Program for Biosafety Systems

Malawi’s BioEROC “Biotechnology Update” Newsletter (October 2009: Volume 8, Issue 5)

ccronquist — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:57:00 +0000

The October edition of “Biotech update-Vol 8 Issue 5.1” features stories on: GM cotton field trials in India as well as Uganda; information on what confined field trials entail; stories on benefits from GM peas and GM soya; Bill Gates with hopes for the next ‘green revolution’; and much more! Biotechnology Update is published by Malawi’s Biotechnology-Ecology Research and Outreach Consortium (BioEROC), a PBS partner organization.

Gates speech at 2009 World Food Prize

ccronquist — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:41:33 +0000

Microsoft founder Bill Gates, co-chair and trustee of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, spoke this week at the 2009 World Food Prize Symposium held in Des Moines, Iowa. Gates noted that environmentalists opposed to using genetically modified crops in Africa are hindering efforts to end hunger on the continent. The New American reports here: “Gates Says Environmentalism Hurting Africa” and read Bill Gates’ entire speech at the World Food Prize Symposium here.

Cotton confined field trial communications and awareness seminar in Uganda

ccronquist — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:48:58 +0000

Uganda has established confined field trials (CFTs) of transgenic cotton at two separate locations. The first cotton CFT communications and awareness seminar was held at Serere on October 7, 2009 and involved various stakeholders within Soroti district and the local community. The Chairperson of Soroti District Local government, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Mr. Michael Bwalatum, and journalists from local and national media houses were some of the participants at the seminar. A total of 34 participants were in attendance. This seminar is part of several efforts to support successful implementation of the cotton CFTs in Uganda and to ensure that stakeholders in neighbourhood of the trial appreciate the importance of the cotton CFT project. Participants toured the CFT fields at the National Semi-Arid Resources Research Institute (NaSARRI); they saw and touched the GM cotton plants. The trial manager explained the confined measures being enforced. Participants were able to see the tolerance of the herbicide tolerant or HT lines to the Roundup herbicide, and the effect of the herbicide on non-HT lines. Participants noted the vigour of the local check variety (BPA 2002) and advised that desirable traits in the GM varieties should be incorporated in the local varieties. The ginneries in Uganda are operating at about 20% capacity, ginners in attendance narrated, so a technology that can boost productivity is most appropriate as long as the cotton prices are also farmer friendly. The seminar was organized by PBS, the Science Foundation for Livelihoods and Development (Scifode) and the National Agricultural Research Organisation (NARO). The event was widely captured by the print media, including one of Uganda’s major newspapers, the Daily Monitor. On October 14, 2009, the Monitor featured an article entitled “Uganda’s GM cotton trials are promising” which also includes viewpoints by the Chairman of the Uganda Cotton Ginners and Exporters Association. Also on October 14, 2009, New Vision Online posted the article, “GMO cotton growing thrives in Soroti.” For more information, please contact PBS-Uganda country coordinator, Theresa Sengooba at t.sengooba@cgiar.org

Malawi’s BioEROC “Biotechnology Update” Newsletter (September 2009: Volume 8, Issue 4)

ccronquist — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:36:15 +0000

The September edition of “Biotech update-Vol 8 Issue 4.1” features stories on: harmonizing GM laws across Africa as drought-resistant maize goes to trial in RSA and virus-resistant cassava is developed; a new GM rice variety brings hope to war-ravaged communities in Uganda; Africans blame EU for hampering biotech developments; Danish scientists show GM crops can help climate and environment; and much more! Biotechnology Update is published by Malawi’s Biotechnology-Ecology Research and Outreach Consortium (BioEROC), a PBS partner organization.

Register for UNEP-CBD Online Survey on Socio-Economic Considerations

ccronquist — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:20:21 +0000

In October 2009, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, will be conducting an online survey on the application of and experience in the use of socio-economic considerations in decision-making on LMOs. The survey is open to all parties, but those wishing to take part in the survey must pre-register first! To pre-register, please submit your name, country and e-mail address to socioeconomics.survey@cbd.int The survey is tentatively scheduled to begin on October 9, 2009 and run until November 9, 2009. It will be available in English, French and Spanish. An e-mail message will be sent to all pre-registered participants once the survey is launched.

CBD fifth coordination meeting on biosafety capacity building activities

ccronquist — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:17:50 +0000

The Fifth Coordination Meeting for Governments and Organizations Implementing or Funding Biosafety Capacity-building Activities, organized by the CBD Secretariat and attended by PBS Manager John Komen on behalf of IFPRI/PBS, was held in San José, Costa Rica from March 9-11, 2009. Find the meeting summary here: https://www.cbd.int/doc/?meeting=BSCMCB-05

New peer-reviewed journal to focus on GM crops

ccronquist — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:15:55 +0000

“GM Crops”, the first international peer-reviewed journal to focus exclusively on genetically modified crops, will launch in January 2010 http://www.landesbioscience.com/journals/gmcrops/

Launch of new Biotechnology and Biosafety degree course at Moi University, Kenya

ccronquist — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:13:37 +0000

PBS Kenya team leader David Wafula and the Director of ISAAA Africenter Dr. Margaret Karembu attended the official launch of PBS Training of Trainer participant Dr. Donald Otieno’s Biotechnology and Biosafety degree course at Moi University. The launch took place on September 11, 2009 at Moi University’s Chepkoilel Campus. PBS assisted Don in making preparations for the event, prepared an overview brief and provided other program materials for distribution. David and Margaret also presented at the launch (2009-09-11 Moi Univ Program 1 – BTB launch). Participants included the Moi University Chancellor, Prof. Bethwell Ogot; the Chairman of Moi University Council, Mr Evans Mwai; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research & Extension), Prof. Bob Weshitemi and the Pricipal Chepkoilel Campus, Prof. Battan Khaemba. A recent article in ISAAA’s Cropbiotech Update covered the launch. For more information please contact Dr. Donald Otieno of Moi University: dfotieno@yahoo.co.uk

Malawi’s BioEROC “Biotechnology Update” Newsletter (August 2009: Volume 8, Issue 3)

ccronquist — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:26:58 +0000

The August edition of “Biotech update-Vol 8 Issue 3” features stories on: the UK meat industry’s trouble with overregulation of GM feeds; ‘submarine’ rice approval in the Philippines; disease resistant cassava; US farmer preference for biotech crop varieties; using science to fight climate change and more! Biotechnology Update is published by Malawi’s Biotechnology-Ecology Research and Outreach Consortium (BioEROC), a PBS partner organization.

New PBS peer reviewed article

ccronquist — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:09:54 +0000

An article entitled “The effects of GM-free private standards on biosafety policymaking in developing countries” by Guillaume Gruere and Debdatta Sengupta was published in the latest issue of Food Policy 34(5):399-406.