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Agricultural Biotechnologies
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The News items relate to applications of biotechnologies in food and agriculture in developing countries and their major focus is on the activities of FAO, other UN agencies/bodies and the 15 CGIAR research centres. The News items cover all food and agricultural sectors (crops, forestry, fisheries/aquaculture, livestock, agro-industry) and a wide range of biotechnologies (e.g. use of molecular markers, artificial insemination, triploidisation, biofertilisers, micropropagation, genomics, genetic modification etc.). New documents are included as News if they are freely available on the web and, for people who can't download them or who wish further information, an e-mail contact is also provided. The News service was launched in January 2002 and all News items posted since then (there were 800 in the first 9 years) are available here. The news and event items on this website are also disseminated through an e-mail newsletter called FAO-BiotechNews that is published in six different versions, one per language i.e. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. To subscribe, send a message to [email protected] indicating which e-mail addresses are to be subscribed and in which language they wish to receive the newsletter.
02/09/2005
Issue number 15 (July 2005) of the OECD Biotechnology Update has just been published. The 22-page newsletter aims to provide up-to-date information on the diverse activities at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) related to biotechnology. See http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/21/38/35164851.pdf or contact [email protected] for more information.
01/09/2005
As part of its EPTD (Environment and Production Technology Division) Discussion Papers series, the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has published "Analysis for biotechnology innovations using strategic environmental assessment (SEA)" by N.A. Linacre and co-authors. The paper considers use of SEA in a policy research and priority setting process regarding new technologies, taking genetically modified crops as an example. See http://www.ifpri.org/divs/eptd/dp/eptdp140.htm or contact [email protected] for more information.
16/07/2005
This marks the 50th Update of FAO-BiotechNews, which was first launched in English in January 2002. The Updates have carried almost 500 news and event items relevant to applications of biotechnology in the crop, forestry, animal, fishery and agro-industrial sectors of developing countries, focusing mainly on the activities of FAO, other UN agencies/bodies and the 15 CGIAR research centres. They can be searched in Arabic, Chinese, English, French or Spanish at http://www.fao.org/biotech/archive.asp. On this occasion, we are also happy to announce, in collaboration with the FAO Regional Office for Europe, the launching of FAO-BiotechNews-Ru, the Russian version of this e-mail newsletter. To subscribe, send an e-mail to [email protected] with the subject blank and the following one-line text message:subscribe FAO-BiotechNews-Ru-L
15/07/2005
In a press release of 13 July 2005, FAO reports that research and applications of biotechnology in forestry are advancing rapidly and it calls for systematic assessment of genetically modified trees. The press release follows publication of a new global study of biotechnology in forestry conducted by FAO. Of the over 2,700 major biotechnology activities reported in the world over the last 10 years, the study indicates that 34% were related to micropropagation, 26% to use of molecular markers for diversity studies, 21% to mapping, marker assisted selection and genomics and, finally, 19% to genetic modification. See the press release ( http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2005/1000236/index.html - in Arabic, English, French and Spanish), the global study ( http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/ae574e/ae574e00.htm) or contact [email protected] for more information.
14/07/2005
On 9-11 February 2005, FAO`s Crop and Grassland Service organised a workshop entitled "The way forward to strengthen national plant breeding and biotechnology capacity" in Rome, Italy. The objectives were to bring together participants from developing countries of Africa, Asia and South America, representing a variety of backgrounds and expertise, to discuss the problem of the decline in plant breeding and how this might be remedied. The workshop aimed to provide guidance on, and detail linkages between, modern and traditional plant breeding. The necessary move from conservation of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) to sustainable use was also a major discussion point. See the workshop report at http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/af081e/af081e00.htm or contact [email protected] for more information.
13/07/2005
The FAO e-mail conference entitled "The role of biotechnology for the characterisation and conservation of crop, forest, animal and fishery genetic resources in developing countries" is now finished. It ran from 6 June to 3 July 2005, about 650 people subscribed and 127 messages were posted, from people in 38 different countries. Over 60% of messages came from developing countries. Of the biotechnologies discussed, most focus was on molecular markers with much less emphasis on cryopreservation or in vitro culture. Discussions covered a wide range of issues relevant to crop, forest, animal and fishery genetic resources, such as the potential role or value that markers have for prioritising populations for conservation purposes or for characterising different populations; advantages and disadvantages of different marker systems; potential importance of DNA banks; international collaboration and capacity building; and low cost options for tissue culture. The messages are available at http://www.fao.org/biotech/logs/c13logs.htm or can be requested as a single e-mail (size 184 KB) from [email protected].
12/07/2005
As part of the International Year of Rice, FAO organised the International Rice Conference on 12-13 February 2004 in Rome, Italy. The main theme of the second day was "Sustainable rice-based production systems: Challenges and opportunities". The International Rice Commission (IRC) has now published the 12 papers from this session (including e.g. "Potentials and limitations of biotechnology in rice" by R. Coffman, S.R. McCouch and R.W. Herdt), plus an introductory Overview section, as IRC Newsletter 53. The IRC works within the framework of FAO and currently has 61 member countries. See http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/y5682e/y5682e00.htm or contact [email protected] for more information.
11/07/2005
As part of the FAO Plant Production and Protection Series, FAO`s Crop and Grassland Service has just published "Fodder oats: A world overview", edited by J.M. Suttie and S.G. Reynolds. The 13-chapter book brings together information on the state of fodder oats worldwide, and is aimed mainly at agronomists and extension workers. Information from all regions of the world is provided by contributing authors who are regional experts in their field and particular attention is given to countries where fodder oats are, or are becoming, important in the smallholder sector. The book also provides some information on breeding programmes in different regions, describing e.g. hybridisation, wide crossing and tissue culture in China. See http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/y5765e/y5765e00.htm or contact [email protected] to request a copy.
10/07/2005
On 20-23 February 2002, an Expert consultation on biosafety and environmental impact of genetic enhancement and introduction of improved and alien species in Africa was held in Nairobi, Kenya, organised by the WorldFish Center in collaboration with FAO, the Convention on Biological Diversity, Technical Center for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation, World Conservation Union and United Nations Environment Programme. Proceedings of the meeting, edited by M.V. Gupta, D.M. Bartley and B.O. Acosta, are now available entitled "Use of genetically improved and alien species for aquaculture and conservation of aquatic biodiversity in Africa". The proceedings review "the potential and constraints for aquaculture development in Africa, the status and potential for genetic improvement, introductions and risks of introduced improved and alien species, and tools and policies for introductions and movements of improved and alien species". See http://www.worldfishcenter.org/Pubs/alien_species/alien-species.htm or contact [email protected] for more information.
09/07/2005
The July 2005 newsletter (nr. 42) from the Animal Production and Health Section of the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture and the FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratory is now available. The newsletter, issued twice a year, gives an overview of past and upcoming projects, publications and events. See http://www.iaea.org/programmes/nafa/d3/public/ap-nl-42.pdf (1.2 MB) or contact [email protected] for more information.
08/07/2005
In April 2002, the Department of Food Safety, Zoonoses and Foodborne Diseases (formerly the Food Safety Department) of the World Health Organisation commissioned a study of the human health and development implications of genetically modified (GM) organisms and food products. The study involved a wide range of stakeholders, including FAO, the United Nations Environment Programme, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and other international organizations. The report of the study, entitled "Modern food biotechnology, human health and development: an evidence-based study", has now been published. It presents an evidence-based analysis of GM foods in relation to several areas of interest. These areas are: the current and future use of GM foods, human health and environmental risk considerations for GM foods, the need for capacity building in developing countries, the issue of food security and social and ethical concerns as they relate to GM foods. See http://www.who.int/foodsafety/biotech/who_study/en/index.html (in English, French and Spanish) or contact [email protected] for more information.
07/07/2005
The report of the 2nd meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP/2), that took place from 30 May to 3 June 2005 in Montreal, Canada, is now available in all six official UN languages (i.e. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish). See document UNEP/CBD/BS/COP-MOP/2/15 at http://www.biodiv.org/doc/meeting.aspx?mtg=MOP-02. In addition, the 19-page report of the 1st meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group of Legal and Technical Experts on Liability and Redress in the Context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, held on 25-27 May 2005 in Montreal, Canada, is also available on the same webpage in these six languages (document UNEP/CBD/BS/COP-MOP/2/11). Contact [email protected] if requiring further information.
06/07/2005
The report of the 2nd meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention (i.e. the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters), that took place on 25-27 May 2005 in Almaty, Kazakhstan, is now available. At the meeting, Decision II/1 on Genetically Modified Organisms (ECE/MP.PP/2005/2/Add.2) was adopted. See the report, together with the decisions adopted and relevant documents, at http://www.unece.org/env/pp/mop2/mop2.decisions.htm or contact [email protected] for more information.
05/07/2005
The 7th issue of the UNEP-GEF Biosafety Newsletter was published in June 2005. The 4-page newsletter gives an update on UNEP-GEF (United Nations Environment Programme - Global Environment Facility) projects on participation in the Biosafety Clearing House and on the development and implementation of national biosafety frameworks. The previous issue was published in September 2004. See http://www.unep.ch/biosafety/newsletter/newsletter_7.pdf or contact [email protected] for more information.
04/07/2005
As part of the Global Biotechnology Forum, organised by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the Government of Chile, the Forestry Biotechnology Workshop was held on 3-5 March 2004 in Concepcíon, Chile. Proceedings of the workshop, edited by R. Kellison, S. McCord and K.M.A. Gartland, are now available. Apart from a keynote address on the future of forest biotechnology, papers were presented on three main topics - propagation and cloning; molecular markers and proteomics; and GMOs in forestry. See http://www.forestbiotech.org/pdffiles/ChlePDFfinal31Jan2005.pdf (1.8 MB) or contact [email protected] for more information.
03/07/2005
The 73rd General Session of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) took place on 22-27 May 2005 in Paris, France. Technical Item II was dedicated to "Applications of genetic engineering for livestock and biotechnology products", where a 21-page document (by A.A. Mackenzie) was presented, based mainly on answers received from OIE Member Countries to a questionnaire on this subject, and where Resolution XXVIII was adopted. The OIE is an inter-governmental organisation with 167 Member Countries. See http://www.oie.int/eng/oie/actes/en_rfinal.htm (in English, French and Spanish) or contact [email protected] for more information.
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