<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="730" align="center" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="3"><a class="footer"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#666666" size="1">Right click images to view this page properly. If this e-mail does not appear as a web page, please click </font></a><a class="footer" href="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/index3.htm" target="_blank"><font size="1"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font color="#0000ff">here</font><font color="#666666">.</font></font></font></a></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3"><font color="#666666" size="1"><img height="15" alt="" src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_r1_c1.gif" width="730" border="0" name="bicnews_r1_c1"></font></td></tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="14" background="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_r4_c1.gif" height="225" rowspan="2"><font color="#666666" size="1"></font></td>
<td>
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="702" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td height="167"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#666666" size="2"><img height="167" alt="" src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_r2_c2.jpg" width="702" usemap="#bicnews_r2_c2Map" border="0" name="bicnews_r2_c2"></font></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="702" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="494" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td>
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="494" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="16" height="205"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#666666" size="2"><img height="205" alt="" src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_r3_c2.gif" width="16" border="0" name="bicnews_r3_c2"></font></td>
<td valign="top" width="478" height="205"><font size="2"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font color="#666666"><img height="28" src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/inthenews.jpg" width="139"></font> <br>
</font></font><a class="date"><em><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#666666" size="2">Posted 03 May 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-PROBLEM FORMULATION: A CRITICAL STEP IN RISK ASSESSMENT OF GM CROPS<br>2-BEARER OF NEW TECHNOLOGY <br>3-GMO BAN SEEN TO COLLAPSE ANIMAL INDUSTRY <br>4-FILIPINO SCIENTIST STUDIES GENES INVOLVED IN BANANA RIPENING <br><br>
</font><a class="country"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#336600" size="2"><strong>INDIA</strong></font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"> <br>5-VIRUS-RESISTANT GM POTATO, GROUNDNUT UNDER TRIAL STAGE <br>
<br></font><a class="country"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#336600" size="2"><strong>PAKISTAN</strong></font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"> <br>6-BIOTECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE FARM PRODUCTIVITY: SEMINAR <br>
<br></font><a class="country"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#336600" size="2">GLOBAL</font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"> <br>7-INTERNATIONAL TEAM FINDS KEY GENE THAT ALLOWS PLANTS TO SURVIVE DROUGHT <br>
</font></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr>
<tr>
<td height="69"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"><img height="12" alt="" src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_r5_c2.gif" width="494" border="0" name="bicnews_r5_c2"></font></td></tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="494" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"><img height="587" alt="" src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_r6_c2.gif" width="16" border="0" name="bicnews_r6_c2"></font></td>
<td valign="top" width="478">
<div align="left"><font size="2"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>1-PROBLEM FORMULATION: A CRITICAL STEP IN RISK ASSESSMENT OF GM CROPS </strong><br>by Jenny A. Panopio<br>30-April-2009 SEARCA BIC News Release<br>
<br>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 Baños. <br>
<br>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.<br>
<br>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. <br><br>The pdf copy of the powerpoint presentations can be downloaded at </font></font><a href="http://www.bic.searca.org/" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">www.bic.searca.org</font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">. <br>
<br>For more information, please contact:<br>Ms. Jenny A. Panopio<br>Special Project Coordinator & Network Administrator<br>Biotechnology Information Center<br>SEAMEO SEARCA<br>College, Laguna 4031<br>Email: </font><a href="mailto:jap@agri.searca.org" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">jap at agri.searca.org</font></a><br>
<font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">Tel: (63-49)536-2290 loc 169 or 406<br>Tele/Fax: (63-49)536-4105<br>URL: </font><a href="http://www.bic.searca.org/" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">www.bic.searca.org</font></a><br>
<font size="2"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br><strong>2-BEARER OF NEW TECHNOLOGY</strong><br>by Zac B. Sarian<br>30-April-2009 </font></font><a href="http://mb.com.ph/articles/204148/bearer-new-technology" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">Manila Bulletin</font></a><br>
<br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">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.<br>
<br>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.<br>
<br>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.<br>
<br>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.<br><br>
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.<br>
<br>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.<br><br>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.<br>
<br>What’s great is that Joe himself practices in his own farm what he preaches.<br><br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br><strong>3-GMO BAN SEEN TO COLLAPSE ANIMAL INDUSTRY </strong><br>
by Carla P. Gomez, Inquirer Visayas<br>30-April-2009 </font><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/inquirerheadlines/regions/view/20090430-202273/GMO-ban-seen-to-collapse-animal-industry" 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">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.<br>
<br>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.<br><br>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.<br>
<br>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.<br><br>The provincial government recently ordered the shipping out of tons of genetically modified corn in compliance with an ordinance banning GMO products.<br>
<br>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.<br><br>People involved in the livestock, poultry and game fowl industries will meet today to discuss their feeds shortage problem.<br>
<br>If they will seek a moratorium on the GMO ban, the governor will have to make a decision, Decena said.<br><br>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.<br>
<br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br><strong>4-FILIPINO SCIENTIST STUDIES GENES INVOLVED IN BANANA RIPENING</strong><br>by Jenny A. Panopio<br>24-April-2009 SEARCA BIC News Release<br>
<br>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. <br>
<br>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. <br>
<br>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.<br>
<br>To see the abstract and order the full paper visit <a href="http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=19911512">http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=19911512</a>. For additional information about the research work, contact </font><a href="mailto:eteresaocampo@yahoo.com" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">eteresaocampo@yahoo.com</font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"> or email </font><a href="mailto:bic@agri.searca.org" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">bic@agri.searca.org</font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">.<br>
<br>For more information, please contact:<br>Ms. Jenny A. Panopio<br>Special Project Coordinator & Network Administrator<br>Biotechnology Information Center<br>SEAMEO SEARCA<br>College, Laguna 4031<br>Email: </font><a href="mailto:jap@agri.searca.org" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">jap at agri.searca.org</font></a><br>
<font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">Tel: (63-49)536-2290 loc 169 or 406<br>Tele/Fax: (63-49)536-4105<br>URL: </font><a href="http://www.bic.searca.org/" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">www.bic.searca.org</font></a><br>
<font size="2"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br></font></font><font size="2"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>INDIA<br>
5-VIRUS-RESISTANT GM POTATO, GROUNDNUT UNDER TRIAL STAGE<br></strong>by Joseph Vackayil<br>27-April-2009 </font></font><a href="http://www.financialexpress.com/news/virusresistant-gm-potato-groundnut-under-trial-stage/451407/" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">The Financial Express</font></a><br>
<br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">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.<br>
<br>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.<br>
<br>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.<br>
<br>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.<br>
<br>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.<br>
<br>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.<br>
<br>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.<br>
<br>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.<br>
<br>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.<br>
<br>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.<br>
<br>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.<br>
<br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br></font><font size="2"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>PAKISTAN<br>6-BIOTECHNOLOGY TO INCREASE FARM PRODUCTIVITY: SEMINAR <br>
</strong>26-April-2009 </font></font><a href="http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=174275" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">The News</font></a><br><br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">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. <br>
<br>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. <br>
<br>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. <br><br>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. <br>
<br>He said biotechnology has shown considerable potential to raise agricultural productivity by addressing problems which could not be solved through the conventional research. <br><br>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. <br>
<br>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. <br>
<br>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. <br>
<br>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. <br>
<br>“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. <br><br>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. <br>
<br>He stressed the need for utilising this beneficial technology for more and more production in various economic sectors.<br><br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br></font><font size="2"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>GLOBAL<br>
7-INTERNATIONAL TEAM FINDS KEY GENE THAT ALLOWS PLANTS TO SURVIVE DROUGHT<br></strong>01-May-2009 via </font></font><a href="http://greenbio.checkbiotech.org/news/international_team_finds_key_gene_allows_plants_survive_drought" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">Checkbiotech Green</font></a><br>
<br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">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.<br>
<br>"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."<br>
<br>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.<br>
<br>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.<br>
<br>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.<br>
<br>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.<br><br>CONTACTS:<br>Peter McCourt<br>
Cell and Systems Biology<br>University of Toronto<br></font><a href="mailto:mccourt@csb.utoronto.ca" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">mccourt@csb.utoronto.ca</font></a><br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">416-978-0523<br>
416-978-0837<br>Kim Luke<br>Arts & Science Communications<br>University of Toronto<br></font><a href="mailto:kim.luke@utoronto.ca" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">kim.luke@utoronto.ca</font></a><br>
<font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">416-978-4352<br></font><br><a class="footer"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#666666" size="1">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
<strong>DISCLAIMER</strong>: Articles that are posted in this news service do not necessarily reflect the views of SEARCA.<br><br>To post in e-group, e-mail </font></a><a href="mailto:bic@searcaweb.org" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="1">bic@searcaweb.org</font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#008000" size="1">.<br>
</font><a class="footer"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#666666" size="1">To UNSUBSCRIBE, </font></a><font color="#008000"><a href="http://searcaweb.org/mailman/options/bic_searcaweb.org" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="1">click here</font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="1">.</font></font></div>
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td>
<td valign="top" width="208" background="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_r12_c4.png">
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="208" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><img alt="Subscribe A Friend" src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_r12_c5.jpg" border="0"></td></tr>
<tr>
<td>
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="208" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="24" background="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_r10_c4.gif"></td>
<td><a href="http://searcaweb.org/mailman/listinfo/bic_searcaweb.org" target="_blank"><img alt="Subscribe A Friend" src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/subscribeafriend.gif" border="0"></a></td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_line.jpg"></td></tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><img src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_r13_c5.jpg"></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_line.jpg"></td></tr>
<tr>
<td>
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="208" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="24" background="images/bicnews_r10_c4.gif"></td>
<td><a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/subscribe/default.asp" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/cbu_subscribe.gif" border="0"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><img height="58" src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/newssearca.jpg" width="208"></td></tr>
<tr>
<td bgcolor="#ccff99">
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="208" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="24" background="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_r4_c4.gif"></td>
<td valign="top" width="184" bgcolor="#fcfdce"><br><a class="events" href="http://www.searca.org/web/news/2009/apr/web/28.html" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#336600" size="1"><strong>SEARCA invites participants to International Training on Responding to Changing Climate </strong></font></a><br>
<br><a class="events" href="http://www.searca.org/web/news/2009/apr/web/21.html" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#336600" size="1"><strong>Putting a price on clean air and water</strong></font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="1"> <br>
<br></font><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>
</font><a class="events" href="http://www.searca.org/web/adss/2009/index.html" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#336600" size="1"><strong>Download available paper and/or presentation handouts of some notable speakers presented at SEARCA Agriculture and Development Series. CLICK HERE.</strong></font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="1"> <br>
</font></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="1"><img src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/announcement.jpg" usemap="#Map5" border="0"></font></td></tr>
<tr>
<td>
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="208" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top" width="24" background="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_left_announcement.jpg"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="1"></font></td>
<td valign="top" width="183" bgcolor="#eeffa8"><br><a class="events" href="http://www.bic.searca.org/" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#336600" size="1"><strong>2nd International Training on Responding to Changing Climate: Knowledge-based Strategies in Managing Risks in Agriculture and Environmental Management</strong></font></a><br>
<a class="events_details"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#666666" size="1"><strong>SEAMEO RETRAC, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam<br>11 - 15 May 2009</strong></font></a><br><br><a class="events" href="http://www.bic.searca.org/" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#ff6600" size="1"><strong>Creating Public Awareness, Knowledge and Understanding of Biotech Crops: Media Conference and Social Marketing of Public Sector Biotech Products in Eastern Visayas</strong></font></a><br>
<a class="events_details"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#666666" size="1"><strong>Ormoc, Leyte<br>12 - 14 May 2009</strong></font></a><br><br><a class="events" href="http://www.bic.searca.org/" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#336600" size="1"><strong>20th FCSSP Scientific Conference</strong></font></a><br>
<a class="events_details"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#666666" size="1"><strong>Siliman University, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental, PHILIPPINES<br>18 - 23 May 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="#ff6600" size="1"><strong>2nd Annual Biofuels Summit</strong></font></a><br>
<a class="events_details"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#666666" size="1"><strong>Marina Mandarin, SINGAPORE<br>25 - 27 May 2009</strong></font></a><br><br><a class="events" href="http://www.bic.searca.org/events/index2009.html#july" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#336600" size="1"><strong>International Symposium on Second Green Revolution: Priorities, Programmes, Social and Ethical Issues (BIOSPECTRUM 2009)</strong></font></a><br>
<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>
</font><a class="events" href="http://www.bic.searca.org/home_files/announcement/bioinnovationasia2009.pdf" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#336600" size="1"><strong>CALL FOR APPLICATION <br>
<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><br>
</font><a class="events" href="http://www.bic.searca.org/" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#336600" size="1"><strong>2009 iBoP SMALL GRANTS COMPETITION<br><br>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.</strong></font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="1"> <br>
</font></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="1"><img src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/infogallery.jpg" usemap="#Map6" border="0"></font></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/infomats_04052009.jpg" usemap="#Map2" border="0"></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_r11_c5.jpg"></td></tr>
<tr>
<td><img src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_r13_c4.gif" usemap="#Map" border="0"></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></td>
<td valign="top" width="14" background="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_r5_c6.gif" height="1015" rowspan="2"></td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="730" align="center" border="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><img src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_r16_c1.jpg"></td></tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top"><img height="16" src="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/images/bicnews_r17_c1.gif" width="730"></td></tr></tbody></table><map name="bicnews_r2_c2Map"><area shape="POLY" target="_blank" alt="SEARCA BIC website" coords="32,148,33,140,23,133,17,122,18,109,25,99,39,94,55,98,66,109,67,128,59,139,72,139,70,151" href="http://www.bic.searca.org/"><area shape="POLY" target="_blank" alt="Subscriber your friend to SEARCA BIC E-news Service!" coords="94,149,94,143,87,135,81,125,83,110,90,100,103,97,116,99,125,107,139,107,155,104,155,114,139,134,136,141,136,152" href="http://www.bic.searca.org"><area shape="POLY" target="_blank" alt="News Archive" coords="167,149,167,140,161,130,159,121,163,108,174,98,188,96,202,104,210,111,210,136,224,142,221,151" href="http://www.bic.searca.org/news/2009/news_archive.html"><area shape="POLY" target="_blank" alt="Contact us" coords="237,152,236,142,229,135,225,122,235,104,248,98,262,102,270,110,285,116,284,138,303,138,302,154" href="mailto:bic@agri.searca.org"><area shape="RECT" target="_blank" alt="SEARCA Website" coords="7,15,177,65" href="http://www.searca.org/"></map><map name="bicnews_r10_c4Map"><area shape="RECT" target="_blank" alt="Biotechnology Information Nodes" coords="13,3,199,79" href="http://www.bic.searca.org/da-bin/index.html"></map><map name="bicnews_r11_c4Map"><area shape="RECT" target="_blank" alt="ASFARNET" coords="14,3,202,80" href="http://www.bic.searca.org/asfarnet/index.html"></map><map name="bicnews_r9_c4Map"><area shape="RECT" target="_blank" coords="166,4,202,20" href="http://www.bsearcabic.runboard.com/"></map><map name="Map"><area shape="RECT" target="_blank" coords="86,56,204,66" href="http://www.bic.searca.org/"><area shape="RECT" target="_blank" coords="110,66,203,76" href="mailto:bic@agri.searca.org"></map><map name="http://www.bic.searca.org/e-news/bicnews_r8_c5Map"><area shape="RECT" target="_blank" coords="1,80,185,105" href="http://com2.runboard.com/create_user"><area shape="RECT" target="_blank" coords="1,122,185,155" href="http://com2.runboard.com/bsearcabic.f1.t7"><area shape="RECT" target="_blank" coords="2,156,183,201" href="http://com2.runboard.com/bsearcabic.f4.t3"><area shape="RECT" target="_blank" coords="1,201,183,224" href="http://com2.runboard.com/bsearcabic.f1.t13"></map><map name="Map3"><area shape="RECT" target="_blank" coords="159,1,208,23" href="http://bsearcabic.runboard.com/"></map><map name="Map4"><area shape="RECT" target="_blank" coords="152,6,198,30" href="http://www.bic.searca.org/"></map><map id="Map5" name="Map5"><area shape="RECT" target="_blank" coords="153,10,195,27" href="http://www.searca.org/"></map><map id="Map6" name="Map6"><area shape="RECT" target="_blank" coords="155,22,193,42" href="http://www.bic.searca.org/"></map><map id="Map2" name="Map2"><area shape="POLY" target="_blank" alt="Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops 2008" coords="26,3,26,109,106,109,106,46,211,47,208,3" href="http://www.bic.searca.org"><area shape="POLY" target="_blank" alt="Click here for details!" coords="25,122,25,226,103,226,102,183,204,183,204,122" href="http://www.isaaa.org/purchasepublications/itemdescription.asp?ItemType=BOOKS&Control=BK001"><area shape="POLY" target="_blank" alt="Download latest SEARCA Diary here!" coords="31,234,173,235,173,267,104,267,103,338,31,338" href="http://www.searca.org/web/e_library/newsletter/2008/SD_2008_jul_dec.pdfhttp://www.searca.org/web/e_library/newsletter/2008/SD_2008_jul_dec.pdf"></map>