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| A study in the September 2001 issue of Plant Physiology demonstrated a method for producing enhanced levels of an important amino acid in plants. By inserting an enzyme gene that controls the production of the amino acid tryptophan into chloroplast genome, tobacco plants produced 10 times the normal amount of tryptophan. The approach takes advantage of chloroplasts' ability to express DNA at a higher level than in nuclear DNA. Archie Portis, a University of Illinois crop scientist who worked on the study, explained, "The work demonstrates the feasibility of modifying the biosynthetic pathways of important metabolites through transformation of the DNA located in the plastids and relocating native genes in the nucleus." The genetic engineering tool could be used to improve yield and the nutritional content in plants. In fact, according to the article, the plastid genetic transformation method could be used to enhance tryptophan supply, an amino acid in short supply in the human diet, and boost the production of serotonin in the brain.
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| On Wednesday, October 3, 2001 the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a patent case that could overturn the precedent-setting 1980 case Diamond v. Chakrabarty, which established intellectual property rights (IPRs) for plants. The case features Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. versus J.E.M. Ag Supply Inc., a small Iowa farm supply company. Pioneer alleges that J.E.M. violated their patent rights when the company resold 1,300 bags of Pioneer's hybrid corn seed. Pioneer claims that as a patent holder of a germplasm that makes their hybrid corn different from others, only the company's authorized representatives have the right to sell the hybrid seeds. J.E.M. contends that the U.S. Congress never intended to permit the patenting of plants with the Chakrabarty statute, and the Plant Variety Protection Act protects seeds and plants from the patent system. The article reports that in an effort to defend the status quo, (i.e., the ability to patent plants and seeds) Monsanto, Cargill, and BASF have submitted briefs in support of Pioneer. According to Michael Ward of Morrison & Foerster, LLP, biotechnology companies are nervous about the decision because, "The main reason the court hears a case is because it wants to change the law or reconsider it." Malla Pollack, a patent lawyer, suggests that the Supreme Court will base its decision on Congress' ability to allow "big interests [e.g., biotechnology companies] to write patent law anyway they want to." The article reports that the U.S. Constitution gives Congress only a limited right to create IPRs.
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| Article looks at how two U.S. agencies, the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Agency for International Development (USAID), are approaching risk management with respect to biotechnology. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which was adopted in January 2000, calls for the risk assessment of new genetically modified organisms (GMOs) "in order to identify and evaluate the possible adverse effects of living organisms on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health." In an effort to meet these demands, the USDA runs the Biotechnology Risk Assessment Research Grants Program, which allocates funding for research on several issues including: insect resistance to GM products; impact of GMOs on biodiversity and natural ecosystems; increased fitness of wild relatives from transgene flow; and quantitative methods to assess the risks of GM crop field testing. USAID recently launched a grant program to fund research on environmental and biodiversity risks posed by GMOs in developing countries. Josette Lewis, biotechnology advisor for USAID, explains that most U.S. research "is not applicable to developing countries" where environmental conditions, biodiversity and farming practices are different. The agency hopes the program will build risk assessment capacity and aid regulatory bodies in developing countries to make science-based decisions when introducing GMOs.
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| At an informal meeting of the World Trade Organization's (WTO) special negotiating session on agriculture, five developing countries of the Cairns Group (Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, the Philippines and Thailand) argued for a temporary mechanism to permit developing countries to impose countervailing measures on developed countries' subsidized agricultural imports. The mechanism, the countries explained, would remain in place for the duration of WTO negotiations on agricultural reform, which began in early 2000. Currently, WTO members can impose safeguards on agricultural imports that cause serious harm to domestic producers. However, the article notes that if WTO members fail to launch a new round of global trade talks at the November 2001 Ministerial Conference, the safeguard mechanism will lapse. The Cairns Group suggests that regardless of the outcome of the November meeting, the safeguard mechanism should be extended to developing country members.
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| Article discusses India's Plant Variety Protection and Farmers Rights Bill approved by parliament on August 9, 2001. Farmers, non-governmental organizations, plant breeders, and biotechnology companies are applauding the legislation for integrating the rights of commercial breeders and farmers. MS Swaminathan, a leading agricultural scientist in India, explains the importance of the bill, "Farmers and breeders are allies in the struggle for sustainable food security and hence their rights should be mutually reinforcing and not antagonistic. The bill retains this important feature." In particular, the legislation allows plant breeders to produce and commercialize seed varieties and obtain "fast track" approval for genetically modified varieties. Plant breeders must demonstrate that plant material used for breeding is obtained lawfully and their new variety "does not contain any gene or gene sequence involving terminator technology." With respect to farmers' rights, the bill protects India's 50 million farmers right to save and sell seeds produced on their farms. In addition, a National Gene Fund will be established from royalties paid by breeders that use farmers' plant varieties or land races (i.e., traditional plant varieties that have remained unchanged) for breeding. The fund will be used to compensate farmers for crop failure and to support community-farming projects. The article reports that the legislation fulfills India's World Trade Organization obligation to provide plant variety protection to breeders. According to the author, the bill offers a framework for other developing countries, especially for African-wide plant variety protection legislation.
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| Bayer, Europe's second largest chemicals company, agreed on Tuesday, October 1, 2001 to buy Aventis's agrochemicals unit CropScience for $6.6 billion. The deal requires Bayer to be responsible for any potential liabilities associated with the genetically modified corn StarLink, which is not approved for human consumption but was found in consumer products. Bayer Chief Executive Manfred Schneider explains the importance of the action; "Acquiring Aventis CropScience will make us a world leader in crop science and substantially boost Bayer's earnings power." The article reports that combined sales are expected to total between $6.5 billion and $7 billion in 2001. However, Bayer will remain the world's second-largest agrochemical company behind Switzerland's Syngenta.
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| In light of the enactment of India's Plant Variety Protection and Farmers' Rights Act, this editorial criticizes the European Union's ongoing process of developing biotechnology regulations. Noting India's success in finding practical means for protecting farmers' and breeders' rights, the piece states, "The Europeans, in contrast, abandoned pragmatism long ago in favor of convoluted attempts to resolve matters within a framework of conflicting principles." According to the article, by accommodating the various beliefs on biotechnology in the EU, wording has become the focus of legislation rather than action. As a result, the editorial argues, the EU's regulatory framework can no longer provide a template to developing countries for agriculture biotechnology regulation. However, the piece concludes that India can offer guidance to developing countries on a way forward for genetically modified crop regulation.
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| In an effort to build on the successful completion of mapping the Arabidopsis thaliana genome, the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced that 28 awards, totaling $43.8 million, will be distributed over the next four years under the new "2010 Project". The initiative seeks to contribute to identifying the functions of the plant's 25,000 genes within the next ten years. NSF director Rita Colwell explains, "While the task is daunting, it is also essential to this growing area of biotechnology research and its many applications. Only by understanding the fundamental processes of each gene can we piece together the puzzle of how DNA determines, for example, the rate of growth, resistance to disease and many other factors in plants." Moreover, Arabidopsis thaliana, a plant in the mustard family, provides a template for other plant genomes including wheat, corn, rice, cotton and soybean. Under the project, the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill will study a network of genes involved in disease-resistance pathways. The University of Texas at Austin will use bioinformatics to explore the evolutionary histories of different Arabidopsis strains to reveal how environmental variables such as soil, pests, moisture, and temperature influence plants' adaptability.
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| The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), a member of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research, has purchased a Genomic Solutions GeneTAC Biochip System from PerkinElmer Life Sciences in order to boost rice genomics research in developing countries. Dr. Hei Leung, head of the Functional Genomics Project at IRRI, explains, "One of the objectives is to promote accessibility of genomic tools to rice research institutions in developing countries...Currently, the expense of such technologies has excluded access by researchers with limited resources." With the development of IRRI's microarray facility, the research institution is hoping to provide research and training support to partner research centers. PerkinElmer Life Sciences will work with IRRI to provide microarray expertise (i.e., assistance in mapping gene expression) and technical resources. Leung concludes, "I hope we see more examples of such cooperative citizenship in supporting important scientific research in the less developed countries."
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| Document explores how to resolve the contentious debate over genetically modified (GM) foods in order to alleviate hunger in developing countries. The authors explain that redistribution of food supplies or increasing grain yields through conventional breeding are not sufficient to meet food demands in developing countries. Instead, the report recommends the development of GM crops through sound scientific procedures to protect against risks to humans and the environment. In order for developing countries to benefit from biotechnologies, the authors argue that developed country governments and organizations need to permit the developing world to make their "own decision about the use of genetic engineering technology based on domestic perceptions about benefits and risks..." The report outlines several suggestions for giving developing nations autonomy in their decision-making including non-governmental organizations using their position in countries to advance the potential of biotechnology while testing for risks. In addition, the authors ask private companies to permit less restrictive plant protection requirements like the plant variety protection. Lastly, the document notes the need for developed countries to contribute to international agricultural research to ensure that "genetic modification does indeed fulfill its promise for feeding the poor." To read the brief for the report "Seeds of Contention", please click on the attached item.
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| Article reports that following the successful completion of greenhouse tests, the Philippines' first genetically modified (GM) blight-resistant rice is ready for testing in the field. Laboratory tests demonstrated that the GM rice is resistant to nine varieties of bacterial blight. According to Dr. Rhodora Aldemita, a researcher at the Philippine Rice Research Institute, the best method for controlling the blight is through biotechnology. The piece indicates that approval for commercial use is expected to follow soon after the field trials.
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| Article reports that the Italian government and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are negotiating a plan to move the World Food Summit-Five Years Later, which is planned for 5-9 November 2001, from Rome to Rimini. In a letter to the FAO from Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's office, the government offered to cover costs involved in changing the meeting's location. According to a source from the FAO, Italy's budget for moving the meeting "is a long way below [FAO] estimates." Italy has not disclosed their reasons for requesting the change. However, the article reports that due to the protests at the Genoa Group of Eight meeting in July 2001, Berlusconi wanted the meeting cancelled or delayed. The World Food Summit aims to boost political will and financial resources to halve the number of hungry people in the world by 2015. The article notes that sources believe, "the confusion and delay [in deciding where to have the meeting] only serve to worsen the plight of those whom the summit intended to help--the world's hungry." A source notes that unless a decision and cost arrangements can be decided soon, the Summit may be cancelled.
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| The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case of J.E.M. Ag Supply versus Pioneer Hi-Bred International yesterday where the court is being asked to decide if the U.S. Congress intended to allow plant breeders to obtain certificates and patents for sexually reproduced plants and seeds. Attorney Bruce Johnson, representing J.E.M., argued that the current system of plant patenting and certification allows companies to "lock up the genes" of plant varieties, which adversely affects farmers and researchers. The article reports that patents are economically costly for farmers as they "drive up seed costs and force them to dispose of seed left over from a previous harvest." According to the article, the Supreme Court Justices repeatedly turned discussion to the impact of patents on the average U.S. farmer rather than genetic engineering or other agricultural technologies. On behalf of the federal government, Lawrence Wallace argued that patents allow breeders to be compensated and rewards companies for innovations that benefit the public. The attorney for Pioneer, Edmund Sease, contended that Congress was aware of the effect of plant patents and certificates on farmers and companies when plant protection law was legislated.
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| In light of the 11 September 2001 attacks in the U.S., the World Bank predicts that global poverty will increase with 10 million more people living in poverty next year. The press release reports that developing country growth could be lowered to 3.5-3.8 percent in 2002 rather than the 4.3 percent prediction made before September 11th. According to the Bank, Africa will incur the most economic damage from the continued economic slowdown of developed countries with an additional 2 million Africans living on less than $1 a day. Africa is particularly vulnerable because many nations do not have safety nets to stabilize their economies when agricultural commodity prices fall. As a result, the article reports, "Farmers, rural laborers, and others tied to agriculture will bear a major portion of the burden." The Bank makes several recommendations to alleviate the adverse effects on developing countries such as boosting foreign aid, reducing trade barriers for developing countries, and major industrial countries coordinating economic reform policies.
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| Article discusses South Africa's draft policy for genetically modified (GM) products and biotechnology research. South Africa's biotechnology activity dates back to 1978 with the establishment of the South Africa Genetic Experimentation. However, project manager of the South African National Seed Organization Dr. Wynand van der Walt explains that the country has failed to reap the benefits of the advances in genetics and genomics in the past 25 years. The draft policy includes allocating R45 million for the overall biotechnology strategy and R182 million for biotechnology research and development. Boosting investment in biotechnology, the article indicates, could improve access to health care and food and create jobs. The strategy outlines regulations for labeling and biosafety measures (e.g. storage and transport guidelines for GM foods). Several experts raise concerns that the South Africa biotechnology strategy does not adequately address poor farmers' needs. Dr. Chris Viljoen of the University of the Free State's botany and genetics department points out, "The government should be in a position to subsidize [poor farmers] so that they can cope with the new biotechnology seeds." Despite concerns about the impact of GM seeds on farmers, Jerry Sefoloshe of the Letelle Farmers' Union says the strategy is an important step for ensuring biotechnology in South Africa meets the economic, political, and social needs and conditions of the nation.
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| At an American Medical Association media briefing Dr. Alexander Karasev, a professor in the department of microbiology and immunology at the Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, asserted that plants will be the safest and most cost effective means for hosting vaccines, especially for developing countries. Dr. Karasev explains, "Plants are the safest vaccine delivery vehicle imaginable. When produced in animal tissue culture and in human cells, each vaccine lot requires extensive testing for safety reasons. One concern is contamination by unknown pathogens. These necessary safety measures add to the cost of our current vaccines." In addition, he notes that with the agriculture industry's ability to produce large volumes of vaccines in transgenic plants, inexpensive pills with dehydrated vaccine plants can be produced in developing countries. The Biotechnology Foundation Laboratories at Thomas Jefferson University are working on several plant-based vaccines including a spinach-HIV vaccine and a lettuce-hepatitis-B vaccine. Research on the HIV vaccine is focused on perfecting the plant production system so the system is available when an HIV vaccine is developed. With respect to the hepatitis-B vaccine, researchers predict it is two to three years from being completed.
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| Speaking at a National Governors Association meeting, Robert Paarlberg, a Wellesley College professor of political science, argued that if the U.S. challenged the European Union's (EU) proposed regulations for genetically modified (GM) products under World Trade Organization (WTO) policies, it would not result in a reversal of the regulations, which require labeling and traceability requirements for most GM products. Paarlberg noted that past U.S. efforts to challenge EU laws under the WTO such as the case of hormone-treated beef resulted in "a tit-for-tat trade war." With respect to hormone-treated beef, though the WTO concluded the EU ban on the product was not scientifically justified, the EU continued its import ban. Paarlberg speculates that if the U.S. stopped the production of GM foods as a result of the EU regulations, "U.S. farmers would still be prosperous and U.S. consumers would be well fed." However, he adds, "Farmers and consumers in rich countries could live with this outcome, but farmers and consumers in poor countries could not."
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| Article summarizes the current agriculture biotechnology activity in Zimbabwe's universities, government institutions, parastatal (state-funded) organizations, non-governmental organizations, and private sector. The University of Zimbabwe is involved in a variety of research including tissue culture transformation for mosaic virus-resistant cassava and feathery mottle virus-resistant sweet potato. The Horticulture Research Institute, a government funded organization, is developing tissue cultured vegetable and ornamental crops. Another government-funded institute, the Biotechnology Research Institute, is involved in biotechnology on several fronts including research on drought- and disease-resistant maize and work on biosafety issues. The NGO the Biotechnology Trust of Zimbabwe is facilitating the development and implementation of "need-driven" biotechnologies for small-scale farmers. Lastly, the article reports that private seed companies are not currently involved in biotechnology activities (companies are focused on seed multiplication at this time). The article notes that Zimbabwe is facing several restrictions to developing agricultural biotechnologies--namely, poor infrastructure and lack of human resources and funding. The author adds that Zimbabwe needs to identify priority areas for product development with respect to the country's natural resources and to global market needs.
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| Summary of the second meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (ICCP-2) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) that was held from 1-5 October 2001 in Nairobi, Kenya. The Protocol aims to establish procedures for the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) to protect biodiversity. Delegates addressed agenda items in two working groups and the Plenary. Working Group I (WG-I) discussed: information sharing, handling, transport, packaging, identification, monitoring and reporting with respect to LMOs. WG-I's recommended that governments use the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH) (an electronic tool for tracking the movement of LMOs) tool kit to assess national capacity-building needs. In addition, financial assistance was suggested for developing countries that are centers of origin of agricultural crops or biodiversity to assist them in using the BCH. Working Group-II discussed: capacity-building, the roster of experts, guidance to the financial mechanism, decision-making procedures, liability and redress, and compliance. WG-II asked the Executive Secretary to develop a mechanism for promoting partnerships with capacity-building initiatives outside the Protocol in order to maximize the Protocol's capacity-building efforts. On another front, WG-II recognized that "the process with respect to liability and redress is distinct from that of the CBD...[and from] the compliance procedures and mechanisms under the Protocol." As a result, WG-II recommended the formation of an open-ended experts' group to consider case studies and analyze information on liability and redress. Lastly, on behalf of non-governmental organizations observing discussions, a statement supported a fund for liability and redress and asked for a ban on LMOs in centers of origin or biodiversity. The summary reports that it is not clear at this point whether a third ICCP meeting or a Meeting of the Parties will be held in April 2002. The form of the meeting depends on progress made in the next several months on various Protocol items (e.g., capacity-building and information sharing). To read the summary, please click on the attached item.
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| Piece summarizes conclusions reached at the Biotechnology in Africa Conference held in Johannesburg, South Africa from 26-27 September 2001, which was sponsored by AfricaBio, African Biotechnology Stakeholders Forum, the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, and the Global BioDiversity Institute. Consensus was found for the following points: biotechnology can have a positive role in development for Africa; implementing biotechnology must be according to national and regional priorities; building biotechnology capacity should make use of existing capacity in Africa; strong African participation is needed at international and regional meetings that address biotechnology issues; and increased funding from African governments is needed to implement biotechnology research and development and biosafety measures. In addition, the conference formulated an action plan to establish a strong African voice at next year's World Summit on Sustainable Development (Rio+10) in Johannesburg. AfricaBio's website includes many of the presentations from the conference, which can be accessed from "Link to Story."
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| In light of receiving many requests for postponement due to the events of September 11, 2001 in the U.S., the Alexandria Conference on Biotechnology and Sustainable Development: Voices of the South and North will be held from 16-20 March 2002 in Alexandria, Egypt. The conference was scheduled for 15-17 October 2001. The event is co-sponsored by many organizations including the government of Egypt, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, the World Bank, and the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research.
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| In an effort to bring scientific research to the biotechnology debate in the European Union (EU), the European Commission's research commissioner Philippe Busquin has launched a round table discussion on the biosafety of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The round table, which began on Tuesday, October 9, 2001, was launched in conjunction with a report that summarizes 81 biosafety research projects conducted in the past 15 years by the EU. According to the article, the report demonstrates that no new risks to human health or the environment have emerged from GMOs. Moreover, the piece states, "Indeed, the use of more precise technology and the greater scrutiny probably make [GMOs] even safer than conventional plants and food." The first round table discussion will look at the GM Bacillus thuringiensis maize, one of the first GM crops approved in the EU. Biosafety researchers, consumer organizations, EU agencies and industry representatives will attend the round table. To learn more about the biosafety report, please go to [http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/quality-of-life/gmo/index.html].
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| The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has announced that disease-resistant cowpea can now be requested through the National Plant Germplasm System. The cowpea germplasm line GC-86L-98 has shown resistance to the cucumber mosaic virus and black-eyed cowpea mosaic virus, which combined can cause up to 86 percent of cowpea losses in the U.S. The resistant germ line was discovered in Brazil in 1978 and later sent to ARS laboratories and the National Cowpea Germplasm Collection. ARS scientists report that plant breeders can grow GC-86L-98 with other cowpea varieties in order to pass resistance genes through traditional breeding methods. The article notes that cowpea is a top five food fiber crop in the world due to its ability to tolerate poor, dry soils. Requests for GC-86L-98 can be made at: [http://www.ars-grin.gov/npgs/orders.html].
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| Article warns that unless the Global Eight (G-8) leaders target health issues with respect to genomics in the G-8 New African Initiative, a genomics divide could persist for years to come between Africa and developed countries. The authors detail several examples of biotechnology-related health developments being applied to developing country health issues including advances in India, Cuba, and Brazil. Attempting to understand, the piece notes, how these three countries have developed strong biotechnology industries while other developing countries have not could help build successful genomic industries in the developing world. In particular, the article outlines a five-point strategy for G-8 leaders to follow in developing the New Africa Initiative at the next G-8 meeting in June 2002. The strategy notes the importance of research and capacity building, consensus building, public engagement and developing an investment fund. In addition to the New Africa Initiative, the authors suggest that a regional science and technology development strategy established at the First Roundtable on Africa, Science and Technology in the Age of Globalization in August 2001 could offer insights into curbing a genomics divide.
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| The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has developed a web page to answer questions and provide an overview of recent studies on the genetically engineered Bacillus thuringensis (Bt) corn's crop impact on Monarch butterflies, which were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) on September 14, 2001. In particular, the web page addresses, among other questions, how the PNAS research differs from previous research; who was involved in the PNAS research; what conclusions the USDA is drawing from the studies; and what are the next steps in research for Bt corn and Monarchs. In terms of conclusions, ARS declares that Bt corn does not pose significant risks to Monarchs, and the USDA will use the PNAS research as a guide for regulating Bt corn. Currently, the web page explains, additional research is looking at possible "subtle" effects of Bt corn on Monarch caterpillars such as long-term effects on caterpillars. To access the ARS web page, please go to "Link to Story".
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| Researchers at the British University of Leeds have developed a thale cress plant that glows when experiencing stress. After identifying a section of DNA that reacted to stress, scientists bound firefly DNA with a portion of thale cress DNA. The resulting plants demonstrated a faint glow under conditions of poor light or heat stress. The article reports that Dr Alison Baker, a senior lecturer at the university, and her team of researchers has received funding of $150,000 to conduct further research over the next three years. The piece notes that it is hoped that research on thale cress, a plant often used in research due to its small number of chromosomes and short life cycle, will reveal how to develop stress-resistant crops.
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| Article reviews the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research's (CGIAR), a consortium of 16 agricultural research centers, process of evaluating its role in international crop production and food security. The author reports that several issues led the CGIAR to assess its role in the agricultural sector including: persistent food security problems in Africa and donor concerns about sustainability, equity and participation. One of several reviews in the past seven years, the 2000 Global Forum on Agricultural Research identified CGIAR objectives, which includes promoting research partnerships for genetic resources management and biotechnology, commodity production chains, and agricultural policy management. The article expresses concern about smallholder farmers and non-governmental organizations' (NGOs) participation in the CGIAR system. The author notes that at the CGIAR's 2001 Midterm Meeting in South Africa 30 representatives from east and south African organizations generated recommendations for the CGIAR: foster farmer-led research; explore the impact of trade and other policies on smallholder farmers and researchers; focus on eco-regional issues rather than commodity-based issues; and research the use, conservation and promotion of agricultural biodiversity. The author warns that unless the CGIAR heeds the concerns of its stakeholders (e.g., farmers, NGOs, donors), "the CGIAR is in danger of cutting itself off from the donors and NGOs that have been patiently tapping it on the shoulder over the years to help it find its way."
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| Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) have completed a draft sequence of the "super hybrid rice" genome, which was developed by agriculturist Yuan Longping. By using a special mathematical method that avoided many of the difficulties scientists faced in sequencing the human genome, CAS was able to analyze the hybrid rice genome more expediently. The article reports that the project, which was launched in May 2000 and is expected to produce a complete genome map at the end of 2001, could offer scientists doing wheat and corn research new revelations. In addition, CAS hopes to identify rice genes that control reproduction, yield, and disease- and insect-resistance. Once a final hybrid rice genome map is completed, CAS will publish the sequence database for the public's free use.
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| Syngenta has announced the creation of the Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture to improve world food security and quality. In particular, the Foundation will support research projects on food security for developing countries and promote public discussion about global nutritional problems. In doing so, Syngenta will work with international organizations and research centers. Dr. David Evans, head of research and technology at Syngenta, provided detail about the Foundation, "With sustainable agriculture as the framework, research and development can help developing countries control pests and fight plant diseases while increasing yields and improving crops. In addition to selling its products, Syngenta is making available at no cost a number of innovative technologies to subsistence farmers." The press release reports that the Foundation is currently promoting three projects in sub-Saharan Africa. In conjunction with Swiss and other international development organizations, the Foundation is fostering the sustainable use of soil and water in Eritrea. In Mali, Syngenta is helping to support the Cinzana Research Station, which cultivates local varieties of millet and sorghum. Lastly, in Kenya, the Foundation is assisting the International Maize and Wheat Research Institute and the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute to develop stem borer-resistant maize.
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| Report is the product of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Advisory Committee on Agricultural Biotechnology's (ACAB) advisory committee meeting that was held from 1-2 August 2001 in order to assess the future of public plant breeding programs (PPBPs). ACAB identified six principles/goals to guide policymakers in planning PPBPs: enhance crop biodiversity through research on minor crops; balance the public-private plant breeding relationship by understanding the unique role each sector plays (e.g., the public sector provides basic research); keep public plant germplasm free and accessible; assure public confidence by providing unbiased assessments of new crop varieties; maintain and enhance technical competency especially with respect to genomics; and adopt a systems approach for plant breeding (e.g., cropping systems like organic, no-till and multiple-function crop cultivation). In addition to the principles/goals listed above, the ACAB recommends that the USDA double its plant breeding capacity over the next five years by encouraging the growth of trained staff.
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| George Norton, professor of agricultural and applied economics at Virginia Tech, will lead a 4-year study on the social and economic effects of biotechnology. The study, which is funded by a $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will focus on the potential impact of two crops, tobacco and rice. The article reports that biotechnologies related to both crops could offer benefits to consumers and to the world's poor (e.g., tobacco is often used as a vehicle for producing pharmaceuticals and rice is a staple food for many). The research effort will include professors from Virginia Tech, North Carolina State University, and the University of Tennessee. In addition, the Philippine-based International Rice Research Institute will participate in the study. The results of the study will be published in educational materials for K-12 educational programs, college courses, and the general public.
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| Article looks at a recent study of transmitting multiple vaccines in a single plant to discuss the potentials and current limitations of producing vaccines with transgenic plants. The study, "A Plant-based Multi-component Vaccine Protects Mice from Enteric Disease" by Jie Yu and William Langridge and published in Nature Biotechnology, demonstrated that a single oral vaccine could be developed to protect against several pathogens/diseases (e.g., as in this case, cholera, diarrhea, and E. coli). Though the plant-based oral vaccine was fairly successful, the authors note that consistent expression of antigens in transgenic plants is a major limitation. For instance, antigen yield may differ between plant tissues. The piece reports that chloroplast transformation (i.e., producing the vaccine through the chloroplast rather than the nucleus) has the potential to increase antigen yield. Another limitation to plant-based vaccines, the article explains, is the possibility of "glycosylation" (i.e., plant molecules altering antigens), which changes the properties of the vaccine. The piece concludes that despite these limitations, plant-based vaccines could provide a means for low-cost vaccine production, which could be largely beneficial to the world.
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| Statement by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) director-general, Jacques Diouf, in recognition of World Food Day, which marks the 56th anniversary of the founding of the FAO on October 16, 2001. The theme for this year's World Food Day, Diouf notes, is "Fight Hunger to Reduce Poverty." In light of the theme, the director-general contends that unless global food security is ensured, "there can be no real and lasting progress in the struggle against poverty." For instance, the statement reports that a recent study demonstrated that if developing countries had an adequate level of food, their gross domestic product over the past 30 years would have increased by as much as 45 percent. However, today, Diouf explains, nearly 800 million people in the developing world remain hungry and in poverty. The piece indicates that addressing food insecurity and imbalances will require investments in rural areas, "where 70 percent of the world's poor and hungry people live." Diouf applauds the 2001 Global Eight Summit for emphasizing food security and rural development for its poverty eradication strategies.
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| Study demonstrates that salt-tolerance can be engineered in Brassica napus, known as canola or rapeseed, by overexpressing a "vacuolar Na+/H+ antiport" from the Arabidopsis thaliana plant. The article explains that the Na+/H+ antiport pumps salt from plant cells into a vacuole, which prevents the salt from harming the cells. In particular, the researchers showed that B. napus could grow, flower, and produce seeds with sodium accounting for 6 percent of their dry weight. Moreover, seed yield and seed oil quality were not affected by the soil's high sodium content. The article notes that B. napus is one of the most important oilseed crops in the world, and the salt-tolerant plants offer great potential for agricultural use in saline soils. In addition, the use of a single vacuolar antiport demonstrates that in the future breeding and genetic engineering techniques could possibly target fewer traits to yield salt-tolerance than anticipated.
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| The United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) director-general Jacques Diouf announced that he is seeking postponement of the World Food Summit-five years later scheduled for November 2001. Speaking on the occasion of the FAO's World Food Day, Diouf explained, "Unfortunately the present international circumstances and the loss of so many innocent lives and the crisis that followed have led us to seek postponement of such an event." The conference is a follow-up to the 1996 World Food Summit, which called for halving world hunger by 2015. The recently released State of Food Insecurity in the World 2001 estimates that at the current hunger reduction rate, "it would take 60 years to cut the number of hungry people" in half. Article reports that the World Food Day events were held in more than 150 countries.
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| Article reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has renewed the registration of the genetically engineered Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn, a pest-resistant crop, for seven years. The renewal comes after the EPA was convinced by several studies published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that Bt corn poses no threat to monarch butterflies. Stephen Johnson, assistant administrator of EPA's pesticide office, said in a statement, "Bt corn has been evaluated thoroughly by EPA, and we are confident that it does not pose risks to human health or to the environment. The safeguards incorporated into these registrations will ensure that farmers can continue to use an effective, low-risk pest control alternative..." Under the conditions of registration, the EPA requires the makers of Bt corn--Monsanto, DuPont, Syngenta and Dow--to: instruct farmers on methods for reducing insect resistance; study the long-term effects of Bt on monarchs, birds, and insects; and prepare and employ remedial action plans if insect resistance occurs. Despite these safeguards, Jane Rissler of the Union of Concerned Scientists notes, "The seven-year renewal will make it very difficult for the agency to respond to new scientific information during the next few years." The U.S. first approved Bt corn in 1995.
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| Article reports that the European Commission (EC) is hoping to begin the approval process for the commercial release of genetically modified (GM) crops sooner than the proposed GM crop directive intended. The proposed directive, which sought to end the GM crop moratorium put in place in 1998, would require by October 2002 the employment of risk assessment measures, the study of long-term effects of GM crops on human health and the environment, and labeling and traceability regulations. However, the EC is asking European Union (EU) member states to approve GM crops on the grounds that applicants will voluntarily abide by regulations similar to those in the proposed directive. David Byrne, head of the EC's Health and Consumer Protection Directorate, said that if this arrangement is agreed to by EU member states, the approval procedure could begin before the end of the year.
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| Press release reports that preliminary information from the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications' (ISAAA) 2001 Review of Genetically Modified (GM) Crops indicates that the global area of GM crops will be 50 million hectares (125 million acres), which is 10 percent more than 2000. ISAAA believes that the increase can be attributed to "grower satisfaction due to significant and multiple benefits of GM crops" such as higher crop productivity and less dependence on pesticide use. In particular, ISAAA notes the benefits GM crops have for developing countries to alleviate hunger. The press release states, "Societies in food surplus countries must ensure that access to GM crops is not denied or delayed to developing countries seeking to access the new technologies in their quest for food security." ISAAA plans to release their 2001 Global Review of GM Crops later this year.
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| The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg has dismissed an appeal by the Netherlands against the European Union's (EU) patent law approved in 1998 for biotechnological discoveries such as plant gene sequences. The Netherlands claim that the patent directive "violates human dignity and lacks a legal basis." The article reports that Italy and Norway have backed the Netherlands' appeal, while France, Belgium and Germany have made attempts to revise the directive's wording. Last week the European Court of Justice ruled that the directive is written to protect human rights as it "clearly states that no parts of the human body in any stage of development can be patented." Regardless of the ruling, the article notes that the directive could still remain a contentious issue, because only 4 of the 15 EU member states have adopted the regulations.
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| This article reports that at a recent meeting of 21 delegates, the World Trade Organization came closer to securing an agenda for the November 2001 Ministerial Conference. Agreements made at the preparatory meeting included referring to the Ministerial Conference as setting a "new development agenda" rather than a "new round" of trade talks. Singapore Trade Minister George Yeo explained that the change was made "in order to signal a different historical era and a different set of priorities." A U.S. delegate notes that a seven-page paper to be presented at the November meeting aims to "balance the agenda" so that "everybody has something of interest to them..." Included in the paper are recent changes related to agriculture, which a Japanese delegate believes moves the agricultural agenda forward. The article notes that undisclosed countries are on standby for holding the November meeting if the global security situation calls for moving the meeting from Doha, Qatar.
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| Article points out the potential for the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate to file a lawsuit against the Monsanto Company for allegedly introducing genetically modified (GM) canola into organic canola fields. According to the piece, the Saskatchewan Organic Directorate expects to file the lawsuit with Monsanto as the primary defendant after "the proclamation of a pertinent piece of provincial legislation..." University of Saskatchewan law professor explains, "If the organic producers win the case, it would create a huge precedent by attaching liability to the producers of GM technology." However, Dale Adolphe, the president of the Canola Council of Canada, believes that growers and producers of GM canola have followed the environmental and safety guidelines laid out by Canadian regulatory agencies. Adolphe states, "If the class action should be targeted at anybody, it would be targeted at the regulatory system that allowed [the release of GM canola]." The article concludes that if Monsanto were found liable, "it could be very damaging, particularly if this sort of finding spreads to the United States, where [Monsanto] could be in line for big, big payouts."
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| Article discusses how fear of bioterrorism has highlighted the issue of drug patenting, and how this may change the interaction between the pharmaceutical industry and government. The article describes how demand for Cipro, the only approved drug for treatment of inhaled anthrax and manufactured only by Bayer, has recently skyrocketed in response to anthrax cases. The article claims that Congress may contribute billions of dollars to the pharmaceutical industry to encourage research and development on vaccines and antibiotics to respond to biological threats, and may also try to facilitate the regulatory process for these types of drugs. In the past, pharmaceutical companies have largely stayed out of military and government contracting, seeing the commercial sector as more in-demand and more profitable, but this has led to criticism that patents maintain prohibitively high prices, raising ethical questions about drug availability. Patent laws were challenged in the past when demand for AIDS drugs was seen to necessitate government intervention, but the industry was able to avoid compulsory patenting, in which a government allows copying of a patented drug, by allowing several companies to produce the drug at a discounted price, rather than release the patent. Canada has already announced that it will ignore Bayer's patent on Cipro and buy a generic version of the drug, and some in US government support similar action. Bayer claims that it can meet demand, so there is no need to break the patent, and according to a spokeswoman from the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers of America, "we don't have a supply problem with our medicines." Others raise the question of public perception, and whether the company will be seen as "a poor corporate citizen" if it insists on holding sole control of the Cipro patent. The patenting issue may remain controversial regardless of the outcome of the Cipro patent. Moreover, there will undoubtedly be a shift towards greater emphasis on vaccine development, and the industry has already approached Congress about cooperation efforts.
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| Piece reports that World Food Prize laureate and director of the International Food Policy Research Institute Dr. Per Pinstrup-Andersen spoke on several aspects of world hunger at the recent World Food Symposium. Addressing the question of terrorism, he said, "We won't live in peace without removing the causes of terrorism," including hunger and poverty, and he urged rich countries to invest in agricultural research, clean drinking water, primary education, rural roads and irrigation in poorer countries to help stabilize world politics. He advocated research on the impact of trade on farmers in the developing world, saying that if developing countries markets are open to goods produced by rich countries, then developing countries should also have access to rich countries' markets. Pinstrup-Andersen suggested that genetically modified crops should be available as one possible alternative for farmers in developing countries, but that farmers must be able to choose for themselves. He also discussed heath and food production, calling them "linked," as in Africa where widespread disease hinders food production.
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| Piece reports that state government officials in Gujarat, India recently told six farmers growing GM cotton that they would have to destroy their crop. Farmers have been promised compensation for crop losses, but the state officials recently admitted that some 10,000 acres are currently cultivating GM cotton. The government is determined to destroy the transgenic cotton, however, and according to Mr. P.K. Ghosh, Principal Secretary for the Department of Environment and Forests in Gujarat, "We have to destroy [this cotton] and the compensation package to farmers has to be fixed." Local NGOs have expressed their feeling that not only should the Indian company thought to have supplied the seeds be held accountable, but also Monsanto, who holds the patent on the gene involved.
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| Article announces formation of the New Africa Initiative (NAI), a peer review system designed to implement pro-poor policies and "revitalize the continent." The presidents of South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, Algeria, Zambia and Egypt launched the NAI, and officials from nine other African nations have pledged budget transparency and openness to peer review. Such an initiative was discussed at the recent UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) conference, and will promote African 'ownership' of development policies. According to K.Y. Amoako, ECA Executive Secretary, "the peer review system will help us to both learn from each other and hold each other accountable." In creating the NAI, the ECA hopes to promote dialogue between African finance ministers and their counterparts in the OECD. Specifics of the NAI have yet to be determined, but one possible model is that of the OECD's Development Action Committee, which allows countries to decide whether aid is being distributed cost-effectively and whether governments are meeting agreed targets. Omar Kabbaj, president of the African Development Bank, noted that listening to the people of Africa, not just the leaders, will help ensure the success of the NAI and the peer-review process.
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| One outcome of the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting is a proposal by the United States government for a new high-level policy dialogue on biotechnology. APEC leaders will discuss biotechnology development, regulation, and trade issues, in a dialogue that the US believes will help officials "harness this new technology and its benefits." The article mentions that most APEC nations are currently developing domestic policies on aspects of agricultural biotechnology regulation, and the APEC Leaders' Declaration encourages further capacity building activities to help member economies embrace biotechnology. The piece also mentions existing collaborative projects between US and Asian researchers, among them a public-private sector cooperative research program at the Danforth Research Center in St. Louis, organized in part by the US National Center for APEC.
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| This policy paper claims that "trade policy and food security are fundamentally matters of justice and human rights." In light of this, the report asserts that the World Trade Organization (WTO) should address trade as a tool for human development. The author argues that the current agricultural system jeopardizes food security in developing countries as it promotes "industrial agriculture", which addresses the interests of the private rather than the public sector. With respect to the WTO, the article raises developing countries' concerns including: problems in implementing the Uruguay Round (the first round of global trade talks); the loss of preferential access to developed country markets; and the weakening of 'Special and Differential' treatment privileges for developing countries. Looking forward to the November 2001 WTO Ministerial Conference, the author recommends that WTO members publicly acknowledge that halving world hunger by 2015 is an explicit goal; aid countries that have lost preferential trade agreements; reform the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property to be consistent with the Convention on Biological Diversity; and allow equal participation to developing country WTO members.
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| The planned Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) meeting, scheduled for October 27 in New Delhi, as well as a second World Food Summit, scheduled to occur in Rome November 5-9, have both been postponed in light of the recent attacks. According to the president of the Indian National Science Academy, "TWAS decided to postpone the meeting as most of its members and speakers at the meeting were reluctant to undertake a journey to this part of the world in the prevailing situation." The World food summit, organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization, is tentatively postponed until next June.
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| US-EU biotechnology trade was discussed at the recent Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology entitled "Are the US and Europe Heading for a Food Fight Over Genetically Modified Food?" According to Michael Rodemeyer, executive director of the Initiative, "Both the US and EU governments have the same goal regarding food policy: ensuring food and environmental safety. However, each government has embarked on a disparate approach to the issue." There is an estimated $57 billion market in US-EU agricultural trade at stake, and US officials have expressed strong objection to the EC's July 25th proposal for mandatory traceability and labeling. David Hegwood of the US Department of Agriculture called modern biotechnology, "an important tool" for food production and global health and nutrition. He objected to the EU proposal on the grounds that it would disrupt international trade unnecessarily. Tony Van Der Haegen of the EC discussed consumer confidence in GM foods, and the need to increase that confidence before consumers will accept GM foods. This dialogue was one of a series hosted by the Initiative, intended to help foster EU-US discussion regarding GM food.
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| Piece is jointly issued by four European non-governmental
organizations that contest that "little, if any, of TRIPS' [Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights] promised benefits of technology transfer, innovation, and increased foreign aid has materialised." They present five testimonies from affected parties, mostly in developing
countries, in the attempt to demonstrate the ways TRIPS has been harmful. In 'Stolen Knowledge' they describe the San people of southern Africa, who, the report insists, were not consulted or compensated when their native "Hoodia" succulent that they use for hunger suppression was licensed for pharmaceutical use. 'Patently Unjust' outlines the case of Monsanto vs. Percy Schmeiser, a Canadian farmer fined for growing Round-Up Ready corn in his fields, which Schmeiser claims came to his field from neighboring fields. 'Lost Seeds' and 'Farmers' Defense' highlight the conflict between multinational corporations and small-scale developing world farmers over seed-saving and intellectual property rights on native plants. The piece concludes with 'Re-Thinking TRIPS in the WTO', where the authors call for fundamental review and reform of TRIPS at the next World Trade Organization meeting. In particular, they call for an extension to implementation deadlines for developing countries and a review of TRIPS' place in the WTO.
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| The International Undertaking on Plant Genetic resources, a new international treaty scheduled for signing at the Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) November meeting, will require commercial seed companies to pay royalties to an FAO-administered fund when they use samples from public seed banks to breed privately owned varieties. Proceeds would be distributed among member countries, with nonprofit researchers exempted from paying royalties. One major setback is disagreement over the contents of the "multilateral system," the shared collection of seed varieties. Many countries have refused to include native plants they considered particularly valuable, including China's soybeans, Latin American tomatoes and groundnuts, and several African grasses. In order to access these unincluded plants, researchers would have to obtain special permission and possibly buy access. Tewolde Berhan Gebre Egziabher of Ethiopia pointed out that resolution of the gene patenting issue may be necessary before deciding which crops will be included in the collection. USDA officials mentioned the potential difficulties involved in regulating seed use and owed royalties. In discussing the implications of the treaty, the piece takes the example of Marianne Bänziger of the International Center for the Improvement of Maize and Wheat (CIMMYT), whose research drew upon free access to many Latin American breeding lines. The treaty would severely hamper such access, and many predict developing world researchers will be hardest hit. Pat Mooney of the Canadian nonprofit ETC Group wrote, "Forcing farmers and other researchers to reduce their options and [restrict] their access to diversity is irresponsible. It is the flip side of Intellectual Property monopoly and equally immoral."
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| Document provides an overview of the current state of food and agriculture in the world. In particular, the report outlines agricultural production with respect to the global economy (e.g., food shortages, commodity prices, world cereal supply), issues related to agricultural trade (e.g., World Trade Organization's Agreement on Agriculture), regional food and agriculture reviews (e.g., Africa, Asia), and the economic impacts of transboundary plant pests and animal diseases. In particular, it indicates that 30 percent (826 million people) of the world's population suffers from malnutrition with 60 million people facing food emergencies. With respect to food aid, the document reports that in 1999/2000, the World Food Programme provided 10.2 million tons (down 800,000 tons from the previous year) of food aid with the U.S. providing 65 percent of the total. Preliminary estimates indicate that the 2000/01-food aid will be similar to 1999/00. However, the report notes that food aid needs, especially for Africa, are expected to surpass food aid supply. With regard to Africa, agricultural production fails to meet population growth, and estimates indicate that in 2000, agricultural production will rise only .5 percent. The document notes that Africa's overall economic performance is strongly affected by Nigeria and South Africa, which combined make up almost half of sub-Saharan Africa's gross domestic product.
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| Brief explores how the world's poor rely on biodiversity for subsistence and income. The piece explains that biodiversity impacts poor people's livelihoods on many levels: genetic, species, and ecosystem. A broad genetic base "provides the raw material which breeding programmes use to enhance crop and stock productivity, for example for higher yield or disease resistance." In addition to breeding agricultural resilience, in Zimbabwe, the piece reports, 37 percent of total household income comes from products derived from the local biodiversity. In light of the benefits of biodiversity, the document notes measures for development agencies to enhance the impact of biodiversity on the poor: improve poor peoples' access to biodiversity resources; involve the poor in decision-making; invest in research and development of smallholder's priorities; and develop new mechanisms for meeting the public's interest in biodiversity products and services (e.g., climate regulation techniques).
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| The Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) has released a report that describes ways to bolster public confidence in biotechnology, entitled "Evaluation of the U.S. Regulatory Process for Crops Developed Through Biotechnology." According to Bruce Chassy, chair of CAST, "the public would have more confidence in the process if they knew the rationale for regulatory decisions." The paper includes recommendations for strengthening regulation, including: maintain case-by-case, plant-specific safety assessment; mandatory, pre-market notification on biotech food products; provide comprehensive public access to health and safety data; no separation for issue approvals for food and feed crops; establish "robust identity preservation systems" before developing crops specialized for feed, medical, or industrial use; and increase resources available to regulatory agencies. Recommendations for research and development include: support from government or industry for research to address present and possible future concerns; develop rapid, validated pre-market screening methods for biotechnology-derived proteins; additional research on regulatory oversight and biotechnology product stewardship, health and safety effects of next-generation biotechnology-derived crops, and identification of potential allergens. The paper concludes that the "public's access to information and the opportunity for public input in the process can and should be improved."
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| At a recent meeting of EU government, environment ministers from several member nations opposed lifting the three-year moratorium on importing and planting GMOs in the EU. Environment Commissioner Margot Wallstrom warned that this may leave the EU open to complaints from GMO exporters in the World Trade Organization, or that biotech firms might move for legal action to override national governments and force approval of GMOs in the EU. Only three EU member nations were willing to consider GMO licensing, while most nations want to see rules on labeling and traceability in place first. According to the French Environment Minister, "It isn't possible to start discussing an end to the moratorium as long as there is no operational system on traceability and labeling, and that is some way off." The proposed rules for traceability would allow GM crops to be traced back to the farm where they were grown, facilitating recall if health risks were found.
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| Article explains that genetically modified (GM) crops could alleviate poor soil conditions in Africa. African soils, the piece notes, are typically highly acidic due to the loss of nutrients from thousands of years of weathering. In fact, a study in South Africa showed that soil acidity and drought stress accounted for over 80 percent of yield losses. GM crops with high yield and pest resistance traits could increase the level of crop residues in Africa's soil, which would provide a low cost way of rebuilding soil health. In particular, the article points to research on "resurrection plant" genes. "Resurrection plants" can persist during droughts and rebound during rain periods. The author explains, "If the right genes [from the resurrection plant] could be transferred to food crops, losses to drought might be significantly reduced and more organic matter could be returned to the soil." The piece concludes that increasing crop residue in African soils with GM crops will not only increase yields in the short-term, but also benefit subsequent crops in the long-term.
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| The first U.S/sub-Saharan Africa trade forum opened on Monday in Washington, D.C. The six-day meeting will provide plenary sessions and roundtables with African trade ministers to promote trade and investment between the U.S. and sub-Saharan Africa. The forum was established by President George Bush in May 2001 to support the African Growth and Opportunity Act created in 2000. At the opening of the forum Bush announced the creation of a US $200 million Overseas Private Investment Corporation support facility that will provide U.S. companies access to loans, guarantees, and political risk insurance for investment projects in sub-Saharan Africa.
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