GMO Food for Thought

An Indian newspaper just published an article quoting a fellow biotech expert Bruce M. Chassy on how genetic engineering can help solve the world food crisis. Chassy addresses the issue of a potential food crisis and the affect GM crops could have. He also defends the safety of genetically engineered foods. Read more below.

C.S. Prakash

Genetic engineering can help solve food crisis: US expert
Thaindian News
July 30, 2008

Kolkata, July 30 (IANS) Over 850 million people across the world will not be able to get a square meal by 2025 due to food shortage, but it can be tackled, at least partially, through genetic engineering, says American agricultural expert Bruce M. Chassy. The assistant dean (office of research) of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences at Illinois said: “By 2025, there will be a shortage of 400 billion tonnes of cereal grains that make up our staple diet.”

Speaking to IANS here, Chassy said: “Biotechnology, more precisely genetic engineering, can be a part of the solution, if not a complete answer, to this problem.

“Simultaneously we can produce biofuels to produce energy sustainably. But the drawback is that it can drive food prices” upwards.

Chassy does not think using genetically engineered seeds is at all complex for farmers. “Genetic farming is the easiest way to cultivate crops. All that farmers have to do is to plant the seeds and water them regularly. The genetically modified seeds are insect resistant, so there is no need to use huge amounts of pesticides.”

But is the method suited for developing countries like India since the genetically modified seeds are more expensive than ordinary ones?

Read more...

Posted by CS Prakash at 5:24 PM | Permalink

Ireland’s Chief Scientific Adviser Backs GM Foods

Abstract: An Irish Times article on Prof. Patrick Cunningham, Ireland’s chief scientific adviser, and his views about genetically modified foods was distributed by a member. Cunningham points out that GM food are everywhere and it’s nearly impossible to avoid. He also advocates for the safety of GM food and touts the benefits such as cost and improved yield for the farmer.

Source: Irish Times

Farmer in France Sued for Growing GM Maize

Abstract: A member posted an article from Le Monde in France on a group of organizations that are suing a small farmer for illegally growing genetically modified Monsanto MON810 maize, which was banned in February of this year. The group, led by Greenpeace, is traveling around France testing fields for the GM variety. A representative of Confédération Paysanne, one of the groups, stated that their intention was not to go after individual farmers, but rather to show that the moratorium is not being enforced.

Source: Le Monde (In French)

Posted by CS Prakash at 12:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

A well respected professor in Wales is speaking out in favor of biotechnology. Professor Wynne Jones of Harper Adams University College spoke to attendees of the Royal Welsh Show recently, warning them if farmers did not embrace GM technology they would not be able to compete with the rest of the world. Read more about what he said below.

C.S. Prakash

'Embrace GM or Be Left Behind' ; Don't Be Prejudiced Against Technology, Says Professor
Red Orbit
July 22, 2008

WALES was urged yesterday to put aside its "prejudice" against genetically modified food as world food and fuel prices increase.

A respected academic warned at the Royal Welsh Show that farmers would be disadvantaged if Wales did not embrace GM technology.

But opponents claimed GM crops would not necessarily be cheaper or address farming's main challenge - reducing energy consumption.

Professor Wynne Jones, of Harper Adams University College, Shropshire, praised the Welsh Assembly Government for investing in the new Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences at Aberystwyth.

He also acknowledged widespread consumer resistance in Europe to GM food, but said the public needed to be educated about the technology.

"We must show leadership, and we must encourage young people to take up science," he said. "It's up to us as educationalists and scientists to inform the public and have a debate based on fact and not heated emotions.

Read more...

Posted by CS Prakash at 4:45 PM | Permalink

Red Orbit posted the following article today on the need for more farmers to plant biotech crops. In addition to touting its benefits, the article discusses successes. It’s definitely worth the read.

C.S. Prakash

Science Supersizes Crops
Red Orbit
July 21, 2008

A new "supercorn" with eight genetic modifications that make it even more highly resistant to insects and weed killers than earlier versions is just one of the agricultural developments Americans will see over the next several years as scientific advances enable technicians to customize crop plants with stacks of genes, biotechnology expert Clive James said.

Mr. James stressed the need for genetically modified crops to help farmers grow more food on fewer acres as the world is running out of land and water while the population is expected to climb to 9 billion by 2015.

"In the next 50 years, the global population will consume twice as much food as the global population has consumed since the beginning of agriculture 10,000 years ago," Mr. James, chairman of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, told reporters and editors Wednesday at The Washington Times. "You have a choice: You can think of it as a problem, or we think of it as an opportunity."

Twelve million farmers in 23 countries are now using crops that have been enhanced with additional genes to achieve benefits such as resistance to pests and viruses, according to 2007 data from ISAAA, a nonprofit focused on spreading biotechnology to alleviate hunger and poverty in developing countries. Meanwhile, biotech crop area grew last year by 12 percent to about 285 million acres.

The U.S. is the world's largest user of biotech crops, with about 80 percent of processed food including genetically modified soybeans or corn, Mr. James said. Ten other industrialized nations and 12 developing countries use the technology, which was commercialized in 1996.

Read more...

Posted by CS Prakash at 4:40 PM | Permalink

DuPont just received regulatory approval on a soybean variety that is resistant to weed killers, the company's first proprietary genetically modified crop. DuPont's Pioneer Hi-Bred business unit plans to launch demonstration plots next year of soybeans with Optimum GAT, a genetically engineered trait that helps crops resist several types of herbicides. DuPont hopes to release the crop commercially by 2011.

C.S. Prakash

DuPont gains approval for modified soybeans
Delaware Online
July 18, 2008

DuPont Co. has received U.S. regulatory approval for soybeans that resist weed killers, an important step toward launching the company's first proprietary genetically modified crops.

DuPont's Pioneer Hi-Bred business unit plans to launch demonstration plots next year of soybeans with Optimum GAT, a genetically engineered trait that helps crops resist several types of herbicides.

The technology is a crucial part of DuPont's strategy for capturing a greater share of the North American market for corn and soybean seeds, as well as ending hundreds of millions of dollars in royalty payments to its top competitor in agriculture.

Genetically engineered seeds incorporate genes from other organisms to impart a certain trait, like herbicide or insect resistance, to crops.

DuPont licenses a yield-enhancing trait and a herbicide-resistance trait called Roundup Ready from St. Louis-based Monsanto Co. In the next eight years, the company expects to pay about $725 million to Monsanto for Roundup Ready corn alone, according to a financial filing. Neither DuPont nor Monsanto would disclose royalty payments for the other traits.

Read more...

Posted by CS Prakash at 5:32 PM | Permalink

I found the following article in the Prairie Star today. Europeans are starting to accept the idea of genetically modified foods. The article addresses the need for transgenic wheat and the current development of a drought-tolerant version in Australia.

C.S. Prakash

Tide could now be turning for transgenic wheat
The Prairie Star
July 18, 2008

With world wheat stocks at historic lows, some longtime opponents of transgenic (often called genetically modified organisms) are coming to the realization that, without increased adaptation of transgenics, the world's farmers cannot produce enough safe, wholesome food to feed its people.

According to a non-profit, farmer-founded interest group called Growers for Biotechnology, recent comments by European governments are an indication that public opinion is turning the corner.

A news article posted on the Web site, www.growersforbiotechnology.org, reports that in late June, Great Britain's Environment Minister, Phil Woolas, addressed the world's food price crisis with this comment: “There is a growing question of whether GM crops can help the developing world out of the current food price crisis.

It is a question that we as a nation need to ask ourselves.

The debate is already under way. Many people concerned about poverty in the developing world and the environment are wrestling with this issue.”

Europe's resistance to transgenic crops has been one of the main obstacles to more rapid adoption of the technology around the world.

Developing African nations, even those with mass starvation, have rejected transgenics out of fear that they might lose the opportunity to sell any surplus crops to Europe. Now, with a global food shortage exacerbating hunger around the world, the United Kingdom is beginning to see that Europe's resistance cannot be sustained.

Raed more...

Posted by CS Prakash at 4:27 PM | Permalink

South Africa’s Agricultural Research Council (ARC) has developed a new potato variety resistant to the potato tuber moth, a major pest causing millions worth of harvest loss in major crops. According to the article, the crop is currently awaiting approval from the government. Once approved, the crop will move to farmer participatory trials under unconfined conditions and steps will be taken to prepare for commercial release. Sounds promising

C.S. Prakash

South Africa develops new GM potato variety
Tootooeub51 blog
July 15, 2008

South Africa’s Agricultural Research Council (ARC) has developed anew potato variety resistant to the potato tuber moth, a majorpests causing millions worth of harvest loss in major solanaceouscrops.

The transgenic potato SpuntaG2, developed through the support ofthe United States Agency for International development (USAID), nowawaits safety assessment and general release approval from thenational authorities.

The approval will enable the ARC to initiate farmer participatorytrials under unconfined conditions and develop a certification andlabeling system to prepare for commercial release of improvedpotato varieties.

SpuntaG2 is the first publicly-funded genetically modified crop toenter the safety approval process in South Africa.

The new variety performed well in field trials.

Environmental studies further showed that the GM crop controls thepotato tuber moth without affecting other organisms.

Read more...

Posted by CS Prakash at 8:24 PM | Permalink

China to Promote GM Crops

Abstract: Members of AgBioWorld discussed an announcement that China’s government has “decided to give broad support for genetically modified crops.” The Chinese cabinet approved a “master plan” for transgenic crops last week, urging relevant authorities to "waste no time to implement the programme and understand the importance and urgency of the programme". Several members voiced that they hoped Europe was taking notice of this decision, pointing out that with India and China growing “officially” growing genetically modified crops, almost half of the world’s population is growing GM crops.

Source: Reuters via Truth about Trade & Technology

The Success of Biotechnology Around the World

Abstract: Members praised an article written by Robert Wager on the success stories in the agricultural biotechnology arena. Wager writes that the world is facing a food crisis and biotechnology can help. He then goes on to list some of the successes including biotech maize, bananas, potatoes and wheat. Members also suggested two other articles of similar nature, “Will Rising Food Prices Reduce Poverty? (They Can, but They Won't),” by Raj M. Desa and “It's not the price that causes hunger,” by Robert Paarlberg.

Sources: Korea Times (Wager article)
Brookings Institution (Desa article)
International Herald Tribune (Paarlberg article)

AgBioWorld Members Create Virtual “Bookshelf”

Abstract: Last week members chimed in on a agbiotech bookshelf – a list of books on biotechnology that those interested could find helpful in understanding the issue. After lengthy discussions on what should and should not be included, a complete list was posted on AgBioWorld at the link below.

Source: AgBioWorld Bookshelf

Posted by CS Prakash at 4:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

I ran across the following Houston Chronicle interview with Norman Borlaug on the topic of rising food prices. The author asks Borlaug about rising food costs, high yield crops and the fear of genetically modified foods. Read on and let me know what you think.

C.S. Prakash

No easy solutions to food price rise
Houston Chronicle
July 13, 2008

Norman Borlaug won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1970 for his work in developing more productive strains of wheat and working to ensure their adoption around the world. During a recent phone interview with science writer Eric Berger, the 94-year-old distinguished professor at Texas A&M University said there are no simple solutions to the current crunch in food prices.

Q: Are you surprised at the price increases in wheat, corn, rice and other basic foodstuffs, some of which have tripled in just a few years?

A: I'm not surprised. The energy problem and the food problem are tangled up together. Many of the things that go into our food production system, like fuel for tractors and machines, and for fertilizer, have energy costs. Then there's the transport system for delivering goods. In addition, there may be speculation also. It's hard to isolate all of these factors. One change in government policy won't rectify all of these interacting complications.

Q: Do you worry about food riots around the world if prices continue to rise?

A: This is going on already in a few of the hardest pressed countries. Hunger is a pretty great force, especially if a country has seen things getting better and now it's going in another direction. People don't want to lose this progress, so they react in strikes and civic disorders of various kinds.

Q: Give me an example of a country that's made progress in its food supply.

A: India became self-sufficient in basic foods in the middle 1980s. Their production of basic cereal grains went from less than 11 million tons in 1965 to 75 million tons at the turn of the century. Today, they're eating more meat than they ever ate before. And meat requires more grain to feed animals. Now, with the increased price of food, some people are going to be pushed back into a shortage of food.

Read more...

Posted by CS Prakash at 5:19 PM | Permalink

Reuters just reported that China’s cabinet approved a “huge” budget for research of genetically modified crops. Chinese scientists said the program includes a large increase for GMO research, and a big portion to develop safety measures for GMO crops until the year 2020.

C.S. Prakash

China approves big budget for GMO amid food worries
Reuters
July 10, 2008

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's cabinet has approved a huge budget for research of genetically modified crops amid growing concerns over food security, a move scientists say may speed up commercial production of GMO rice or corn.

The State Council, or cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao, gave the green light on Wednesday to a program aimed at promoting indigenous genetically modified crops (GMO), Xinhua news agency said.

Although the Xinhua report gave few details of the program, Chinese scientists said it included a large increase for GMO research, including a big portion to develop safety measures for GMO crops until the year 2020.

"There is significant growth in budget at between 4 to 5 billion Yuan ($584- 730 million) in the coming years," Lu Barong, a professor with Fusan University and also a member of the country's biosafety committee with the agriculture ministry, told Reuters.

"Particularly a large budget was allocated on GMO safety research," said Lu.

Xinhua said the program aims to obtain genes with great potential commercial value whose intellectual property rights belong to China, and to develop high-quality, high-yield and pest-resistant genetically modified new species.

Read more...

Posted by CS Prakash at 8:44 PM | Permalink

The Grand Island Independent reported on the growth of biotech crops in the US. The article boosts that 80 percent of the nation’s corn crop is of the biotechnology varieties and 92 percent of the nation’s soybean crop has biotech traits. Amazingly, South Dakota farmers currently plant 95 percent of their soybean crops with biotech traits.

C.S. Prakash

Genetically engineered crops continue to grow in Nebraska
The Grand Island Independent
July 10, 2008

GRAND ISLAND — While genetically engineered crops remain a source of controversy worldwide, Nebraska and U.S. farmers have aggressively adapted to these new crop varieties since 1996, according to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

According to a recent USDA acreage report, 80 percent of the nation's corn crop is of biotechnology varieties and 92 percent of the nation's soybean crop is of biotech varieties.

The number of biotech corn acres planted this year was up from 73 percent last year, and biotech soybean acres are up from 91 percent from last year.

In Nebraska, farmers planted 9 million acres for all purposes in 2008, down 4 percent from last year but still the second largest planted area since 1936. Biotechnology varieties accounted for 86 percent of the planted acreage, up from 79 percent last year.

State soybean producers planted 4.75 million acres, up 25 percent from the previous year. Biotechnology varieties resistant to herbicides accounted for 97 percent of the planted acreage, up from 96 percent last year.

Nationwide, Nebraska is tied with South Dakota and Mississippi in the percentage of soybean acres planted to biotech varieties. Nebraska was fifth in corn biotech varieties behind South Dakota, 95 percent; Kansas, 90 percent; North Dakota, 89 percent; and Minnesota, 88 percent.

In Nebraska, 27 percent of the corn acres were planted to BT varieties that kill insects, down from 31 percent in 2007. Herbicide-resistant biotech varieties of corn planted in Nebraska were up from 23 percent last year to 24 percent this year. Stack gene varieties, which contain insecticide and herbicide traits, were up from 25 percent last year to 35 percent this year.

Read more...

Posted by CS Prakash at 4:41 PM | Permalink

Monsanto’s Colin Merritt recently gave a speech at a seminar organized by McDonalds and the Guild of Agricultural Journalists in the United Kingdom. The following article quotes Merritt as saying that people in Europe “would be foolish to dismiss the contribution biotech could make,” especially with all of the new technology and advancements in the field. Read more about his speech below.

C.S. Prakash

Innovation will drive GM crops, says Monsanto boss
Press and Journal
July 4, 2008

New innovations will speed up the acceptance of genetically modified crops to a doubting European audience, one of the bosses of biotech giant Monsanto told a seminar at the show.

Colin Merritt said with the rest of the world adopting GM there was growing pressure on Europe to speed up its approvals process and change its stance on what he viewed as a now proven – and safe – technology.

He told the seminar, organised by McDonalds and the Guild of Agricultural Journalists, that GM and molecular plant genetics were part of the solution to ensuring food security.

People would be foolish to dismiss the contribution biotech could make, part- icularly with breeders concentrating on producing new crops that used less water and nitrogen fertilisers and which could deliver health benefits by adding friendly fatty acids such as omega 3 into them.

Mr Merritt believed breeders could over the next 15-20 years more than double the current yields of a range of staple crops such as soya, oilseeds, cotton and soya.

Read more...

Posted by CS Prakash at 8:28 PM | Permalink

I found this interesting video on YouTube today titled "What's for Lunch?" Produced by the International Food Information Council (IFIC), the short video interviews people on their thoughts about biotech and organic food. The host, who adds some humor to the video, also interviews a farmer who uses conventional and organic farming methods. Go check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8n2HO81RtiA

Posted by CS Prakash at 2:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

GMO Compass posted news from the US Department of Agriculture announcing biotech crops were cultivated on nearly 60 million hectares in 2008, an increase of 10 percent from last year. The article claims increases in biotech maize and soybeans and a slight decrease in biotech cotton. The article also states that biotech soybeans are used on more than 95 percent of farms in Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota and Nebraska.

C.S. Prakash

USA 2008: GM cultivation almost at 60 million hectares
GMO Compass
July 1, 2008

For farmers in the USA, genetically modified (GM) crops are a matter of course. In 2008, GM crops were cultivated on almost 60 million hectares. This represents a growth of ten per cent in comparison to 2007, as can be read in the cultivation statistics published on 30 June by the US-American Department of Agriculture.

A significant expansion of GM lines has been observed for maize. The cultivation of GM types increased by seven percentage points and now represents 80 percent of all planted maize. Almost one half of GM maize used in 2008 displays combined resistance to insects and herbicides (due to the presence of ‘stacked genes’). However, the field surface occupied by GM maize has remained almost unchanged (with a slight rise from 27.4 to 27.7 million hectares) as a result of a general reduction in maize area.

In the case of soybean, GM varieties have attained near-exclusivity. Having risen by one percentage point, such soybeans now comprise 92 per cent of total soybean cultivation. This figure rises to more than 95 per cent in the states of Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, South Dakota and Nebraska. Since significantly greater quantities of soybean were planted in comparison to the previous year, the cultivated field area of GM soybean has risen from 23.6 to 27.7 million hectares.

GM cotton has fallen slightly from 87 to 86 per cent. The total field area for cotton in the USA has attained its lowest acreage since 1983 and now occupies only 3.7 million hectares. Consequently, the field area for GM cotton has been reduced to 3.2 million hectares (2007: 3.9 million hectares).

Read more...

Posted by CS Prakash at 4:25 PM | Permalink