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</font></font><a class="date"><em><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#666666" size="2">Posted 30 November 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-COCONUT SEED FARMS EYED FOR SYNTHETIC VARIETY<br>2-DA URGES CLOSER TIES WITH PRIVATE SECTOR<br>3-DA EXECS TARGET COTTON COMMERCIALIZATION BY 2012<br>4-IMPORTATION OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED RICE VARIETY OK'D<br><br></font><a class="country"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#336600" size="2"><strong>CHINA</strong></font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"> <br>
5-TOP RICE PRODUCER CHINA APPROVES GMO STRAIN<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>
6-2 BT COTTON VARIETIES TO BE AVAILABLE FOR KHARIF SEASON <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>
7-GENETIC RESEARCH KEY TO SOLVING RICE SUPPLY PROBLEMS<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-COCONUT SEED FARMS EYED FOR SYNTHETIC VARIETY</strong><br>29-November-2009 </font></font><a href="http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/regions/view/20091129-239120/Coconut-seed-farms-eyed-for-synthetic-variety" 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">MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Agriculture through the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) is eyeing the establishment of more coconut seed farms in strategic coconut-growing areas for its latest hybrid, the Orgullo Tall SV San Ramon Coconut Variety.<br>
<br>Otherwise known as the synthetic coconut variety, this superior coconut breed developed by scientists at the Philippine Coconut Authority -Zamboanga Research Center is a high-yielding coconut variety recognized as the first in the world, said Ramon L. Rivera, head of the PCA-Zamboanga Research Center.<br>
<br>Rivera presented the business prospects for technology transfer during an investor’s forum at the Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center at the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City last week as part of the 5th National Biotechnology Week celebrations.<br>
<br>Dubbed as OK ang Kabuhayan Sa Biotech!, the forum aims to commercialize products of agricultural biotechnology through public-private partnership, said Department of Agriculture-Biotechnology Program Office (DA-BPO) outgoing director Alicia Ilaga.<br>
<br>She said through technology transfer, the DA-PCA and her office aims to encourage investors to help put up coconut seed farms all over the country to meet the expected increase in the demand for coconut both here and abroad.<br>
<br>“With the increasing demand for coconut because of the biofuels law, the prospects for putting up coconut seed farms are bright,” she said.<br><br>According to Rivera, the product, the first in the country and recognized as the first in the world, has a yield potential of 7,730 to 20,540 nuts per hectare or equivalent to 3.2 to 6.7 tons of copra per hectare. <br>
<br>He said the synthetic coconut variety produces 60 to 150 nuts per tree, a 50- to 260-percent more than the current average of 43. <br><br>“Unlike the hybrid palms, second generation SV San Ramon nuts can be replanted and assured to bear fruits even more. This pioneering genetically enhanced coconut variety combines high yield precocity, vigor, and durable genetic stability from generation to generation. This characteristic of the SV San Ramon fits the farmers’ unique tradition of planting seeds from any high-yielding tree for successive cropping,” he said.<br>
<br>According to the DFA-BPO, coconut production constitutes one of the four major sectors of Philippine agriculture, the others being rice, corn, and sugar. <br><br>Coconut is planted in 3.258 million hectares, which accounts for 27 percent of the total agricultural lands. About one-third of the Philippine population depends mainly on coconut production for its livelihood. Sixty-eight (68) of the 79 provinces in the country are in the coconut regions, producing an average of 14 billion nuts annually. In terms of export earnings, coconut is rated as an $800-million industry.<br>
<br>These facts could only underscore the coconut industry to obviously be of crucial importance to the country, Rivera stressed.<br><br>“A 50-hectare farm requires an estimated initial investment of P12 million. Financial projections showed that this investment could generate an IRR of 38 percent, with payback period of 10 years,” he said.<br>
<br>Meanwhile, individual farmer-investors who would like to develop a one-hectare of Syn Var monocrop, needs an estimated amount of P65,000. This amount excludes the cost of lot for development. In a 25-year projected production period, an IRR of 30 percent and a payback period of 11 years could be achieved, he said.<br>
<br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br><strong>2-DA URGES CLOSER TIES WITH PRIVATE SECTOR</strong><br>by Marvyn N. Benaning<br>25-November-2009 </font><a href="http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/231099/da-urges-closer-ties-with-private-sector" 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">The Department of Agriculture (DA) has urged local investors to commercialize viable agricultural biotechnology products.<br><br>DA officials told participants of an investment forum Tuesday that a high-yielding hybrid abaca resistant to the dreaded bunchy-top virus and with good fiber quality is just of many agri-biotech products that are ready for commercial production.<br>
<br>The high-yielding, bunchy top virus-resistant hybrid abaca was developed by the Crop Science Cluster-Institute of Plant Breeding at the University of the Philippines at Los Baños (UPLB-IPB).<br><br>Funded by the DA, the technology addresses bunchy-top virus, a major disease which accounts for up to 77 percent yield loss in abaca. The technology assures up to 300 percent increase in fiber yield from the current 600 kilos per hectare. It also needs less pesticide.<br>
<br>Another publicly-funded agri-biotech product, the Macapuno Embryo Culture Technology, offers investors a simpler, faster and low-cost embryo culture production technology.<br><br>Dubbed "Ok ang Kabuhayan sa Biotech!," the forum was one of the highlights of the 2009 National Biotechnology Week celebrations held at the Nido Fortified Science Discovery Center of the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.<br>
<br>Aside from the virus-resistant abaca and macapuno, technology developers also offered investment in the commercial cultivation and production of the the first-of-its-kind synthetic coconut variety, called San Ramon synthetic coconut variety.<br>
<br>Developed by the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), the PCA SYN VAR 001 was recognized as the first in the world. The Orgullo Tall - SV Ramon technology is being eyed as a key strategy in the mass propagation of improved planting materials for the National Coconut Planting and Replanting Program through partnership with the private sector.<br>
<br>Another product is the PCA Macapuno Embryo Culture Technology, which ensures low-cost embryo culture production technology to make true-to-type macapuno. Through the technology, the usual production cycle of 13 months is reduced by three months. The streamlined process also cuts down production costs, resulting in more affordable seedlings.<br>
<br>PCA has also developed a mechanism for the control of Brontispa. The technology involves the use of disease-causing fungi, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, to control of the coconut leaf beetle, Brontispa longissima, in young coconut palms.<br>
<br>The technology will be used for Brontispa control in coconut nurseries, when seedlings can be infested and suffer poor plant growth and even death.<br><br>Biotech tools such as tissue and embryo culture as well as molecular markers were utilized in the development of these technologies, DA said.<br>
<br>"These publicly-generated technologies are now promoted for commercial adoption. As an intervention, the DA Biotech Program intends to support in bridging the gap towards full technology commercialization through the conduct of an investor's forum," DA added.<br>
<br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br><strong>3-DA EXECS TARGET COTTON COMMERCIALIZATION BY 2012 </strong><br>by Jennifer A. Ng / Reporter <br>24-November-2009 Business Mirror<br>
<br>THE Philippines has started the actual trial of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) cotton from India and is eyeing the commercial propagation of the produce in 2012, according to Department of Agriculture (DA) officials.<br>
<br>Agriculture Undersecretary for Policy and Planning Segfredo Serrano disclosed that the Cotton Development Administration (CDA) has started planting transgenic-hybrid cotton in one of its screen houses at the agency’s cotton farm located in Batac City, Ilocos Norte recently.<br>
<br>The planting in screen houses is the first step in testing the viability of Bt cotton in the Philippines. The Bt cotton being tested by CDA was supplied by Indian firm Nath Biogene (India) Ltd.<br><br>“Testing the Bt cotton seeds from [Nath Biogene] could take us three seasons or around three years. It’s possible that the commercial propagation [would happen] in 2012,” said Edison Riñen, a director of the CDA.<br>
<br>After the greenhouse trial, which would test the resistance of Bt cotton seeds from a pest called cotton bollworm, the CDA would proceed with the field testing. Cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera Hubn.) is the most significant pest of cotton.<br>
<br>Alicia Ilaga, director of the DA Biotechnology Program Office, noted that bollworm infestation of cotton plantations in the Philippines has severely affected the local cotton industry.<br><br>“Our biotech solution to this problem is the introduction of a superior variety that resists pests,” said Ilaga in a statement.<br>
<br>Under the strict supervision of the Biosafety Committee of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Bureau of Plant Industry-Quarantine Service, together with CDA Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC), six commercial transgenic cotton varieties imported from Nath Biogene were planted side by side with three locally developed commercial non-Bt cotton varieties.<br>
<br>Specifically, the contained experiment will evaluate the efficacy of the six Indian transgenic-hybrid cotton varieties that contains the China-developed fused Bt genes in controlling bollworm under local environments. Limited field trials will be conducted in CDA’s experiment stations and select farms in Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao within the next one or two cotton seasons.<br>
<br>Ilaga noted that the transgenic-hybrid cotton, or Bt cotton, in the trial contains the fused Bt-genes cry 1Ab/cry 1Ac that provides the plant a high degree of protection against cotton bollworm. In Asia, Bt cotton is already planted largely in China and India.<br>
<br>CDA noted that there is only one cropping season for cotton in the Philippines. The produce is usually planted in June and July and harvested during the summer months.<br><br>It took a while before the Philippines was able to start the testing of Bt cotton.<br>
<br>In 2005 the DA inked a memorandum of agreement with Chinese firm BioCentury Transgene Co. (China) Ltd. to conduct Bt cotton testing in the Philippines.<br><br>The CDA noted that the project was stalled by regulatory procedures in China. The Philippines imports an average of 40,000 metric tons (MT) of lint valued at P3 billion. The DA noted that around 97 percent is imported from the United States.<br>
<br>Apart from displacing the imports, the Philippines hopes to replicate the success of India, not just in the commercial propagation of Bt cotton, but also in the export of the genetically modified product.<br><br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br>
<strong>4-IMPORTATION OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED RICE VARIETY OK'D</strong><br>by Edu Punay<br>23-November-2009 </font><a href="http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=525985&publicationSubCategoryId=63" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">The Philippine STAR</font></a><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2"> <br>
<br>MANILA, Philippines – The Court of Appeals (CA) has given the government clearance to allow the importation of Liberty Link Rice 62 (LLRice62), an allegedly genetically modified rice variety. <br><br>The fourth division of the appellate court reversed the temporary restraining order issued by the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) prohibiting the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) from allowing Bayer Crop Science Inc. to import the rice variety for food, feeds and processing.<br>
<br>In a 21-page decision penned by Associate Justice Vicente Veloso, the CA granted the consolidated petitions filed by BPI and Bayer seeking the nullification of the Sept. 18, 2007 order issued by Judge Evangeline Castillo-Marigomen, of Quezon City RTC Branch 101.<br>
<br>The CA ruled that the trial court erred in ruling that LLRice62 is dangerous to health and the environment. The court said such findings would have to be verified by the proper agencies.<br><br>It said the trial court “merely parroted” the allegations of the petitioner, environmental group Greenpeace, when it issued the injunction.<br>
<br>“Nowhere in the assailed order did the trial court point out or elaborate on the alluded ‘sampling of petitioners’ evidence.’<br><br>“This Court is therefore is constrained to remind the court below that an injunction, being a limitation upon the freedom of action of the defendant should not be granted lightly or precipitately. It should be granted only when there is enough basis to conclude that the law permits it and the emergency demands it,” the CA said.<br>
<br>Associate Justices Andres B. Reyes Jr. and Marlene Gonzales-Sison concurred in the decision.<br><br>Greenpeance had filed a petition for preliminary injunction before the RTC to prevent the DA and the BPI from granting the application of Bayer to import LLRice62, which is allegedly genetically modified to withstand high doses of glufosinate, an herbicide sprayed on rice fields to kill a wide range of weeds.<br>
<br>Greenpeace, led by Von Hernandez, said consumption and use of the rice variety is dangerous to health and the environment.<br><br>The appellate court said the environment group failed to present evidence of their claim.<br>
<br>“Verily, Von Hernandez, et al have failed to prove any right to entitle them to the issuance of a writ of injunction.”<br><br>The CA also did not give credence to the group’s claim that their right to information was violated because BPI and DA refused to give them information about Bayer’s application.<br>
<br>The appellate court noted that the petitioners admitted being able to submit a letter opposing Bayer’s application, and receiving a response from the DA informing it that Bayer’s application “is still under process.”<br>
<br>“Since, however, the private respondents were able to register their opposition and elicit some information from BPI and DA, we therefore see no merit in their argument that they are being denied or are threatened to be denied adequate ‘participatory’ processes or that their right to information has been impaired or is threatened of being impaired,” the CA said. <br>
<br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br></font><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font size="2"><strong>CHINA<br>5-TOP RICE PRODUCER CHINA APPROVES GMO STRAIN<br></strong>by Niu Shuping and Tom Miles<br>
27-November-2009 </font></font><a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSSP364484" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">Reuters</font></a><br><br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">BEIJING - China has approved its first strain of genetically modified rice for commercial production, two scientists involved in the approval process told Reuters on Friday, potentially easing the way for other major producers to adopt the controversial technology.<br>
<br>The approval of the locally-developed rice, as well as China's first GMO corn, shifts the global balance of power in food trade and could prompt other countries to follow suit, experts said.<br><br>It will also enable China, the world's top producer and consumer of rice, to grow more of its staple food amid shrinking land and water resources.<br>
<br>The Chinese Ministry of Agriculture's Biosafety Committee issued biosafety certificates to pest-resistant Bt rice, two committee members told Reuters on Friday, with large-scale production to start in 2-3 years.<br>
<br>"We expect that with the Chinese approval of Bt rice it will be much easier for other countries to do this," said Robert Zeigler, director general at the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute, which is developing a number of GMO strains of rice.<br>
<br>But Greenpeace called the move a "dangerous genetic experiment" and said it had previously exposed illegal cases of genetically engineered (GE) rice in China.<br><br>"If the Ministry of Agriculture cannot even control the illegal cultivation of GE rice, how can they manage the risks of large scale cultivation?" Lorena Luo, Greenpeace's food and agriculture campaigner in China, asked in an emailed statement.<br>
<br>China, which wants to raise grain production 8 percent to 540 million tons a year by 2020, has splashed out on GMO research, with $3.5 billion going on rice, corn and wheat.<br><br>The phytase corn was also locally developed by China's Academy of Agricultural Science and Nadaq-listed Origin Agritech Ltd (SEED.O), which has seen its share price double since shareholders were notified of the approval on Saturday.<br>
<br>Phytase corn will help pigs digest more phosphorus, enhancing growth and reducing pollution from animal waste and fertilizer runoff.<br><br>The rice and corn strains are China's first GMO grains approved for commercial production, although it already permits GMO papaya, cotton and tomatoes.<br>
<br>The strains still need to undergo registration and production trials before commercial production can begin in restricted areas, which may take 2-3 years, the scientists said.<br><br>The scientists declined to be identified as the government has not officially published the information. Officials at the Agricultural Ministry's biosafety office declined to comment.<br>
<br>"According to our sources, our information is yes, there was a meeting of the Biosafety Committe on GE rice and corn and the meeting has granted certification," said Greenpeace's Luo.<br><br>China is the world's top producer of rice, growing 60 million tons in the 12 months to October, but it exports only around 50,000 tons a month as most is consumed domestically.<br>
<br>"China is trying to ensure food security for its people and it will show a direction to many countries, such as India, that this is one of the ways of increasing productivity and ensuring adequate food supplies," said one Singapore-based rice trader with an international trading company.<br>
<br>Exports of GMO rice would be likely to face tough scrutiny abroad. Most of China's rice exports go to South Korea and West Africa, although there are buyers globally, including the United States, South America and Europe. China exports much more rice in prepared food, such as rice pasta or baby food.<br>
<br>The European Union's executive body, the European Commission, said in July that China needed to tighten export controls on rice products because shipments might contain traces of the Bt-63 strain, which is not authorized in the European Union.<br>
<br>While China is not yet growing GMO rice commercially, there are numerous field trials going on around the country.<br><br>Bt rice, developed by Huazhong Agricultural University, would help reduce the use of pesticide by 80 percent while raising yields by as much as 8 percent, said Huang Jikun, the chief scientist with the Chinese Academy of Sciences.<br>
<br>"We believe more genetically-modified technology will be used in agriculture production in future to increase production and reduce inputs," said Huang.<br><br>The IRRI's Zeigler said India and Iran were also developing Bt rice and the Philippines could approve the IRRI-developed Vitamin A-enriched GM Golden Rice by late 2011 or early 2012.<br>
<br>The advent of commercial GMO production in China could affect global prices for rice, which rocketed in early 2008, sparking fears that the bedrock of Asian cuisine might be in short supply.<br><br>"This news signals that there will be no fear of food shortage as we can produce as much as we want and China itself will not have to import any more," said Kiattisak Kanlayasirivat of Thailand's Novel Agritrade Co Ltd.<br>
<br>"Prices of white rice would get back to $200-$300 per ton again and supply should rise significantly," he said.<br><br>Benchmark 100 percent B grade white rice in Thailand, the world's top exporter and supplier of almost all of China's imports, was quoted at $565 per ton this week.<br>
<br>But lower prices could also slow the spread of GMO rice.<br><br>"Suppose rice prices remain low in the next few years, countries will be reluctant to take in technology if they have some concerns about it," said Samarendu Mohanty, a senior economist at IRRI.<br>
<br>"If rice prices remain high, then countries will be more willing to consider Bt or any other technology to boost production," he said. "So the market has a role to play."<br><br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br>
</font><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font size="2"><strong>PAKISTAN<br>6-2 BT COTTON VARIETIES TO BE AVAILABLE FOR KHARIF SEASON<br></strong>by Ijaz Kakakhel <br>26-November-2009 </font></font><a href="http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009%5C11%5C26%5Cstory_26-11-2009_pg5_10" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">Daily Times</font></a><br>
<br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font size="2"><strong><em>* Pakistan achieves status of GMOs country</em></strong> <br><br>ISLAMABAD: For the first time the Ministry of Environment has given Pakistan the official status of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) country after it developed two varieties of indigenous genetically-modified Bt (bacillus thuringiensis) cotton, official sources told Daily Times on Wednesday.<br>
<br>The National Bio-Safety Committee, Pakistan Environment Protection Agency, Ministry of Environment in its seventh meeting approved two varieties of Bt cotton. These varieties containing traits of insect resistance had been developed after several years of thorough research by Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB), sources maintained. <br>
<br>The sources said that the Supreme Technical Body of Ministry of Environment designated National Bio-Safety Committee granted the commercial release of first GMO in Pakistan in a meeting held a few days ago. <br><br>The two approved varieties were, CEMB-01, which contained single gene, while CEMB-02 contains double Bt genes, which gave excellent protection against lepidopteran insects. These varieties would be available during the next cultivation season, Kharif 2010 after approval from the Punjab Seed Council, whose meeting is scheduled in February 2010, the sources said. <br>
<br>The two varieties cleared bioenvironmental safety standards of the Ministry of Environment and were recommended by the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) after two years of adoptability testing. Seeds of these two varieties were under multiplication for distribution in the coming Kharif season. According to sources, a total of 10 Bt cotton varieties including the approved two varieties might be commercialised in the country after getting authorisation from the Punjab Seed Council. <br>
<br>The cotton growers appreciated the release of these two varieties after fulfilling all the necessary requirements of bio-safety testing and yields’ trials. <br><br>European and some other countries might respond over this development because they were against pro-GMO varieties. They usually got certificate from exporting countries of non-GMO agricultural products including rice, Pakistan main exportable items. These countries also demanded non-GMO certificate for different yields or crops, the sources maintained. <br>
<br>At present about 44 varieties of Bt cotton are already under cultivation without approval by any government departments. According to a report prepared by the Punjab, all these unapproved Bt cotton varieties were sub-standards with respect to Bt toxin produced by the plants, which might result in the development of resistance in the insects and pests attacking the crops. <br>
<br>The Bio-Safety Committee of the Ministry of Environment also stressed for strict enforcement of environmental protection laws, Cotton Control Ordinance and Seed Acts and rules for the sack of controlled release and monitoring of these varieties according to the scientific protocol and guideline.<br>
<br><strong>------------------------------------------------------------</strong><br></font></font><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><font size="2"><strong>GLOBAL<br>7-GENETIC RESEARCH KEY TO SOLVING RICE SUPPLY PROBLEMS<br>
</strong>by Prime Sarmiento (Xinhua)<br>25-November-2009 </font></font><a href="http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/opinion/6663-genetic-research-key-to-solving-rice-supply-problems" target="_blank"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#0000ff" size="2">Manila Times</font></a><br>
<br><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" size="2">MANILA: Unlocking the genetic diversity of rice is one of the key factors that can help increase production and stabilize the supply of one of the world’s most important food crops. <br>
<br>About 700 of the world’s foremost rice scientists gathered here recently to participate in the sixth International Rice Genetics Symposium organized by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to share and discuss latest research on sequencing the genomes of various types of rice including wild rice, heirloom and modern varieties.<br>
<br>But more than a venue to share new information, participants in the weeklong conference also aimed to provide solutions to some problems affecting rice cultivation.<br><br>“The solution to the future problem of rice agriculture partly involves genetics,” David Makill, IRRI’s program leader and plant breeder, said in an interview with Xinhua.<br>
<br>Makill said that by having more genetic information, plant breeders can develop more rice varieties that can withstand drought and floods, are more resistant to pests, and have higher yields despite limited water supply and land.<br>
<br>“The research done by scientists can provide the basic information needed to address these problems,” he said.<br><br>Robert Zeigler, director general of the IRRI, noted that genetic research led to the development of high yielding varieties which helped in stabilizing food prices, lower hunger incidence and kept natural ecosystems from being converted into farmlands.<br>
<br>Thailand’s experience<br><br>Thailand, the world’s biggest rice exporter and a major rice- consuming nation, can attest to the benefits of such research.<br><br>In her keynote speech delivered during the symposium, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn of Thailand said genetic research helped scientists and farmers in developing and cultivating high yielding varieties and rice crops which are pest resistant and can survive massive flooding. This improved farmers’ incomes and secured Thailand’s place in the global rice market.<br>
<br>Rice is a staple in most of Asia. The world’s biggest continent has a per capita rice consumption of 85 <br>kilograms and also accounts for about 90 percent of the over 600 million tons of paddy rice produced worldwide. Other parts of Africa and south Americas are also heavy rice consumers and major rice producers.<br>
<br>Such is the importance of rice in most countries that last year ‘s global rice shortage fueled food riots and heated inflation levels in several economies. The 2008 crisis also showed that increasing population and urbanization reduced farmlands and slashed rice production problems that will persist in the next few years.<br>
<br>Climate-change threat<br><br>Climate change—which is now causing erratic weather patterns also threatens rice production.<br>This is why scientists say, it’s important to develop new rice varieties by using the information acquired from studying genetic diversity.<br>
<br>“All rice types need to be sequenced to capture the entire genetic diversity of rice. Rapidly progressing technologies have made this a realistic goal—achievable within a few years,” Zeigler said in a speech delivered during the symposium.<br>
<br>“These genes and their associated traits can then be bred into new rice varieties better able to cope with difficult growing conditions and with the capacity for higher yields,” he added.<br><br>“Participating in this symposium will help us in developing rice varieties of the future,” said Frisco Malabanan, chief of the Philippine agriculture department’s rice productivity program. For Malabanan, the thrust is for the Philippines, the world’s largest rice importer, to become self sufficient and developing (and planting) high-yielding varieties may be the means to achieve this end.<br>
<br>Thai Princess Maha Chakri agrees. In her speech delivered during the symposium, she encouraged the participants to “take care of rice genetic diversity around the world to secure the existence of rice on earth.”<br><br>
“Because of the available diverse genetic sources, scientists and breeders continue to develop and improve new varieties leading towards variations and quality excellence,” she said.<br><br></font><a class="footer"><font face="arial,helvetica,sans-serif" color="#666666" size="2">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br>
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