There has not been much discussion about micropropagation, but this is one technology that is very useful to developing countries, provided that plants that are micropropagated are properly screened for tissue-borne diseases like viruses, otherwise micropropagation becomes an efficient method to spread diseases. Also, in my experience, labor and electricity comprise the major cost, hence micropropagation is profitable only when the planting material is traditionally expensive, e.g. banana, or a uniformly growing plant population is more profitable. Also, micropropagation allows us to better manage the planting regime. It is now being seen also as a tool to manage field diseases in bananas.

Unless simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and other DNA markers for desirable traits have been identified and the information is accessible to breeders in developing countries, at this stage it is still too expensive. Perhaps, this should be an area that CGIAR institutions should focus on: identifying DNA markers of desirable traits. Although I agree with an earlier observation that transferring the specific gene is a faster method to obtain the desirable variety. In fact, in a country with a rapidly expanding population like the Philippines and decreasing land area for agriculture, this is one reason for adopting GMOs.

Low-end biotechnology such as inoculants that can reduce inorganic fertilizer requirements and biocontrol agents reducing chemical pesticides have not been discussed much. We found some very effective inoculants and biocontrol agents but we have problems with technology dissemination. Apparently, producing these agents is not lucrative to be adopted by the private sector. However, government is too inefficient and most often lacks the capital to sustain production and dissemination. I wonder if someone out there has a solution to this and would be willing to share.

Saturnina C. Halos, Ph.D.
Senior Project Development Adviser,
Bureau of Agricultural Research and member, Secretary's Technical Advisory Group, Department of Agriculture,
Philippines
halos@mozcom.com

[To contribute to this conference, send your message to biotech-room1@mailserv.fao.org For further information on the Electronic Forum on Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture see http://www.fao.org/biotech/forum.asp ]

-----Original Message-----
From: Biotech-Mod1
Sent: Wednesday, May 17, 2000 5:01 PM
To: 'biotech-room1@mailserv.fao.org'
Subject: what the scientific literature says about GM crops

I do not agree with Jeffrey Reel [15 May]. There is sufficient scientific literature to enable us in the developing countries to decide whether current biotechnologies would help us attain food security. The majority of Filipino farmers who witnessed the Bt corn trials wanted to adopt Bt corn for reasons similar to those given by American farmers who adopted the technology at a very fast rate (Carpenter & Gianessi. 1999; Fulton & Keyowski. 1999; Klotz-Ingram C, et al. 1999). These reasons are cost reductions in pest management, yield increases, improved risk management and insurance against pests, management time savings, reductions in equipment outlays associated with no-tillage production systems and land use efficiency gains from improved plant spacing ( Kalaitzandonakes, 1999) which indicate that GM crops can help attain food security.

As to feed and food safety, in a review of animal feeding trials of commercially available GMOs, no study has been found to indicate any adverse effect of eating GMOs by cattle, poultry, fish, rats and that the genetically modified variety is no different in composition from its parental isogenic line (Betz et al., 2000, NRC Report 2000, Brake & Vlachos. 1998, Conner 1994, Daenicke et al.,1999, Faust & Miller 1997, Faust & Dewitt. 1998, Faust, 1999, Fuchs et al., 1993, Halle et al., 1998, Hammond et al., 1996, Hammond & Fuchs, 1998, Harrison et al., 1996, Padgette et al., 1996, Rusell & Petersen. 1999, Sanders et al., 1998). There is even the added benefit that Bt corn contains lesser levels of mycotoxins (Munkvold et al., 1997, Munkvold et al., 1999, ) Genetic engineering can be used to remove allergenic proteins from crop plants (Tada et al., 1994)

More insect species and individuals are killed with chemical pesticides than what the Bt crop does (NRC Report 2000). On the other hand, while Professor Stotsky (Crecchio & Stotzky 1997, Koskella & Stotzky, 1997, Saxena, et al., 1999, Tapp et al.,1994, Tapp & Stotzky. 1995,1997, Venkateswerla & Stotzky, 1992) insists that his laboratory results indicate possible accumulation of the Bt toxin in the soil, field experiments with Bt plant material indicate otherwise ( Donegan et al.1995, Palm et al.1993, 1994, 1996). Bt toxin does not have adverse effect on unrelated non-target organisms (Dogan et al. 1996, Lozia, 1999, Savo-Poulou-Soultani & Milonas. 1999, Shieh et al., 1994, Sims, 1995, Yu, et al.,1997). These experiments, however, must be carried out in developing countries where the microbial populations and insect fauna are different. Gene transfers among relatives of certain crops have been observed and this must be considered when adopting a GMO (Boudry et al., 1994. Chandler & Ashikari. 1997). Also, natural recombination among certain viruses does happen ( Maiss et al.,1994, Tepfer et al., 1994, Yahiro, et al., 1994).

Patenting the genes does not mean that the major economic benefit accrues to the patent holder. As indicated by the studies of (Falck-Zepeda et al. 1999; Traxler & Falck-Zepeda 1999) the patent holder, consumers, the rest of the World, farmers and seed producers all benefit from the GM technology but it is the farmers who are the major beneficaries in the Bt and herbicide tolerance technologies. However, to be more cost-effective, we must adopt a strategic approach to crop biotechnology development (Halos, 1999, Maredia et al, 1999).

For complete citations, please e-mail me at halos@mozcom.com

Saturnina C. Halos, Ph.D.
Senior Project Development Adviser,
Bureau of Agricultural Research and member, Secretary's Technical Advisory Group, Department of Agriculture,
Philippines
halos@mozcom.com
[To contribute to this conference, send your message to biotech-room1@mailserv.fao.org For further information on the Electronic Forum on Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture see http://www.fao.org/biotech/forum.asp ]