tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48087814525101352372024-03-14T12:00:07.291+08:00ISAAA.ORG BlogISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-15148441229828691222020-01-17T13:15:00.004+08:002020-01-17T16:32:47.220+08:00Trending News on Crop Biotech in 2019<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We summarized the top 10 most trending <i><a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/" target="_blank">Crop Biotech Update</a></i> news shared on social media to give you a glimpse of crop biotech happenings in 2019. Read on and make sure you don't miss which news made it to the number one spot.<br />
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10. <b><a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17360" target="_blank">New Plant Breeding Technologies Designed to Help Attain Food Security</a></b><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kEl8hvrJgAA/XiERv3hSjzI/AAAAAAAAA1U/4484j_Kja_YR-y_HxCTKUr3-wds6D00LgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/iStock-463782257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="1194" height="467" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kEl8hvrJgAA/XiERv3hSjzI/AAAAAAAAA1U/4484j_Kja_YR-y_HxCTKUr3-wds6D00LgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/iStock-463782257.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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An international team of researchers argues that new plant breeding technologies – such as genome editing – can contribute significantly to food security and sustainable development. Genome editing can be used to make crop plants more resistant to pests and diseases and more tolerant to drought and heat. Methods such as CRISPR-Cas9 can be used to make precise point mutations without introducing foreign genes. Due to their low costs, these methods can also be employed in previously neglected crops, such as pulses and local vegetables. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17360" target="_blank">Shares: 260</a></div>
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<b>9. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17785" target="_blank">FDA Approves Texas A&M's Ultra-Low Gossypol Cotton for Human and Animal Consumption</a></b><br />
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<a href="https://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/files/images/10152019103023PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/files/images/10152019103023PM.jpg" width="640" /></a>The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved ultra-low gossypol cottonseed for human food and <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/pocketk/41/default.asp">animal feed</a>. It is derived from a transgenic cotton variety <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/gmapprovaldatabase/event/default.asp?EventID=555">TAM66274</a> developed by Texas A&M AgriLife Research. TAM66274 is a unique <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/biotech_crop_annual_update/download/biotech-crop-annual-update-cotton-2018.pdf">cotton</a> plant with ultra-low gossypol levels in the seed, which makes the protein from the seeds safe for food use, but also maintains normal plant-protecting gossypol levels in the rest of the plant, making it ideal for the traditional cotton farmer. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17785" target="_blank">Shares: 270</a><br />
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8. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17902" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Bt Cotton Approved for Planting in Kenya</a><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D2mi4j8XvLg/XiErYi3pb5I/AAAAAAAAA1s/yws_71nhRKwhtfmEHl9SQWOP77td1zewwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1219201962153AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="837" data-original-width="1254" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-D2mi4j8XvLg/XiErYi3pb5I/AAAAAAAAA1s/yws_71nhRKwhtfmEHl9SQWOP77td1zewwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1219201962153AM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Kenyan Cabinet, chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta, has approved the commercial planting of Bt cotton after the 5-year field trials showed positive results. The biotech crop is expected to increase the cotton production of Kenyan farmers and thus boost the manufacturing pillar of the Big 4 Agenda where it is stated that Kenya aims to be at the forefront of global textile and apparel production. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17902" target="_blank">Shares: 278</a><br />
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7. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17787" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Genetically Engineered Plants Occur in Large Scale Naturally</a><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9BRTgnJGEoI/XiErjLpAPbI/AAAAAAAAA1w/1aO6fxfnaMwdrreemZI8GmrcheEKNbmFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1016201912403AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1254" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9BRTgnJGEoI/XiErjLpAPbI/AAAAAAAAA1w/1aO6fxfnaMwdrreemZI8GmrcheEKNbmFwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1016201912403AM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Horizontal <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/pocketk/15/default.asp">gene</a> transfer caused by <i>Agrobacterium</i> was found to occur in 39 dicot species. These findings prove that transgenic plants occur in nature on an unexpectedly large scale. Researchers at St. Petersburg State University in Russia and Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes in France found that transfer DNAs were found in 23 out of 275 dicots. Data of 256 dicot species showed that 16 more are naturally transgenic species. For the monocots, similar sequences were also found in greater yam and banana. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17787" target="_blank">Shares: 311</a></div>
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6. <b><a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17154" target="_blank">Research Finds Extreme Opponents of GM Foods Know the Least but Think They Know the Most</a></b> </div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MXQ_IvW6UiM/XiE0PrHqdHI/AAAAAAAAA20/4suqjX_U6hwiD1WWAt5JybGhkeXdywKzACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/iStock-1072338828.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="839" data-original-width="1250" height="428" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MXQ_IvW6UiM/XiE0PrHqdHI/AAAAAAAAA20/4suqjX_U6hwiD1WWAt5JybGhkeXdywKzACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/iStock-1072338828.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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People with the most extreme views opposing genetically modified (GM) foods think they know most about GM food science, but actually, they know the least, according to new research published in Nature Human Behaviour. The research was a collaboration between researchers at the Leeds School of Business at CU Boulder, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Toronto, and the University of Pennsylvania. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17154" target="_blank">Shares: 316</a></div>
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5. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17850" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Gene Editing Used to Develop Vitamin A-fortified Rice</a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oi3RDmmJbwA/XiEr4QWy7wI/AAAAAAAAA18/7C0XI4fE7B49uLwbyIzfbwjL83eSKtMvACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/11182019114203PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1254" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oi3RDmmJbwA/XiEr4QWy7wI/AAAAAAAAA18/7C0XI4fE7B49uLwbyIzfbwjL83eSKtMvACLcBGAsYHQ/s400/11182019114203PM.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Genome editing could be an alternative approach to improve the vitamin A content of crops, according to a study by Akira Endo and colleagues at the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization and Ishikawa Prefectural University in Japan. They focused on rice's Orange gene (<i>Osor</i>) and tested if they could increase the beta-carotene content of rice callus using CRISPR-Cas9. The transformed calli turned orange, indicating hyper-accumulation of beta-carotene. Molecular analyses indicated that orange-colored calli are caused by an abundance of in-frame aberrant <i>Osor</i> transcripts, while out-of-frame mutation was not associated with orange color. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17850" target="_blank">Shares: 329</a></div>
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4.<b> <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17855" target="_blank">Engineered Bacteria Produces BeeFree Honey</a></b></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-71HdSMHRQs0/XiEsyEj3gNI/AAAAAAAAA2I/T2gZL7a42fQAlyw17a--yQJXmYr9QlwRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/11262019102414PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="1200" height="452" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-71HdSMHRQs0/XiEsyEj3gNI/AAAAAAAAA2I/T2gZL7a42fQAlyw17a--yQJXmYr9QlwRwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/11262019102414PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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A team of 12 students from the Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering at Israel's the Technion - Israel Institute of Technology has developed a bee-free honey produced by the bacterium Bacillus subtilis, which "learns" to make honey following reprogramming in a lab. For the project they named BeeFree, the team won a gold medal at the recent iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) competition held in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, where some 300 teams from different universities around the world took part. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17855" target="_blank">Shares: 412</a></div>
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3. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17866" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">European Commission Authorizes 8 GM Products for Food and Feed Uses</a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-byfasS75Ncw/XiEtJbmovoI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/DmxlntxKSIgD_LQL8b3zwrYIqXjf4UxTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Kenya%2BApproves%2BField%2BTrials%2Bof%2BBiotech%2BCorn%2Band%2BCotton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1600" height="336" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-byfasS75Ncw/XiEtJbmovoI/AAAAAAAAA2Q/DmxlntxKSIgD_LQL8b3zwrYIqXjf4UxTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Kenya%2BApproves%2BField%2BTrials%2Bof%2BBiotech%2BCorn%2Band%2BCotton.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The European Commission has authorized eight genetically modified organisms, all for food/feed uses. These are: maize MZHG0JG; maize MON 89034 x 1507 x NK603 x DAS-40278-9; maize MON 89034 x 1507 x MON 88017 x 59122 x DAS-40278-9; maize Bt11 x MIR162 x MIR604 x 1507 x 5307 x GA21; renewals of soybean MON 89788 and soybean A2704-12; renewal of cotton LLCotton25; and renewal of oilseed rape T45. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17866" target="_blank">Shares: 442</a></div>
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2<b>. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17824" target="_blank">Bacterial Blight Resistant Rice Developed thru Genome Editing</a></b><br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVXf9HYefxw/XiFF2JnM_iI/AAAAAAAAA3M/9AmcS3li-20UwPPOfN70RgniXj7atSMQACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/CRISPR-Cas9%2Band%2B-Cpf1-mediated%2BEditing%2Bof%2Bthe%2BStomatal%2BDevelopment%2BGene%2Bin%2BRice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1254" height="426" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WVXf9HYefxw/XiFF2JnM_iI/AAAAAAAAA3M/9AmcS3li-20UwPPOfN70RgniXj7atSMQACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/CRISPR-Cas9%2Band%2B-Cpf1-mediated%2BEditing%2Bof%2Bthe%2BStomatal%2BDevelopment%2BGene%2Bin%2BRice.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Genome editing made it possible for the world's most important food crop to become resistant to a destructive bacterial disease. Researchers at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) found that rice plants with CRISPR-Cas9-edited <i>SWEET</i> genes were resistant to at least 95 strains of <i>Xanthomonas oryzae pathovar oryzae</i> (Xoo) which causes bacterial blight. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17824" target="_blank">Shares: 563</a></div>
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1<b>. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17900" target="_blank">Philippines Approves Golden Rice for Direct Use as Food and Feed, or for Processing</a></b></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CgGHDR7dBn4/XiFGVvhWNdI/AAAAAAAAA3U/8csWNOZHd_s0xEcr8DP4vdMHCrnAkvnywCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/golden%2Brice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="399" data-original-width="600" height="424" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CgGHDR7dBn4/XiFGVvhWNdI/AAAAAAAAA3U/8csWNOZHd_s0xEcr8DP4vdMHCrnAkvnywCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/golden%2Brice.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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The Philippines' Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant Industry (DA-BPI) has issued a biosafety permit to the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for GR2E Golden Rice for direct use as food and feed, or for processing (FFP). After rigorous biosafety assessment, DA-BPI has found Golden Rice "to be as safe as conventional rice." <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=17900" target="_blank">Shares: 2,593</a></div>
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ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-41249914075597604682019-12-16T14:07:00.002+08:002019-12-16T14:07:30.156+08:00Why are there few women in science?<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
Why are there few women in science? UNESCO Institute for Statistics data states that in 2015, only 30% of the world's researchers were women. Based on headcount data, the highest percentage of women doing research was in Central Asia where 48.1% were women, followed by Latin America and the Caribbean (45.4%). The lowest percentage was reported in South and West Asia where only 18.5% of the researchers were women. There was no region reported with more than 50% saturation of women scientists. These statistics bring us back to the question, why are there few women involved in science?<br /><br /><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xyPszE3c7VA/Xfce8Ric5II/AAAAAAAAA00/11kntKxkwX4Wg4SbGZEQ9l9g-MZo0yLHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cover%2Bcopy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="1024" height="256" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xyPszE3c7VA/Xfce8Ric5II/AAAAAAAAA00/11kntKxkwX4Wg4SbGZEQ9l9g-MZo0yLHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/cover%2Bcopy.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />A meta-analysis by the American Association of University Women shows that the environment shapes women's achievements and interests in <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/scicommstudy/download/default.asp">science</a>, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). When women believe in their potential for intellectual growth, they become achievers. Based on that finding, it is implied that there is a loophole in the growth mindset of women all over the world which can be attributed to their environment.<br /><br />Building a culture that empowers women motivates them to do great things in science that will benefit their personal lives and the society. Their knowledge and experiences will lead the public to appreciate science and make informed decisions about technology applications such as biotechnology. Considering that the stories and aspirations of women could help bridge the gap between science and the public, <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/">ISAAA</a> and its network of Biotechnology Information Centers launched Science and She in 2018. It is an online campaign aimed at empowering women in science by showcasing the experiences and viewpoints of female scientists and science communicators. The highlights of their stories are published in the 10th installment of ISAAA Biotech Communication Series titled Science and She: Empowering Women in Science. Download a copy now for free from the <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/scienceandshe/download/Science_and_She.pdf">ISAAA website</a>.<br />ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-44637876109439929102019-11-06T10:00:00.000+08:002019-11-06T10:00:07.172+08:00Craig Cormick Publishes New Book on Science of Communicating Science<div>
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JdmcS-zxGbk/XcIhkbnNAJI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/ciuIN8JkQIAS1vSRMWJklUDwJYPyD4h3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/images.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="665" data-original-width="461" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JdmcS-zxGbk/XcIhkbnNAJI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/ciuIN8JkQIAS1vSRMWJklUDwJYPyD4h3QCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/images.png" width="276" /></a>Are you wishing you knew all you need to know about better communicating science, without having to read several hundred academic papers and blogs and books? Then this book is for you!</div>
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Dr. Craig Cormick, Australia's leading science communicator has published his new book, <a href="https://www.cabi.org/bookshop/book/9781789245141"><i>The Science of Communicating Science: The Ultimate Guide</i></a> together with CABI and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The book aims to help solve a major problem that many scientists face at some point in their career: how do I communicate my work to society?<br />
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<i>The Science of Communicating Science </i> is a rare book that combines academic rigor with the ease of reading a blog. It's a solid one-stop-shop where scientists can learn about the main aspects of science communication without – as the blurb says – “having to read several hundred academic papers and blogs and books.” The book also helps to solve an unusual problem surrounding science communication: the disconnect between scientists and the information available on science communication.<br />
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The book's four-part structure creates a comprehensive but digestible road map for science communications. Here are short descriptions of each part:</div>
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<li><b style="font-weight: bold;"><i><u>Part 1: The ground rules.</u></i></b> This section lays facts and truths that are essential to understand before wading into setting up Facebook accounts or drafting press releases. It covers the importance of observing and understanding your audience, audience segmentation, creating SMART goals – even when the temptation might be to dive into creating an explosive, viral YouTube video.</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;"><u style="font-style: italic;">Part 2: Communication tools.</u> </span>This is the main section of the book and includes practical advice about specific communication tools. Its introduction helpfully explains the importance of simple messaging (not dumbing down) and tools like the message box and half-life messages, and the power of metaphors. It has a nice long chapter on the media and another chapter on social media, the two tools that most scientists have hesitations or reservations about, but are the ones they are most often pulled towards. </li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;"><b><u><i>Part 3: When things get hard.</i></u></b> </span>This is one of the most interesting parts of the book, since it tackles exactly those times that scientists dread the most: what to do when things get hard. In a world of fake news, can you really change behaviours and opinions? How do you share data and evidence that compete with beliefs and values?</li>
<li><span style="font-weight: bold;"><b style="font-style: italic; text-decoration-line: underline;">Part 4: Science communication issues.</b> </span>The final section of the book includes some thought provoking issues, including ethics – essential for those wanting to communicate science faithfully and objectively while understanding that opinions and personality are often an important element of communication.</li>
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The book also contains interesting and relevant case studies, with each chapter ending with a section entitled <i>‘What to do with what you now know’</i>, which offers practical steps for taking action, as well as <i>‘Key summary points’</i> to capture the highlights of each chapter. There are also excellent endnotes for further reading. The charts, illustrations and tables enhance the book’s messages.<br />
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As the blurb states, this book would be suitable for “anyone who is interested in science communication and all scientists wishing to improve their own communication techniques.” But given its scientific basis, it would be a good read for anyone with a technical background too. Dr Cormick often mentions biologists, chemists and physicists, but engineers and software developers who find themselves needing to communicate complex ideas to general audiences – possibly even customers – would benefit from this book as well. Those already working in science communications, such as marketing and PR, can also benefit from this book.<br />
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Dr. Cormick is, of course, a science communicator himself with over 25 years of experience. He’s worked with organisations such as CSIRO, Questacon and the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. He has been widely published on science communication issues in key journals and the popular media, including ABC Radio National’s The Science Show, the Conversation, and has twice appeared in Best Australian Science Writing. He is a popular speaker on science communication issues at conferences in Australia and overseas. In 2013, he was awarded the Unsung Hero of Science Communication by the Australian Science Communicators (ASC) and is currently the President of the ASC. He is also a writer of fiction – a storyteller. The chatty, humorous way in which he writes makes this an easy book to read, while he keeps his eye clearly on the science audience for which this book is intended.<br />
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In sum, for any scientist needing to communicate their work, this book will be a thoroughly helpful resource. To get a copy, visit the <a href="https://www.cabi.org/bookshop/book/9781789245141/" target="_blank">CABI Bookshop</a>.</div>
ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-25367624154505544562019-10-24T09:00:00.000+08:002019-11-06T09:10:19.493+08:00Biotech Crop Area Reaches 2.5 Billion Hectares in 23 Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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High adoption of biotech crops continued in 2018, according to the ISAAA Report, <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/54/default.asp"><i>Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops in 2018</i></a>. On the 23rd year of commercial cultivation of biotech crops, 26 countries grew 191.7 million hectares of biotech crops, bringing the accumulated biotech crop area to 2.5 billion hectares, a ~113-fold increase since 1996, the first year of commercial planting of biotech crops. This makes biotech crops the fastest crop technology adopted in recent times.</div>
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The total area of <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/54/executivesummary/default.asp">191.7 million hectares in 2018</a> were grown by 26 countries, 21 developing and 5 industrial countries. Developing countries led by Brazil planted 54% of the total biotech crop area, while the industrial countries led by the USA planted the remaining 46%. An additional 44 countries imported biotech crops for food, feed, and processing, bringing the total number of countries that adopted biotech crops to 70.<br />
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Learn more about biotech crops adoption in 2018, download and read the booklet <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/biotech_booklets/beyondpromises/download/default.asp">Beyond Promises: Facts about Biotech/GM Crops in 2018</a>.ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-2363021582666594512019-09-12T12:56:00.002+08:002019-09-12T12:56:58.160+08:00What GM Crops and How Many Events are Approved in Each Country?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0RnERW111HE/XXnPg7bD3II/AAAAAAAAAzM/9_nzD-xOzcUJEZLNnk9dwW4gGc7U6ttAQCEwYBhgL/s1600/approved%2Btransgenic%2Bplant%2Bevents_draft2_Page_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1600" height="494" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0RnERW111HE/XXnPg7bD3II/AAAAAAAAAzM/9_nzD-xOzcUJEZLNnk9dwW4gGc7U6ttAQCEwYBhgL/s640/approved%2Btransgenic%2Bplant%2Bevents_draft2_Page_2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Know more from <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/gmapprovaldatabase/default.asp" target="_blank">ISAAA GM Approval Database</a>.ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-46974437343421051312019-09-12T12:55:00.001+08:002019-09-12T12:55:29.960+08:00How Many GM Crop Events are Approved Worldwide?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLSlwBhhrDc/XXnPgzYFlbI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/hVJMOVIPzgARQaSpPzEZdEeFJYd1FrRCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/approved%2Btransgenic%2Bplant%2Bevents_draft2_Page_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1237" data-original-width="1600" height="494" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GLSlwBhhrDc/XXnPgzYFlbI/AAAAAAAAAzQ/hVJMOVIPzgARQaSpPzEZdEeFJYd1FrRCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/approved%2Btransgenic%2Bplant%2Bevents_draft2_Page_1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Know more from <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/gmapprovaldatabase/default.asp" target="_blank">ISAAA GM Approval Database</a>.ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-33112268189693122292019-09-12T12:51:00.001+08:002019-09-12T12:51:41.115+08:00Go Biotech! Help Biotech Heroes Save the WorldGet to know about biotech applications aside from improved crops. Download this fun game now: <a href="http://bit.ly/GoBiotechGame">bit.ly/GoBiotechGame</a>.<div>
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ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-28806010647748803402019-09-12T12:46:00.000+08:002019-09-12T12:46:37.404+08:00Biotech is Cool!Play the role of being a biotech crop and solve this puzzle! Download the printable board game from <a href="http://bit.ly/BiotechisCool2">bit.ly/BiotechisCool2</a>.<br />
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<br />ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-22318053525654445092019-08-23T17:00:00.000+08:002019-10-04T13:37:59.318+08:00ISAAA 2018 Report Reveals Biotech Crops Continue to Provide Solutions to Hunger, Malnutrition, and Climate ChangeA total of 70 countries adopted biotech crops through cultivation and importation in 2018, the 23rd year of continuous biotech crop adoption, according to the <i>Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops in 2018 </i>(ISAAA Brief 54) released by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) on August 22, 2019. Twenty-six countries (21 developing and 5 industrialized countries) planted 191.7 million hectares of biotech crops, which added 1.9 million hectares to the record of plantings in 2017. The continuous adoption of biotech crops by farmers worldwide indicate that biotech crops continue to help meet global challenges of hunger, malnutrition, and climate change.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b><i><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">In 2018, biotech soybeans reached the highest adoption worldwide, covering 50% of the global biotech crop area.</span></i></b></td></tr>
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In 2018, it was reported in the <i>United Nation’s State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World</i> that hunger is growing year after year for three consecutive years, and at the levels equivalent to the records a decade ago. Furthermore, the 2017 Global Report on Food Crises revealed that hunger and malnutrition continue to rise, with around 108 million individuals in 48 countries at risk or in severe food insecurity. Biotech crops, developed with improved traits such as increased yield, more resistance to pests, improved nutrition, among others, are undeniably necessary to address these global challenges affecting the lives of so many families globally.<br />
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“GM technology has contributed to all facets of food security. By increasing yields and reducing losses, it contributed to food availability for more families. By enabling farmers to improve their processes and join the modern supply chain, it improved physical access to food. Through raising farmer and rural incomes, it improved economic access to food. Through rigorous standards of food safety and hygiene programs, it contributed to better food utilization,” said Dr. Paul S. Teng, ISAAA Board Chair. “While agricultural biotechnology is not the only key in enhancing global food security, it is an important scientific tool in the multi-disciplinary toolkit.”<br />
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Biotech crop plantings have increased ~113-fold since 1996, with an accumulated area of 2.5 billion hectares, showing that biotechnology is the fastest adopted crop technology in the world. In countries with long years of high adoption, particularly the USA, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, and India, adoption rates of major crops are at levels close to 100%, indicating that farmers favor this crop technology over the conventional varieties. More farmers’ and consumers’ needs, more diverse biotech crops with various traits became available in the market in 2018. These biotech crops include potatoes with non-bruising, non-browning, reduced acrylamide and late blight resistant traits; insect resistant and drought tolerant sugarcane; non-browning apples; and high oleic acid canola and safflower.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><b><i>In 2018, developing countries planted more biotech crops than industrial countries.</i></b></span></td></tr>
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The ISAAA report also highlighted the following key findings:<br />
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<li>The top 5 countries with the largest area of biotech crops planted (USA, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, and India) collectively occupied 91% of the global biotech crop area.</li>
<li>Biotech soybeans reached the highest adoption worldwide, covering 50% of the global biotech crop area.</li>
<li>The area of biotech crops with stacked traits continued to increase and occupied 42% of the global biotech area.</li>
<li>Farmers in 10 Latin American countries planted 79.4 million hectares of biotech crops.</li>
<li>Nine countries in Asia and the Pacific planted 19.13 million hectares of biotech crops.</li>
<li>In Asia, Indonesia planted for the first time a drought tolerant sugarcane developed through a public (University of Jember) and private (Ajinomoto Ltd.) partnership.</li>
<li>The Kingdom of eSwatini (formerly Swaziland) joined South Africa and Sudan in planting biotech crops in Africa, with the introduction of IR cotton. Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and Malawi granted approvals for planting IR cotton opening Africa to biotech crop adoption.</li>
<li>In Europe, Spain and Portugal continued to adopt biotech maize to control European corn borer.</li>
<li>More area planted to biotech crops for farmer and consumer needs included potatoes with non-bruising, non-browning, reduced acrylamide and late blight resistant traits; non-browning apples; insect resistant eggplant; and low lignin alfalfa, among others.</li>
<li>New crops and trait combinations in farmer fields include insect resistant and drought tolerant sugarcane; high oleic acid canola and safflower.</li>
<li>Various food, feed and processing approvals for Golden Rice, Bt rice, herbicide tolerant cotton, low gossypol cotton, among others.</li>
<li>Cultivation approvals for planting in 2019 include new generation herbicide tolerant cotton and soybean, low gossypol cotton, RR and low lignin alfalfa, omega-3 canola, and IR cowpea, among others.</li>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo Source: ISAAA Image Gallery</i></td></tr>
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With the continuously increasing adoption of biotech crops worldwide, farmers are at the forefront of reaping numerous benefits. "We were fed up with weeding and spraying pesticides to control bollworms and weeds. When the technology was introduced, we rapidly picked it up," said Frans Mallela, a farmer from Limpopo Province, South Africa. Le Thanh Hai, one of the early adopters of biotech maize in Vinh Phuc Province, Vietnam, said that biotech maize has helped revive maize farming in their province and stressed that many farmers now grow biotech maize because of its benefits. Rosalie Ellasus, a farmer from Pangasinan, Philippines, said that she adopted Bt maize because she gained more yield with less production cost, compared to conventional maize varieties. “There was not even a trace of pests considering that we did not apply insecticide. Furthermore, we no longer need to visit our maize field every day and this gives us peace of mind,” Ellasus added.</div>
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<i>The Brief 54 Executive Summary is downloadable for free from the <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/">ISAAA website</a>. To purchase an electronic copy of full Brief 54, send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:publications@isaaa.org">publications@isaaa.org</a>.</i></div>
ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-24181471555822281262019-07-03T15:43:00.003+08:002019-07-03T15:53:32.130+08:00Science and She: Dr. Ma. Monina Cecilia Villena<br />
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<i><span style="color: #1d2129; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Science and She</span></i><span style="color: #1d2129; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"> is
an online campaign of the International Service for the Acquisition of
Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) and its network of Biotechnology Information
Centers which aims to empower women in science. Scientists and science
communicators tell their stories and aspirations for science and society
with the hope that the stories will help bridge the gap between science and the
public.</span><span style="color: black; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">For one week, a female scientist or science communicator serves
as the curator of the <i>Science and She</i> social media pages on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ScienceAndShe" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9b8c45; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Facebook</span></a><span style="color: #1d2129; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/ScienceAndShe/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9b8c45; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Twitter</span></a><span style="color: #1d2129; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">,
and </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/ScienceAndShe/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #9b8c45; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Instagram</span></a><span style="color: #1d2129; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">. One of the previous curators
was </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dr. Maria Monina Cecilia Q. Arcelo-Villena, former Special Projects
Coordinator & Network Administrator of the Southeast Asian Regional Center
for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture Biotechnology Information Center
or SEARCA BIC</span><span style="background: white; color: #454545; font-family: "roboto"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> (</span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">February 2014 to June 2018). While still
working on the objectives of the BIC, Dr. Villena eventually took a bigger
role as head of SEARCA's Knowledge Management Department. As Head, she leads
the implementation of KMD's projects geared towards the promotion of a learning
culture, knowledge creation, and knowledge sharing and use among key actors in
agricultural and rural development in Southeast Asia.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">A graduate of BS Development Communication from the College of
Development Communication, University of the Philippines Los Baños, she also
completed MA in Communication Research, and PhD in Communication from
the College of Mass Communication, University of the Philippines, Diliman.
According to Dr. Villena, doing development communication work has always been
her dream because it allows people to construct reality using different lenses.
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">“Destiny is not by chance. It is a choice. I chose to study communication
because I want to tell stories and influence people. Communicating science
enables me to change the existing narrative and touch people's lives,” Dr.
Villena shares.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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She has 26 years of work experience in editorial and market research
from the private sector and specializes in public relations, public advocacy,
and knowledge management. She’s also an expert in the fields of science
communication (biotechnology, climate change, and food security and nutrition),
message framing, message priming, and information and communications
technology. She said that science communication is difficult when done in an
environment where there is a low appreciation for science. But when people
begin to listen that's when all efforts are made worthwhile.<br />
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Dr. Villena's work on biotech communication began at ISAAA as a
Communication Specialist when she joined the team of Dr. Mariechel Navarro and
Dr. Napoleon Juanillo who conducted stakeholder perception studies on
understanding and attitude towards biotechnology in five countries in Southeast
Asia. Later on, Dr. Villena joined Dr. Navarro as one of the science writers
for the <i>Crop Biotech Update</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">From 2004 to 2012, she held several positions in the private sector,
particularly at Global Sources (Ediserve Advertising & Exhibitions). Global
Sources is one of the leading business-to-business media companies worldwide
and primarily facilitates trade with Greater China. As a senior member of the
editorial department, Dr. Villena developed and implemented editorial strategies
that facilitated global trade through multimedia platforms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">The call for science communication came in again in March 2014 when
Dr. Villena started to lead the SEARCA BIC. Through her leadership, the BIC has
penetrated the legislative and judicial branches of government and initiated
engagements with key personalities to bring forward the biotech dialogue in the
country. The BIC was also able to reach out to farmers, consumers, and other
key stakeholders to inform them through public briefings on the new biotech and
biosafety regulations in the Philippines. This was mainly through Dr. Villena’s initiative,
with the hope to lead the Filipinos to make informed choices involving
biotechnology. Dr. Villena also led the introduction of biotech in social media
with SEARCA BIC's <i>Know The Science</i> project. <i>Know The Science</i> uses
multi-platform campaigns to educate the Filipino public about biotech crops and technology by understanding the science behind them. Through this project,
Dr. Villena promoted the creation of biotech champions from different
stakeholders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TSJqwuO_RoM/XRxa2Lf0v8I/AAAAAAAAAxE/oXNc5O6pUDo0KzhYpwX-doUF3Uopvo5LQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Nina_03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1557" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TSJqwuO_RoM/XRxa2Lf0v8I/AAAAAAAAAxE/oXNc5O6pUDo0KzhYpwX-doUF3Uopvo5LQCEwYBhgL/s640/Nina_03.jpg" width="622" /></a></div>
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On June 29, 2019, Dr. Villena passed away at the age of 48, but her
contributions to science communication live on, inspiring more women in
science to press on to make science and communication a powerful combination
towards the upliftment of lives and sustainable national development.</div>
<br />ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-66396950799781023132019-05-31T15:30:00.000+08:002019-05-31T15:30:01.401+08:00ISAAA's New Journey Begins<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PpCnlQCwSdc/XPDH75MkULI/AAAAAAAAAwY/admC_enc_GMFv5GgDGY3w6t3o0IX6Mi8gCLcBGAs/s1600/Maha%2Bpic%2Bfor%2Bblog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="784" height="456" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PpCnlQCwSdc/XPDH75MkULI/AAAAAAAAAwY/admC_enc_GMFv5GgDGY3w6t3o0IX6Mi8gCLcBGAs/s640/Maha%2Bpic%2Bfor%2Bblog.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;">Message from ISAAA's Global Coordinator, Dr. Mahaletchumy Arujanan</span></i></b></div>
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Every time I have problems with the plants in my garden, my thoughts go to all the farmers who struggle in their farms facing a myriad of challenges from climate change, pests, diseases, and chemical hazards to all kinds of other biotic and abiotic stresses. This community relentlessly face these challenges to put food on our table. There is one more huge hurdle - access to modern agri-innovation, especially superior seeds. Farmers are just like us who want the latest technologies to do their job excellently. However, many countries do not have the political will and know-how to embrace modern agri-biotechnology, coupled with activism by critics of this technology. <br /><br />
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<span lang="EN-MY">ISAAA was created almost three decades ago
to ensure farmers have access to agri-innovation. ISAAA played a key role in
ensuring that <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/53/default.asp" target="_blank">biotech crops</a> reach the poorest farmers in the developing world.
ISAAA coined the word “biotech crops” as all foods that we eat are “genetically
modified” (GM). GM is a legal term and not scientific. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-MY">ISAAA is the 1<sup>st</sup> organization
that documented the statistics of biotech crops, their traits, and adoption in
our annual publication, <i><a href="http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/53/default.asp" target="_blank">“Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops,”</a></i>
which is the most cited literature in modern agri-biotechnology. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-MY">The work done by ISAAA translates into
increased farmer income which means better socioeconomic benefits for this
community; sustainable development where more food could be produced with
reduced environmental impact; reduced trade barriers; regulatory reform to
ensure increased approval and adoption of biotech crops; and enhanced public
understanding of modern agribiotechnology that enables them to make informed
decisions. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-MY">The impact created by ISAAA in all major
continents makes me extremely proud to be at the helm as its Global
Coordinator.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-MY">We, at ISAAA, are steadfast in modernizing
and customizing our approaches, be it our publications, capacity building
programs, workshops, or trainings. We feel this is important as we move into
the era of new media, emerging gene technologies, and the need to reach out to
a wider audience, including the millennials. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-MY">My mission is to make ISAAA the “go-to
resource center” for information on agri-biotechnology and as a strategic
partner to support the adoption of gene technologies in many parts of the world. Our
<i><a href="http://www.isaaa.org/gmapprovaldatabase/default.asp" target="_blank">GM Approval Database</a></i> is a testament for this and our experienced team in all
three continents (Asia, Africa, and and the Americas) have been instrumental in
changing the landscape to be more receptive towards biotech crops. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-MY">We are now putting more efforts to
customize and modernize our data. We are eagerly and effectively translating
our data into knowledge for ready use by all key stakeholders. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-MY">Join our journey as we realize the full
potential of modern biotechnology to achieve agricultural sustainability and
development.</span></div>
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<i>Dr. Arujanan is also the Executive Director of the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC), the Malaysian node of ISAAA's global network of Biotechnology Information Centres (BICs). MABIC is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the understanding of biotechnology in Malaysia at all levels of society.</i></div>
ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-67275301740944533612019-05-07T09:00:00.000+08:002019-05-08T10:43:01.409+08:00ISAAA Has New Global Coordinator<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b style="font-size: x-large;"><i><span style="color: #0b5394;">Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center Executive Director, Dr. Mahaletchumy Arujanan, is now the new ISAAA Global Coordinator</span></i></b></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ek68Q7b3n0Q/XNI_PTpPHyI/AAAAAAAAAv0/_zhAuTrfkq0rB1VAjBTrE4rolpLpAyRowCLcBGAs/s1600/Maha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ek68Q7b3n0Q/XNI_PTpPHyI/AAAAAAAAAv0/_zhAuTrfkq0rB1VAjBTrE4rolpLpAyRowCLcBGAs/s320/Maha.jpg" width="211" /></a>Maha has been instrumental in motivating the ISAAA network of Biotechnology Information Centers through her innovations in communicating the science of biotechnology. <i>The Petri Dish</i>, the only science newspaper in Malaysia, is her brainchild which aims to bring scientific news from academic journals to the public. She also started the first short course on agri-biotechnology, biosafety and communication in Asia to establish institutional memory in this area in Asia for the benefits of Asian regulators and scientists.</div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">"I have been with ISAAA since January 2003 and it has helped me to find my identity and purpose."</span></i></b></blockquote>
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Maha holds a BS degree in Microbiology and Biochemistry, an MS in Biotechnology, and PhD in Science Communication at the University of Malaya. She has been with ISAAA through MABIC since 2003 and has been a strong advocate of biotechnology, building capacities and forming networks in different countries all over the world. In 2010, she won The World Academy of Sciences Regional Prize for Public Understanding of Science for East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific region. <i>Scientific American’s</i> WorldView named her as one of the 100 most influential persons in biotech in the world in 2015. In the same year, Biotech Law Report published by Mary Ann Liebert in the USA listed Dr. Arujanan as one of the women in Biotech Law and Regulations. Malaysian <i>Women’s Weekly</i> also listed her as one of the “Great Women of our Time” in their December 2015 issue. She is also currently appointed as the communications specialist for Sri Lanka for the Food and Agriculture Organization on biosafety.</div>
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<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3k3EtWdjcic/XNI_ym_sEnI/AAAAAAAAAv8/MvEeJkG3kl8LYJOJHEj6WNazx8MqxAxwACLcBGAs/s1600/Story%2B3%2B-%2BSharing%2Bmy%2Bjourney%2Bin%2Bmy%2Bcareer%2Bat%2BLean%2BIn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3k3EtWdjcic/XNI_ym_sEnI/AAAAAAAAAv8/MvEeJkG3kl8LYJOJHEj6WNazx8MqxAxwACLcBGAs/s640/Story%2B3%2B-%2BSharing%2Bmy%2Bjourney%2Bin%2Bmy%2Bcareer%2Bat%2BLean%2BIn.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: small;">Maha sharing her experiences at Lean In in Malaysia</span></i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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“I have been with ISAAA since January 2003 and it has helped me to find my identity and purpose, just like how ISAAA has changed the lifestyle of millions of farmers in developing countries. Many farmers built proper houses and sent their children to schools and colleges after adopting modern biotechnology and biotech crops. This is the mission we share to make the planet greener while giving the socio-economic benefits to the poorest who feed us and ensuring food security,” says Dr. Arujanan.</div>
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<br /> Dr. Arujanan will remain based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Read more about her in this <a href="http://isaaablog.blogspot.com/2018/05/" target="_blank">article</a>.</div>
ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-388248395539988782019-02-19T00:00:00.000+08:002019-02-20T09:21:46.162+08:005 Questions with Dr. C.D. Mayee, the Farmer's Son Who Became India's Champion of Biotech<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LpuBhNtb21M/XGrP9Ifbb1I/AAAAAAAAAt8/F0DDCeyEX-INLnTxqbdwHr18oEk0kGbPwCLcBGAs/s1600/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LpuBhNtb21M/XGrP9Ifbb1I/AAAAAAAAAt8/F0DDCeyEX-INLnTxqbdwHr18oEk0kGbPwCLcBGAs/s400/9.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
In order to succeed, one has to hold on to his dreams and aspirations and learn to work hard despite the difficulties along the road to success. These words of wisdom seemed to be the guiding principle of a young boy from Sakharkherda who had to join farmer caravans to sell the cotton from his father's farm.<br />
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The young boy, so full of inspiration and desire to help his father and their family live a better life, held on to his dream of becoming an agriculturist and is now one of India's strongest advocates of science-based agriculture. Dr. Charudatta Digambarrao Mayee, Dr. C.D. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506250517379477509175">Mayee</gwmw> to most, is a renowned cotton scientist, and a firm believer that new tools can help in the advancement of Indian agriculture.<br />
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Dr. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506250542136519261161">Mayee</gwmw> has guided more than 50 graduate students, wrote books and monographs, published over 200 scientific publications in reputable journals, and promoted the production technologies of cotton, groundnut, sunflower, coarse cereals, and remained active in sports, games, cultural activities, and helping students. But how did Dr. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506250549522852501570">Mayee</gwmw> <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15506250549521943113111">become</gwmw> India's top biotech champion? In this edition of <i>ISAAA's 5 Questions with... Series</i>, we asked Dr. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506250564463451148957">Mayee</gwmw> five questions to get a glimpse of his advocacy and the road he travelled to become a biotech champion.<br />
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></b></i></span></div>
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;"><i><b> How did you get into agriculture and biotech?</b></i></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MnKbFMhlmgA/XGo_gunzVBI/AAAAAAAAAtI/P9PtB42HwlkYpPBYnyOt8m0SsM78b5qPACLcBGAs/s1600/1.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MnKbFMhlmgA/XGo_gunzVBI/AAAAAAAAAtI/P9PtB42HwlkYpPBYnyOt8m0SsM78b5qPACLcBGAs/s320/1.JPG" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>The young Dr. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15504672145695311405307"><gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506250573908381795511">Mayee</gwmw></gwmw></i></b></span></td></tr>
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I was born in Sakharkherda, a small village in Buldana District, Maharashtra State, India, to a big extended family of 30-35 people. We totally depended on agriculture, and my childhood aspirations have been to get educated and earn money to help my father who was planting cotton, groundnut, pigeon pea, and sorghum, which are all rain-fed crops. As a child, I saw the ups and downs in our farm output due to good or bad monsoon. The only cash crop was cotton, which used to be sold to <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15504671357364728759925"><gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506250619880082888174">ginners</gwmw></gwmw> in the nearest city some 60 km away. </div>
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Even in those days when I was in 8th standard, I remember to have gone with the caravan of bullock carts (it was difficult to travel all 60 km alone, and farmers selling cotton traveled in caravans) full of cotton to sell in the nearby city. If the cotton season was good, we got new clothes, otherwise, we will wait until the next good crop season. These hardships made me resolve that I will go to agriculture in college and help my father raise the productivity in our farm—regardless of the monsoon—so that our family could live better.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">"If the cotton season was good, we got new clothes, otherwise, we will wait until the next good crop season." - Dr. C.D. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15504674083579356423185"><gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506250674180686867692">Mayee</gwmw></gwmw></span></i></b></blockquote>
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But sending me to college would be a big financial burden. My father never studied beyond 7th standard because my grandfather chose him to help on the family’s farm. Despite this, my father was keen on sending me to college to get an agriculture degree, and I appreciate his vision for my aspiration. He worked hard to support this and even got a loan against our land. My background in farming helped me to get admission in an agriculture college, Akola, which was 80 km from my village. Suddenly, I was in a hostel and was confronted with English as the medium of education in agricultural subjects. Field activities became easier for me than studying theories because of English, but I got accustomed to the studies. Fungi, bacteria, viruses, and such microorganisms made me curious about biology and I decided to study them, choosing Plant Pathology as my major subject. A small aspiration to study agriculture, the science of crop cultivation, landed me into microbe-based plant pathology as a career.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hYWZ5dh7sag/XGo_guz5YHI/AAAAAAAAAtE/0MHU_inysns78MlcwLyyxyqlzEGWiTHHQCLcBGAs/s1600/3.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hYWZ5dh7sag/XGo_guz5YHI/AAAAAAAAAtE/0MHU_inysns78MlcwLyyxyqlzEGWiTHHQCLcBGAs/s640/3.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Dr. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15504675109268668582089"><gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506250752318106157653">Mayee</gwmw></gwmw> was born into a big extended family.</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<b style="font-style: italic; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">What was the greatest challenge that your job has presented to you?</span></b><br />
<span id="docs-internal-guid-5c15d9dd-7fff-c777-421d-64331358f111"> <br />My family, especially my father, was very happy and supported me when I continued my education in agricultural sciences. I did not realize that he had to sell part of our land so I could continue with my post-graduate education. I decided then that I will not be a burden to the family. I took on whatever small jobs I can get to earn enough to enter the famous “<gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15504676559630819363558"><gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506250787468795815318">Pusa</gwmw></gwmw> Institute,” the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) for post-graduate studies. Admission to that Institute was the ambition of every student in the late 60s, and I was no exception. The Institute was famous due to Drs. M.S Swaminathan, A.B. Joshi, and other luminaries of agricultural research. At IARI, I was selected for an administrative position, but I decided to do my Ph.D. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15504678990618979192219"><gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506250819074748381680">in</gwmw></gwmw> Plant Pathology. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nFxT8llYsyU/XGpCtF94yZI/AAAAAAAAAtg/LfcPZqIT5LMYTIwV7TYrVqfumuGHy0GqACLcBGAs/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="1600" height="441" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nFxT8llYsyU/XGpCtF94yZI/AAAAAAAAAtg/LfcPZqIT5LMYTIwV7TYrVqfumuGHy0GqACLcBGAs/s640/2.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Dr. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506250822710944480815">Mayee</gwmw> with his wife Mrs. Hema <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506250829843516859219">Mayee</gwmw> during his Post Doc, AVH Fellow at University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany in 1980s.</span></i></b></div>
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-5c15d9dd-7fff-c777-421d-64331358f111">After doing my Ph.D., the big challenge was to get my ideal job due to political instability in the country. Somehow, I got one in Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana in vegetable research. My mind was not into it, and I kept asking myself how I could help farmers like my father in increasing their productivity and sustainability. Five years later, I got lucky when I became a professor in a small town called Parbhani in the rain-fed area of Maharashtra not too far away from my village. I built a school for students who worked in disease management of major rain-fed crops such as cotton, sorghum, pigeon pea, pearl millet, and sunflower. However, I could not forget my early attraction to cotton, and my desire to conduct research and development on this crop became intense. </span><br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">"I kept asking myself how I could help farmers like my father in increasing their productivity and sustainability." - Dr. C.D. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15504682738655445508497"><gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506250674372605168640">Mayee</gwmw></gwmw></span></i></b></blockquote>
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The greatest challenge for me was to protect cotton from <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1 gr-progress" id="gwmw-15504676561545782347737"><gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506250922283209155979">parawilt</gwmw></gwmw>, <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15504676561549727979646"><gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506250922281409082010">bollworms</gwmw></gwmw>, and boll rot because every alternate year there <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15506250922282400484435">was</gwmw> a <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506250922280433178033">bollworm</gwmw> epidemic and farmers resort to heavy pesticide sprays. This doubles production costs which exceed the <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15504676561542756886770">income</gwmw> from cotton. I needed to do something for the cotton farmers so that their profits improve. Two mega-projects were planned and executed under my leadership in Marathwada <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15504676561722865659620"><gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15506250948476750656821">Agriculture</gwmw></gwmw> University, Parbhani around 1997 <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15504676561721019307821"><gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15506250948476161755639">to</gwmw></gwmw> 1998. One project involved the total adoption of a 500-acre village for a demonstration of the cost-saving technologies so that the profit increases without compromising on yield. The other project was conducted with the help of an expert from Israel, which was implemented with high input, highly mechanized cotton cultivation demonstration under drip irrigation on 250 acres contiguous plot for those farmers who could only afford limited irrigation. Both projects were successful and useful, and the farmers learned that the profitability of cotton cultivation can be enhanced by good practices. These cotton demonstration technologies are the major challenge in my 25 years at the University.<br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">Why do you think there is a place for biotechnology in your country?</span></i></b><br />
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Cotton gave me an opportunity to learn about biotechnology as a tool to manage pests and diseases. In August 1998, while I was the Vice-Chancellor, scientists from Mahyco Life Sciences in Jalna sent the request to conduct the Bt cotton trial in the University farm as mandated by the regulatory bodies.<br />
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My knowledge about the technology was limited, so I went through the relevant literature and knew that our cotton farmers will be overjoyed if they get <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506251033803258263247">bollworm</gwmw>-resistant cotton without having to spray the crop with pesticides. I allowed Mahyco to test three Bt cotton hybrids in the university farm despite severe opposition against the trial. This was my induction to biotechnology. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Dr. C.D. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506251051854732629331">Mayee</gwmw> joined CICR in 2000.</span></i></b></td></tr>
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In 2000, I joined the Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) in Nagpur as Director, and this gave the opportunity to boost the technology in the Institute, moving forward with the commercialization as a member of the apex regulatory body, <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15506251069634340503951">Genetic Engineering Approval Committee</gwmw> (GEAC). I am proud that the son of a cotton farmer assisted in the commercial release of the first genetically modified crop—Bt cotton—in India in 2002. Now, millions of farmers have benefited from the technology. I also take pride in creating the necessary infrastructure in CICR Nagpur. Under my guidance, CICR developed the first indigenous Bt detection kit which got patents in many countries outside India. This kit helps extension workers in detecting illegal Bt cotton production in India.<br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b><i>"I am proud that the son of a cotton farmer assisted in the commercial release of the first genetically modified crop—Bt cotton—in India in 2002. Now, millions of farmers have benefited from the technology." - Dr. C.D. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506250674482464889730">Mayee</gwmw></i></b></span></blockquote>
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After the release of Bt cotton in India and continuously studying its impact for the last 17 years, I have a firm belief that our smallholder farmers need similar technologies to enhance their income. Pest and diseases which damage the crops of poor farmers can be efficiently managed by tools such as biotechnology. In India, we have several opportunities for biotech crops such as Golden Rice, iron-rich banana, and Indian mustard. These crops have traits that help in pest and disease management, nutritive food development, nutrient use efficiency, and most importantly, abiotic stress tolerance such as drought, salinity, and climate change. My country and our farmers need the technology, but the opposition is delaying it. I am optimistic that one day it will all be clear because the Indian scientific community is competent and will deliver the technologies in the future.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Dr. C.D. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506251179528079926483">Mayee</gwmw> with Dr. Ingo Potrykus</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">What is your vision for India's agricultural productivity?</span></i></b><br />
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I am fortunate to have seen the productivity gains of India’s crops, animal, and fisheries sectors. After gaining independence, the country faced the challenge of feeding 330 million people. Droughts in mid-1960 made the situation grim, and we depended on imported red wheat and <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506251210702094051453">milo</gwmw> sorghum from the United States.<br />
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Then the Green Revolution began, and new wheat and rice <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506251219324688120602">cultivars</gwmw> developed in the country reached the farmers and their productivity increased. Hybrid technology revolutionized the production of millets, maize, cotton, sunflower, vegetables, and many other crops. Tissue culture techniques coupled with micro-irrigation, <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506251237413171888424">polyhouse</gwmw> technology further boosted the production of fruits and flowers. Thus, in the last 70 years, India became not only self-sufficient in <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15506254635112737416315">food but</gwmw> has become a net exporter of several agricultural products. The cotton production, which was stagnant at 300 kg lint per ha for 20 years until 2002 saw a major change due to <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506251261396217654822">Bt</gwmw> technology and production and productivity doubled in the first decade of the 21st Century.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dr. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506251269526958199715">Mayee</gwmw> with Bhagirath Choudhary, Founder Director of the South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC).</span></i></b></span></td></tr>
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However, I am worried as there are many crops where productivity is either stagnant or declining due to several factors such as climate change, water crisis, soil degradation, and lack of new technologies. To meet the demand of the country’s growing population, it is time to adopt biotechnology tools to break the yield barriers. Realizing this need, I set up a scientific society called South Asia Biotechnology Centre (<a href="http://www.sabc.asia/">www.sabc.asia</a>) to identify, pilot, scale up and commercialize farm technologies necessary to provide solutions to crop problems that cannot be tackled by conventional technologies. I have also been nurturing a young team of scientists of SABC who contribute to improving science literacy and bridging the gap between science and society. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Dr. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506251318604234299333">Mayee</gwmw> talks to young students.</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">Why are you a believer of biotechnology?</span></i></b><br />
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I am a firm believer of biotech because of my initial association with Bt cotton. Between 1999-2002, I visited 55 coordinated Bt cotton trials in 11 different locations. I evaluated nearly 145 field trials in farmers’ fields. All of them were so impressive that the technology was deeply imprinted in my mind. I believe that farm productivity constraints due <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15506251361958424667907">to biotic</gwmw>, abiotic stresses, as well as issues of quality production, could be very well addressed by breeding methods developed through biotechnology.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><b><i><span style="background: white; color: #6aa84f;">India’s Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Mr. Sharad Pawar launched the report, "Adoption and Uptake Pathways of Bt Cotton in India" authored by Dr. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506256386372957064271">Mayee</gwmw> and Bhagirath Choudhary in the presence of Dr. BR Barwale, Chairman of Mahyco and Dr. KR Kranthi, Director of Central Institute for Cotton Research (ICAR-CICR)</span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-small;">.</span></i></b></span></td></tr>
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My belief in these technologies was further strengthened when under the John Templeton Foundation project, I conducted a survey of 2,400 farmers in three diverse States who were cultivating Bt cotton. They seemed to have one voice in saying that they need the technology in other crops, too. Other people speak about the technology, but what do they know? As a farmer’s son, I have faith in our farmers and know that what they say is true.<br />
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<b><i><u><span style="color: #6aa84f;">About Dr. C.D. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506251412961263235119">Mayee</gwmw> (from the SABC website):</span></u></i></b><br />
<i>Dr. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506251425531639941248">Mayee</gwmw> is the President of the Board of Directors of the South Asia Biotechnology Centre (SABC), New Delhi and concurrently serving as Vice President of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences (NAAS), New Delhi. Dr <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506251436579654821560">Mayee</gwmw> obtained his agricultural degrees from Maharashtra and PhD specialized in plant pathology and epidemiology from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi. He commenced his career in plant pathology research at IARI and worked in various capacities in <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15506251540615868738030">Central Rice Research Institute</gwmw> (CRRI), Cuttack; Punjab Agricultural University (PAU), Ludhiana; Maharashtra Agricultural University (MAU) Parbhani for nearly 30 years. The research, teaching and extension experience led him to work as Vice Chancellor-MAU Parbhani; Director-Central Institute of Cotton Research (CICR) Nagpur and Agriculture Commissioner, Government of India, New Delhi before retiring as the Chairman, Agricultural Scientists Recruitment Board (ASRB), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare, Government of India. Though specialized in Plant Pathology, Dr. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506251578490939998113">Mayee</gwmw> committed himself <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15506251578499946541190">for</gwmw> the growth of Indian Agriculture. In Plant Pathology, he guided 20 <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-3" id="gwmw-15506251597238105210121">PhD</gwmw> and more than 38 MSc students, wrote books and monograph, published over 200 scientific publications in journals of repute and served the cause through development of the subject. During his scientific career, Dr. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506251614008293930416">Mayee</gwmw> promoted the production technologies of cotton, groundnut, sunflower, coarse cereals and always remained active in sports, games, cultural activities, helping students in placement. Dr. CD <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506251618597697183546">Mayee</gwmw> can be reached at: <a href="mailto:charumayee@sabc.asia">charumayee@sabc.asia</a></i><br />
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<i><b>5 Questions With… </b>is a continuing series on the ISAAA Blog. A new personality will be featured every month, so watch out for our next feature!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Written/Compiled by Dr. C.D. <gwmw class="ginger-module-highlighter-mistake-type-1" id="gwmw-15506251641476602356045">Mayee</gwmw>, and Clement Dionglay, Project Associate at ISAAA Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology.</span></i></div>
ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-16533968507896255922019-01-07T11:29:00.002+08:002019-01-07T13:40:40.384+08:00Trending News on Crop Biotech in 2018<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>What GM crop can be used to treat AIDS? Which country would be the first one to plant drought and salt tolerant soybean? What are the benefits of GM crop adoption? </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The answers to these questions were reported in the <b><i><a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc" target="_blank">Crop Biotech Update</a></i></b> in 2018.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We summarized the top 10 most trending <i>Crop Biotech Update</i> news shared on Facebook to give you a quick glance at the most important happenings last year. Read on and make sure you don't miss which news made it to the number one spot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">10. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=16671">NIGERIA REGISTERS BIOTECH COTTON VARIETIES FOR ACCESS TO FARMERS</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, has recorded a major breakthrough in crop biotechnology following official approval and registration of two Bt cotton varieties, MRC 7377 BGII and MRC 7361 BGII, by the National Committee on Naming, Registration </span>and<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Release of Crop Materials. This development means farmers can now access biotech cotton seeds in addition to other conventional varieties once the permit holder multiplies the registered varieties. </span><st1:country-region style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on">Nigeria</st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> also becomes the seventh African country after </span><st1:country-region style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on">South Africa</st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><st1:country-region style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on">Sudan</st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><st1:country-region style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on">Swaziland</st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><st1:country-region style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on">Kenya</st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><st1:country-region style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on">Malawi</st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, and </span><st1:place style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Ethiopia</st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> to grant open cultivation approval for the crop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Facebook Shares: 558<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">9. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=16778">CRISPR-CAS9 USED TO REDUCE SYMPTOMS OF CASSAVA BROWN STREAK DISEASE</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Scientist Michael Gomez from the </span><st1:placetype style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on">University</st1:placetype><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> of </span><st1:placename style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on">California</st1:placename><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><st1:city style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Berkeley</st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>and<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> colleagues aimed to contribute </span>in<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> alleviating this problem by targeting novel cap-binding proteins (</span>nCBP<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-1 and nCBP-2) for CRISPR-Cas9-mediated editing. These proteins are among the elF4E isoforms involved in the onset of CBSD. They observed delayed and attenuated CBSD aerial symptoms and reduced severity and incidence of root necrosis, which is one of CBSV infection symptoms, in the CRISPR mutants. CRISPR-Cas9 proved to be an effective tool in promoting disease tolerance in cassava.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">8. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=16811">ARGENTINA TO RELEASE DROUGHT AND SALT TOLERANT SOYBEAN</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ynD98r7q6mw/XDLEq6RrIuI/AAAAAAAAArg/Xns4gd71jRoyQ30qYqOHN0IhhBoGWtnoQCLcBGAs/s1600/08%2B2018-09-12-Argentina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="301" height="265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ynD98r7q6mw/XDLEq6RrIuI/AAAAAAAAArg/Xns4gd71jRoyQ30qYqOHN0IhhBoGWtnoQCLcBGAs/s400/08%2B2018-09-12-Argentina.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Argentina</st1:place></st1:country-region> is set to commercialize the first drought and salt tolerant soybean in 2019. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The gene responsible for the new technology is HB4, made possible by Bioceres. The drought tolerant soybeans were tested in the field for three years and results showed that they are as nutritious as conventional soybeans, will not be toxic to animals or humans, and have no negative effect on the environment. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">7. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=16666">RICE WITH FEWER STOMATA NEEDS LESS WATER; BETTER SUITED FOR CLIMATE CHANGE</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E7X9WUCiRMw/XDLEwjsAPiI/AAAAAAAAAro/wFezZteiKsctJ5LB5Z-PpBz-HSDvP4XZwCLcBGAs/s1600/07%2B2018-08-01-RicewithLessStomata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E7X9WUCiRMw/XDLEwjsAPiI/AAAAAAAAAro/wFezZteiKsctJ5LB5Z-PpBz-HSDvP4XZwCLcBGAs/s400/07%2B2018-08-01-RicewithLessStomata.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Scientists from The University of Sheffield and International Rice Research Institute have discovered that developing a high-yielding rice variety with reduced stomatal density helps the crop conserve water and survive high temperatures and drought. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grown at elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, the low stomatal density rice plants survived drought and high temperature (40</span><sup style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">o</sup><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">C) longer than the unaltered plants.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">6. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=16683">SCIENTISTS NARRATE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF THE BT EGGPLANT PROJECT IN BANGLADESH</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hbzuGm_ykMQ/XDLFh0Nk2gI/AAAAAAAAAr8/EtxO4kw7Jzo2EyYsZPAx28WH8o0T0fQFACLcBGAs/s1600/06%2B2018-08-08-ScientistsNarrate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hbzuGm_ykMQ/XDLFh0Nk2gI/AAAAAAAAAr8/EtxO4kw7Jzo2EyYsZPAx28WH8o0T0fQFACLcBGAs/s400/06%2B2018-08-08-ScientistsNarrate.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since the approval of Bt eggplant for "limited cultivation" in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region> in 2013, ~17% of the total brinjal farmers in the country are already benefiting from the technology. Scientists concisely report the history, present status, and future direction of the Bt eggplant project in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangladesh</st1:place></st1:country-region> in a perspective article in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Facebook Shares: 602<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">5. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=16644">PUBLIC PARTICIPATES IN GOLDEN RICE CONSULTATIONS IN PH</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0bwBOHPUnE/XDLFpc1QQ5I/AAAAAAAAAsA/Cmad5PAqccY-2-VVPmS51JdOqXe9AO7NwCLcBGAs/s1600/05%2B2018-07-25-PublicParticipatesinGoldenRice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="301" height="285" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0bwBOHPUnE/XDLFpc1QQ5I/AAAAAAAAAsA/Cmad5PAqccY-2-VVPmS51JdOqXe9AO7NwCLcBGAs/s400/05%2B2018-07-25-PublicParticipatesinGoldenRice.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Public consultations for the field trial of GR2E Golden Rice in the <st1:country-region w:st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region> have been conducted in Muñoz, Nueva Ecija and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">San Mateo</st1:place></st1:city>, Isabela on July 18 and 19 to allow community members to ask questions about the proposed field trial and submit their comments to Department of Agriculture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=16641">PURDUE STUDY FINDS KEY TO PLANT GROWTH MECHANISM</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l1MX6RngkVo/XDLFt3gQxHI/AAAAAAAAAsE/r84ZOIrV83oWpY2OzHDdJTB36qaoRzZ4ACLcBGAs/s1600/04%2B2018-07-25-PurdueStudy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="289" height="297" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l1MX6RngkVo/XDLFt3gQxHI/AAAAAAAAAsE/r84ZOIrV83oWpY2OzHDdJTB36qaoRzZ4ACLcBGAs/s400/04%2B2018-07-25-PurdueStudy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A study from <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Purdue</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place> led by Daniel Szymanski has mapped a complex series of pathways that control the shape of plant cells. The research group found that microtubules entrap a protein called SPIKE 1 within the apex of another cell where SPIKE 1 recruits additional protein machinery that causes actin filaments to form. Actin filament networks are then organized as roadways for long-distance intracellular transport and the regulated delivery of cell wall materials that are necessary for cell growth. The findings may be vital to improving the quality of cotton grown in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Facebook Shares: 690<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=16823">POLICYMAKERS AND LAWYERS PARTICIPATE IN BIOTECH FORA</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SM9t_kqJhaU/XDLF0pZc9JI/AAAAAAAAAsI/jtTp_hzzSxEiVxZe2CiDK88cuROjDN2lgCLcBGAs/s1600/03%2B2018-09-12-PolicyMakers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="300" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SM9t_kqJhaU/XDLF0pZc9JI/AAAAAAAAAsI/jtTp_hzzSxEiVxZe2CiDK88cuROjDN2lgCLcBGAs/s400/03%2B2018-09-12-PolicyMakers.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More than 150 executive and legislative officials from the Philippine House of Representatives, as well as selected members of the judiciary attended the Forum on the Global State of Biotechnology, a biotech outreach program conducted by the SEARCA Biotechnology Information Center in collaboration with the United States Embassy Manila, the House of Representatives, Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA), and the Philippine Association of Law schools (PALS). Experts and scientists enlightened the participants of the two events on different biotechnology issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Facebook Shares: 878<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=16553">STUDY SHOWS FARM INCOME AND PRODUCTION IMPACTS OF GM CROP TECHNOLOGY FROM 1996 TO 2016</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c6Po9xAldpE/XDLF8n1C_vI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/UDouj5aprjgNNsAs5tYgmpmHFlbiyvzcACLcBGAs/s1600/02%2B2018-06-20-StudyShowsFarmIncome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="301" height="265" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c6Po9xAldpE/XDLF8n1C_vI/AAAAAAAAAsQ/UDouj5aprjgNNsAs5tYgmpmHFlbiyvzcACLcBGAs/s400/02%2B2018-06-20-StudyShowsFarmIncome.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">GM crops commercialization has occurred at a rapid rate since the mid-1990s, with important changes in both the overall level of adoption and impact in 2016. This is according to the research paper on farm income and production impacts of using GM crop technology in 1996–2016 by PG Economics. The annual updated analysis estimates the value of using GM technology in agriculture at the farm level, including impacts on yields, key variable costs of production, direct farm (gross) income, and impacts on the production base of the four main crops of soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Facebook Shares: 931<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><!--[endif]--><a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=16669">GENETICALLY MODIFIED RICE CAN NEUTRALIZE HIV</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An international team of researchers from <st1:country-region w:st="on">Spain</st1:country-region>, the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region>, and the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United Kingdom</st1:place></st1:country-region> has successfully created a strain of GM rice that will produce HIV-neutralizing proteins. The GM rice produces one type of antibody and two kinds of proteins that bind directly to the HIV virus, preventing them from interacting with human cells. The researchers note that the cost of making the cream is nominal once the rice has been grown, and people living in infection areas can grow as much of the rice as they need, then make the paste and apply it themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Facebook Shares: 1,600+<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Make sure you don’t miss the latest updates on agri-biotech in 2019. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/subscribe" target="_blank">Subscribe to the Crop Biotech Update</a> now! Visit <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/subscribe">www.isaaa.org/subscribe</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-50918380633663493222018-10-23T11:19:00.000+08:002018-10-23T11:27:46.223+08:00Science and She: Dr. Barbara Mugwanya Zawedde<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0pt;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri";"><i>Science and She</i> is an online campaign of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) and its network of Biotechnology Information Centers which aims to empower women in science. Scientists and science communicators tell their stories and aspirations for science and the society with the hope that the stories will help bridge the gap between science and the public.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri";">For each week, one female scientist or science communicator serves as the curator of the <i>Science and She</i> social media pages on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ScienceAndShe" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ScienceAndShe/" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ScienceAndShe/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. One of the previous curators of the pages was Dr. Barbara Mugwanya Zawedde, Coordinator for the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ubic.ug?__tn__=K-R&eid=ARAyoZoE4BuqkIQToN25wyfZwJujq2GHbl7VD8mk7CPSwTJGmRhhjL2zE6fT-kTFq2at6bZdT0l0yF4G&fref=mentions&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARDbwNdJammY0Ny8C0Fqe2a3orLXH8GopD9o6tNLDWpRNswmHxGFbMXKn-0ou7HMcRNXAbChDpy_q1hoyXLueY0xpN5QFQFndbu-56p7Hhi8nKpK9Z6g4iqYd7y3mxRQfZXwzuVho2Q0BwYeg7yIK9wnZ4asU4Mc8INWrNbfXGMyL2naMWVwASVZH-Kv3CwNSp8HbnUK1KbVLu6OLAXCDsNF"><span style="color: #365899; text-decoration-line: none;">Uganda Biosciences</span></a> Information Center, a knowledge and information sharing hub of the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO) in Uganda. Barbara is also the Vice Chairperson for the Uganda Biotechnology and Biosafety Consortium. She offered a course in Biosafety, Biopolicy, and Bioethics to postgraduate students at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Makerere</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>. She has a PhD in Plant Breeding, Genetics and Biotechnology with a doctoral specialization in Environmental Science and Policy awarded by <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Michigan</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri";">Dr. Zawedde shared that her interest in science started when she was 10 years old. Her auntie was a medical doctor working with Red Cross and lived in many parts of the world. She dreamt to be like her. When she reached college, she enrolled in the Agriculture Program. There she also found another role model—Dr. Theresa Sengooba. In 2003, Theresa was the leader </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri";">of the East African Component for the Program for Biosafety Systems and she hired Barbara as her Programme Assistant. That work exposed her to biotechnology, which she found to offer enormous opportunities for national development.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri";">“In 2013, we established the Uganda Biosciences Information Center (UBIC) as a knowledge and information Hub of the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO). I am very passionate about UBIC because I want to contribute to establishing and implementing appropriate policies and regulatory systems that will allow for effective use of modern biosciences. UBIC provides a platform for stakeholders’ discourse on how to translate research outputs into information that helps end-users to make informed decisions,” Dr. Zawadde said</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri";">.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri";">To date, UBIC has become a platform for inspiring and capturing the interest of various youth segments to join the biosciences community. Through their drawing and writing contests, the youth have been encouraged to join the discourse on how modern biosciences can be effectively applied for national development. It is very pertinent for African countries to build a critical mass of young cadres that will enhance the competitive advantage of this continent through innovation and application of appropriate modern technologies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri";">“I look forward to the day when all scientists will appreciate and allocate resources for communicating about their findings. A lot has been generated through science but the majority has remained on the shelf or has been misused―resulting in rejection―because of inadequate information or misinformation. Biotechnology especially genetic engineering is a victim of such sad reality,” Dr. Zawadde shared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri";">For more inspiration, follow <i>Science and She</i> on </span><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri"; mso-bidi-language: MR;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ScienceAndShe" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ScienceAndShe/" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ScienceAndShe/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>.</span><span style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-19058352975140835552018-07-16T12:24:00.003+08:002018-07-16T12:34:32.093+08:00Science and She: Dr. Margaret KarembuScience and She is an online campaign of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) and its network of Biotechnology Information Centers which aims to empower women in science. Scientists and science communicators tell their stories and aspirations for science and the society with the hope that the stories will help bridge the gap between science and the public.<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Owg3xa257ng/W0wcVSqGKjI/AAAAAAAAAp8/djPS-YZq_Ng4f35F4IxViWdUa5eEN7iQgCLcBGAs/s1600/Margaret_01A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Owg3xa257ng/W0wcVSqGKjI/AAAAAAAAAp8/djPS-YZq_Ng4f35F4IxViWdUa5eEN7iQgCLcBGAs/s400/Margaret_01A.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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For each week, one female scientist or science communicator serves as the curator of the Science and She social media pages on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ScienceAndShe" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/ScienceAndShe/" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ScienceAndShe/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. One of the previous curators of the pages was Dr. Margaret Karembu, Director of ISAAA AfriCenter based in Nairobi, Kenya. She oversees the Africa-based Biotechnology Information Centers in East and Central Africa (Kenya), Francophone Africa (Mali/Burkina Faso), and Egypt. She also serves as the chair of the Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB) Programming Committee, Kenya Chapter. Dr. Karembu holds a PhD in Environmental Science Education from Kenyatta University and has over 10 years of experience in university teaching.<br />
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<i>Passion for Science Popularization</i><br />
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Dr. Karembu’s passion for science started very early in life. Having grown and lived in rural Africa most of her childhood, direct interaction with nature would start early in the morning until dusk. “The roadside grass dew provided easy wipes to our weary feet after trekking several kilometers to school barefoot. Evening routine entailed fetching firewood from nearby bushes and drawing water from a local stream on the Slopes of Mt Kenya. I would smell every flower and berry I came across though some were not that pleasant! I had no idea that this was preparing me for a quantum leap from the village to the world,” Dr. Karembu narrates.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l61Lj-5Ad0A/W0wcchA9mhI/AAAAAAAAAqA/c9RfiB_QPbgpz4gYBFjDsTGVzYouikKpQCLcBGAs/s1600/Margaret_01B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1008" data-original-width="1600" height="251" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l61Lj-5Ad0A/W0wcchA9mhI/AAAAAAAAAqA/c9RfiB_QPbgpz4gYBFjDsTGVzYouikKpQCLcBGAs/s400/Margaret_01B.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Dr. Karembu has been known to be passionate about science and a strong believer in the power of innovations for transforming African agriculture into efficient, competitive and profitable enterprises for women, youth and small-holder families. She demonstrates this through various communication initiatives. She used to work as a science teacher at the premier Kenya Science Teachers College, a significant experience that trained her to simplify science jargon for the public. Her engagements at ISAAA also contributed to building her confidence and nurturing her skills in science communication and thus realizing her goal in life – making science better appreciated.<br />
<i><br />Women for Bioscience</i><br />
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By virtue of gender roles, Dr. Karembu believes that every woman is a scientist in her own right whether at professional or community level. Women are key in decision-making about food, clothing and sustaining the health of their families, and can be trusted with passing scientific information about these issues. Empowering women with skills to communicate science is thus crucial, just as it is investing in women for science. This conviction to empower women led Dr. Karembu to initiate putting up a network that aims to play a significant role in strengthening the capacity of African women to engage in biosciences and policy dialogue for sustainable livelihoods. Thus in May 2018, the African Women for Bioscience (AWfB) platform was launched.<br />
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<i>Unblocking Biotechnology</i><br />
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For Dr. Karembu, being appointed by Kenya’s President to serve as Council Chair and Vice-chair of Cooperative University and the Meru University College of Science and Technology, respectively, were her most significant achievements. While serving in these positions, she realized how big the gap is between researchers and the society. She constantly emphasizes that effective science communication is also very important in strengthening institutional leadership. Thus, she recommends the establishment of a department or unit in every university to improve science communication.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cq6wxR4YT5w/W0wcoFptXVI/AAAAAAAAAqI/zgAWEWkQmdQmQBILru9teT1qdDZg3mh5QCLcBGAs/s1600/Margaret_05%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="918" data-original-width="1600" height="228" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Cq6wxR4YT5w/W0wcoFptXVI/AAAAAAAAAqI/zgAWEWkQmdQmQBILru9teT1qdDZg3mh5QCLcBGAs/s400/Margaret_05%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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“I dream of a world where those privileged with technology abundance would stop obstructing its access to those who need it most especially in Africa. A time when the naysayers would stop demonizing biotechnology and tagging those who struggle to explain. Rather, a world where people accommodate each other’s opinions and choice. I picked these victuals from Kenyatta University in Kenya where I attained all my degrees from - from undergraduate, masters to PhD. My father always encouraged us to respect the lesser and the mightier and this has helped me a lot in achieving my life’s dream,” Dr. Karembu shares.<br />
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In a video, Dr. Karembu narrates the story of millions of African women struggling daily to bring food on the table and how African researchers are working hard to also deliver products of biotechnology. “I am very proud to be helping them improve on how they deliver their messages about their research reaching out to policymakers so that we can have enabling policies that will bring technologies that will be useful for African women,” she said. Watch the entire video on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ScienceAndShe/videos/246108905987564/" target="_blank">Science and She's Facebook Page</a>.ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-51807681912149292842018-05-29T10:47:00.005+08:002018-05-29T10:47:54.128+08:00Science and She: Dr. Mahaletchumy Arujanan<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The <a href="http://isaaa.org/" target="_blank">International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA)</a> and its network of
Biotechnology Information Centers launched a campaign on social media which
aims to empower women in science. The campaign called</span><i style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> Science and She</i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">,
features scientists and science communicators who tell their stories and
aspirations for science and the society with the hope that the stories will
help bridge the gap between science and the public.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">For each week, one female scientist or
science communicator serves as the curator of the <i>Science and She</i> social
media pages on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ScienceAndShe/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/scienceandshe" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/scienceandshe/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>. Recently, Dr. Mahaletchumy Arujanan, a science communication
expert and Executive Director of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Malaysian</st1:placename>
<st1:placename w:st="on">Biotechnology</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Information</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">Center</st1:placetype></st1:place>, took the
centerstage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">According to Dr. Arujanan, science
communication is relatively a new field and so much needs to be done in this
area in the developing world. She calls on scientists to be “civic scientists” to
bridge the knowledge gap between the scientific community and the society. She
encouraged them to reach out to the people, engage them, make them understand
and appreciate science and research.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Recognitions<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Empowering
others with scientific knowledge and helping them to make informed decisions<span class="textexposedshow"> gives Dr. Maha a tremendous satisfaction. Her contributions
to science communication were first recognized by The World Academy of Sciences
(TWAS) with the awarding of the 2010 TWAS Regional Prize for Public
Understanding of Science for East, SEA and the Pacific Region. Another
recognition came in 2015, when Scientific American’s <i>WorldView</i> named her
as one of the 100 most influential persons in biotech in the world. </span>In
the same year, Biotech Law Report published by Mary Ann Liebert in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">USA</st1:country-region></st1:place> listed
Dr. Arujanan as one of the women in Biotech Law and Regulations. Malaysian
Women’s Weekly also listed her as one of the “Great Women of our Time” in their
December 2015 issue. </span><br />
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<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The
importance of science communication<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">"Communicating
and engaging the public with science and biotechnology is crucial. To make
informed decisions, every individual needs some basic understanding of science.
And this is exactly what we do at the </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre
(MABIC)<span style="color: #1d2129;">...we empower the public with scientific
knowledge. Join us in our rally to support science and science-based decisions,"
says </span>Dr. Arujanan</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">.
This is the reason why she<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129;"> loves her
job as a science communicator. “It's really fulfilling to see that my job
translates into science-based policies, regulations, and it helps to ensure
food security, mitigate climate change, have sustainable agricultural
practices, and in the alleviation of poverty…I’m a strong advocate of
biotechnology. I strongly believe that if this field is deployed ethically, it
can solve many of the problems that we face today," she added.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="background: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Dr.
Arujanan emphasized that at present, there are several means to disseminate
information on science/biotechnology and to engage the public. We do not have
to solely depend on the mainstream media. While MABIC resorted to creating a
print media that has been digitalized, social media offers another powerful
tool as a mouthpiece for scientists and science communicators. Their monthly
newspaper, <i><a href="http://www.bic.org.my/the-petri-dish" target="_blank">The Petri Dish</a></i>, is the first science newspaper in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region>, distributed to major universities,
research institutes, hospitals, government agencies, government ministries and
schools across <st1:country-region w:st="on">Malaysia</st1:country-region> as
well as in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indonesia</st1:place></st1:country-region>.
She also reaches out to the public, especially to the young minds, through her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DrMahaletchumyArujanan/" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> which has over 12,000 followers as of this writing.</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Women in STEM<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Dr.
Arujanan recognized the tremendous increase in the number of women in science
careers such as scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and professionals in
other STEM-related areas. According to her, this is really an achievement of progressive
policies, government measures, and also the society that allowed women to
pursue their dreams around the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">“But
the truth is we have not achieved equality yet with our male counterparts.
While the number of girls is increasing in the <span class="textexposedshow">universities, there is still a leaky pipe somewhere along
the career path. We still do not see enough women at the pinnacle of
organizations, at the decision-making positions and in the boardrooms,” she
highlights.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">“As a trained science
communicator, I feel we have to take the onus to inspire young girls to pursue
STEM education and careers. We need to be their mentors and role models. We
need to share our stories, journey, accomplishments, and challenges with them.
More importantly, we need to stand up for our rights so we pave a road that is
with fewer obstacles for the next generation. So that, their journey becomes
sweeter than ours and they could contribute much more than us,” Dr. Arujanan
stressed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-17579606047972883592018-03-05T20:00:00.000+08:002018-03-08T09:20:48.347+08:005 Questions with Jennifer Thomson, Microbiologist, President of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World, and The World Academy of Science Fellow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Science, for the longest time, has been a male-dominated business, but studies report that women are starting to catch up. The number of women who are working in science-related fields has grown steadily in the last two decades. One of these strong women is Dr. Jennifer Thomson from South Africa’s University of Cape Town. Jennifer is one of the many successful women whose work has been celebrated around the globe. She is one of the 16 women and 10 African scientists who were elected as fellows to The World Academy of Science (TWAS) in January 2018.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Dr. Jennifer Thomson</i></b></span></td></tr>
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Jennifer has been a strong advocate of promoting modern biotechnology in Africa for its potential in helping the continent overcome hunger and poverty. The first woman to head a department in the Science Faculty at the University of Cape Town, she has written a number of peer-reviewed papers and authored books about genetically modified (GM) crops. Jennifer is also a well-known speaker about GM crops and has addressed the World Economic Forum in Davos twice and the United Nations as guest of then Secretary General Kofi Annan. Her three books, <i>Genes for Africa</i>, <i>Seeds for the Future</i>, and <i>Food for Africa</i> are bestsellers and written with the layperson in mind.<br />
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During her election as President of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD) in 2016, Jennifer referred to her new role as an extension of her lifelong passion for promoting women in science. But how did Jennifer become one of South Africa’s staunchest supporter of modern biotechnology? In this new series, we asked Jennifer five questions to get a glimpse of her advocacy.<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><i>Growing up, who was your inspiration/idol?</i></span></b></div>
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My inspiration was my Aunt Margaret, who was the youngest woman headmistress of a high school in South Africa. As a family, we never made any major academic decisions without first consulting her. She also knew the names and family details of all her pupils, past and present.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Jennifer at three, with her brother Rob, five.</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="background-color: white; color: orange; font-size: large;">Why did you want to be a microbiologist? </span></i></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Jennifer (middle, front row) as Hyde Park High School’s head girl in 1964, together with prefects.</i></b></span></td></tr>
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I didn’t – it happened by a series of coincidences. In fact, as a zoology undergraduate I pitied microbiology majors as they seemed to spend all their time looking down microscopes, which I didn’t want to do. But when I went to Cambridge after my BSc, the zoology department was very old fashioned, so I asked the head of the genetics department if I could switch (on the basis of 1 week’s lectures in genetics). He agreed, but they worked on organisms that grew too slowly so I decided I’d better do my PhD on organisms that grew quickly. Hence I switched to bacterial genetics – and I still don’t know how to use a microscope!<br />
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><i>How did you rise up to the greatest challenge that your job has presented to you?</i></span></b><br />
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My greatest challenge was being the first woman head of a department in the Science Faculty at the University of Cape Town. I was interviewed by a panel of white males (it was in 1988), many of whom didn’t want me. I showed them that I could run a department better than most of them, because, instead of the headship being rotated every 3 years, my department voted me in for 12 years.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><b><i><span style="font-size: small;">Jennifer was the first woman to head the Laboratory for Molecular and Cell Biology <br />in the University of Cape Town.</span></i></b></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">As one of the major influencers in Africa, how are you unique from the others?</span></i></b><br />
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I am certainly not unique! I think one of the reasons I have been successful is that, early in my career, I decided not to have children. I don’t want any other woman in Africa to have to make that choice – hence my present position as President of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD).</div>
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<b><span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><i>What is your vision for Africa's agricultural productivity?</i></span></b><br />
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The use of every modern tool that can improve both productivity and nutrient value. If that involves genetically modified crops, indigenous knowledge, artificial intelligence, better use of grey water – no matter – go for what works best. But make sure that technology serves the people, not the other way round.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Jennifer’s books on GM crops in Africa. Her research was focused on the development of maize resistant to the African endemic maize streak virus (MSV) and maize tolerant to drought. </i></b></span></td></tr>
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<i><u><b><br /></b></u></i> <i><u><b>About Jennifer Thomson (from the University of Cape Town’s website):</b></u></i><br />
<i>Jennifer Thomson has a BSc in Zoology from the University of Cape Town (UCT), an MA in Genetics from Cambridge University and a PhD in Microbiology from Rhodes University in South Africa. She was a post-doctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School. She was a lecturer, senior lecturer and Associate Professor in the Department of Genetics at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa before starting and being the Director of the Laboratory for Molecular and Cell Biology for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. She then became Professor and Head of the Department of Microbiology at UCT, a post she held for 12 years until the Department merged with the Department of Biochemistry. She is now an Emeritus Professor of Microbiology in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UCT. Her main current research interests are in the development of maize resistant to the African endemic maize streak virus and tolerant to drought. Other positions held include the Deputy Dean of Science at UCT, a former chair and member of the South African Genetic Engineering Committee, co-founder of SA Women in Science and Engineering, Fellow of the Royal Society of South Africa and former Vice-President of the SA Academy of Science. She is a former Chair of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) and Vice-Chair of the board of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agribiotech Applications (ISAAA). She is President of the Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD), a member of the Independent Science and Partnership Council (ISPC) of the CGIAR and a member of the National Advisory Council on Innovation (NACI) to the Minister of Science and Technology in South Africa.</i><br />
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For more about Jennifer’s research work, visit the <a href="http://www.mcb.uct.ac.za/mcb/people/staff/academic/thomson" target="_blank">University of Cape Town website</a>.<br />
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<i><b>5 Questions With…</b> is a continuing series in the ISAAA Blog. A new personality will be featured every quarter, so watch out for our next feature!</i><br />
<i><br /></i> <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Written/Compiled by Clement Dionglay, Project Associate at ISAAA Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology</span></i>ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0Cape Town, South Africa-33.9248685 18.424055299999964-34.768186 17.133161799999964 -33.081551000000005 19.714948799999963tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-35354874405500627852018-03-01T14:13:00.002+08:002018-03-01T14:13:46.470+08:00Science and She: Dr. Rhodora Romero Aldemita<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The <a href="http://isaaa.org/" target="_blank">International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA)</a> and its network of Biotechnology Information Centers launched a new campaign on social media which aims to empower women in science. The campaign called <i><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ScienceAndShe/" target="_blank">Science and She</a></i>, features scientists and science communicators who tell their stories and aspirations for science and the society with the hope that the stories will help bridge the gap between science and the public.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">For each week, one female scientist or science communicator serves as the curator of the <i>Science and She</i> social media pages. The first curator for the campaign is Dr. Rhodora Romero-Aldemita, Director of <a href="http://isaaa.org/kc" target="_blank">ISAAA Global Knowledge Center on Crop Biotechnology</a>. Dr. Aldemita is a crop scientist with knowledge and experience accumulated over the years on agriculture-related topics such as plant pathology, plant physiology, molecular biology, and rice biochemistry. Currently, she is involved in sharing her knowledge with the public so they can have fact-based decisions regarding GM crops.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dr. Aldemita did not expect to be a scientist, let alone one who would be recognized by the National Academy of Science and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Technology</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place> and other prestigious award-giving bodies such as the Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service Foundation and The World Academy of Science. Her inherent love for her family and desire to improve their living conditions motivated her to study and work hard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“In order to succeed in our field, we have to realize our potentials and limitations. We need to explore and develop these potentials and use them wisely and to the fullest. I developed my abilities through studying, training, conducting research, and publishing. Although the outputs of my rice genetic engineering work were not immediately available to help consumers and farmers at that time, I knew that they would make difference in the future, and they did!! Most importantly, we have to overcome our limitations by being resourceful and by exploring alternatives,” Dr. Aldemita says.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">One of her biggest achievements was being awarded as one of the Ten Outstanding Women in the Nations Service for Excellence in the field of Science in 1998. It was the culmination that reaffirmed all the awards she has received including the Ten Outstanding Young Scientist in the Philippines, the Science Prize in Biology by the National Academy of Science and Technology, Philippines, and The World Academy of Sciences, Italy, and many other recognitions. The latest award was the recognition of her home city, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">San Pablo</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place>, as an Outstanding San Pableño in the field of Agriculture. Each time she was introduced as a multi-awarded scientist, her credibility as biotech expert and spokesperson was validated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">“As a scientist, I was able to develop a rice transformation technology that is still being used by researchers today. As a science communicator, I am honored to help others gain knowledge and understanding about a technology that is highly beneficial to many. I have worked for years in the lab, and I am confident that biotechnology is used by scientists like me to help improve lives. Scientists work hard for their own families, as well as to help other families have bountiful harvest and food on their plates. By communicating about the benefits of biotechnology, I am hopeful that time will come when more people will appreciate the technology and acknowledge its importance. This will lead to more countries planting biotech crops, and more mouths being fed. When that time comes, all my hard work, together with the efforts of other scientists, will be worth it,” she says.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-15160182203053020422018-01-31T16:17:00.006+08:002019-07-17T16:35:09.917+08:00Join the Conversation on Biotech<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We would like to hear from you! ISAAA is on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/isaaa.org" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/isaaa_org" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/isaaa_org/">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/isaaavideos/" target="_blank">Youtube</a>, and
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<![endif]--><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Did you
know that scientists have designed rice plants that can flower on demand? How
about the study on rice enriched with antioxidant resveratrol? These are just
some of the interesting news on crop biotech in 2017.</span>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">We summarized
the top 10 most trending Crop Biotech Update news shared on Facebook to give
you a glimpse of crop biotech happenings last year. Read on and make sure you
don't miss which news made it to the number one spot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">10. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=15809" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">EU COURT RULES THAT PREJUDICES ON GMOS ARE UNFOUNDED</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">"Do we really wish to have a science-based society or
should we let ourselves be governed by prejudices and misconceptions?" ask
Roberto Defez, a molecular microbiologist at the Italian National Research
Council, and Dennis Eriksson, a researcher at the Swedish University of
Agricultural Sciences. They asked this question in their article in <i>Euractiv</i>,
which was published after the EU court ruled that prejudices on GM
foods are unfounded.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">9. <b><a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=15200" target="_blank">HELSINKI AND CAIRO UNIVERSITIES COLLABORATE TO ADVANCE SCIENCE</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">A science exchange program was held in February 2017 between Cairo University, Egypt
and Helsinki University
in Finland.
Prof. Naglaa Abdallah of Cairo
University and director
of Egyptian Biotechnology Information Center (EBIC) participated in the event.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">8.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=15427" target="_blank">DEVELOPMENT OF CANKER-RESISTANT CITRUS THROUGH CRISPR-CAS9 EDITING OF SUSCEPTIBILITY GENE PROMOTER</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Researchers from Chinese Academy
of Agricultural Sciences and National Center
for Citrus Variety Improvement and Southwest
University in China report
the improvement of citrus canker resistance through CRISPR-Cas9. The
researchers performed targeted editing of host disease-susceptibility gene <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">CsLOB1</i> promoter in citrus, which led to
mutation lines with enhanced resistance to citrus canker compared to wild
types.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">7. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=15215" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">MOZAMBIQUE</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> PLANTS FIRST GM MAIZE FIELD TRIAL</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> Mozambique</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> has planted the first field trial
of genetically modified (GM) maize in the Chokwe District of Gaza Province as
part of the Water Efficient Maize for Africa (WEMA) program. The trial will
test the tolerance of GM maize to drought and insect pests. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">6. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=16009" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">STUDY SHOWS CRISPR MAINLY USED TO DEVELOP HIGH-YIELDING, HEALTHIER, AND STRESS-RESISTANT CROPS</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Scientists from France
and the U.K.
reviewed 52 articles and found that most of the applications of CRISPR in crops
were to improve the yield performance of the crops, as well as to improve the
nutrient content (</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/pocketk/27/default.asp" target="_blank"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">biofortification</span></a><span style="background: white;">) and the tolerance to abiotic and biotic
stresses. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">5. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=15681" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">GENETICALLY MODIFIED MULTI-NUTRIENT RICE OFFERS THREE MICRONUTRIENTS AGAINST MALNUTRITION</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">A group of researchers from ETH Zürich genetically modified rice that
not only has increased levels of the micronutrients iron and zinc in the
grains, but also produces beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A. The new
multi-nutrient rice lines are still being tested in the greenhouse and analyzed
for their micronutrient content. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">4. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=16053" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">INDIAN RESEARCHERS TEST CRISPR-CAS9 GENOME EDITING IN BANANA</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">A study conducted by researchers from the National Agri-Food
Biotechnology Institute in India demonstrated
that genome editing through CRISPR-Cas9 can be applied for banana genome
modification.They tested this concept by performing mutation in genes involved
in an enzyme activity. The decrease in chlorophyll contents exhibited by mutant
plants implies that the function of the genes were disrupted.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">3. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=15366" target="_blank"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">TRADITIONAL BREEDING ALTERS MAIZE COMPOSITION MORE THAN STACKING TRANSGENIC EVENTS</b></a></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Dow AgroSciences LLC researchers evaluated the impact of
stacking genetically modified</span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <span style="background: white;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>events on maize grain on biochemical
composition and compared it with the impact caused by generating non-GM
hybrids. The composition of GM breeding stacks was found to be more similar to
the composition of their iso-hybrids than to the composition of non-GM hybrids
to their iso-hybrids. Hence, non-GM breeding is more capable of influenced crop
composition than transgenesis or stacking of GM events.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">2. </span><a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=15373" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">SCIENTISTS INVESTIGATE METABOLIC CHANGES IN GENETIC MODIFICATION OF RESVERATROL-ENRICHED RICE</span></b></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Incheon</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> National University</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> scientists
developed resveratrol-enriched rice with herbicide resistance
(RR) and analyzed the metabolic changes that occurred. Analyses revealed that
there were no significant differences in the biochemical structures of RR
compared with the non-RR plants. The results also showed that herbicide
treatment did not affect the chemical composition of RR.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">1.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=15322" target="_blank">SCIENTISTS DEVELOP GE RICE THAT FLOWER ON DEMAND</a></b></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4ZbLOR9oTI/Wl2dYjM6vWI/AAAAAAAAAmU/rQW93XnFE-kAk_C9gm01i-fPcvhNIiGbgCEwYBhgL/s1600/rice%2Bfarmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1257" height="212" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4ZbLOR9oTI/Wl2dYjM6vWI/AAAAAAAAAmU/rQW93XnFE-kAk_C9gm01i-fPcvhNIiGbgCEwYBhgL/s320/rice%2Bfarmer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">University</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> of Tokyo</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> researchers developed genetically
engineered rice that does not flower until it comes in contact with a
specific fungicide. The results of the study can lead to the development of
crops that can grow in different climate types and facilitate breeding for
different agronomical characteristics.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Never miss the latest news on
agri-biotechnology in 2018. Get </span><a href="http://www.isaaa.org/subscribe" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">FREE</span></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><i><span style="background: white; color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Crop Biotech Update</span></i><a href="http://isaaa.us5.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=90d9912fca3d624d294e24b28&id=15b71b2653"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"></span></a><a href="http://www.isaaa.org/subscribe" target="_blank"> subscription</a></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> now! Go to </span><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.isaaa.org/subscribe"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">www.isaaa.org/subscribe</span></a></span><span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;">.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background: white; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><i style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Written by Kristine Grace N. Tome, Program Associate at ISAAA.</i> </span></div>
ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-66656635799047708482018-01-09T14:03:00.000+08:002018-01-09T14:05:39.902+08:00How Filipino News Writers Define Biotechnology<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Science news writers usually define technical
terms to make the readers understand the content of their articles. The choice
of words, as well as definition of concepts, often has influence on how audiences
respond to biotech stories.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The study <a href="https://www.cabi.org/GARA/abstract/20173165150" target="_blank"><i>Seventeen
Years of Media Reportage of Modern Biotechnology in the Philippines</i></a>,
published in the April 2017 issue of the<i> <a href="http://www.cssp.org.ph/" target="_blank">Philippine Journal of Crop
Science</a></i>, found that Filipino news writers define modern biotechnology
differently, but most of them do not define it at all. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The study analyzed articles on modern crop
biotechnology released from 2000 to 2016 in major Philippine newspapers
including<i> <a href="https://mb.com.ph/" target="_blank">Manila Bulletin</a>, <a href="http://www.philstar.com/" target="_blank">Philippine Star</a>, <a href="http://www.inquirer.net/" target="_blank">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> </i>and <a href="https://businessmirror.com.ph/" target="_blank"><i>Business Mirror</i></a> (2010-2016
only).</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The first set of data covering 2000-2009
(10 years) showed that out of the 1,355 articles published during that time
period, only 17% or 231 articles contain explanations of the term
biotechnology. Of this percentage, most of the definitions were simplified (155
articles), and a few (76 articles) used scientific definitions.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the second period of analysis covering
2010-2016, only 30 (1%) of the 864 articles contained definitions of
biotechnology. The decline in the percentage of articles containing definitions
of biotechnology may imply that the writers assume that the readers already
understand the concept. Of the 30 articles, 47% used popularized definitions, with
simplified terms to explain the technology. Another 47% mentioned technical
terms such as recombinant DNA technology and gene splicing. The remaining 6%
had definitions with negative implications such as “dangerous”, “creating disorders
such as autoimmune disease, allergies, asthma, gastrointestinal disorders,
infertility, and organ damage.”</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3hvRdHarbTI/WlRaoTLbGII/AAAAAAAAAko/7GiXvvYeAbwTunrXqPbPS8jnFGYggva2QCEwYBhgL/s1600/defn.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="733" height="264" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3hvRdHarbTI/WlRaoTLbGII/AAAAAAAAAko/7GiXvvYeAbwTunrXqPbPS8jnFGYggva2QCEwYBhgL/s640/defn.PNG" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Based on the results of the study, the low
number of articles with definitions of biotechnology may indicate that the
writers assume that biotechnology is already a general term that do not need
much explanation to be grasped by the public. However, it is still recommended
that such scientific terms be defined using simple terms to ensure public
understanding of biotechnology.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Written by Kristine Grace N. Tome, Program Associate at ISAAA. </span></i></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sources: </span></span></b><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tome, Kristine Grace N., Mariechel J. Navarro, Sophia M. Mercado, and Maria Monina Cecilia A. Villena. 2017. Seventeen Years of Media Reportage of Modern Biotechnology in the Philippines. Philippine Journal of Crop Science 42(1): 26-35.</span></span><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ISAAA. 2017. From Fear to Facts: </span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">17 Years of Agri-biotech Reporting in the Philippines (2000-2016). http://isaaa.org/resources/publications/fromfeartofacts/download/From_Fear_to_Facts.pdf.</span></span></span>ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-78183910086789769292017-12-11T11:27:00.000+08:002017-12-11T11:29:52.474+08:00Clive James and ISAAA: Top Sources of Info on Biotech in the Philippines<!--[if !mso]>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">News writers often
solicit supporting information about their stories from various sources through
interviews or readily-available references. The “voices” behind the stories usually
have an impact on how stories are told.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The study <a href="https://www.cabi.org/GARA/abstract/20173165150" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Seventeen Years of Media Reportage of Modern Biotechnology in the Philippines</i></a>, published in the April 2017 issue of the<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <a href="http://www.cssp.org.ph/" target="_blank">Philippine Journal of Crop Science</a></i>, reported
that Dr. Clive James, the Founder and Emeritus Chair of <a href="http://isaaa.org/" target="_blank">ISAAA</a>, is the top
source of information on biotechnology by news writers. The study analyzed articles
reporting on modern agri-biotechnology that were released in major Philippine
newspapers including<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> <a href="https://mb.com.ph/" target="_blank">Manila Bulletin</a>,
<a href="http://www.philstar.com/" target="_blank">Philippine Star</a>, <a href="http://www.inquirer.net/" target="_blank">Philippine Daily Inquirer</a> </i>and <a href="https://businessmirror.com.ph/" target="_blank"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Business Mirror</i></a> (for 2010-2016 only).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The researchers listed the
sources of information cited in each of the 2,219 articles on biotechnology released
from 2000 to 2016. Each of the sources were categorized as government source,
environmental group, international organization, R&D institution, private
industry company, and others.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the first 10 years of
biotech reporting from 2000-2009, most of the sources of information were from
government agencies/representatives (37%), followed by environmental groups (22%), and
international organizations (16%). The second part of the study (2010-2016)
revealed that government sources remained on top (37%), followed by
international organizations (23%), and environmental groups (17%).</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sY1LzSHo_eU/Wi36V2R6TjI/AAAAAAAAAkA/41ul_SsRhOkSKaIVASPtZi3rboiw11UOwCLcBGAs/s1600/source.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="640" height="344" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sY1LzSHo_eU/Wi36V2R6TjI/AAAAAAAAAkA/41ul_SsRhOkSKaIVASPtZi3rboiw11UOwCLcBGAs/s640/source.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Though most of the sources
were from the government, there were numerous personalities and agencies
mentioned. For instance, in the last 7 years (2010-2016), there were about 547
different information sources cited and none of which were individually
mentioned more than 33 times. </span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gi7Qe1vAGgI/Wi36y9YJxzI/AAAAAAAAAkE/3L9gcRo5cB8UQJxlbh35FBLKpBap5q4AACLcBGAs/s1600/18489647130_70c5f47b8a_m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="159" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gi7Qe1vAGgI/Wi36y9YJxzI/AAAAAAAAAkE/3L9gcRo5cB8UQJxlbh35FBLKpBap5q4AACLcBGAs/s320/18489647130_70c5f47b8a_m.jpg" width="212" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The most frequently mentioned source during that time
period of seven years was the world-renowned biotech expert, Dr. Clive James
(33 times) and the organization he founded, <a href="http://isaaa.org/" target="_blank">ISAAA</a> (31 times). The articles
citing Dr. James and <a href="http://isaaa.org/" target="_blank">ISAAA</a> usually quoted details from their annual report on
global adoption of biotech crops. In 2016 alone, the ISAAA report titled </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/51/download/isaaa-brief-51-2015.pdf" target="_blank"><i>20th Anniversary (1996 to 2015) of the Global Commercialization of Biotech Crops and Biotech Crop Highlights in 2015</i> </a>(ISAAA Brief 51) was mentioned in 2,843
articles worldwide including top news agencies such as <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2016/05/17/gmos-safe-academies-of-science-report-genetically-modified-food/84458872/" target="_blank"><i>USA Today</i></a>, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/13/business/acreage-for-genetically-modified-crops-declined-in-2015.html?ref=business" target="_blank"><i>New YorkTimes</i></a>, and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6e11eeea-00d7-11e6-99cb-83242733f755.htmlaxzz45go7Opdw" target="_blank"><i>Financial Times</i></a>, reaching
4.45 billion media impressions. Being the top source of information in the
Philippine newspapers imply that several writers perceive that Dr. James and
<a href="http://isaaa.org/" target="_blank">ISAAA</a> are credible sources of information, particularly on biotech crop
adoption and its benefits. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Daniel Ocampo, who used to
work as Sustainable Agriculture Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, was
mentioned 28 times in the articles. He was one of the activists that <a href="http://www.bic.searca.org/news/2011/feb1/phi/23.html" target="_blank">uprooted the Bt eggplant</a> on field trial at the University of the Philippine Los Baños (UPLB) in 2011.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JqP_U78xWxA/Wi36zPhhneI/AAAAAAAAAkI/Ly2ncGZ6ZH8kQWWVD0vsx4waEShlbxqrwCLcBGAs/s1600/18472115613_e968b8b488_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="212" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JqP_U78xWxA/Wi36zPhhneI/AAAAAAAAAkI/Ly2ncGZ6ZH8kQWWVD0vsx4waEShlbxqrwCLcBGAs/s320/18472115613_e968b8b488_z.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The top government officials quoted in the articles were Proceso
Alcala (mentioned 26 times), who was the Department of Agriculture (DA)
Secretary from 2010-2016; and Dr. Antonio Alfonso (mentioned 24 times), a plant
scientist and Director of the DA Biotechnology Program Office from 2013 to
2015. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The other sources of
information mentioned over 10 times from 2010 to 2016 were: </span></div>
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<ul style="margin-top: 0pt;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Candida Adalla</b>, previous head of DA
Biotechnology Program Office</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Emil Q. Javier</b>, National Academy of Science and Technology president, former UP
president and UPLB chancellor</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Roger Navarro</b>, Philippine Maize Federation president</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Randy A. Hautea</b>, ISAAA Global Coordinator and <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Director of ISAAA</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> SEAsia</i>Center</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">World Health Organization</span></b></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Chito Medina</b>, Environmentalist and Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG) National Coordinator</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Clarito Baron</b>, former director of Bureau of Plant
Industry</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Segfredo Serrano</b>, Agriculture Undersecretary
for Policy</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Desiree Hautea</b>, Agricultural Biotechnology
Support Project II Regional Coordinator and Product Development Manager</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Gil C. Saguiguit</b>, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture <span style="background-color: white; color: #545454; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">(</span>SEARCA) Director</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 36.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Greenpeace</span></b></li>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Out of the top 16 sources
of information, there were only three persons/groups that were categorized as belonging
to environmental/civil society groups. Mostly were scientists and government
officials. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Through the years, the prominent role of “authoritative
voices” such as researchers and government representatives was demonstrated
along with lesser use of technology critics as information sources. Apart from
the government agencies and research institutions, international organizations
such as <a href="http://isaaa.org/" target="_blank">ISAAA</a> are now seen as credible sources of information on biotechnology
because they promote themes that are more encompassing in nature such as “rural
development, sustainable agriculture, food security.” They also usually portray
a more balanced stance than the campaigns of private companies and
environmental groups.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Written by Kristine Grace N. Tome, Program Associate at ISAAA. </i></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span><b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sources: </span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tome, Kristine Grace N., Mariechel J. Navarro, Sophia M. Mercado, and Maria Monina Cecilia A. Villena. 2017. Seventeen Years of Media Reportage of Modern Biotechnology in the Philippines. Philippine Journal of Crop Science 42(1): 26-35.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ISAAA. 2017. From Fear to Facts: </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">17 Years of Agri-biotech Reporting in the Philippines (2000-2016). http://isaaa.org/resources/publications/fromfeartofacts/download/From_Fear_to_Facts.pdf.</span></span>ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-48996174573800238552017-06-05T16:00:00.000+08:002017-06-05T16:17:47.639+08:00ISAAA Brief 52 Launched in Beijing, Manila, Yogyakarta, and Tokyo<div>
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ISAAA has released the 21st Brief in its global status of commercialized biotech/GM crops series in Beijing, China on May 4, 2017. <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/52/download/isaaa-brief-52-2016.pdf">Brief 52</a> companion documents include the <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/52/executivesummary/default.asp">Executive Summary</a> (available in six language translations), <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/52/pressrelease/default.asp">press release</a> (available in nine language translations), <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/52/infographic/default.asp">infographics</a>, <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/resources/videos/globalstatusreport2016/default.asp" target="_blank">video</a>, and <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/52/pptslides/default.asp"><gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="1a91157b-d54f-4c46-85a0-6bbc67f0dcc5" id="54451687-5fed-4033-b8ad-22c407a0c2e1">Powerpoint</gs> slides</a> available at the <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/52/default.asp">ISAAA website</a>.<br />
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Year after year, ISAAA prepares the global status report and supports its free distribution to developing countries to provide information and knowledge to the scientific community and facilitate a more informed and transparent discussion regarding the potential role of biotech crops in contributing to global food, feed, fiber, and fuel security, and a more sustainable agriculture.<br />
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The 2016 Global Status Report documents the global database on the adoption and distribution of biotech crops in the world in 2016, when ~18 million farmers from 26 countries planted 185.1 million hectares of biotech crops. Below are summaries of the country launches held <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="2250a103-bf7d-489b-9435-5cdd60afcf95" id="44173b05-bcbf-4c95-bcfa-96a38ed6b6d5">for</gs> the 2016 Global Status Report.<br />
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<b><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;">BEIJING, CHINA</span></span></b><br />
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Brief 52 was launched in two events held on May 4 and 5, 2017 in Beijing, China, organized in cooperation with China Biotechnology Information Center, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the Chinese Biotechnology Society.<br />
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The media conference held on May 4, 2017 at <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="8e2e56de-d435-4fb6-b052-67469f2e9462" id="4796ea9f-c4ad-48c2-8cc8-97eeb8cea522">China Wold Hotel</gs> was attended by some 40 journalists from Chinese and international news agencies. ISAAA Chair, Dr. Paul Teng, presented the highlights of the report, while ISAAA Senior Program Officer, Dr. Rhodora Aldemita, talked about the development and adoption of biotech crops in Asia.</div>
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On May 5, a seminar was held at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which was attended by 120 scientists, members of the <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="425355ea-3c54-4e98-8e4e-33be0d7e63c6" id="8e242205-fb15-4a78-9240-5795d95121a6">academe</gs>, and students. Drs. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="1935bf13-6a9c-4d0d-ace3-230cc4017d53" id="03accf0e-c50d-44c6-8c31-bbf4670cd9e1">Teng</gs> and Aldemita presented the highlights of <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="1935bf13-6a9c-4d0d-ace3-230cc4017d53" id="82487f0a-9d74-49aa-98d3-6acd947fd8db">2016 report</gs>. Mr. Zhang Xianfa from the Ag GMO Division of the Ministry of Agriculture discussed the status of Chinese biotech crops regulation and development. The participants signified their interest in the adoption of more biotech crops in the country to benefit not just the farmers and their families, but also the consumers.<br />
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<i>Read the Crop Biotech Update article <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=15413" target="_blank">here</a>.</i> </div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b>MANILA, PHILIPPINES</b></span></div>
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On May 19, 2017, media practitioners, farmers, and government agency officers attended the Brief 52 launch in Manila during a media conference at the Acacia Hotel, Alabang, Muntinlupa City, Philippines.</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nWTrDyc1arg/WTUK9OqnqrI/AAAAAAAAAi4/iVObFgPAVt4NsgFk-hGrJiuyAeeVtCs0wCLcB/s1600/Manila.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1079" data-original-width="1600" height="430" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nWTrDyc1arg/WTUK9OqnqrI/AAAAAAAAAi4/iVObFgPAVt4NsgFk-hGrJiuyAeeVtCs0wCLcB/s640/Manila.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Dr. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="21b3b6bf-d3ee-4d28-b2fa-d5020b157cf9" id="6573d2d0-4984-4c9b-b047-9c37fd898ffe">Teng</gs> presented the report, including the global impact and future prospects of biotech crops. SEARCA Director Dr. Gil C. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="d4eddf02-b35b-47a5-b766-76a42f14dcb4" id="6ff5e395-4615-4f5e-85e5-96185e3bc4ae">Saguiguit</gs>, Jr. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="fefc72e1-486a-49af-bf5b-1d307d2831b7" id="51be436e-4249-488f-abaf-1efc56d35279">said</gs> that the 2016 figures surpass previous records and attest to the effectiveness and benefits of biotechnology. </div>
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Officer-in-Charge and Director of the Bureau of Plant Industry and Director of the Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Biotechnology Program of the Department of Agriculture, Dr. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="3c06f2da-9021-4767-af75-31ac48c03fd6" id="30237bc5-01e1-4361-a212-b7ce43f4101c">Vivencio</gs> R. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="b2d1be22-1d4b-422a-995f-617b85f3df66" id="15091857-6877-4fdb-a4e8-59771d48b10e">Mamaril</gs>, reported on the <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="b2d1be22-1d4b-422a-995f-617b85f3df66" id="185c343f-317c-4699-84ff-c59a1136d1cd">biosafety</gs> regulatory developments in the country, particularly the harmonization of the Joint Department Circular by the five government departments, namely the Departments of Agriculture; Science and Technology; Environment and Natural Resources; Health; and the Interior and Local Government. The JDC is the latest <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="88e453ef-7226-4390-8df2-84b8cf85435d" id="5edc18c3-dbbf-46a0-a327-8e8e7d53e716">biosafety</gs> regulatory guidelines for biotech crops in the Philippines, and is expected to regulate the testing and commercialization of other biotech crops in the pipeline, including <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="88e453ef-7226-4390-8df2-84b8cf85435d" id="30232e6f-2596-4eea-a0ad-93329c1b3591">Bt</gs> eggplant, PRSV-R papaya, Bt cotton, and Golden Rice.</div>
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<i>Read the Crop Biotech Update article <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=15447" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b>YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA</b></span></div>
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Brief 52 was launched at Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia on May 23, 2016 during a one-day national seminar on biotechnology. The event, organized by ISAAA and the Indonesian Biotechnology Information Centre (IndoBIC) was attended by some 90 members of the <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="ca344ee2-8344-4b1f-ae30-346c71610260" id="3b57876c-7793-48ee-964d-611d37a2effc">academe</gs>, local government representatives, media practitioners, and students. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="274d5754-383a-49da-a75d-db72a8b75c4d" id="f4ab7b68-617e-4686-ae5d-260b238b7621">Ir</gs>. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="9050bad9-7d3e-40ae-874b-4b697ad7daf0" id="1cac21ae-ada4-41a5-aa3f-c9ca6cafbe0e">Arofa</gs> Noor Indriani MSI, Director of Food Security Agency of Yogyakarta Province, graced the event and gave the welcome message.</div>
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Dr. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="8d79c613-c789-4305-8ae5-4616480e6f75" id="291b948d-93a5-46ce-883a-e81013247a90">Aldemita</gs> presented the 2016 Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops. Dr. Mahaletchumy Arujanan, Executive Director of the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Centre (MABIC), gave an overview of biotech/GM crop adoption in Asia, while Dr. Muhammad Herman discussed the research and development of biotech product and its regulation in Indonesia. Scientists from Gadjah Mada University, Bogor Agricultural University, and Yogyakarta province presented updates on <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="314784c8-2b9c-49c8-8273-0961055368a2" id="b9a056e5-601b-4903-a51a-66a667597abe">agri</gs>-biotech research.</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5nhW02KbHT8/WTULqRbjMaI/AAAAAAAAAjA/GbRINnk-aDUrvCa0OQmtRLw_qrC1hVgvQCLcB/s1600/Yogyakarta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="422" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5nhW02KbHT8/WTULqRbjMaI/AAAAAAAAAjA/GbRINnk-aDUrvCa0OQmtRLw_qrC1hVgvQCLcB/s640/Yogyakarta.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Drs. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="379ad6db-25a2-4bfa-a9ec-3aa84488fa8a" id="0b6768c3-69a8-4b9d-bf84-77ba0dee028a">Aldemita</gs> and Arujanan, together with IndoBIC Director, Prof. Dr. Bambang Purwantara, and Dr. Herman were guests on live television interviews on Jogja TV on May 22, and Kompass TV on May 23.</div>
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<i>Read the Crop Biotech Update article <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=15468" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><b>TOKYO, JAPAN</b></span></div>
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Dr. <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="e8e6d2a1-7476-4b53-8b74-b14dc683732e" id="b3ab5342-e13f-4e00-8429-b16415bcf15c">Aldemita</gs> presented the highlights of Brief 52 at the seminar launch of ISAAA at Asahi Seminar Hall, Tokyo, Japan on May 30, 2017. The seminar launch was organized by CBIJ and NBIC with 120 participants, including the media, government representatives, <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="81a5f1b7-7426-490f-bae8-4895f7ef2ac5" id="25fcaf4a-9d81-4758-8b12-f8b5eae333ce">academe</gs>, and the industry. </div>
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During the seminar launch, Dr. Fusao Tomita, director of <gs class="GINGER_SOFTWARE_mark" ginger_software_uiphraseguid="9140fa81-6280-4463-9aaa-2f8c9dcd4065" id="32517f18-587b-4c98-a26a-b0f7e7f3fb91">Nippon Biotechnology Information Center</gs> (NBIC) opined that Hokkaido farmers are interested in planting biotech sugar beet and consumers should be educated on substantial equivalence of sugar derived from biotech and non-biotech sugar beet.</div>
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<i>Read the Crop Biotech Update article <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=15481" target="_blank">here</a>.</i></div>
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<i>More information about ISAAA Brief 52 Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2016 are available at the <a href="tp://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/briefs/51/default.asp" target="_blank">ISAAA website</a>. <br /><br />For more information about ISAAA, visit <a href="http://www.isaaa.org/">http://www.isaaa.org/</a>, or follow ISAAA on Facebook (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/isaaa.org">https://www.facebook.com/isaaa.org</a>) and Twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/isaaa_org">https://twitter.com/isaaa_org</a>).</i>ISAAAhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04220918698198982712noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4808781452510135237.post-88196096312073624332017-05-04T16:30:00.000+08:002017-05-04T16:30:14.102+08:00Biotech/GM Crops Surge to a New Peak of 185.1 Million Hectares in 2016<div>
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<b><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Global area rebounds from 2015 as farmers continue to adopt biotech crops</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></b></div>
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The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) has released the <i><a href="http://bit.ly/ISAAABriefs52" target="_blank">Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2016</a>, </i>its annual report showcasing the 110-fold increase in the global adoption rate of biotech crops in 21 years of commercialization – growing from 1.7 million hectares in 1996 to 185.1 million hectares in 2016. The 2016 Report continues to demonstrate the long-standing benefits of biotech crops for farmers in developing and industrialized countries, as well as consumer benefits of recently approved and commercialized varieties. <div>
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<br /><i>“Biotech crops have become a vital agricultural resource for farmers around the world because of the immense benefits for improved productivity and profitability, as well as conservation efforts,”</i> said Dr. Paul S. Teng, ISAAA Board Chair. <i>“With the commercial approvals and plantings of new varieties of biotech potatoes and apples, consumers will begin to enjoy direct benefits of biotechnology with produce that is not likely to spoil or be damaged, which in turn has the potential to substantially reduce food waste and consumer grocery costs.”</i></div>
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<br />The adoption of biotech crops has reduced CO2 emissions equal to removing ~12 million cars from the road annually in recent years; conserved biodiversity by removing 19.4 million hectares of land from agriculture in 2015; and decreased the environmental impact with a 19% reduction in herbicide and insecticide use (Brookes and Barfoot, 2017, Forthcoming). Additionally, in developing countries, planting biotech crops has helped alleviate hunger by increasing the incomes for 18 million small farmers and their families, bringing improved financial stability to more than 65 million people. </div>
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<i><b><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">“Biotechnology is one of the tools necessary in helping farmers grow more food on less land. However, the promises of biotech crops can only be unlocked if farmers are able to buy and plant these crops, following a scientific approach to regulatory reviews and approvals.” </span></b></i></blockquote>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vZIj-OMqD2U/WQrfT3Lli_I/AAAAAAAAAiQ/I98vOnMR2hwierUS8El-HAJNGUUAMPTFACLcB/s1600/Twitter%2BPost%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></a><i><b><span style="color: #38761d;">- Dr. Randy A. Hautea, ISAAA Global Coordinator</span></b></i></blockquote>
<br />As more varieties of biotech crops are approved and commercialized for use by farmers, ISAAA expects to see adoption rates continue to climb and to benefit farmers in developing countries. For example, among African nations where regulatory processes have traditionally created barriers to biotech crop adoption rates, advances are being realized. In 2016, South Africa and Sudan increased the planting of biotech maize, soybean and cotton to 2.66 million hectares from 2.29 million hectares in 2015. Elsewhere on the continent, a new wave of acceptance is emerging as Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Swaziland and Uganda make advances in regulatory review and commercial approvals for a variety of biotech crops. <br /><br />“Even with a long history of regulatory barriers, African farmers continue to adopt biotech crops because of the value they are realizing from the stability and productivity of biotech varieties,” said Hautea. “As more countries move forward with regulatory reviews for crops such as bananas, cowpeas and sorghum, we believe biotech crop plantings will continue to grow in Africa and elsewhere.”<br /><br />Also in 2016, Brazil increased biotech area of maize, soybean, cotton and canola by a remarkable 11% – maintaining its ranking as the second largest producer of biotech crops after the United States. In Brazil, biotech soybeans account for 32.7 million hectares of the 91.4 million hectares grown worldwide. <br /><br /><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vZIj-OMqD2U/WQrfT3Lli_I/AAAAAAAAAiQ/I98vOnMR2hwierUS8El-HAJNGUUAMPTFACLcB/s1600/Twitter%2BPost%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="438" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vZIj-OMqD2U/WQrfT3Lli_I/AAAAAAAAAiQ/I98vOnMR2hwierUS8El-HAJNGUUAMPTFACLcB/s640/Twitter%2BPost%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />For 2016, <a href="http://bit.ly/ISAAABriefs52" target="_blank">ISAAA also reports</a> that there were improvements in the commercialization and plantings of biotech fruits and vegetables with direct consumer benefits. These included the commercial approvals of the Innate™ Russet Burbank Gen 2 potatoes that were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for sale in the United States and the Simplot Gen 1 White Russet™ brand potatoes that were approved by Health Canada for fresh market sale in Canada. These biotech potato varieties have lower levels of asparagine, which reduces the creation of acrylamide during high-heat cooking. Additionally, the first commercially saleable quantities of Arctic® Apples were harvested in 2016, stored over the winter and are projected to be sold in U.S. grocery stores in 2017. <br /><br />Additional highlights from <a href="http://bit.ly/ISAAABriefs52" target="_blank">ISAAA’s 2016 report</a> include:<br /><ul>
<li>Global area rebounded in 2016 with 185.1 million hectares of biotech crops versus 179. 7 million hectares 2015, when global area for all crops was down, and 181.5 million hectares in 2014. </li>
<li>In 2016, 26 countries in total, including 19 developing and 7 industrial countries, grew biotech crops. Developing countries grew 54% of biotech crops, compared to 46% for industrial nations. </li>
<li>Eight countries in Asia and the Pacific, including China and India, grew 18.6 million hectare of biotech crops in 2016.</li>
<li>10 countries in Latin America, including Paraguay and Uruguay, grew a combined 80 million hectares of biotech crops in 2016. </li>
<li>In 2016, the leading countries growing biotech crops continued to be represented by the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Canada and India. Combined, these five countries planted 91% of the global biotech crop area. </li>
<li>Four countries in Europe -- Spain, Portugal, Czech Republic Slovakia -- grew more than 136,000 hectares of biotech maize in 2016, an increase of 17% from 2015, reflecting EU’s need for insect resistant maize. </li>
<li>Biotech crops with stacked traits accounted for 41% of global area, second only to herbicide tolerance at 47%.</li>
<li>Biotech soybean varieties accounted for 50% of global biotech crop area. Based on global area for individual crops, 78% of soybean, 64% of cotton, 26% of maize and 24% of canola planted in the world were biotech varieties.</li>
<li>Countries with over 90% adoption of biotech soybean are U.S.A, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, South Africa, and Uruguay; close to or over 90% adoption of biotech maize are USA, Brazil, Argentina, Canada, South Africa, and Uruguay; over 90% of biotech cotton are USA, Argentina, India, China, Pakistan, South Africa, Mexico, Australia, and Myanmar; and with 90% or more of biotech canola are USA and Canada.</li>
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For more information and other details about the report, visit the <a href="http://bit.ly/ISAAABriefs52" target="_blank">Brief 52 page</a> at the <a href="http://bit.ly/ISAAABriefs52" target="_blank">ISAAA website</a>.<br /><br /><br /><div>
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