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</font></font><a class="date"><em><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#666666" size="2">Posted 05 April 2009</font></em></a><br><br><a class="country"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#336600" size="2"><strong>PHILIPPINES</strong></font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"> <br>
1-SOLON FILES BILL FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTER <br>2-MEMBRANE SEPARATION PROCESS: A SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY FOR WATER PURIFICATION, INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER RECYCLING AND REUSE <br>3-'SUPER CARABAOS': A WHOLE LOT MORE OF BEEF, MILK <br>
<br></font><a class="country"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#336600" size="2"><strong>TAIWAN</strong></font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"> <br>4-GOVERNMENT AIMS TO MAKE BIOTECHNOLOGY A TRILLION-DOLLAR INDUSTRY <br>
<br></font><a class="country"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#336600" size="2"><strong>MALAYSIA</strong></font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"> <br>5-MALAYSIA TO BECOME BIOTECHNOLOGY HUB <br>
<br></font><a class="country"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#336600" size="2"><strong>GLOBAL</strong></font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"> <br>6-GATES FOUNDATION PAYING $24M TO IMPROVE CROP SCIENCE FOR POOR NATIONS <br>
7-BIOTECHNOLOGY CRUCIAL TO SOLVING THE CLIMATE CRISIS <br><br></font></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr>
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<div align="left"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font size="2"><strong>1-SOLON FILES BILL FOR BIOTECHNOLOGY CENTER</strong> <br>by Anna Valmero<br>02-April-2009 </font></font><a href="http://blogs.inquirer.net/insidescience/2009/04/02/solon-files-bill-for-biotechnology-center/%20" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">INQUIRER.net</font></a><br>
<br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">Senator Edgardo Angara has filed Senate Bill 3139, which allows the total research and development (R&D) cost and prices of shares of stocks in biotechnology companies as tax deductible.<br>
<br>This bill seeks to propel the biotechnology industry in the country by offering the private sector incentives to invest in biotechnology R&D and building a biotechnology center.<br><br>At present, majority of the government’s investments in biotechnology R&D is awarded through a government corporation, Angara said in a statement.<br>
<br>“We need to put in place the appropriate policy environment to promote bio-industry development. This legislation aims to address the weaknesses of our system to enable the country to develop a biotechnology-based industry,” added Angara.<br>
<br>Through the bill, a Philippine Bio-industry Research and Development Center would be established to promote availability of suitable, innovative and competitive bio-based technologies, said Angara who chairs the Senate Committee on Science and Technology.<br>
<br>He noted the 21st century is the biotech century, noting the early years would pave way for convergence of agriculture and medicine with pharmaceuticals being produced by genetically engineered plants and the greater acceptance of herbal medicine.<br>
<br>The Philippines invested early on biotechnology but Filipino scientists face issues of local employment and “cumbersome” government accounting resulted in poor fund use.<br><br>In 1979, the Philippine government invested in biotechnology with the establishment of the National Institute of Biotechnology and Microbiology (Biotech), now known as the National Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology at the University of the Philippines Los Baños.<br>
<br>In mid-1980s, the Department of Science and Technology identified biotechnology as a priority investment area and developed the UPLB science park for business incubation. <br><br>The Department of Agriculture two years organized its leading research centers—the Philippine Rice Research Institute, Philippine Carabao Center and National Fisheries Research Institute into a network of biotechnology research centers for crops, livestock and aquatic resources, respectively.<br>
<br>Angara said these investments have not sufficiently fostered the growth of a biotechnology industry because of lack of policies to support research and turning them into marketable products, support for startup companies, and other incentives for industry to develop/adopt new technologies.<br>
<br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br></font><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font size="2"><strong>2-MEMBRANE SEPARATION PROCESS: A SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY FOR WATER PURIFICATION, INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER RECYCLING AND REUSE<br>
</strong>STAR SCIENCE By Michelle D. Almendrala, Ph.D. <br>02-April-2009 </font></font><a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=454243&publicationSubCategoryId=75" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">The Philippine STAR</font></a><br>
<br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">“The current population of slightly more than six billion consumes the resources (water) of one planet Earth. By about 2050, when the population is expected to reach about nine billion, and if standards of living continue to rise, the amount consumed will be the resources of about three planet Earths. Obviously, this scenario is not sustainable.” (Daigger, 2008)<br>
<br>In highly populated urban areas and where surface water is used for domestic water supply such as in Metro Manila, a more efficient wastewater treatment must be employed. An environmentally sustainable technology for water treatment should be energy-efficient with minimal or no chemical consumption, and capable of water recycling and reuse that minimizes the direct disposal of wastewater to the aquatic environment. Membrane separation technology has the promise to dramatically improve the sustainability of our water resources.<br>
<br>Membrane separation processes are not new or even recent technology. The use of membrane separations started in 1960. In 1980, large membrane filtration plants were already installed worldwide, and microfiltration, ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis and electrodialysis membrane processes were established. <br>
<br>What is a membrane? A membrane is a highly engineered thin barrier that has the ability to reject various mineral salts, heavy metals, organic molecules, bacteria, parasites, and even viruses, while allowing the permeation or passage of water. Separation is based on the molecular size, shape or character of the species. Membranes may be as thin as a fraction of a micrometer or several millimeters thick. Most people may think that a membrane resembles that of a filter, like the filter paper we use for brewing our coffee. <br>
<br>However, a membrane is much more complex in both structure and function. The ability of a membrane to reject dissolved particles depends on the multitude of pores, of incredibly small size, that penetrate its surface. The membrane pores can reject particles as small as 0.0005 micrometer or 0.5 nanometer (nm) and allow water permeation with size equivalent to 0.298 nm. [A micrometer (mm) is a metric unit of length equal to a millionth of a meter while a nanometer is a billionth of a meter. Human hair is approximately 75 mm in diameter. The naked eye can only see particles as small as 40 mm. The smallest bacterium is about 0.22 mm while the size of a virus is even smaller at 0.01 mm.] Membranes or synthetic membranes can be produced from organic materials (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic</a>) such as polymers and liquids, as well as inorganic materials (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inorganic">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inorganic</a>). Most of commercially utilized synthetic membranes in separation industry are made of polymeric structures (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymeric">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymeric</a>). <br>
<br>The growing interest in membrane technology for water and wastewater treatment is based on the following advantages:<br><br>Unlike conventional technology, membrane technology has better removal efficiencies. Membrane separation processes can separate a wide range of contaminants ranging from suspended solids to microorganisms. Membrane technology has the capability to address more stringent drinking water regulations, since it prevents the passage of Cryptosporidium, Giardia, bacteria, and virus. Membrane technology, therefore, avoids the risk of microbial outbreaks without any chemical pretreatment. In wastewater treatment, membranes produce a very high effluent quality that meets strict discharge regulations. Thus, effluents can be reused for industrial applications, irrigation, and even as a source of potable drinking water.<br>
<br>Membrane systems have flexibility to handle changing feed water conditions and capacity increases. The operation is simple and automated which ensures that system integrity is met. The separation process can be batchwise or continuous.<br>
<br>The technology is suitable for small and distributed communities. A membrane filtration system requires a smaller footprint than conventional technologies. Membrane technology needs only half of the footprint of a conventional wastewater treatment plant, thus saving space and money. The capacity of the existing plant can be increased without additional footprint whether for plant upgrade, expansion or for a new plant, thereby providing great capital savings. The membrane has a modular design which makes it possible for easy scale-up. <br>
<br>Low energy consumption. Membrane separation processes do not involve any phase change, which makes the process energy-efficient.<br><br>Membrane separation provides the lowest cost of treated water, as compared to most conventional technologies over the life of the plant. With the increase in number of membrane manufacturers, there is a steady reduction in membrane equipment costs which makes water and wastewater treatment cost much lower. Recycling wastewater from sewage is much cheaper than purifying seawater. Recycling will take care of wastewater disposal problems and water pollution. In Singapore, all over America, Italy, and other parts of the world, where there is water scarcity and water stress, recycling is done unobtrusively. In the recycling plants, the treated water is recharged into the ground and allowed to mix with fresh groundwater before use.<br>
<br>Membranes can process very bad water, for example, as bad as floodwater and sewage wastewater with very high concentrations of suspended particles and organic compounds. The use of membrane technology will increase the use of lower quality water, which can be an alternative source of potable and non-potable water supply.<br>
<br>These benefits must be reviewed by the government to recognize that membrane technology is an ideal separation process for water and wastewater treatment, and also for environmental applications.<br><br>* * *<br><em>Dr. Michelle C. Almendrala is in the faculty of the School of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Mapua Institute of Technology; an associate member of PAASE (Philippine-American Academy of Science and Engineering); a member of the Philippine Institute of Chemical Engineers; and a member of the Water Environment Association of the Philippines Inc. (a member-association of the Water Environment Federation, USA). She was selected as a principal candidate for a Fulbright Scholar Advanced Research award in the United States during the academic year 2009-2010 for her research on “Recycling of Biobutanol Fermentation Broth by Membrane Ultrafiltration” at the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering of the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. Her research interests are membrane separation applications in wastewater treatment and recycling; rice bran oil extraction, fruit juice clarification and concentration by osmotic distillation using hollow fiber membrane. E-mail her at <a href="mailto:michelle@almario-net.com" target="_blank"><font color="#0000ff">michelle@almario-net.com</font></a>. </em><br>
<br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br><strong>3-‘SUPER CARABAOS’: A WHOLE LOT MORE OF BEEF, MILK</strong><br>by Anselmo Roque<br>27-March-2009 </font><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/nation/view/20090327-196486/A-whole-lot-more-of-beef-milk" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">Philippine Daily Inquirer</font></a><br>
<br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija— Make way for the country’s super carabaos.<br><br>At the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) here, the male carabao (water buffalo) weighs 750 kilograms and counting, while the female carabao yields 17 to 20 liters of milk a day, according to Dr. Libertado Cruz, the center’s executive director.<br>
<br>These carabaos will be the center of attraction on Friday during the launching of three books on the carabao development program to celebrate the PCC’s 17th anniversary.<br><br>Although Cruz was reluctant to call them “super carabaos,” the water buffaloes at the gene pool here look hugely different from the native carabaos.<br>
<br>The native carabaos weigh an average of 350 kg, while the native dam gives a milk yield of an average of 1.5 liters a day.<br><br>“We want the public, particularly the farmers, to see our best performing animals in our gene pool,” Cruz said.<br>
<br>“As they appreciate them, we want to underscore that they, like many farmers now, can produce their own improved breed of carabaos and open opportunities for themselves to become entrepreneurs.”<br><br><strong><em>Beyond draft power</em></strong><br>
Beyond their draft power, carabaos can help generate income and create jobs, Cruz said.<br><br>He said about 3.3 million native and crossbred carabaos in the country were used mainly for draft purposes in sugarcane plantations and rice and corn farms, and for hauling.<br>
<br>“The milk, meat, hide and horn businesses from carabaos are still not yet fully developed,” Cruz said.<br><br><strong><em>Prospects for big business</em></strong><br>For liquid milk alone, the potential market demand yearly is worth billions of pesos, according to the PCC executive director.<br>
<br>Records showed that in 2007, the country spent $652.45 million (about P30.66 billion) for the importation of 287.86 million kg of milk and milk products.<br><br>While the country’s milk production (from cows, carabaos and goats) increased from 12.79 million kg in 2006 to 13.23 million kg in 2007, the output in 2007 represented only 23 percent of the liquid milk supply.<br>
<br>The demand for meat, on the other hand, was equivalent to 400,000 head worth P4 billion, Cruz said.<br><br>“We can include the hide and horn of the carabaos as also potential sources of big business in the country. So there’s no doubt that farmers, entrepreneurs and the local economy can ride high on the prospects for business that the carabaos can bring,” he said.<br>
<br><strong><em>Jobs</em></strong><br>Cruz also said carabao enterprises could provide jobs for caretakers, veterinarians and veterinary aides, milk processors, milk and delivery men, village-based technicians, and in the case of dairy cooperatives, bookkeepers and office workers.<br>
<br>The PCC, which was established with the passage of Republic Act No. 7307 in 1992, is tasked with conserving, propagating and promoting the carabao as a source of draft animal power, meat, milk and hide.<br><br><strong><em>Carabao Act</em></strong><br>
It was the declining size, weight and population of the native carabaos that prompted then Sen. Joseph Estrada to author the Carabao Act of 1992.<br><br>“Broadly, our task is to pursue the genetic transformation of our native carabaos to produce improved breed for draft, milk, meat, hide and horn purposes,” Cruz said.<br>
<br>Through the PCC’s 13 stations across the country, technology transfer on the care and production of carabaos, and teaching and encouraging rural families to engage in carabao enterprises are also pursued.<br><br>The genetic transformation being done by the PCC, after conducting thorough research and development, is through the production of semen from imported bulls and its distribution for artificial insemination to native carabaos.<br>
<br><strong><em>Test-tube technique</em></strong><br>The center also uses reproductive biotechnology called embryo transfer technology, or the test-tube technique.<br><br>“It really takes a long time to produce quality animals from cross breeding. It takes three generations or 15 years to attain 87.5 percent genetic purity for the improved breed of native carabaos,” Cruz said.<br>
<br>He said the PCC would continue to select and infuse superior breed from abroad to further improve the breed of carabaos in the country.<br><br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br>
</font><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font size="2"><strong>TAIWAN<br>4-GOVERNMENT AIMS TO MAKE BIOTECHNOLOGY A TRILLION-DOLLAR INDUSTRY<br></strong>by Flor Wang<br>26-March-2009 </font></font><a href="http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=903480&lang=eng_news" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">Taiwan Times</font></a><br>
<br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">Taipei, March 26 (CNA) The government is aiming to push the production value of the domestic biotechnology to over NT$1 trillion (US$30 billion) per year, Minister without Portfolio Chang Chin-fu said Thursday. <br>
<br>Biotechnology will be given priority among six sectors targeted by the Executive Yuan to become star industries, Chang said, as he announced the immediate launch of the "biotechnology takeoff package" at the weekly Executive Yuan meeting. <br>
<br>President Ma Ying-jeou said Wednesday that the government will promote biotechnology, green energy, tourism, medical care, cultural innovation and refined agriculture as Taiwan's new star industries. <br><br>"The government will fully support these sectors as a means of pushing Taiwan to gain an advantage in the global industrial realignment that will occur when the worldwide economic crisis comes to an end, " the president said at the opening of a technology industrial park in central Taiwan's Taichung County. <br>
<br>Stressing that Taiwan must be part of the global efforts to develop the industry, Chang said the government is planning to invest NT$60 billion to set up a biotechnology venture capital fund in cooperation with the private sector. Sixty percent of the investment will come from the private sector, while 40 percent will come from the National Development Fund under the Executive Yuan, he elaborated. <br>
<br>"We will collect NT$10 billion worth of investment funds in the initial stage, and will gradually increase investment capital to ward off risks," Chang said after the Cabinet meeting. <br><br>In the medical sector, the Cabinet will initially use the country's strong research infrastructure to create lucrative business opportunities by tapping into Taiwan's talent pool and research resources in the areas of pharmaceutics and medical equipment, he said. <br>
<br>Another key aspect of the package will be the establishment of a center to provide a comprehensive service to businesses dealing with pharmaceutics and medical equipment, he said. The services will range from fund raising and legal consultation to technology and management assistance, he added. <br>
<br>According to Chang, the government is also planning to open a biotechnology park in the Chupei area in northern Taiwan to help boost the development of related businesses there. It will also establish a food and drug administration similar to the United States', so as to bring Taiwan's regulations on pharmaceutical products up to international standards, he added. <br>
<br>The scale of the world medical equipment and pharmaceutics markets reached around US$712 billion and US$194 billion, respectively, in 2007, and Asia is set to become the global hub of the two industries, according to Chang. <br>
<br>The government has been assessing the possibility of forging business alliances with Singapore and Australia in these fields in a bid to enhance Taiwan's business cooperation with the international community, he added. <br>
<br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br></font><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font size="2"><strong>MALAYSIA<br>5-MALAYSIA TO BECOME BIOTECHNOLOGY HUB <br></strong>by Adalat Khan <br>
29-March-2009 </font></font><a href="http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1235628926781&pagename=Zone-English-HealthScience%2FHSELayout" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">Islam Online</font></a><br>
<br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">"I don't know whether Malaysia has a special recipe for growth, but we do have a great ambition to become a developed country by the year 2020 and to work very hard to achieve this ambition," said Tun Dr. Mahathir Muhammad, the previous prime Minister of Malaysia, to a Jeddah Economic Forum in 2004. (Mohamad) <br>
<br>Besides other ambitions of Malaysia, the newest is to become a biotechnology hub. Is this a wild dream or a realistic vision? The facts on the ground point to the latter. Malaysia is set to be a new success story in the biotechnology field. Historically, Malaysia has come a long way since its days as an economy dependent on agriculture and natural resources.<br>
<br><strong><em>A New Wave in Economic Development</em></strong><br>In earlier days, the Malaysian economy depended on natural resources and raw materials including rubber and tin which used to be the main source of national income. These sectors were labour intensive and did not require higher education and skills. However, in the 1960s the government of the day devised new policies revamping its physical infrastructure, financial system and educational system.<br>
<br>Heavy investment was made in infrastructure, specifically, an efficient transportation system. Concurrently, the economic planners embarked on a plan to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). These efforts paid off and Malaysia attracted the highest FDI from American and Japanese as well as other investors. The influx of FDI resulted in new exports, mainly manufactured products.<br>
<br>Raw materials such as rubber, tin, and palm oil that once constituted 100 percent of Malaysian exports, now only account for 20 percent of the total exports of the country. Manufactured quality products now account for more than eighty percent of its total exports. Between 1991 and 2005 Malaysia's exports had an average annual increase of 13.5 percent making Malaysia the eighteenth largest trading nation to date.<br>
<br>Capitalizing on its success in the manufacturing field, Malaysia now aspires to become one of Asia's top biotechnology destinations. Towards this end, many policy initiatives and tangible steps have been taken.<br>
<br><strong><em>Bio diverse on a Mega Scale</em></strong><br>According to the Biotech Corporation Annual Report for 2007, the Malaysian biotech sector is set to attract RM (Ringgit Malaysia) 30 billion by the year 2020, a year also earmarked by the Malaysian government as a milestone, by which Malaysia would have achieved the status of a fully developed nation. <br>
<br>This sector is also projected to create around 280,000 badly needed jobs - given the global slowdown and expected un-employment in Malaysia. It is further projected that this initiative will also generate RM 270 billion of revenue accounting for 5% of the gross domestic product (GDP) by the year 2020.<br>
<br>Malaysia enjoys a comparative advantage in its biodiversity and natural resources. Compared to its neighbor Singapore, Malaysia has vast natural resources including the oldest rainforests in the world which are bio diverse on a mega scale. Malaysia has an estimated 15,000 flowering plant species accounting for nine per cent of the world's total. There are 185,000 animal species, accounting for 16 per cent of the world's total.<br>
<br>The 125-acre Forest Research Institute of Malaysia reserve contains more tree species than all of North America. In essence its biodiversity provides a strong starting point for potentially significant achievements in drug discovery. What is needed is to develop proper research and development and to make arrangements for the commercialization of these resources within a sustainable biotechnology environment. (The Biotech Review 2006-2007)<br>
<br>Malaysia also has a well spelt out National Biotechnology Plan which provides an organized framework for the development and support of the sector. The government is keen on developing this field and by taking advantage of its ample resources the country is ultimately destined to become a biotechnology hub matching those established in the developed world.<br>
<br><strong><em>A Model for Muslims Countries</em></strong><br>The major focus of Malaysia's biotechnology efforts is in the fields of genomics, pharmaceuticals, biodiesel, nutraceuticals (foods that provide medical or health benefits) and agriculture. As one of the largest producers of palm oil in the world, its biodiesel initiative is expected to provide mega results.<br>
<br>This will not only help the global thirst for energy but will also provide cleaner and environmentally friendly fuel to the global communities. Moreover, biodiesel is a renewable energy as compared to fossil fuel which is depleting.<br>
<br>The government has also embarked on the ambitious yet realistic policy of converting Malaysia into an educational hub. This is not just lip service but the dream has almost become a reality. Not only are local students opting for Malaysian universities instead of going overseas but thousands of foreign students are studying in Malaysia.<br>
<br>It is estimated that by the year 2010 Malaysia will have 100,000 foreign students studying in its public as well as private universities. Incidentally, it will also help the biotechnology industries meet their human capital needs locally. Compared to its neighbour Singapore, the cost for human capital is still competitive.<br>
<br>Biotechnology offers many opportunities for every country. As such many countries are climbing on the bandwagon, but the stakes are also very high. Countries which have well thought out biotechnology plans, governmental support and infrastructure will emerge as the greatest beneficiaries of this emerging field.<br>
<br>With a huge reservoir of natural resources, excellent infrastructure, and a focused government with the will to make things happen, Malaysia is right on track to becoming a significant global hub for biotechnology in due course.<br>
<br></font><em><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">Sources:<br>Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation. "BiotechCorp Annual Report 2007." 2007. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. <br>Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation. "Biotech review 2005-2007." 2007. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.<br>
Muhammad, Muhathir. "Islam, Knowledge and other matters." KL MPH Publishing. (2006).<br><br>Adalat Khan is the president of Mina Management Institute who specializes in Islamic Leadership, Conflict Resolution and Management strategies. His academic qualifications include a Doctorate in Business Administration, Master of Business Administration and various post-graduate diplomas. Born in the NWFP province of Pakistan, Khan is currently permanently residing in Malaysia. He is currently involved in researching Islamic Leadership Principles and its relevance to today's leaders and their organizations. He had appeared in numerous radio and television programs and was associated with Pakistan Television as a compare and talk show host. He has written several articles published in United Nations' publications, international magazines, World Executive Digest, Management Times, and News Straits Times. You can contact him by sending an e-mail to </font><a href="mailto:ScienceTech@islam-online.net" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">ScienceTech@islam-online.net</font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">.<br>
<br></font></em><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font size="2"><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br></font></font><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font size="2"><strong>GLOBAL<br>
6-GATES FOUNDATION PAYING $24M TO IMPROVE CROP SCIENCE FOR POOR NATIONS<br></strong>by Sandi Doughton (Seattle Times Science Reporter)<br>30-March-2009 </font></font><a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008948889_webgatesag30m.html" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">The Seattle Times</font></a><br>
<br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation said Monday it wants to tap top scientific minds to help improve the plight of small farmers in the developing world.<br><br>The Seattle-based philanthropy announced a $48 million collaboration with the National Science Foundation to fund cutting-edge research on ways to make crops resistant to drought, disease and pests, improve soil quality and tackle a wide range of problems that limit agricultural productivity in Africa and other poor corners of the world.<br>
<br>Each organization will provide $24 million over five years.<br><br>"This partnership with the NSF is an exciting opportunity to tap into the most innovative, transformative ideas the global scientific community can offer," said Rob Horsch, deputy director of the Gates Foundation's agricultural development initiative.<br>
<br>Research on genetically-modified plants could be included in the program, said Deborah Delmer, NSF manager for the collaboration, called BREAD: Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development.<br><br>"Genetic engineering is a tool," she said. "We're not going to hold back any kind of science from being considered in these projects."<br>
<br>Unlike most Gates Foundation programs, those who get grants under the new collaboration will be selected largely through the NSF's well-established peer review process. The process enlists experts in various fields to review the relative merits of the thousands of grant applications the federal science organization receives every year. The Gates Foundation also will have a say in grant selection.<br>
<br>"The vetting will be done by NSF," Horsch said. "The idea is to do this differently than we handle a lot of other grants, to get that broad solicitation of novel ideas and the very high level of peer-review scrutiny."<br>
<br>BREAD will also encourage applications from researchers in the developing world.<br><br>Some critics question whether science can solve the problems of famine and poverty among poor farmers.<br><br>"People are hungry for one reason only — they are too poor to buy food," said Philip Bereano, emeritus professor of technology and public policy at the University of Washington. Until the underlying social and economic conditions responsible for poverty are addressed, "the likelihood is that the NSF/Gates program will make some folks here feel good but not feed many folks over there," said Bereano, who recently helped found the Seattle-based group AGRA Watch, to monitor the Gates Foundation's agricultural programs.<br>
<br>The Gates Foundation has committed $1.2 billion to programs to help small farmers, Horsch said.<br><br>he BREAD program will put out its initial call for grant applications in early June, and will provide more details then. The first grants will be awarded in early 2010.<br>
<br>A Web site will be established soon at: </font><a href="http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5338&org=BIO" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=5338&org=BIO</font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">.<br>
<br>Sandi Doughton: 206-464-2491 or </font><a href="mailto:sdoughton@seattletimes.com" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">sdoughton@seattletimes.com</font></a><br><br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font size="2"><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br>
<strong>7-BIOTECHNOLOGY CRUCIAL TO SOLVING THE CLIMATE CRISIS</strong><br>25-March-2009 </font></font><a href="http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090325005492&newsLang=en" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">Business Wire</font></a><br>
<br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">New Initiative by Novozymes and WWF Sets out to Map How and Where Low Carbon Biosolutions Can Eliminate the First Billion Tonnes of Co2 and Pave the Way to a Green Economy <br>
<br>COPENHAGEN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The climate crisis has made it more urgent than ever to find a sustainable way of developing our society. So far, the main effort to combat climate change has focused on reducing the negative impact of the big emmitters. While important, this neither secures all the reductions needed nor does it provide a sustainable economic model for creating jobs, growth and a prosperous society. <br>
<br><strong><em>From improvements to solutions</em></strong> <br>This makes it imperative that world leaders grasp the opportunities of a low carbon economy, and support and boost the business and industry that provide us with the low carbon solutions, the world is in urgent need for. <br>
<br>The biotechnology industry is such an opportunity because the reductions secured by biotech solutions greatly outnumbers the emissions from its production. Looking at only one specific technology, the enzyme production of Novozymes emitted 1 million tonnes of CO2 eq last year – but in total helped reduce around 28 million tonnes of CO2 eq. This is because enzymes save large amounts of energy when applied to the production of a varity of every day products, such as paper, washing powder and bioethanol. <br>
<br>With this climate positive balancesheet the biotechnology industry is set to become a winner in a new low carbon economy. It is an important part of the solutions needed to secure big emmissions cuts while creating succesfull business models. And we have only seen the tip of the iceberg. Today, only a small part of the potential of biotech is realized. <br>
<br><strong><em>The ‘invisible’ solution</em></strong> <br>Coming together in the Biosolutions Initiative – Eliminating the first billion tonnes of CO2, WWF and Novozymes now set out to change this: <br><br>“Low carbon biotech solutions are a good example of hidden or invisible climate solutions that are all around us already today but are easy to overlook for policymakers, investors and companies. Fighting climate change is also about innovation and finding smarter ways to do things, and biotechnology help us do just that. Accelerating and exploring the further potential of this industry is a crucial part of the climate solutions we are looking for. ”says, Kim Christensen, Director of WWF’s Global Climate Initiative. <br>
<br>“Novozymes is committed to improve and develop biotech solutions in the pursuit of a sustainable global economy. What we offer our customers is to produce more from less input, use less energy in their processes and generate less waste. In order to unlock the full potential of biotechnology, policy makers need to integrate low carbon biotech solutions as part of all major climate strategies. Together with WWF we want to inspire decision makers in building low carbon solutions for our society.” says, Steen Riisgaard, CEO of Novozymes. <br>
<br>NOTE: The Bio Solutions Initiative – Eliminating the first billion tonnes of CO2 will map the first strategic billion tonnes of CO2 reductions from low carbon biotechnology. The partnership will also engage in dialogue with central policy makers and create low carbon business partnerships to ensure that low carbon bio tech solutions become an integrated part of all major climate projects and initiatives<br>
<br>Contacts:<br>Novozymes<br>US: Johan Melchior, Corporate Press Manager, +45 3077 0690, </font><a href="mailto:jmel@novozymes.com" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">jmel@novozymes.com</font></a><br>
<font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">Europe: René Tronborg, Communications Consultant +45 3077 2274, </font><a href="mailto:retr@novozymes.com" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">retr@novozymes.com</font></a><br>
<br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">or<br><br>WWF<br>Nette Kirkegaard, Communications Officer, +45 2980 1808, </font><a href="mailto:n.kirkegaard@wwf.dk" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">n.kirkegaard@wwf.dk</font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"> <br>
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<a class="events_details"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#666666" size="1"><strong>Bangkok, Thailand<br>21 - 22 April 2009</strong></font></a><br><br><a class="events" href="http://www.bic.searca.org/events/index2009.html#may" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#336600" size="1"><strong>2nd Annual Biofuels Summit</strong></font></a><br>
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<a class="events_details"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#666666" size="1"><strong>Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, INDIA <br>02 - 04 July 2009</strong></font></a><br><br><a class="events"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#336600" size="1"><strong>-------------------------------------------------------------</strong></font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="1"> <br>
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<br>Department of Agriculture, Philippines: Biotechnology Research Fellowship Program<br>8 Slots Available for Senior Scientist Research Grant and Research Fellowship Grant<br>View details here.<br><br>CALL FOR RESEARCH PROPOSALS<br>
<br>Enabling Bio-innovations for Poverty Alleviation for Asia: 2009 Small Grants Competition Program of the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)</strong></font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="1"> <br></font></td>
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