipping out of
intercepted GMO corn intended for feeds of livestock and poultry.

Lacson noted that corn in Negros Occidental is now P2 to P3 more expensive
per kilo than in other provinces.

Meanwhile, Albert R.T. Lim Jr., president of the Negros Occidental Hog
Raisers Association MPC Inc., in a position paper sent to Vice Gov. Emilio
Yulo III, asked the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to immediately amend Provincial
Ordinance No. 007, Series of 2007 banning GMO products from entering Negros
Occidental.

The ordinance is anti-developmental and is contrary to the national thrust
and programs for agricultural development and food security, he said.

?The provincial ordinance is anti-Negrense, anti-Negros consumer,
anti-Negros farmer and anti-Negros industry. It violates the citizen?s basic
right for an informed free choice as their option to use safe products of
modern biotechnology are curtailed,? Lim said.

It is not founded on sound scientific facts, modern biotechnology is safe,
he added.

Meanwhile, a civil society consultation on GMO will be held at the Capitol
today.

Anti-GMO advocates insist that GMO food is harmful to health.

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*4-MALUNGGAY TISSUE-CULTURE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERRED TO BPI*
18-May-2009 BusinessMirror<http://www.businessmirror.com.ph/home/science/10395-malunggay-tissue-culture-technology-transferred-to-bpi.html>

The high demand for malunggay leaves and oil is spurring farmers to plant
malunggay, thus, there is also a demand for good quality planting materials
in large quantities.

The transfer of technology will enable the BPI to produce sufficient
quantities of selected trees now being identified at the Malunggay Center,
DA-RFU III in Tarlac City, where other technologies for producing malunggay
are also being developed.

The selection of best productive trees is also supported by the DA BPO. The
BPI will also establish pilot plantations of tissue-cultured malunggay, in
collaboration with interested nongovernment organizations and local
government units in Pampanga, Bicol, Pangasinan and Aurora.

Initial plantings of tissue cultured malunggay gave 100 percent survival and
the plants are growing at the same rate as seed-derived plants.

There is currently huge demand for malunggay leaves to fortify noodles and
other food preparations. Bakers, restaurants, private individuals and other
food establishments have developed various malunggay-based foods.

The Department of Education is also publishing a compendium of nutritious
and delectable recipes. The high nutrient content of malunggay leaves is
hoped to ease the national problem of malnutrition due to micronutrient
deficiency.

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*AFRICA
5-KARI ADOPTS GENETICALLY MODIFIED MAIZE
*by Jevans Nyabiage
18-May-2009 Daily
Nation<http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/-/1006/599308/-/ix0dvrz/-/index.html>

The stem borer, a nightmare pest for many maize farmers, could become a
thing of the past with the adoption of genetically modified maize by the
Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (Kari).

After more than three years of research, Kari has come up with a maize
variety it says is more resistant to crop pests like the borer, which is
responsible for up to 40 per cent yield loss and blamed for Kenya?s
dependence on maize imports; hitting the incomes of growers and impacting
negatively on food security.

*Stem borers*

?Kari is pleased to announce the planting of the trial maize after years of
laboratory research, as part of an approach to help Kenyan farmers fight
stem borers,? said Dr Joel Mutisya, a biotechnology scientist at Kari,
adding that what remains now is to test the Bt maize for its resilience.

?The maize will also be crossed with Kenyan varieties to boost its hardiness
and adaptation to Kenyan growing conditions,? Dr Mutisya adds.

He says the produce from the maize experiment will be safe to eat but will
not be released before the Kenya Bureau of Standards certifies them.

?The maize is safe for consumption, but until tests are done and
certification done by the government, it will not be released to the general
public,? he says.

This is the first time the insect-resistant maize is being planted directly
into the soil in an open field in sub-Saharan Africa outside South Africa.

Before this, seeds were planted in a series of confined field stations in
2005 at Kari?s Kiboko station. The ?open quarantine? field trials were
undertaken by the Insect Resistant Maize for Africa project.

Though there has been plenty of controversy surrounding the whole issue of
adopting genetically modified crops in Kenya, local scientists say that
better combinations of resistance and tolerance traits are the key to
boosting maize yields among small-scale farmers, given that they are
unlikely to invest heavily in intensifying production in the near future.

Each year, the struggle for survival by many subsistence farmers has been
affected by the increasing impact of pests and diseases, which voraciously
consume 400,000 tonnes of maize thus inflicting on average, 15 per cent
annual yield losses.

This is close to the total amount of maize imported by Kenya annually. This
loss directly affects the livelihoods of thousands of families ,which rely
on maize as a staple food and as a source of income.

Such large losses are estimated at $72 million (Sh5.5 billion) per year in
Kenya alone, although stem borers are a problem in most of East and Southern
Africa.

Kari?s taking up of the Bt maize comes two months after President Kibaki
signed into law the Biosafety Bill 2008, making Kenya the first East African
nation to adopt genetically modified crops.

The research project is being conducted jointly by Kari and the
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) supported by the
Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture and the Rockefeller
Foundation.

Kenya was the first country to sign up the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
when it was opened for signatures in 2000.

Ratification followed in 2003, and the Biosafety Bill was drafted in 2005 to
bring Kenya?s law and practice in line with the protocol.

Late last year, the Bill was passed through by Parliament and signed into
law on February12, 2009 by the President.

The Biosafety Act, which regulates activities involving GMOs, also
establishes the National Biosafety Authority with the mandate to exercise
general supervision and control over the transfer, handling and use of GMOs
with a view to ensuring safety of human and animal health.

Eight other regulatory agencies will oversee compliance with the law.

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*BRAZIL
6-BRAZIL REGULATOR APPROVES SECOND MONSANTO GMO COTTON SEED
*21-May-2009 Reuters<http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE54K3T320090521>

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil's biosafety regulator CTNBio has approved the
use of Monsanto's Bollgard 2 genetically modified cotton seed, the company
said on Thursday.

The pest-resistant cotton variety must still be approved by Brazil's
Agriculture Ministry before it can be planted in the country.

U.S.-based Monsanto has a total of six genetically modified varieties of
cotton, soybeans and corn already approved for commercial planting in
Brazil.

Bollgard 2 is a second-generation of pest-resistant cotton. It contains two
different insect control genes, compared with the single insect control gene
in its predecessor, Bollgard, which was approved in Brazil in 2005.

Other genetically modified cotton seeds developed by Bayer and Dow Chemical
already have been approved for use in the South American country, a top
producer of sugar, corn, soy, coffee and oranges.

*(Reporting by Roberto Samora, Writing by Inae Riveras; Editing by Walter
Bagley)*

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*CANADA
7-DUPONT RECEIVES CANADIAN REGULATORY APPROVAL FOR HIGH OLEIC SOYBEAN* TRAIT
Dupont Press Release
18-May-2009 via Agbios
http://www.agbios.com/static/news/NEWSID_10697.php

WILMINGTON, Del., - DuPont today announced it has reached a regulatory
milestone for its next generation of healthier soybean products. DuPont
business Pioneer Hi-Bred received confirmation from Health Canada and the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency that its high oleic soybean trait has been
approved for cultivation and food and feed use in Canada.

?This is a significant milestone in our effort to bring the high oleic
soybean trait to market,? said Paul E. Schickler, Pioneer president and
DuPont vice president and general manager. ?We?re seeing strong results in
field testing of soybeans with the high oleic trait and strong interest from
food companies looking for a new oil product with improved nutritional
qualities and performance characteristics.?

The high oleic soybean trait from Pioneer is more than three times higher in
heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and has a more than 20 percent reduction
in saturated fat over commodity soybean oil. Like low linolenic soybean oil,
high oleic soybean oil eliminates the need for hydrogenation, resulting in
foods with negligible amounts of trans fats.

Oil testing results from high oleic soybeans from Pioneer produced in 2008
again confirmed that the oil contains about 80 percent oleic acid. The high
levels of oleic acid significantly increase the stability of the oil when
used in frying and food processing, meaning the oil doesn?t break down as
quickly. Soybeans are grown on more acres than any other oilseed crop in
North America, making high oleic soybeans a cost-effective solution.

High oleic soybean oil also presents opportunities for industrial
applications. The oil?s high stability in industrial settings will allow
companies to develop renewable, environmentally sustainable options to
petroleum-based products.

Canada and Mexico are the first countries to complete regulatory reviews of
the high oleic trait. Pioneer completed U.S. regulatory submissions for
approval of the high oleic soybean oil trait in December 2006. The U.S. Food
and Drug Administration completed its review of high oleic soybeans earlier
this year and the U.S. Department of Agriculture is in the process of
reviewing the trait. Regulatory submissions for the trait are planned or
have been completed in key soybean importing countries around the world.

Pioneer will introduce the high oleic soybean trait in its industry leading
line-up of Pioneer? brand Y Series soybean varieties. These varieties will
be field tested in the United States and Canada this growing season, with
potential Canadian registration of the first products in 2010.

Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, is the world's leading source of
customized solutions for farmers, livestock producers and grain and oilseed
processors. With headquarters in Des Moines, Iowa, Pioneer provides access
to advanced plant genetics in nearly 70 countries.

DuPont is a science-based products and services company. Founded in 1802,
DuPont puts science to work by creating sustainable solutions essential to a
better, safer, healthier life for people everywhere. Operating in more than
70 countries, DuPont offers a wide range of innovative products and services
for markets including agriculture and food; building and construction;
communications; and transportation.

~~~
For further information on high-oleic soybean, see:
http://www.agbios.com/dbase.php?action=Submit&evidx=541
<http://www.agbios.com/dbase.php?action=Submit&evidx=541%20>

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*GLOBAL
8-BIOTECH CROPS MAKING IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO SUSTAINABLE FARMING1
*20-May-2009 PG
Economics<http://www.pgeconomics.co.uk/Biotech%20crops%20making%20important%20contributions%20to%20sustainable%20farming.>

New (annual) study shows biotech crops have delivered significant global
economic and environmental benefits and are making important contributions
to global food production & security.

"Since 1996, biotech crop adoption has contributed to reducing the release
of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, decreased pesticide spraying
and significantly boosted farmers' incomes," said Graham Brookes, director
of PG Economics, co-author of the report. "The technology has also made
important contributions to increasing the yields of many farmers, reducing
production risks, improving productivity and raising global production of
key crops. The combination of economic and environmental benefit delivery is
therefore making a valuable contribution to improving the sustainability of
global agriculture, with these benefits and improvements being greatest in
developing countries"

Previewing the findings of the comprehensive study, the key findings are:

? Biotech crops have contributed to significantly reducing the release of
greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural practices. This results from less
fuel use and additional soil carbon storage from reduced tillage with
biotech crops. In 2007, this was equivalent to removing 14.2 billion kg of
carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or equal to removing nearly 6.3 million
cars from the road for one year;

? Biotech crops have reduced pesticide spraying (1996-2007) by 359 million
kg (-8.8%: equivalent to about 125% of the annual volume of pesticide active
ingredient applied to arable crops in the European Union) and as a result
decreased the environmental impact associated with herbicide and insecticide
use on the area planted to biotech crops by 17.2%;

? Herbicide tolerant biotech crops have facilitated the adoption of
no/reduced tillage production systems in many regions, especially South
America. This has made important contributions to reducing soil erosion and
improving soil moisture levels;

? There have been substantial net economic benefits at the farm level
amounting to $10.1 billion in 2007 and $44.1 billion for the twelve year
period. The farm income gains in 2007 is equivalent to adding 4.4% to the
value of global production of the four main biotech crops of soybeans, corn,
canola and cotton;

? Of the total farm income benefit, 46.5% ($20.5 billion) has been due to
yield gains, with the balance arising from reductions in the cost of
production. Two thirds of the yield gain derive from adoption of insect
resistant crops and the balance from herbicide tolerant crops;

? Farmers in developing countries obtained the largest share of the farm
income gains in 2007 (58%) and over the twelve year period obtained 50% of
the total ($44.1 billion) gains;

? The cost farmers paid for accessing GM technology in 2007 was equal to 24%
of the total technology gains (a total of $13.2 billion inclusive of farm
income gains ($10.1 billion) plus cost of the technology payable to the seed
supply chain ($3.17 billion)2;

? For farmers in developing countries the total cost of accessing the
technology in 2007 was equal to about 14% of total technology gains, whilst
for farmers in developed countries the cost was 34% of the total technology
gains. Whilst circumstances vary between countries, the higher share of
total technology gains accounted for by farm income gains in developing
countries relative to the farm income share in developed countries reflects
factors such as weaker provision and enforcement of intellectual property
rights in developing countries;

? Since 1996, biotech traits have added 67.8 million tonnes and 62.4 million
tonnes respectively to global production of soybeans and corn. The
technology has also contributed an extra 6.85 million tonnes of cotton lint
and 4.44 million tonnes of canola;

? Production of soybeans, corn, cotton and canola on the areas planted to
biotech crops, in 2007, were respectively +29.8%, +7.6%, +19.8% and +8.5%
higher than levels would have otherwise been if GM technology had not been
used by farmers;

? If GM technology had not been available to the (12 million) farmers using
the technology in 2007, maintaining global production levels at the 2007
levels would have required additional plantings of 5.9 million ha of
soybeans, 3 million ha of corn, 2.5 million ha of cotton and 0.3 million ha
of canola. This total area requirement is equivalent to about 6% of the
arable land in the US, or 23% of the arable land in Brazil.

*Note:
For additional information, contact Graham Brookes.
Tel 00 44 (0) 1531 650123
www.pgeconomics.co.uk
1] Download Full report <
http://www.pgeconomics.co.uk/pdf/2009globalimpactstudy.pdf>. This report
updates previous studies (using the same methodology), all available on the
same website and (shorter versions) in the peer review scientific journal,
Agbioforum www.agbioforum.org. A shorter version of this current report has
also been submitted for publication in a scientific journal
[2] The cost of the technology accrues to the seed supply chain including
sellers of seed to farmers, seed multipliers, plant breeders, distributors
and the GM technology providers.
*
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