[searcabic] Latest news postings on biotechnology, 27 March 2010

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*Posted 27 March 2010*

*PHILIPPINES*
1-GM CORN PRODUCTION NOW A MULTI-BILLION-PESO INDUSTRY
2-CARABAO CENTER MARKS 17TH YEAR IN WEEK-LONG CELEBRATIONS
3-PHILIPPINE BASIC RESEARCH NEEDS MORE FUNDING, SAY SCIENTISTS
4-ORGANIC AGRICULTURE ACT WILL MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE

*CHINA*
5-CENTRAL CHINA PROVINCE DENIES GM RICE ACCUSATION

*INDIA*
6-MS SWAMINATHAN THROWS HIS WEIGHT BEHIND BT BRINJAL

*GLOBAL*
7-WORLD CROP OUTPUT MUST INCREASE TO MEET GROWING NEED

     *1-GM CORN PRODUCTION NOW A MULTI-BILLION-PESO INDUSTRY*
by Rudy A. Fernandez
26-March-2010 The Philippine
STAR<http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=561228&publicationSubCategoryId=66&newsalert>

LOS BAÑOS, Laguna , Philippines – Genetically modified (GM) corn production
in the Philippines has become a multi-billion-peso venture.

In 2008 alone, the net national impact of biotechnology maize on farm income
was estimated at $49 million (about P2.25 billion).

>From 2003, when the government approved the commercial production of biotech
corn in the country, up to 2008, the farm level economic benefit of planting
GM maize is estimated to have reached $88 million (P4 billion), reported the
International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications
(ISAAA).

New York (USA)-based ISAAA is a not-for-profit organization with an
International network of centers designed to contribute to the alleviation
of hunger and poverty by sharing knowledge and crop biotechnology
applications. The network includes the Southeast Asian center based in Los
Baños.

Dr. Clive James, ISAAA founder and current board chairman, reported the
significant strides of biotech crops at a recent seminar billed “Global
Overview of Biotech/GM Crops 2009: Current Status, Impact, and Future
Prospects” held at the Dusit Thani Manila Hotel in Makati City.

Other seminar speakers were Dr. Gelia T. Castillo, a National Scientist; Dr.
Emil Q. Javier, former University of the Philippines System president, now
president of the National Academy of Science and Technology; Dr. Randy
Hautea, ISAAA global coordinator; Dr. Rhodora Aldemita, also of ISAAA; and
Isabela farmer Joseph Bonemerito, who gave a testimonial on his success as a
Bt corn farmer.

Bt stands for Bacillus thuringiensis, a bacterium that naturally occurs in
soil.
Through biotechnology (genetic engineering) technique, a specific gene of Bt
has been introduced or inserted in a corn variety. The Bt corn produces its
natural pesticide against Asian corn borer, one of the most destructive
pests attacking corn in the Philippines and in other Asian countries.

In his 290-page annual report, Dr. James said: “The benefits of biotech
maize to Filipino farmers’ livelihood, income, the environment, and health
have been well-studied and documented. Farms planting Bt maize in the
Northern Philippines have significantly higher populations of beneficial
insects such as flower bugs, beetles, and spiders than those planted to
conventional hybrid maize.”

Dr. James also cited socioeconomic studies done by Filipino researchers
citing the higher incomes derived from planting GM corn over other
non-transgenic varieties.

At best, Bt corn has considerably changed for the better the complexion of
vast farm areas in the countryside.

Consider Barangay Anao, Mexico, Pampanga.

Anao was once part of a hacienda placed under land reform in the 1970s.

It turned into a “no man’s land” in the early 1990s when volcanic ashes
mantled it following the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo.

In recent years, it turned verdant and productive again – thanks to biotech
corn, which almost all the farmers in the barangay planted.

The once sleepy hamlet is now a picture of progress, with many of the
families having sent their children to college out of their high income from
their Bt corn harvest, as gathered by this writer a few years ago.

The success story of biotech corn in the Philippines can also best be
exemplified by Sara town in Northern Iloilo.

Sara’s once barren hilly grasslands are now lash and productive corn fields
planted to GM maize.

When the villagers began planting the “wonder crop” in 2005 through the
initiative of the Northern Iloilo Cooperative Corn Producers Association
Inc. (NICPAI), only 800 ha were covered.

In just three years, the area, covered by biotech corn soared to 9,300 ha,
with the farmers earning at least P40,000 annually, reported NICPAI
farmer-leader Nelson Sonza. Farm sizes vary from two to five ha per family.

NICPAI subsequently shot to international prominence when it won PLEDGE, the
highest global award given by multinational Monsanto to outstanding projects
in agriculture. NICPA’s success story dubbed “From Grassland to Corn Land”
won a cash prize of $20,000.

Biotech corn has also catapulted several Filipino farmers to global
limelight.
Example is Rosalie Ellasus of San Jacinto, Pangasinan, a petite lady who
once worked as a caregiver abroad but eventually became one of the most
successful biotech corn growers in the country.

In 2007, Ellasus, now a municipal councilor in her town, was chosen as the
first recipient of the Kleckner Trade and Technology Advancement Award (USA)
given for “exemplary leadership, vision, and resolve in advancing the rights
of farmers to choose the technology and tools that will improve the quality,
quantity, and availability of agricultural products around the world.”

Ellasus, a former president of the Philippine Federation of Maize
(PhilMaize) farmers, has also been invited in several international forums
to talk on her experiences as biotech corn farmer.

Another is Edwin Paraluman of Cotabato, who has been an active advocate of
biotech crops here and abroad. He is coordinator of the Asian Farmers
Regional Network.

Summing up, ISAAA projected: “Future prospects look encouraging, with
several ‘home grown’ biotech products likely to be commercialized in the
next three years, including Bt eggplant, biotech papaya, and Golden Rice.”

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*2-CARABAO CENTER MARKS 17TH YEAR IN WEEK-LONG CELEBRATIONS *
by Rowena Galang-Bumanlag
21-March-2010 The Philippine
STAR<http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=559783&publicationSubCategoryId=77>

SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ - Hundreds of farmers in Luzon will be briefed on the
various aspects of dairying during visits to four dairy sites in Nueva Ecija
on March 25.

They were invited by the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) to take part in the
week-long 17th anniversary celebration of the agency, which runs from March
22 to 26.

The farmers will be given lectures on forage production, waste disposal
management, proper milk collection and handling, and milk quality testing.
Champion farmers of the PCC will be giving the lectures.

Sites of the visit and lectures will be in dairy farms in San Jose City,
Talavera, and this city in Nueva Ecija.

Dr. Michiko Nakai of the National Institute of Agro-biological Sciences in
Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan, will talk on the “Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
(ICSI): Recent Developments and Prospects in Livestock Production.”

A forum on artificial insemination will be held the whole day on Wednesday.

On Friday, which is the anniversary program of PCC, newly appointed
Agriculture Secretary Bernie Fondevilla will deliver his keynote address.

Dr. Libertado Cruz, PCC executive director, will render his report about the
achievements of PCC during the past year and will give a glimpse of what the
agency will do next in relation to the carabao improvement program in the
country and its additional mandate as the country’s lead agency for
livestock biotechnology research and development.

A book, “Appreciating the Carabao”, written by Nueva Ecija journalist
Anselmo Roque, will be launched during the program. The PCC will also give
awards for best dairy cooperative, best dairy cow, and best dairy buffalo
farmer under the smallhold and family module categories.

Gov. Aurelio Umali of Nueva Ecija, Rep. Joseph Violago of the second
district of Nueva Ecija, and Mayor Nestor Alvarez of this city have been
invited to grace the occasion.

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*3-PHILIPPINE BASIC RESEARCH NEEDS MORE FUNDING, SAY SCIENTISTS*
by Ma. Theresa V. Ilano
17-March-2010 SciDev.net<http://www.scidev.net/en/news/philippine-basic-research-needs-more-funding-say-scientists.html>

[CEBU] Filipino scientists say more money is needed for basic science
following the success of a scheme to divert some research funds to more
'blue skies' topics.

Half of the government's research and development (R&D) budget should go
towards basic research instead of the current 20 per cent, according to
Jaime C. Montoya, president of the National Research Council of the
Philippines (NRCP), which funds basic research.

"The global competition is now in basic science, so we're putting more
emphasis on basic research," he told SciDev.Net. "Some of our neighbours [in
the region] are already doing so."

Montoya's comments follow the successful implementation of some projects
through the National Integrated Basic Research Agenda (NIBRA), launched in
November 2008, which allows basic science researchers better access to
Philippine government funds.

Under NIBRA, the NRCP has been able to tap the grants-in-aid programme of
the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), which funds research
projects by government scientific agencies as well as projects in other
areas such as technology transfer.

"Any project that [the NRCP] approved but cannot fund is recommended to the
DOST for funding," DOST Undersecretary Graciano P. Yumul said.

Two projects started last year and four others from various disciplines are
due to start soon, said Montoya.

"The NRCP has a very small budget — about US$450,000 a year. Now that we are
able to access DOST funds, more basic research can be undertaken," Montoya
told SciDev.Net.

"But it's not enough," he said. "We need more funds." Montoya said the
country's overall research budget should also be increased.

The budget for DOST's grants-in-aid programme has been increasing annually,
with this year's allocation reaching US$32 million, roughly 7 per cent more
than last year's US$30 million.

But the allocation for the research component of this programme has hardly
changed from the US$12 million annual share in 2008, said Rosella B. Dolor,
DOST's project development officer.

Researchers said they were hopeful that the new administration, after May's
presidential elections, would continue to move the basic science agenda
forwards.

Liza G. Custodio, supervising administrative officer of the National
Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, said her institute's goal
is to raise at least US$400,000 each year for basic research instead of the
current US$10,000 or less.

"Our goal is to focus more on basic research because this is the foundation
for applied science. It would help a lot if we are able to access government
funds," Custodio said.

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*4-‘ORGANIC AGRICULTURE ACT WILL MITIGATE CLIMATE CHANGE’*
by Angela B. Lopez de Leon
09-March-2010 Malaya <http://www.malaya.com.ph/03092010/metro4.html>

A FARMERS’ group yesterday urged President Arroyo to immediately sign the
Organic Agriculture Act of 2009, saying this would help mitigate the effects
of climate change.

At yesterday’s press conference at the Quezon Memorial Circle, Isidro "Boy"
Ancog, coordinator of Pakisama for Visayas, said organic farming not only
enables ecosystems to better adjust to the effects of climate change but
also reduces the emissions of agricultural greenhouse gases (GHG).

"This measure will encourage farmers to engage in organic farming since it
will give incentives to farmers who become involved in this natural method
of farming," said Ancog. "At the same time, organic agriculture is
considered one of the appropriate farming systems that enhance resilience to
the effects of climate change. It reduces greenhouse gases mainly due to the
less use of chemical fertilizers and fossil fuel."

Ancog said organic farming also provides many benefits for soil quality,
helps to break pest and disease life cycles, and maximizes efficient use of
soil nutrients and water.

The proposed Organic Agriculture Act of 2009 would give certified farms a
four-year income tax holiday and exempt them from duties on imported
agricultural equipment. The bill would also exempt from local taxes those
who produce and use organic farming inputs, and grant preferential lending
rates and subsidies on organic certification fees.

"The impact of climate change can still be stopped. If not, probably lessen
it. We just need to act now," Ancog said.

Ancog went on a three-day hunger strike during the 10th FAO International
Technical Conference on Agriculture Biotechnologies in Developing Countries
in Mexico last March 1 to 4, 2010. He objected the fact that the conference
appeared to be promoting biotechnology, including the commercial use of
genetically modified organisms, as the most viable solution to poverty and
hunger in developing countries.

"Technologies are so top-down, imposed on us with very little knowledge
given especially its limitations and effects," said Ancog.

Ancog noted that with the implementation of GMOs the farmers can no longer
plant crops that are insect- or wind-pollinated, limiting the diversity of
food both on the farm and in the market place. He said the Organic
Agriculture law will check the alarming damage to farmlands caused by GMOs
and the pesticides used in farms that cultivate them.

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*CHINA
5-CENTRAL CHINA PROVINCE DENIES GM RICE ACCUSATION
*20-March-2010 China
Daily<http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-03/20/content_9617964.htm>

CHANGSHA - Central China's Hunan province said on Saturday rice on sale at
its supermarkets was not genetically modified and refuted environmental
group Greenpeace's accusation.

The provincial agricultural department said in a statement that no
pest-resistant genetically modified ingredients had been found in samples of
all 32 brands of rice being sold on the local market.

"Samples were taken from the Wal-Mart outlet on South Huangxing Road in the
provincial capital Changsha, and several other stores and mills in the
province last Monday and Tuesday, but no GM ingredient was found after
careful analysis by professional testing institutions," the document said.

Zuo Pingquan, an official in charge of science promotion at the provincial
agricultural department, said the testing had been a complicated procedure,
involving DNA extraction.

Greenpeace said in a report last Monday that GM rice was being sold at
supermarkets in Hunan, including the Wal-Mart outlet.

Greenpeace said its study was conducted in October.

China's central government approved a program in 2008 to cultivate
high-yield, pest-resistant genetically modified grains as it faced the
challenge of feeding its 1.3 billion people and battles both shrinking
arable land and climate change.

But Chen Xiwen, a senior rural affairs official, said GM foods still had a
long way to go before they could reach the Chinese market as they were
currently unable to get the necessary certificates from health and quality
inspection authorities.

Last year, the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) issued safety certificates for
GM rice that is resistant to certain insects, as well as corn that helps
pigs absorb more nutrients, Vice Minister Wei Chaoan said at the annual
parliament session last week.

But Wei said the certificates were "more a recognition of scientists' work
and achievement than the approval for commercial production".

Opinions from Chinese scientists on the safety of GM food, however, vary.

Leading agricultural scientist Yuan Longping has warned that some GM crops,
particularly the anti-pest strains, need human trials for at least one or
two generations as their health implications remain unclear.

But Huang Dafang, a member of the bio-safety committee affilicated to the
MOA, insists GM crops have proven safety in previous animal testing.

"We are technically advantageous in hybrid rice planting. The
genetically-modified technology could ensure China's superiority in food
production," said Huang.

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*INDIA
6-MS SWAMINATHAN THROWS HIS WEIGHT BEHIND BT BRINJAL
*by Senthalir S. / DNA
25-March-2010 Daily News and Analysis
India<http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report_ms-swaminathan-throws-his-weight-behind-bt-brinjal_1363104>

Bangalore: MS Swaminathan, renowned as the “father of economical ecology,”
and member of parliament, on Wednesday vouched for the need to introduce Bt
brinjal. He was speaking at a meet on ‘2010-11 Budget and National Food
Security’ organised by the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

“Bt Brinjal is pest resistant. It should be tested as and when released.
Research has to be conducted, and be prepared for the series,” he said. He
added that regulations have to be brought in, so that a move such as this
could be safely implemented. Dr Swaminathan also expressed disappointment
with the Union budget allocation to agriculture. He said the poor
allocationin the budget was a reflection of the priority of the government.

Dr Swaminathan underlined the need for encouraging organic farming, and
taking special care of the health of the soil. He also spoke of the need to
ensure proper storage facilities.

Speaking at the meet and taking a more cautious stance, Sangita Sharma,
director, Annandana, an NGO, said: “Every farmer has the right to choose
seeds that suit his needs best. Multinational companies cannot dictate the
use of seeds. Many countries have already passed a moratorium banning
genetically modified foods. Why is our government still not waking up to
that?”

She added that agricultural research around the world has indicated that
secondary pests have been released into the environment. “In China, studies
have revealed that GM crops have increased the use of pesticides by 8%. GM
crops cause irreversible changes,” she warned.

Alluding to the non-pesticide management (NPM) model adopted in 21 districts
of Andhra Pradesh, she said, “We have a history of agriculture in this
country that goes back 15,000 years or more. The methods adopted by our
farmers have helped in the cultivation of sustainable crops. GM crops are
more likely to suit the interests of multinationals than farmers. We cannot
allow the introduction of such crops until they are tried and tested.”

*------------------------------------------------------------*
*GLOBAL
7-WORLD CROP OUTPUT MUST INCREASE TO MEET GROWING NEED
*18-March-2010 The Sydney Morning
Herald<http://www.smh.com.au/business/world-business/world-crop-output-must-increase-to-meet-growing-need-20100318-qg23.html>

Global crop production must rise 86 per cent to meet world food needs by
2050, according to a study sponsored by businesses including Monsanto Co,
DuPont Co, Archer Daniels Midland Co and Deere & Co.

By mid-century, planted acreage may need to expand 16 per cent, provided
historic trends in yield increases don't change, according to the study
released today in Washington.

Biotech products "are critical to growth in yields" in developed
agricultural economies, study author John Kruse said at a briefing for
reporters. For developing countries, genetic modification and engineering of
plants will work in tandem with modernised farm and transportation networks
to encourage greater output, he said.

The United Nations has said that by 2050, food production must increase by
70 per cent to feed an estimated world population of 9 billion people, up
from today's 6.8 billion. The number of people going hungry each day topped
1 billion for the first time last year, according to the UN.

Crop and livestock output may fall as much as 25 per cent by 2050 unless
food production and handling are changed, the UN has said. It cited
increasing water shortages and shifting land use with climate change.

*Yield, Acreage Growth*
Based on historic trends, today's study from the Global Harvest Initiative
projected rising soybean acreage in Brazil and India, while corn planting
will increase in China, where rice will decline. Farmland will drop in China
and the US, while remaining little changed in Europe, according to the
study.

The initiative group was formed last year by the companies, which all have
agribusiness units, to promote crop-yield and food-production increases. The
organisation supports biotechnology and genetically engineered foods as a
way to reduce the amount of land needed for agriculture.

Global daily calorie consumption per person is expected to rise 19 per cent
to 3,226 by 2050 from current levels, according to the study. In Asia,
people will eat more meat and vegetable oil, while in Africa, more grains
and oils will be consumed, the study projects. India is a "wild card,"
according to the study, because of a cultural bias against eating beef and
pork.

Overall grain consumption will rise 5 per cent, based on calories consumed
by each person, by 2050, while the proportion of grain-based calories in the
average diet will fall to 41 per cent from 48 per cent currently, according
to the study.

The report issued today was prepared by IHS Global Insight, a subsidiary of
Englewood, Colorado-based IHS Inc., which provides research and consulting
services. Kruse is a managing director of the unit's agricultural group.

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*New SEARCA book zeroes in on climate change and biodiversity
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*---------------------------------------------------------*
*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/news/2010/index.html>
*---------------------------------------------------------*

*Food Security Expo 2010* <http://www.warahglobal.com/food/speakers.html>
*Kuwait
11 - 12 April 2010*

*BIO International Convention* <http://convention.bio.org/>
*Chicago, United States
03 - 06 May 2010*

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