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Wednesday, January 31, 2018
Join the Conversation on Biotech
We would like to hear from you! ISAAA is on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, and Blogger. Please like and follow our social media pages and join the discussions on biotech. Let your voice be heard!
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Trending News on Crop Biotech in 2017
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.
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.
"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 Euractiv,
which was published after the EU court ruled that prejudices on GM
foods are unfounded.
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.
8. DEVELOPMENT OF CANKER-RESISTANT CITRUS THROUGH CRISPR-CAS9 EDITING OF SUSCEPTIBILITY GENE PROMOTER
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 CsLOB1 promoter in citrus, which led to
mutation lines with enhanced resistance to citrus canker compared to wild
types.
Mozambique 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.
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 (biofortification) and the tolerance to abiotic and biotic
stresses.
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.
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.
Dow AgroSciences LLC researchers evaluated the impact of
stacking genetically modified 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.
Incheon National University 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.
University of Tokyo 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.
Never miss the latest news on
agri-biotechnology in 2018. Get FREE Crop Biotech Update subscription now! Go to www.isaaa.org/subscribe.
Written by Kristine Grace N. Tome, Program Associate at ISAAA.
Written by Kristine Grace N. Tome, Program Associate at ISAAA.
Tuesday, January 09, 2018
How Filipino News Writers Define Biotechnology
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.
The study Seventeen
Years of Media Reportage of Modern Biotechnology in the Philippines,
published in the April 2017 issue of the Philippine Journal of Crop
Science, found that Filipino news writers define modern biotechnology
differently, but most of them do not define it at all.
The study analyzed articles on modern crop
biotechnology released from 2000 to 2016 in major Philippine newspapers
including Manila Bulletin, Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Business Mirror (2010-2016
only).
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.
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.”
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.
Sources:
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.
ISAAA. 2017. From Fear to Facts: 17 Years of Agri-biotech Reporting in the Philippines (2000-2016). http://isaaa.org/resources/publications/fromfeartofacts/download/From_Fear_to_Facts.pdf.
Monday, December 11, 2017
Clive James and ISAAA: Top Sources of Info on Biotech in the Philippines
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.
The study Seventeen Years of Media Reportage of Modern Biotechnology in the Philippines, published in the April 2017 issue of the Philippine Journal of Crop Science, reported
that Dr. Clive James, the Founder and Emeritus Chair of ISAAA, 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 Manila Bulletin,
Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer and Business Mirror (for 2010-2016 only).
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.
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%).
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.
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, ISAAA (31 times). The articles
citing Dr. James and ISAAA usually quoted details from their annual report on
global adoption of biotech crops. In 2016 alone, the ISAAA report titled 20th Anniversary (1996 to 2015) of the Global Commercialization of Biotech Crops and Biotech Crop Highlights in 2015 (ISAAA Brief 51) was mentioned in 2,843
articles worldwide including top news agencies such as USA Today, New YorkTimes, and Financial Times, 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
ISAAA are credible sources of information, particularly on biotech crop
adoption and its benefits.
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 uprooted the Bt eggplant on field trial at the University of the Philippine Los Baños (UPLB) in 2011.
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.
The other sources of
information mentioned over 10 times from 2010 to 2016 were:
- Candida Adalla, previous head of DA Biotechnology Program Office
- Emil Q. Javier, National Academy of Science and Technology president, former UP president and UPLB chancellor
- Roger Navarro, Philippine Maize Federation president
- Randy A. Hautea, ISAAA Global Coordinator and Director of ISAAA SEAsiaCenter
- World Health Organization
- Chito Medina, Environmentalist and Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (MASIPAG) National Coordinator
- Clarito Baron, former director of Bureau of Plant Industry
- Segfredo Serrano, Agriculture Undersecretary for Policy
- Desiree Hautea, Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II Regional Coordinator and Product Development Manager
- Gil C. Saguiguit, Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) Director
- Greenpeace
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.
Written by Kristine Grace N. Tome, Program Associate at ISAAA.
Sources:
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.
ISAAA. 2017. From Fear to Facts: 17 Years of Agri-biotech Reporting in the Philippines (2000-2016). http://isaaa.org/resources/publications/fromfeartofacts/download/From_Fear_to_Facts.pdf.
Monday, June 05, 2017
ISAAA Brief 52 Launched in Beijing, Manila, Yogyakarta, and Tokyo
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.
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
BEIJING, CHINA
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.
On May 5, a seminar was held at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which was attended by 120 scientists, members of the academe , and students. Drs. Teng and Aldemita presented the highlights of 2016 report . 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.
The media conference held on May 4, 2017 at China Wold Hotel 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.
Read the Crop Biotech Update article here.
MANILA, PHILIPPINES
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.
Dr. Teng presented the report, including the global impact and future prospects of biotech crops. SEARCA Director Dr. Gil C. Saguiguit , Jr. said that the 2016 figures surpass previous records and attest to the effectiveness and benefits of biotechnology.
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. Vivencio R. Mamaril , reported on the biosafety 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 biosafety 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 Bt eggplant, PRSV-R papaya, Bt cotton, and Golden Rice.
Read the Crop Biotech Update article here.
YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA
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 academe , local government representatives, media practitioners, and students. Ir . Arofa Noor Indriani MSI, Director of Food Security Agency of Yogyakarta Province, graced the event and gave the welcome message.
Dr. Aldemita 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 agri -biotech research.
Drs. Aldemita 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.
Read the Crop Biotech Update article here.
TOKYO, JAPAN
Dr. Aldemita 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, academe , and the industry.
During the seminar launch, Dr. Fusao Tomita, director of Nippon Biotechnology Information Center (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.
Read the Crop Biotech Update article here.
For more information about ISAAA, visit http://www.isaaa.org/, or follow ISAAA on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/isaaa.org) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/isaaa_org).
Thursday, May 04, 2017
Biotech/GM Crops Surge to a New Peak of 185.1 Million Hectares in 2016
Global area rebounds from 2015 as farmers continue to adopt biotech crops
“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,” said Dr. Paul S. Teng, ISAAA Board Chair. “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.”
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.
“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.”
- Dr. Randy A. Hautea, ISAAA Global Coordinator
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.
“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.”
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.
For 2016, ISAAA also reports 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.
Additional highlights from ISAAA’s 2016 report include:
- 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.
- 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.
- Eight countries in Asia and the Pacific, including China and India, grew 18.6 million hectare of biotech crops in 2016.
- 10 countries in Latin America, including Paraguay and Uruguay, grew a combined 80 million hectares of biotech crops in 2016.
- 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.
- 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.
- Biotech crops with stacked traits accounted for 41% of global area, second only to herbicide tolerance at 47%.
- 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.
- 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.
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Trending News on Crop Biotech in 2016
Have you heard about the pink pineapple with high lycopene content developed by Del Monte? How about bananas with longer shelf-life? These are just some of the juicy news on crop biotech in 2016.
We gathered the top 10 most trending Crop Biotech Update news shared on Facebook to give you a glimpse of crop biotech happenings in 2016. Read on and make sure you don't miss which news made it to the number one spot.
The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) conducted a Joint Department Circular (JDC) Public Briefing & Symposium on Agricultural Modernization on September 15, 2016 at the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 2 Experiment Station in Ilagan, Isabela in the Philippines. Read more.
Researchers from the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at University of Copenhagen have shown, for the first time, that the production of a plant hormone by a beneficial microbe is protecting a plant from a pathogenic microbe by inducing plant resistance. Read more.
4. SCIENTISTS RESTRICT CRY1AC EXPRESSION TO BITING SITES IN BIOTECH COTTON
Tomato fruit borer (Helicoverpa armigera) is one of the most damaging pests in tomato production, especially in India. Tomatoes do not have genes that confer resistance against the borer and conventional efforts to manage the pest were ineffective. Thus, a team of Indian scientists used Bt technology to develop fruit borer resistant tomatoes. Read more.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) completed the evaluation of genetically engineered pink flesh pineapple and concluded that it is as safe and nutritious as its conventional pineapple varieties. Read more.
Filipino farmer leaders participated in a two-day study visit to Bt brinjal (eggplant) farms in Bangladesh last February 23 to 26, 2016. Discussions on biotechnology regulations in Bangladesh, research and development of Bt brinjal, and farmer experiences on planting Bt brinjal were conducted with officials from the Bangladesh government and scientists from the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI). The activities included field visits to Bt brinjal planting sites, interactions with Bt brinjal farmers as well as Bt brinjal tasting. The activities were held in two villages in Bogra, Bangladesh. Read more.
Cairo University students under the BSc Biotechnology program launched the Scientific Square Radio (SSR). It is the first scientific radio station in Egypt and is located at the Central Library, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University. Egypt Biotechnology Information Center (EBIC) highly supported the initiative. Read more.
4. SCIENTISTS RESTRICT CRY1AC EXPRESSION TO BITING SITES IN BIOTECH COTTON
Scientists from University of Ankara, Turkey and partners developed plant expression constructs with cry1Ac gene under the wound-inducible promoter AoPR1 to concentrate Bt gene expression in insect wounding parts of the plants. Read more.
3. UGANDA'S FIRST FIELD OBSERVATION OF GM POTATO SHOWS EXTREME RESISTANCE TO LATE BLIGHT
The first field trial of genetically modified (GM) potatoes resistant to potato blight conducted in Uganda from October 2015 to January 2016 has been completed at the Kachwekano Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (KaZARDI) of the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO). Read more.
The first field trial of genetically modified (GM) potatoes resistant to potato blight conducted in Uganda from October 2015 to January 2016 has been completed at the Kachwekano Zonal Agricultural Research and Development Institute (KaZARDI) of the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO). Read more.
U.S President Barack Obama signed the GM food labeling bill into law. The bill was drafted by Senators Pat Roberts and Debbie Stabenow, which aims to prevent states from issuing mandatory labeling laws and require food manufacturers to use one of three different labels for GM food products: (1) label with U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) symbol indicating the presence of GMOs; (2) label using plain language; or (3) add a scanning code that links to ingredient details. Read more.
Scientists from Agricultural Research Organization in Israel have developed transgenic banana plants with longer shelf-life by reducing expression of two transcription factors. The results are published in Plant Physiology. Read more.
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