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<rss version="2.0" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:dcterms="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" xmlns:rdf="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:rdfs="http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#" xmlns:search="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/search/" xmlns:ags="http://www.purl.org/agmes/1.1/"><channel><description>FAO: News and Events Management system</description><title>FAO News and Events RSS Feed</title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems</link><image><url>http://www.fao.org/img2/Faologo.gif</url><title>Fao.org</title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems</link><width>134</width><height>19</height></image><language>en</language><copyright><![CDATA[< Food and Agriculture organization (FAO), 2010. All rights reserved. <http://www.fao.org/about/copyright/en/> FAO does not warrant or make any representations regarding the use of the results of the information in this RSS in terms of its correctness, accuracy, reliability or otherwise. FAO authorized materials are available exclusively from <www.fao.org>. FAO takes no responsibility of any kind for any unauthorized copies of any portion of the FAO website that may appear in other domains]]></copyright><webMaster>webmaster@fao.org</webMaster><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/40155</guid><title><![CDATA[New weblink for RSS feeds for FAO-BiotechNews]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=40155</link><description><![CDATA[The new weblink for the RSS feed for FAO-BiotechNews is http://www.fao.org/biotech/biotech-news/rss/en/ 

]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2012-05-21</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2012-05-21</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 21 May 2012 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39933</guid><title><![CDATA[ABDC-10 proceedings: Biotechnologies for Agricultural Development]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39933</link><description><![CDATA[FAO has just published the proceedings of the FAO international technical conference on “Agricultural biotechnologies in developing countries: Options and opportunities in crops, forestry, livestock, fisheries and agro-industry to face the challenges of food insecurity and climate change” (ABDC-10), that took place in Guadalajara, Mexico on 1-4 March 2010. Entitled “Biotechnologies for Agricultural Development”, the 592-page proceedings are organized in two main sections. The first contains ten chapters with an extensive series of FAO background documents prepared before ABDC-10 took place. They focus on the current status and options for biotechnologies in developing countries in crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries/aquaculture and food processing/safety, as well as on related policy issues and options, in particular about targeting agricultural biotechnologies to the poor; enabling research and development (R&D) for agricultural biotechnologies; and ensuring access to the benefits of R&D. The second section contains five chapters dedicated to the outcomes of ABDC-10, namely the reports from 27 parallel sessions of sectoral, cross-sectoral and regional interest, most of which were organized by different intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations and regional fora; keynote presentations; and the conference report adopted by delegates in Guadalajara on the final day of ABDC-10. See http://www.fao.org/docrep/014/i2300e/i2300e00.htm or contact sandra.tardioli@fao.org to receive a copy, providing your full postal address.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-27</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39934</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO Biosafety Resource Book]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39934</link><description><![CDATA[FAO has just published the "Biosafety Resource Book", based on materials from the training courses organized by FAO from 2002 to 2010 in the framework of its biosafety capacity development projects. The training courses were tailored to meet the needs of biosafety regulators, policy-makers and members of national biosafety committees. The courses aimed to offer them background knowledge critical in the process of reviewing biosafety dossiers and biosafety-related decision-making and to acquaint them with concepts and methodologies relevant to risk analysis of GMO release and biosafety management. The book consists of five modules and special attention has been paid to avoid technical jargon and to keep the modules scientifically accurate as well as accessible to non-specialists. Module A, by O. Brandenberg, Z. Dhlamini, A. Sensi, K. Ghosh and A. Sonnino, is an introduction to molecular biology and genetic engineering. It reviews the basic scientific concepts and principles used in producing GMOs, and provides a brief description of current and emerging uses of biotechnology in crops, livestock and fisheries. Module B, by E. Hodson de Jaramillo, A. Sensi, O. Brandenberg, K. Ghosh and A. Sonnino, is dedicated to ecological aspects. It provides the necessary background information on ecology and evolution needed to analyse and understand the consequences of introducing GMOs into the environment. Module C, by A. Sensi, O. Brandenberg, K. Ghosh and A. Sonnino, is on risk analysis. It provides basic information on biological risks, concepts, principles and methodologies of risk assessment, management and communication, focusing on crop biotechnology and environmental risk assessment of GM crops. Module D, by O. Brandenberg, A. Sensi, K. Ghosh and A. Sonnino, is entitled ‘Test and post-release monitoring of GMOs’. It addresses the use and monitoring of GMOs under containment, confinement and limited field trials, as well as the monitoring of commercially released GMOs. Module E, by A.M. Zivian, A. Sensi and C. Bullón Caro, is about legal aspects. It provides an overview of the existing legal tools and frameworks on biotechnology and biosafety, and offers a thorough description of the international instruments that regulate biosafety and their interactions. See http://www.fao.org/docrep/014/i1905e/i1905e00.htm or contact sandra.tardioli@fao.org to receive a copy, providing your full postal address.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-26</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39935</guid><title><![CDATA[CGRFA 13th Regular Session]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39935</link><description><![CDATA[The 13th Regular Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) takes place on 18-22 July 2011 in Rome, Italy. Under ‘Cross-sectorial matters’, one of the three agenda items to be considered at the meeting is “Ways and means of considering the application and integration of biotechnologies in the conservation and utilization of genetic resources for food and agriculture”. For this agenda item, FAO has prepared a Working Document (number CGRFA-13/11/3, in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) entitled “Status and trends of biotechnologies applied to the conservation and utilization of genetic resources for food and agriculture and matters relevant for their future development”. More detailed information is also provided in the 149-page Background Study Paper by P. Lidder and A. Sonnino, entitled “Biotechnologies for the management of genetic resources for food and agriculture”. The report of the FAO international technical conference on Agricultural Biotechnologies in Developing Countries (ABDC-10) has also been provided as an Information Document (number CGRFA-13/11/Inf.8, in Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Spanish), while the ABDC-10 proceedings, entitled “Biotechnologies for Agricultural Development” are provided under ‘Other Documents’. See http://www.fao.org/nr/cgrfa/cgrfa-meetings/cgrfa-comm/thirteenth-reg/en or contact biotech-admin@fao.org for more information. The CGRFA is an intergovernmental body established by the FAO Conference in 1983, whose Members include 173 countries and the European Union. It provides the only permanent forum for governments to specifically discuss and negotiate matters relevant to biological diversity for food and agriculture, including all plant, animal, forest, aquatic, micro-organism and invertebrate genetic resources for food and agriculture.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-25</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39936</guid><title><![CDATA[Codex Committee on Food Labelling - 39th session report]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39936</link><description><![CDATA[The report of the 39th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling, that took place on 9-13 May 2011 in Quebec City, Canada, is now available. Agenda item 6 was dedicated to "Labelling of foods and food ingredients obtained through certain techniques of genetic modification/genetic engineering" and is covered in paragraphs 120-158 of the report. The Committee agreed to advance the text contained in Appendix III of the report (title “Proposed draft compilation of Codex texts relevant to labelling of foods derived from modern biotechnology”) to the 34th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (4-9 July 2011, Geneva, Switzerland) for adoption at step 5/8 as a stand-alone document. See the report (ALINORM REP11/FL), together with the agenda providing links to the meeting's documents, at http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp or contact codex@fao.org for further information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-24</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39937</guid><title><![CDATA[Sustainable Improvement of Animal Production and Health]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39937</link><description><![CDATA[On 8-11 June 2009, the international symposium on “Sustainable improvement of animal production and health” took place in Vienna, Austria, organised by FAO and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Proceedings of the symposium are now available on the web, edited by N.E. Odongo, M. Garcia and G.J. Viljoen. They contain the contributions to the plenary session and to five sessions that dealt respectively with: interactions among nutrition, reproduction and genotype; effects of nutrition, reproduction, genetics and environmental factors on animal productivity; transboundary, emerging and zoonotic diseases; one health; and achieving food safety and security in the 21st century. Several of the papers dealt directly or indirectly with the use of specific biotechnologies in livestock. See http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/aph/public/aph-sustainable-improvement.html or contact E.Odongo@iaea.org for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-23</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39938</guid><title><![CDATA[Proceedings of 2nd World Seed Conference]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39938</link><description><![CDATA[The proceedings of the 2nd World Seed Conference, held on 8-10 September 2009 at FAO Headquarters, Rome, are now available, entitled “Responding to the challenges of a changing world: The role of new plant varieties and high quality seed in agriculture”. They contain the presentations, discussions and conclusions from the one-day Policy Forum and the five sessions of the two-day Expert Forum, dedicated respectively to the role of plant breeding in meeting the multiple challenges of a fast-changing world; importance of plant genetic resources for plant breeding - access and benefit sharing; plant variety protection; importance of quality seed in agriculture; and facilitation of trade and market development. The conference was organised by FAO, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV), International Seed Federation (ISF) and International Seed Testing Association (ISTA). See http://www.fao.org/docrep/014/am490e/am490e00.htm or contact thomas.osborn@fao.org for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-22</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39939</guid><title><![CDATA[Requests for inputs to the FAO Biotechnology Glossary]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39939</link><description><![CDATA[The FAO “Glossary of biotechnology for food and agriculture" was published in 2001, prepared by A. Zaid, H.G. Hughes, E. Porceddu and F. Nicholas, providing consolidated, comprehensive and accessible definitions of over 3,000 terms and acronyms that are used regularly regarding agricultural biotechnologies. It has proven to be a very popular reference source and has been translated into the five other official UN languages (i.e. Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish) as well as Polish, Serbian and Vietnamese, while the terms have also been translated into Kazakh. All language versions are freely available from http://www.fao.org/biotech/index_glossary.asp. The glossary is currently being revised and updated in all six UN languages. As with the previous edition of the glossary, a participatory approach is being used in the review process. We would therefore very much appreciate any inputs and suggestions regarding a) addition of new terms/acronyms relevant to biotechnologies in food and agriculture; b) definitions for any new proposed terms; c) deletion of irrelevant/obsolete terms in the current glossary; d) improvement of existing definitions and correction of editorial mistakes in the current glossary; and e) correction of errors in translating from English to Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish. Please provide suggestions and comments to Preetmoninder.Lidder@fao.org by 31 July 2011.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-21</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39940</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO Biotechnology Glossary - Kazakh translation]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39940</link><description><![CDATA[The FAO Biotechnology Glossary was published in 2001 and contains over 3,000 terms and acronyms used regularly regarding agricultural biotechnologies. Through an arrangement with FAO, the Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology (IPBB) in Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan, has just published a tri-lingual dictionary containing the original English terms plus their Russian and Kazakh translations. See http://www.fao.org/docrep/014/y2775kk/y2775kk00.pdf (2.6 MB) or contact gen_dana@mail.ru for more details.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-20</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39941</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO/IAEA Plant Breeding and Genetics Newsletter 26]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39941</link><description><![CDATA[The January 2011 newsletter from the Plant Breeding and Genetics Section of the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture is now available. This 43-page newsletter, issued twice a year, gives an overview of their past and upcoming events (meetings, training courses etc.), ongoing projects and publications. See http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/pbg/public/pbg-nl-26.pdf (1.5 MB) or contact k.allaf@iaea.org to request a copy. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-19</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39942</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO/IAEA Animal Production and Health Newsletter 53]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39942</link><description><![CDATA[The January 2011 newsletter from the Animal Production and Health Section of the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture is now available. The 39-page newsletter, issued twice a year, gives an overview of past and upcoming projects, publications and events. The editorial highlights the Joint Division’s contribution to the global eradication of rinderpest, including developing a network of laboratories to diagnose the disease, organizing training workshops, supplying diagnostic kits and manuals, provision of technical backstopping, producing international guidelines and developing regional technical cooperation projects in Africa and Asia. See http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/aph/public/aph-nl-53.pdf (1 MB) or contact S.Piedra-Cordero@iaea.org to subscribe to the newsletter.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-18</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39943</guid><title><![CDATA[Report of Aarhus Convention/Cartagena Protocol workshop]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39943</link><description><![CDATA[On 8-9 October 2010, a joint Aarhus Convention/Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety workshop on public awareness, access to information and public participation regarding living modified organisms/genetically modified organisms was held in Nagoya, Japan. Its main objective was to enable participants to share experiences and lessons learned in promoting public awareness, access to information and participation in decision-making concerning LMOs/GMOs. An advanced edited version of the workshop report is now available, prepared by the secretariats of 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) and of the Convention on Biological Diversity. See the report, workshop documents and presentations at http://www.unece.org/env/pp/gmo.htm or contact fiona.marshall@unece.org or ulrika.nilsson@cbd.int for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-17</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39846</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO Biotechnology Glossary - Chinese and Polish translations]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39846</link><description><![CDATA[The FAO Biotechnology Glossary is now available in Chinese and Polish. In addition to translations of the terms and definitions contained in the original English glossary, the 337-page Chinese translation includes an English-Chinese vocabulary of biotechnology-related terms. The initial draft was prepared by FAO translators and reviewed by J. Zhao and X. Ma (both from the East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai). The Polish translation was carried out by I. Bartkowiak-Broda (Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute, Poznan), Z. Broda (Poznan University of Life Sciences), D. Grzebelus (University of Agriculture in Krakow), A. Korwin-Kossakowska (Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Jastrzebiec), K. Niemirowicz-Szczytt (Warsaw Agricultural University) and E. Zimnoch-Guzowska (Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute, Mlochow). The 358-page Polish book concludes with an index of English terms. The original English version was prepared by A. Zaid, H. Hughes, E. Porceddu and F. Nicholas and provides consolidated, comprehensive and accessible definitions of over 3,000 terms and acronyms that are used regularly in biotechnology, including genetic engineering, and closely allied fields. It has previously been translated into Arabic, French, Russian, Serbian, Spanish and Vietnamese and all the language versions are freely available from <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/index_glossary.asp">http://www.fao.org/biotech/index_glossary.asp</a>. To receive a copy of the Chinese glossary, contact <a href="mailto: charlotte.lietaer@fao.org">charlotte.lietaer@fao.org</a> providing your full postal address. Contact <a href="mailto: biotech-website@fao.org">biotech-website@fao.org</a> for any further information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-10</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-12</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39847</guid><title><![CDATA[Agricultural research, extension and biotechnologies – FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39847</link><description><![CDATA[The FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia website has recently been re-vamped and it now includes, among others, webpages dedicated to FAO activities in the region in a number of specific activity areas, including ‘agricultural research, extension and biotechnologies’. Links are provided to resources from technical projects in the region as well as from recent meetings, such as the regional training course on “GMO risk communication, public awareness and public participation” that took place in Tbilisi, Georgia, on 1-4 February 2011 as part of a regional technical cooperation project on "Capacity building in agricultural biotechnologies and biosafety" for Armenia, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/europe/activities/biotech/en/">http://www.fao.org/europe/activities/biotech/en/</a> or contact <a href="mailto: nevena.alexandrova@fao.org">nevena.alexandrova@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-9</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-12</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39848</guid><title><![CDATA[Biotechnologies and animal genetic resources]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39848</link><description><![CDATA[The report is now available of the 6th Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITWG-AnGR), which took place on 24-26 November 2010 in Rome. Item 4 on the agenda was dedicated to "Biotechnologies and the conservation and utilization of animal genetic resources for food and agriculture" and is covered in paragraphs 22-24 of the report. See the report (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) together with the other Session documents, at the <a href="http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/genetics/angrvent-docs.html">ITWG-AnGR website</a> or contact <a href="mailto: cgrfa@fao.org">cgrfa@fao.org</a> for more information. The ITWG-AnGR is one of three intergovernmental technical working groups (the others are dedicated to plant genetic resources and to forest genetic resources) established by the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture to deal with specific matters in their areas of expertise.  ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-8</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-12</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39849</guid><title><![CDATA[Participatory plant breeding]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39849</link><description><![CDATA[FAO has recently published “Plant breeding and farmer participation”, prepared in collaboration with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). Edited by S. Ceccarelli, E.P. Guimaraes and E. Weltizien, the 671-page book is organized in 25 chapters, written by three groups of scientists: internationally recognized experts in genetics related to plant breeding and in the various aspects of plant breeding; professional breeders who have actually practised participatory plant breeding (PPB) with a number of different crops and in a number of socially and climatically different areas, using the range of methods presented by the first group; and scientists with specific expertise in areas not usually covered in classical plant breeding books, such as variety release mechanisms, seed diffusion, institutional issues associated with PPB, and intellectual property rights. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1070e/i1070e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1070e/i1070e00.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: alessia.laurenza@fao.org">alessia.laurenza@fao.org</a> to request a copy, providing your full postal address.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-7</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-12</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39850</guid><title><![CDATA[Codex Committee on Food Labelling – 39th Session]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39850</link><description><![CDATA[The 39th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling takes place on 9-13 May 2011 in Quebec City, Canada. Item 6 on the provisional agenda is “Labelling of foods and food ingredients obtained through certain techniques of genetic modification/genetic engineering”. See the meeting agenda, with links to the meeting documents, at <a href="http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp">http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp</a> (in English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: codex@fao.org">codex@fao.org</a> for further information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-6</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-12</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39851</guid><title><![CDATA[Biodiversidad y biotecnologías: el eslabón estratégico]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39851</link><description><![CDATA[The newly published book on “Biodiversidad, biotecnologías y derecho: un crisol para la sustentabilidad” (Biodiversity, biotechnologies and regulation: a crucible for sustainability), edited by V. Ivone, contains a chapter on “Biodiversidad y biotecnologías: el eslabón estratégico” (Biodiversity and biotechnologies: the strategic link) by A. Sonnino, Chief of the FAO Research and Extension Branch. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/article/am323s.pdf">http://www.fao.org/docrep/article/am323s.pdf</a> or contact <a href="mailto: andrea.sonnino@fao.org">andrea.sonnino@fao.org</a> to request a copy of the chapter.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-5</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-12</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39852</guid><title><![CDATA[IFAD rural poverty report 2011]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39852</link><description><![CDATA[The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) recently published the “Rural poverty report 2011” which provides a coherent and comprehensive look at rural poverty, its global consequences and the prospects for eradicating it. Its last rural poverty report was published in 2001. One of the seven chapters is dedicated to ‘sustainable agricultural intensification’, where the role of agricultural technology, including biotechnology, is one of the issues considered. See a press release (in Arabic, English, French, Italian and Spanish), with links to the report (in the same languages), at <a href="http://www.ifad.org/rpr2011/index.htm">http://www.ifad.org/rpr2011/index.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: ifad@ifad.org">ifad@ifad.org</a> for more information. IFAD is an international financial institution and a specialized UN agency whose mission is to enable poor rural people to overcome poverty.
]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-4</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-12</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39853</guid><title><![CDATA[Nagoya – Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39853</link><description><![CDATA[On 7 March 2011, the Nagoya – Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety was opened for signature at UN Headquarters in New York. Adopted by the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety on 15 October 2010, in Nagoya, Japan, its objective is “to contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, taking also into account risks to human health, by providing international rules and procedures in the field of liability and redress relating to living modified organisms”. It will enter into force 90 days after the deposit of the 40th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession. See <a href="http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/news/">http://bch.cbd.int/protocol/news/</a> to access an introductory note providing some basic information to facilitate signature, ratification, acceptance, approval or accession to the Supplementary Protocol; a new video on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Supplementary Protocol; and a new 10-page publication on the Supplementary Protocol. Contact <a href="mailto: bch@cbd.int">bch@cbd.int</a> for any further information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-3</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-12</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39854</guid><title><![CDATA[OECD Biotechnology Update 21]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39854</link><description><![CDATA[Issue number 21 (January 2011) of the OECD Biotechnology Update is now available. Presented by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Internal Co-ordination Group for Biotechnology, the 34-page newsletter provides updated information on OECD activities related to biotechnology. See <a href="http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/37/15/47030723.pdf">http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/37/15/47030723.pdf</a> (465 KB) or contact <a href="mailto: icgb@oecd.org">icgb@oecd.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-2</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-12</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39855</guid><title><![CDATA[Phenotypic and molecular characterization of small ruminants]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39855</link><description><![CDATA[The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and the Agricultural Research Centre (ARC) Libya have recently published "Phenotypic and molecular characterization of small ruminant breeds in Libya - Field guide". With text in Arabic and English, the guide is intended to support animal scientists and technicians in collecting accurate data and applying appropriate procedures in field surveys. See <a href="http://www.icarda.org/docrep/brochures/phenotypic.pdf">http://www.icarda.org/docrep/brochures/phenotypic.pdf</a> (1.8 MB) or contact <a href="mailto: b.rischkowsky@cgiar.org">b.rischkowsky@cgiar.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-1</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2011-04-12</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39739</guid><title><![CDATA[State of the world’s plant genetic resources]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39739</link><description><![CDATA[On 26 October 2010, the FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf gave a press conference in Rome to mark the launch of the second report on “The state of the world’s plant genetic resources for food and agriculture”. The new report describes the current status of the conservation and use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA) throughout the world, based on country reports, information gathering processes, regional syntheses, thematic background studies and published scientific literature. It describes the most significant changes that have taken place since the first report was published in 1998 as well as the major continuing gaps and needs. The role of biotechnologies in the conservation, characterization and utilization of PGRFA is also covered in different parts of the report, particularly in Appendix 3. See the press release at <a href="http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/46803/icode/">http://www.fao.org/news/story/en/item/46803/icode/</a> (in Arabic, English, French, Italian, Russian and Spanish), providing links to the report and related press materials, or contact <a href="mailto:petra.staberg@fao.org">petra.staberg@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-17</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39740</guid><title><![CDATA[REDBIO 2010 keynote address]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39740</link><description><![CDATA[On 1-5 November 2010, the VII Latin American and Caribbean Meeting on Agricultural Biotechnology (REDBIO 2010) took place in Guadalajara, Mexico. The keynote address on 1 November was given by A. Sonnino, Chief of the FAO Research and Extension Branch, on “Global food security and the possible contribution of agricultural biotechnologies”. See the address at <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/docs/redbio2010e.pdf">http://www.fao.org/biotech/docs/redbio2010e.pdf</a> or contact <a href="mailto: biotech-website@fao.org">biotech-website@fao.org</a> to request a copy in English or Spanish. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-16</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39741</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO e-conference on learning from the past - Summary document]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39741</link><description><![CDATA[The summary document of the FAO e-mail conference entitled "Learning from the past: Successes and failures with agricultural biotechnologies in developing countries over the last 20 years" has now been published. It provides a summary of the main issues discussed during a moderated e-mail conference, hosted by the FAO Biotechnology Forum from 8 June to 8 July 2009, based on the messages posted by the participants, 74% of which came from people in developing countries. Participants in the e-mail conference shared a wealth of experiences regarding the use of agricultural biotechnologies across the different food and agricultural sectors in developing countries. They provided concrete examples where agricultural biotechnologies were benefiting smallholders in developing countries. They also discussed several cases where specific applications of agricultural biotechnologies had not succeeded in developing countries and they offered suggestions to increase their success in the future. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/logs/C16/summary.htm">http://www.fao.org/biotech/logs/C16/summary.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: biotech-admin@fao.org">biotech-admin@fao.org</a> to request a copy.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-15</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39742</guid><title><![CDATA[Codex guidelines on methods for detection, identification and quantification of specific DNA sequences and proteins in foods]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39742</link><description><![CDATA[During the 33rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, that took place in Geneva, Switzerland on 5-9 July 2010, the Commission, inter alia, adopted 25 new or revised Codex standards or related texts or amendments to these texts, including “Guidelines on performance criteria and validation of methods for detection, identification and quantification of specific DNA sequences and specific proteins in foods”. The scope of these new guidelines is to “provide information on criteria for the validation of food analysis methods involving the detection, identification and quantification of specific DNA sequences and specific proteins of interest that may be present in foods, including those foods containing materials derived from modern biotechnology. These molecular and immunological methods are applicable to a wide range of uses such as tests for biomarkers in foods, including those derived from modern biotechnology and food authentication, and may be used by laboratories responsible for food analysis”. See the Commission report (document ALINORM 10/33/REP, in English and Spanish, with Arabic, Chinese and French to come) and the guidelines adopted (Appendix III in document ALINORM 10/33/23, in English, French and Spanish) at <a href="http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp?year=10">http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp?year=10</a> or contact <a href="mailto:codex@fao.org">codex@fao.org</a> for further information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-14</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39743</guid><title><![CDATA[Biotechnologies for conservation and utilization of genetic resources]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39743</link><description><![CDATA[The 6th Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITWG-AnGR) takes place on 24-26 November 2010 at FAO Headquarters, Rome. Item 4 on the provisional agenda is dedicated to “Biotechnologies and the conservation and utilization of animal genetic resources for food and agriculture”, for which FAO has prepared a working document entitled “Status and trends of biotechnologies applied to the conservation and utilization of genetic resources for food and agriculture and matters relevant for their future development”. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/genetics/angrvent-docs.html">document CGRFA/WG-AnGR-6/10/5</a> (in Chinese, English, Russian and Spanish, with Arabic and French to come) or contact <a href="mailto:preetmoninder.lidder@fao.org">preetmoninder.lidder@fao.org</a> to request a copy. The ITWG-AnGR is one of three intergovernmental technical working groups (the other two are dedicated to plant genetic resources and forest genetic resources) established by the FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture to deal with specific matters in their areas of expertise.  ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-13</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39744</guid><title><![CDATA[Genetic characterization and cryoconservation of animal genetic resources]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39744</link><description><![CDATA[Item 3.2 on the provisional agenda of the 6th Session of the Intergovernmental Technical Working Group on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, that takes place on 24-26 November 2010 at FAO Headquarters in Rome, is dedicated to “Draft technical guidelines for the implementation of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources”. For this item, FAO has prepared a set of five draft technical guidelines, including one on molecular genetic characterization and one on cryoconservation. For the former, the 66-page information document CGRFA/WG-AnGR-6/10/Inf.7, entitled “Draft guidelines on molecular genetic characterization” provides countries with advice on how to plan molecular characterization studies; collect and evaluate DNA; organize and analyze molecular characterization data; interpret the results; and collaborate internationally to obtain the maximum utility of the information. For the latter, the 146-page information document CGRFA/WG-AnGR-6/10/Inf.8, entitled “Draft guidelines for the cryoconservation of animal genetic resources”, is designed to provide the necessary technical background for countries wanting to set up, implement and monitor animal gene banks. See the <a href="http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/genetics/angrvent-docs.html">documents</a> or contact <a href="mailto: paul.boettcher@fao.org">paul.boettcher@fao.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-12</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39745</guid><title><![CDATA[Forests and GM trees]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39745</link><description><![CDATA[The International Union of Forest Research Organizations (IUFRO) set up a task force on forests and genetically modified trees to report and present factual information covering the scientific and social dimensions of genetic modification. A 235-page publication developed under the auspices of this task force has now been published by IUFRO and FAO’s Forestry Department entitled “Forests and genetically modified trees”. It consists of 12 chapters written by 33 scientists. The first six chapters deal with the science of genetic modification in forest trees: its position in the biotechnology spectrum, how it is carried out, traits of interest, gene flow, genetic containment, integration of the technology in tree improvement programmes and experience of its commercialization in China. The remaining six chapters covers ethical, environmental, social, regulatory and trade aspects, and examine the technology’s potential outside the realm of timber production. See the <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/i1699e/i1699e00.htm">book</a> or contact <a href="mailto:joseantonio.prado@fao.org">joseantonio.prado@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-11</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39746</guid><title><![CDATA[Eastern European workshop on risk assessment of GMOs]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39746</link><description><![CDATA[On request from its member countries, FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) supports countries “through small projects which address specific problems in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors”. TCP projects may be national, regional or inter-regional. In the framework of a regional TCP project for Armenia, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova on “Capacity building in agricultural biotechnologies and biosafety”, a regional training workshop on “Risk assessment of GMOs in food, seeds and environment” was held on 3-6 October 2010 in Yerevan, Armenia. See the <a href="http://www.fao.org/world/Regional/REU/events/gmo/gmo_en.htm">workshop website</a> for background and presentations from the workshop or contact <a href="mailto: nevena.alexandrova@fao.org">nevena.alexandrova@fao.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-10</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39747</guid><title><![CDATA[Near East and North Africa – regional GMO detection platform]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39747</link><description><![CDATA[In 2008, FAO approved a two-year Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) project in the Near East and North Africa region entitled "Strengthening capacities towards the establishment of a regional platform for the detection of genetically modified organisms", with Jordan, Lebanon, the Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen as the six participating countries. The aim of this regional TCP project is to strengthen capacities and to enhance regional information exchange and dialogue in biosafety towards the establishment of a regional platform for handling and managing GMO detection and related procedures. Within the project, one of the tasks is to prepare a comparative analysis of the current practices in the six participating countries and identify options for standardization. A 203-page document by M. Madkour, entitled "Status and options for regional GMOs detection platform: A benchmark for the region", has now been published whose aim is to present the status of GMO detection in these six countries, identify the gaps, needs and options for strengthening the regional approach towards establishing a GMO detection platform. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/al310e/al310e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/al310e/al310e00.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: magdy.madkour@bibalex.org">magdy.madkour@bibalex.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-9</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39748</guid><title><![CDATA[Bioenergy and agricultural biotechnologies ]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39748</link><description><![CDATA[The October 2010 issue of the scientific journal Biomass and Bioenergy contains an article on “Bioenergy and the potential contribution of agricultural biotechnologies in developing countries” by J. Ruane, A. Sonnino and A. Agostini. The article is an abbreviated and updated version of the background document prepared for an e-mail conference hosted by the FAO Biotechnology Forum on the same subject. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/article/al311e.pdf">http://www.fao.org/docrep/article/al311e.pdf</a> or contact <a href="mailto: charlotte.lietaer@fao.org">charlotte.lietaer@fao.org</a> to request a reprint, providing your full postal address. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-8</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39749</guid><title><![CDATA[EMPRES Transboundary Animal Diseases Bulletin 35]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39749</link><description><![CDATA[The EMPRES Transboundary Animal Diseases Bulletin provides information on the effective prevention and progressive control of high impact transboundary animal diseases (TADs), analysing animal disease risks to countries and reporting on progress in the control of such diseases in affected countries. The latest edition (number 35) of the bulletin is now available including, among others, a report on the results of a proficiency test co-organized by FAO and the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie to evaluate the overall and individual technical capacities of national veterinary laboratories in Africa and the Near East to diagnose avian influenza and Newcastle disease by serology and/or molecular tests. See the bulletin at <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1648e/i1648e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1648e/i1648e00.htm</a> (in English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: empres-livestock@fao.org">empres-livestock@fao.org</a> for more information. The Emergency Prevention System for Transboundary Animal and Plant Pests and Diseases (EMPRES) was established by the FAO Director-General in 1994.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-7</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39750</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO/IAEA Plant Breeding and Genetics Newsletter 25]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39750</link><description><![CDATA[The July 2010 newsletter from the Plant Breeding and Genetics Section of the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture is now available. This 47-page newsletter, issued twice a year, gives an overview of their past and upcoming events (meetings, training courses etc.), ongoing projects and publications. See the <a href="http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/pbg/public/pbg-nl-25.pdf">newsletter</a> (2.1 MB) or contact <a href="mailto: k.allaf@iaea.org">k.allaf@iaea.org</a> to request a copy.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-6</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39751</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO/IAEA Animal Production and Health Newsletter 52]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39751</link><description><![CDATA[The July 2010 newsletter from the Animal Production and Health Section of the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture is now available. The 39-page newsletter, issued twice a year, gives an overview of past and upcoming projects, publications and events. See the <a href="http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/aph/public/aph-nl-52.pdf">newsletter</a> (2 MB) or contact <a href="mailto: R.Schellander@iaea.org">R.Schellander@iaea.org</a> to subscribe to the newsletter.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-5</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39752</guid><title><![CDATA[Advance version of COP-MOP 5 report (Cartagena Protocol)]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39752</link><description><![CDATA[An advance version of the report of the 5th meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP 5), that took place on 11-15 October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan, is now available. This 148-page document is subject to clearance and final editing. See document UNEP/CBD/BS/COP-MOP/5/17/ADV5 at <a href="http://www.cbd.int/mop5/documents/">http://www.cbd.int/mop5/documents/</a> or contact <a href="mailto: secretariat@cbd.int">secretariat@cbd.int</a> for more information. Links to press releases, daily reports and webcasts, as well as additional information about the new international treaty “The Nagoya – Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety” that was adopted at the meeting, are available at <a href="http://www.cbd.int/mop5/">http://www.cbd.int/mop5/</a>.  ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-4</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39753</guid><title><![CDATA[Advance outcomes of COP 10]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39753</link><description><![CDATA[The 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 10) took place on 18-29 October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan. The advance unedited decisions from the meeting are now available. See <a href="http://www.cbd.int/nagoya/outcomes/">http://www.cbd.int/nagoya/outcomes/</a> or contact <a href="mailto: secretariat@cbd.int">secretariat@cbd.int</a> for more information. The final official versions of the decisions will be issued later as part of the meeting report. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-3</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39754</guid><title><![CDATA[Analysis of dominant molecular markers for tropical trees]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39754</link><description><![CDATA[As volume 13 in its ICRAF Technical Manual series, the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) recently published "Molecular markers for tropical trees: statistical analysis of dominant data", by R. Kindt and co-authors, edited by I. Dawson and O.K. Hansen. In an ICRAF survey of molecular laboratories in low-income tropical countries, one of the constraints identified for the proper application of molecular markers was the effective handling and analysis of data sets once they are generated. The 161-page guide has been designed to address this constraint and it is recommended that it be used together with the companion volume 9 in the same series, on practical protocols for molecular methods. See the <a href="http://www.worldagroforestry.org/resources/databases/molecular-markers-for-tropical-trees">Guide</a> or contact <a href="mailto:icrafmolecularlab@cgiar.org">icrafmolecularlab@cgiar.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-2</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-11-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39610</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO Biotechnology website - updates]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39610</link><description><![CDATA[Three main sections of the FAO biotechnology website have recently been updated. The first, on 'FAO Documents', provides an annotated list of freely-downloadable documents and now includes 210 web links to a wide range of articles, books, meeting reports, proceedings and studies published by FAO, or prepared in collaboration with FAO, over the last 13 years concerning agricultural biotechnologies. The second, on 'Country policy documents' provides an annotated list of freely-downloadable biotechnology policy documents from 18 FAO members. Most of the 25 documents are national policy documents, covering applications of biotechnology in food and agriculture as well as in other areas, such as pharmaceuticals, the environment and human health care. The third, on 'Sectoral overviews', provides an overview of the application of biotechnologies in the agro-industry, crop, fisheries and aquaculture, livestock and forestry sectors in developing countries. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/">http://www.fao.org/biotech/</a> (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: biotech-website@fao.org">biotech-website@fao.org</a> with any comments. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-07-14</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-07-20</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39611</guid><title><![CDATA[Biosafety book – Bangladesh TCP]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39611</link><description><![CDATA[On request from its member countries, FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) supports countries through small projects which address specific problems in their agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors. In May 2008, a TCP was launched for Bangladesh on “Assistance in the formulation of enabling regulatory measures for research and sustainable application of biotechnology”, implemented jointly by FAO and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC). Under this TCP, a training course was organized in Gazipur, Bangladesh on 21-30 November 2008, covering five modules, namely, agricultural biotechnology; ecological aspects of biosafety; biosafety guidelines including risk analysis; post-release monitoring; and legal aspects, including plant variety protection. A 293-page book entitled “Biosafety of genetically modified organisms: Basic concepts, methods and issues”, edited by M.K.A. Chowdhury, M.I. Hoque and A. Sonnino, comprising the proceedings of the training course is now available on the web. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1252e/i1252e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1252e/i1252e00.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: imdadul57@yahoo.com">imdadul57@yahoo.com</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-07-13</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-07-20</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39612</guid><title><![CDATA[State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources – Six languages and CD-ROM]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39612</link><description><![CDATA[In September 2007, FAO released "The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture", a comprehensive 511-page publication drawing on 169 Country Reports and a range of other sources to provide the first global assessment of animal genetic resources and their management. It also contains many sections indirectly or directly relevant to biotechnology, such as applications of molecular markers and reproductive technologies. The publication is now available in all six official FAO languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish). A 37-page summary version is also available in all FAO languages plus German, Japanese and Polish. In addition, a CD-ROM is available containing both the full and summary versions in all six FAO languages. See the full or summary versions at <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1250e/a1250e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1250e/a1250e00.htm</a> and <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1260e/a1260e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1260e/a1260e00.htm</a> respectively. To request the publication (or the CD-ROM), contact <a href="mailto: dad-is@fao.org">dad-is@fao.org</a> providing your full postal address and indicating the version and language you wish to receive.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-07-12</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-07-20</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39613</guid><title><![CDATA[Induced plant mutations in the genomics era]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39613</link><description><![CDATA[The International Symposium on Induced Mutations in Plants was held on 12-15 August 2008 in Vienna, Austria organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and FAO through the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. It comprised an opening session, two plenary sessions and ten concurrent sessions, covering topics such as induced mutations in food and agriculture, genetic diversity and crop domestication, abiotic stress tolerance and adaptation to climate change, crop quality and nutrition, seed and vegetatively propagated plants, gene discovery and functional genomics. A 458-page publication entitled "Induced plant mutations in the genomics era", edited by Q.Y. Shu, is now available, with a compilation of peer-reviewed full papers contributed by participants. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i0956e/i0956e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i0956e/i0956e00.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: Q.Y.Shu@iaea.org">Q.Y.Shu@iaea.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-07-11</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-07-20</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39614</guid><title><![CDATA[Reports of four regional consultations on plant breeding capacity]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39614</link><description><![CDATA[The Global Partnership Initiative for Plant Breeding Capacity Building (GIPB), FAO and partners have previously carried out a worldwide assessment of national plant breeding and related biotechnology capacity (PBBC). To analyse these results, the GIPB recently held four regional e-consultations (for Latin America and Caribbean; South-Eastern and Southern Asia; Sub-Saharan Africa; and Western Asia and Northern Africa). For each one, a background note was prepared before the consultation and a report was prepared afterwards. See the <a href="http://km.fao.org/gipb/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=380&Itemid=100039&lang=en">GIPB website</a> or contact <a href="mailto: gipb@fao.org">gipb@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-07-10</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-07-20</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39615</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO biosafety capacity building book – now in French and Spanish]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39615</link><description><![CDATA[FAO recently published "Building biosafety capacities: FAO’s experience and outlook", aiming to illustrate the main findings and lessons learned from FAO’s past and ongoing biosafety capacity building initiatives. This 53-page book, by A. Sensi, K. Ghosh, M. Takeuchi and A. Sonnino, is now also available in French and Spanish. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1033e/i1033e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1033e/i1033e00.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: charlotte.lietaer@fao.org">charlotte.lietaer@fao.org</a> to request a copy, providing your full postal address and well as indicating which language version you wish to receive.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-07-9</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-07-20</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39616</guid><title><![CDATA[Cartagena Protocol: COP-MOP 5 documents]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39616</link><description><![CDATA[The 5th meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP 5) takes place on 11-15 October 2010 in Nagoya, Japan, back-to-back with the 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 10), on 18-29 October 2010. The meeting will address a number of standing issues on the COP-MOP agenda (i.e. compliance; operation and activities of the Biosafety Clearing-House; capacity building; financial mechanisms and resources; cooperation with other organizations, conventions and initiatives; and administration and budgetary matters). It will also address a number of substantive issues arising from the medium-term programme of work and previous COP-MOP decisions (i.e. handling, transport, packaging and identification of living modified organisms; risk assessment and risk management; liability and redress; monitoring and reporting; assessment and review; and public awareness and participation). See <a href="https://www.cbd.int/mop5/">https://www.cbd.int/mop5/</a> for background information and access to official documents (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: secretariat@cbd.int">secretariat@cbd.int</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-07-8</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-07-20</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39617</guid><title><![CDATA[UNIDO e-biosafety training network]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39617</link><description><![CDATA[The e-biosafety training network of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) aims to address the demand of biosafety regulatory systems in developing countries for intensive training in biosafety. It combines distance-learning with on-campus training, including laboratory practice, and the programme is currently given in cooperation with the Marche Polytechnic University (Ancona, Italy), the Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) and Ghent University (Ghent, Belgium). Registration for the academic year 2010-2011 is now open for the training course in Italy (registration deadline 1 October, course begins 5 November), Brazil (course begins in early October) and Belgium (registration deadline 15 September, course begins 1 November). See <a href="http://binas.unido.org/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=133">http://binas.unido.org/moodle/mod/resource/view.php?id=133</a> or contact <a href="mailto: m.bosse@unido.org">m.bosse@unido.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-07-7</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-07-20</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39618</guid><title><![CDATA[OECD Biotechnology Update 20]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39618</link><description><![CDATA[Issue number 20 (July 2010) of the OECD Biotechnology Update is now available. Presented by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Internal Co-ordination Group for Biotechnology, the 34-page newsletter provides updated information on OECD activities related to biotechnology. See <a href="http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/13/7/45604987.pdf">http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/13/7/45604987.pdf</a> (517 KB) or contact <a href="mailto: icgb@oecd.org">icgb@oecd.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-07-6</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-07-20</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jul 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39556</guid><title><![CDATA[Review of FAO’s capacity building activities in biosafety]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39556</link><description><![CDATA[FAO has just published “Building biosafety capacities: FAO’s experience and outlook”, which aims to illustrate the main findings and lessons learned from FAO’s past and ongoing biosafety capacity building initiatives, in order to improve future interventions and better shape strategic planning, in line with the Cartagena Protocol and other related international instruments. The 53-page book, by A. Sensi, K. Ghosh, M. Takeuchi and A. Sonnino, presents a brief overview of 26 biosafety capacity building projects, whose total funding amounted to about 7.5 million US dollars, launched by FAO since 2002. They include 18 national projects as well as six that are subregional, regional or interregional and two that are global. Conclusions in the book propose key operational elements for future initiatives to maximize results and fully meet countries' needs. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1033e/i1033e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1033e/i1033e00.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: charlotte.lietaer@fao.org">charlotte.lietaer@fao.org</a> to request a copy, providing your full postal address. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-16</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-28</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39557</guid><title><![CDATA[Breeding for sustainable management of animal genetic resources]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39557</link><description><![CDATA[As part of its Animal Production and Health Guidelines series, FAO has just published “Breeding strategies for sustainable management of animal genetic resources” whose aim is to help countries plan and develop effective genetic improvement programmes and to maximize the chances that such programmes will be sustained. The 132-page guidelines are intended for use by policy-makers and organisations involved in livestock development. They provide countries with advice on how to specify their objectives and priorities; identify the conditions necessary for sustainable development of their animal genetic resources; benefit from the experiences of other countries with similar conditions; and find practical guidance on how to initiate or improve breed development programmes (including whether to use reproductive biotechnologies such as artificial insemination). See <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1103e/i1103e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i1103e/i1103e00.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: badi.besbes@fao.org">badi.besbes@fao.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-15</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-28</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39558</guid><title><![CDATA[Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling - 31st session report]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39558</link><description><![CDATA[The report of the 31st Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling, that took place on 8-12 March 2010 in Budapest, Hungary, is now available. Agenda item 3 was dedicated to the "Proposed draft guidelines on criteria for methods for detection, identification and quantification of specific DNA sequences and specific proteins, in particular in foods derived from modern biotechnology" and is covered in paragraphs 13-33 of the report. See the report (ALINORM 10/33/23), together with the agenda providing links to the meeting's documents, at <a href="http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp">http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp</a> or contact <a href="mailto: codex@fao.org">codex@fao.org</a> for further information. The Committee agreed to forward the proposed draft guidelines to the 33rd Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (to be held 5-9 July 2010 in Geneva, Switzerland) for adoption at Step 5/8 with the recommendation to omit Steps 6 and 7. The Codex Rules of Procedure, describing also the 8-Step elaboration procedure, are available at <a href="http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/procedural_manual.jsp">http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/procedural_manual.jsp</a> (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish). ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-14</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-28</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 28 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39559</guid><title><![CDATA[Codex Committee on Food Labelling - 38th session report]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39559</link><description><![CDATA[The report of the 38th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling, that took place on 3-7 May 2010 in Quebec City, Canada, is now available. Agenda item 6 was dedicated to "Labelling of foods obtained through certain techniques of genetic modification/genetic engineering" and is covered in paragraphs 134-161 of the report. See the report (ALINORM 10/33/22), together with the agenda providing links to the meeting's documents, at <a href="http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp">http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp</a> or contact <a href="mailto: codex@fao.org">codex@fao.org</a> for further information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-13</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39560</guid><title><![CDATA[Breeding cattle and buffalo in Asia]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39560</link><description><![CDATA[The manual on “Selection and breeding of cattle and buffalo in Asia: Strategies and criteria for improved breeding” is now available, which was prepared under the framework of the Regional Cooperative Agreement for Asia and the Pacific Region (RCA) programme, with the technical support of the Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. The publication includes information about trends in livestock production and cattle breeding management in Asia; the important traits for dairy and beef cattle, their selection criteria, and breeding objectives; proposed systems for operating a cattle breeding and genetic improvement programme in Asia; and an overview of current and future technologies (including molecular and reproductive technologies) for improvement of cattle breeding. See the <a href="http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/te_1620_web.pdf">manual</a> (651 KB) or contact <a href="mailto: M.Garcia-Podesta@iaea.org">M.Garcia-Podesta@iaea.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-12</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39561</guid><title><![CDATA[Symposium on Genomics of Plant Genetic Resources]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39561</link><description><![CDATA[Following the first symposium, held in Beijing, China in 2005, the 2nd International Symposium on Genomics of Plant Genetic Resources was held on 24-27 April 2010 in Bologna, Italy. Abstracts from the symposium are now available. The scientific programme was organised in nine different sessions, covering themes such as ‘harnessing plant diversity: From sequence to function’ or ‘genomics-assisted crop improvement for food security in developing countries’. The symposium was organised by Bioversity International, the Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research (IPK) and the University of Bologna, and took place with the patronage, inter alia, of FAO. See <a href="http://www.gpgr2.com/">http://www.gpgr2.com/</a> or contact <a href="mailto: roberto.tuberosa@unibo.it">roberto.tuberosa@unibo.it</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-11</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39562</guid><title><![CDATA[UN General Assembly – 64th session resolutions]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39562</link><description><![CDATA[The 64th Session of the UN General Assembly considered a number of agenda items with preparatory documents and/or resolutions relevant to biotechnologies, including items 53 (a) on ‘Agricultural technology for development’; 55 (c) on ‘Science and technology for development’; and 60 on ‘Agriculture development and food security’. See the preparatory documents (numbered A/64/258, A/64/168 and A/64/221 respectively) for each item at <a href="http://www.un.org/ga/second/64/documentslist.shtml">http://www.un.org/ga/second/64/documentslist.shtml</a> (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) and the resulting resolutions (numbered A/RES/64/197, A/RES/64/212 and A/RES/64/224 respectively) at <a href="http://www.un.org/ga/64/resolutions.shtml">http://www.un.org/ga/64/resolutions.shtml</a> or contact <a href="mailto: inquiries2@un.org">inquiries2@un.org</a> for more information. For example, in resolution A/RES/64/224, the General Assembly, inter alia, “Reaffirms the need to mobilize the resources needed to increase productivity, including the review, approval and adoption of biotechnology and other new technologies and innovations that are safe, effective and environmentally sustainable”.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-10</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39563</guid><title><![CDATA[The International Industrial Biotechnology Network]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39563</link><description><![CDATA[The International Industrial Biotechnology Network (IIBN) was launched at a symposium held on 29 March 2010 at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) Headquarters in Vienna, Austria, co-organized with the Institute of Plant Biotechnology for Developing Countries (Ghent University, Belgium). The network is dedicated to promoting “the use of novel biotechnologies for adding economic value to under-utilised biological resources in developing countries in order to meet specific developmental and biodiversity conservation goals, respectful of cultural and social values. To achieve its mission, IIBN will catalyse partnerships between public research institutes, governments, private sector and national and international development agencies leading to international initiatives intended to translate recent technological advances in the life sciences into renewable bio-based products”. See <a href="http://indbiotech.net/">http://indbiotech.net/</a> or contact <a href="mailto: g.tzotzos@unido.org">g.tzotzos@unido.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-9</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39564</guid><title><![CDATA[Biosafety Protocol News 7]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39564</link><description><![CDATA[The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity has now published the 7th issue of Biosafety Protocol News. The 23-page issue highlights experiences and lessons learned in facilitating the exchange of information on living modified organisms (LMOs) through the Biosafety Clearing-House, with contributors presenting their experiences and lessons learned in Africa, Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, and Latin America. See <a href="http://www.cbd.int/doc/newsletters/bpn/bpn-07.pdf">http://www.cbd.int/doc/newsletters/bpn/bpn-07.pdf</a> (5.8 Mb) or contact <a href="mailto: bch@cbd.int">bch@cbd.int</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-8</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39565</guid><title><![CDATA[UNCTAD technology and innovation report 2010]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39565</link><description><![CDATA[The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development recently published “Technology and innovation report 2010: Enhancing food security in Africa through science, technology and innovation”. The 106-page report focuses on ways of improving agricultural performance in Africa and the role that technology and innovation can play in raising the agricultural production and incomes of smallholder farmers and in facilitating access to food for the poorest people both on and off the farm. It is organised in seven chapters, covering respectively key issues in the development of African agriculture; building innovation capabilities in Africa agriculture; agriculture and national food security; challenges and opportunities to achieve food security; transfer and diffusion of agricultural technology; technology mixes for small scale farming (including discussion of various crop biotechnologies); and recommendations. See <a href="http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/tir2009_en.pdf">http://www.unctad.org/en/docs/tir2009_en.pdf</a> (1.2 MB) or contact <a href="mailto: constantine.bartel@unctad.org">constantine.bartel@unctad.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-7</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39566</guid><title><![CDATA[Papers from CGIAR Science Forum 2009]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39566</link><description><![CDATA[On 16-17 June 2009, the CGIAR Science Forum 2009 was held in Wageningen, the Netherlands, convened by the Independent Science and Partnership Council (ISPC) of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR). It brought together over 300 scientists, donors and civil society groups from 55 countries to debate recent advances in genomics, biofortification, bio-based products and other technologies that can reduce food insecurity in developing countries. A special open access issue of the journal Crop Science has now been published containing a selection of papers presented at the Forum. See the <a href="http://www.sciencecouncil.cgiar.org/home/mobilizing-science/en/">website</a> or contact <a href="mailto: SC-Secretariat@fao.org">SC-Secretariat@fao.org</a> for more information.  ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-6</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39567</guid><title><![CDATA[The 6th International Rice Genetics Symposium]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39567</link><description><![CDATA[The abstracts are now available on the web from the 6th International Rice Genetics Symposium that took place on 16-19 November 2009 in Manila, Philippines. Organized every 4-5 years since 1985 by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), the symposium’s aim was to "showcase the latest developments in the field, including research on breeding, mapping of genes and quantitative trait loci, identification and cloning of candidate genes for biotic and abiotic stresses, gene expression, and genomic databases and mutant induction for functional genomics". The 365-page publication contains abstracts from the plenary, concurrent and poster sessions and from two workshops. The symposium was held in conjunction with the 7th International Symposium on Rice Functional Genomics. See <a href="http://ricegenetics.com/">http://ricegenetics.com/</a> or contact <a href="mailto: secretariat@ricegenetics.com">secretariat@ricegenetics.com</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-5</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39568</guid><title><![CDATA[Abstracts from Africa Rice Congress 2010]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39568</link><description><![CDATA[The Africa Rice Congress 2010 was held in Bamako, Mali on 22-26 March 2010. Organised by the Africa Rice Center, and following the first Africa Rice Congress that was held in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in 2006, the congress’ aim was to take stock of advances in rice science and technology aimed at enhancing rice productivity in farmers’ fields, while protecting environmental services and coping with climate change. A 205-page publication, edited by P. Kiepe, M. Diatta and D. Millar, containing abstracts from the congress, in English and French, is now available on the web. The abstracts, many of which describe the use of biotechnologies in rice, are organised in six main themes, one of which is ‘genetic diversity and improvement’ (pages 1-59). See the <a href="http://www.africaricecenter.org/africaricecongress2010/index.html">congress website</a> (in English and French) or contact <a href="mailto: a.agboh-noameshie@cgiar.org">a.agboh-noameshie@cgiar.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-4</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39569</guid><title><![CDATA[Impact analysis of MAS]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39569</link><description><![CDATA[To complement its scientific crop improvement research, the Generation Challenge Programme (GCP) of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) commissioned a series of socio-economic studies, including one entitled ‘Ex-ante impact analysis of marker-assisted selection technologies’ by G. Norton and colleagues. The study was conducted in Africa and Asia to evaluate the quantitative impact and investments of two GCP projects which utilised marker-assisted breeding to develop improved varieties of rice and cassava. See the studies at <a href="http://www.generationcp.org/sp5_impact/sp5main">http://www.generationcp.org/sp5_impact/sp5main</a> or contact <a href="mailto: c.devicente@cgiar.org">c.devicente@cgiar.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-3</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39570</guid><title><![CDATA[Agricultural biotechnologies to 2015]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39570</link><description><![CDATA[The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently published “Biotechnologies in agriculture and related natural resources to 2015”, by A. Arundel and D. Sawaya. The 105-page article provides an overview of the current state of technological development and presents estimates and projections for the types of biotechnologies expected to reach the market for use in agriculture and related natural resources to 2015. It is one of two articles published in a special issue (volume 2009/3) of the periodical ‘OECD Journal: General Papers’, written for the ‘Bioeconomy to 2030’ project. See <a href="http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/19/36/44534300.pdf">http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/19/36/44534300.pdf</a> (2.1 MB) or contact <a href="mailto: david.sawaya@oecd.org">david.sawaya@oecd.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-2</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39571</guid><title><![CDATA[OIE Scientific and Technical Review 28(3)]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39571</link><description><![CDATA[The final issue for 2009 of the Scientific and Technical Review, published by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), is now available in open access on the web. The issue contains 28 articles, describing different animal disease surveillance strategies and the control and elimination of important animal diseases. The organisation of Veterinary Services is also discussed, as well as diagnosis and vaccines. See <a href="http://www.oie.int/eng/publicat/en_numerosrt.htm">http://www.oie.int/eng/publicat/en_numerosrt.htm</a> (in English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: publications.dept@oie.int">publications.dept@oie.int</a> for more information about the Review.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-1</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-06-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39491</guid><title><![CDATA[Agricultural biotechnologies in developing countries – Successful case studies ]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39491</link><description><![CDATA[At ABDC-10, FAO organized a series of five sector-specific parallel sessions dedicated to case studies of successful applications of biotechnologies in crops, forestry, livestock, fisheries and agro-industry in developing countries, followed by a facilitated discussion. The summary reports of these sessions (as well as all presentations) are available at <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/abdc/parallel/en/">http://www.fao.org/biotech/abdc/parallel/en/</a> (Sessions A.1 to A.5). Contact <a href="mailto: ABDC@fao.org">ABDC@fao.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-05-26</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-05-31</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 31 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39492</guid><title><![CDATA[Learning from the past and preparing for the future]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39492</link><description><![CDATA[As part of the build up to ABDC-10, FAO prepared an extensive set of sector-specific background documents (numbered ABDC-10/3.1 to ABDC-10/7.1), covering the current status and options for biotechnologies in developing countries in crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture and, finally, in food processing and food safety. Each one was organized in two parts, the first part focusing on learning from the past and the second on preparing for the future. At ABDC-10, a series of five parallel sessions were held where, for each one, the sector-specific document was presented, 2-3 people then provided their ‘reflections on the document’ before the floor was opened for an open discussion. The summary reports of these sessions (as well as all presentations) are available at <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/abdc/parallel/en/">http://www.fao.org/biotech/abdc/parallel/en/</a> (Sessions B.1 to B.5). Contact <a href="mailto: ABDC@fao.org">ABDC@fao.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-05-25</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-05-31</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 31 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39493</guid><title><![CDATA[Cross-sectoral issues]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39493</link><description><![CDATA[At ABDC-10, twelve parallel sessions were dedicated to cross-sectoral issues, namely development of genomic resources (Session C.1, organized by the CGIAR); molecular breeding (C.2, CGIAR); conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources (C.3, CGIAR); enhancing human capacities (C.4, a double session organized by the ICGEB); ensuring equitable access to technology (C.5, a double session organized by Oxfam International); empowering public participation in decision-making (C.6, a double session organized by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, IUCN); prioritizing the role of the farmer (C.7, FAO with support from the International Federation of Agricultural Producers, IFAP); public-private partnerships (C.8, FAO with support from IFAP); policy coherence at the national/regional level (C.9, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, UNCTAD); biosafety in the context of biosecurity (C.10, FAO Nutrition and Consumer Protection Division); intellectual property rights (C.11, World Intellectual Property Organization, WIPO); and non-food uses of plants (C.12, United Nations Industrial Development Organization, UNIDO). The summary reports of these sessions (as well as all presentations) are available at <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/abdc/parallel/en/">http://www.fao.org/biotech/abdc/parallel/en/</a>. Contact <a href="mailto: ABDC@fao.org">ABDC@fao.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-05-24</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-05-31</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 31 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39494</guid><title><![CDATA[Region-specific sessions]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39494</link><description><![CDATA[At ABDC-10, a series of regional parallel sessions were held whose scope was to address the potential role of biotechnologies for agricultural development in the different regions, namely Latin America and the Caribbean (Session D.1, organized by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Technical Cooperation Network on Plant Biotechnology in Latin America and the Caribbean (REDBIO) and the International REDBIO Foundation); West Asia and North Africa (D.2, Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa, AARINENA); Sub-Saharan Africa (D.3, Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa, FARA); Asia and the Pacific (D.4, Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions, APAARI); and Europe and Central Asia (D.5, FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia). The summary reports of these sessions (as well as al presentations) are available at <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/abdc/parallel/en/">http://www.fao.org/biotech/abdc/parallel/en/</a> or contact <a href="mailto: ABDC@fao.org">ABDC@fao.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-05-23</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-05-31</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 31 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39495</guid><title><![CDATA[22nd session of COAG]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39495</link><description><![CDATA[An information document about ABDC-10 has been prepared for the 22nd session of FAO's Committee on Agriculture (COAG), which takes place on 16-19 June 2010 in Rome, Italy. COAG is a technical committee, whose current membership comprises 130 FAO Members, which meets once every two years and advises the FAO Council on FAO’s work relating to agriculture and livestock, food and nutrition. See document COAG 2010/Inf/10 (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) at <a href="http://www.fao.org/UNFAO/Bodies/coag/coag22/index_en.htm">http://www.fao.org/UNFAO/Bodies/coag/coag22/index_en.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: biotech-website@fao.org">biotech-website@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-05-22</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-05-31</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 31 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39436</guid><title><![CDATA[Report of the ABDC-10 conference]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39436</link><description><![CDATA[The report is now available of the FAO international technical conference on Agricultural Biotechnologies in Developing Countries (ABDC-10) that took place in Guadalajara, Mexico on 1-4 March 2010. A major objective of the Conference was to take stock of the application of biotechnologies across the different food and agricultural sectors in developing countries, in order to learn from the past and to identify options for the future to face the challenges of food insecurity, climate change and natural resource degradation. 

ABDC-10 was hosted by the Government of Mexico and co-sponsored by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) and the World Bank were major partners in this initiative. 

The Conference was dedicated to “agricultural biotechnologies”, a term covering a broad range of biotechnologies used in food and agriculture for a variety of different purposes such as the improvement of plant varieties and animal populations to increase their yields or efficiency; characterization and conservation of genetic resources; plant or animal disease diagnosis; vaccine development; and improvement of feeds and the safety of foods. The Conference was cross-sectoral, covering crops, livestock, forestry, agro-industry and fisheries and aquaculture.

The ABDC-10 report is available, as document ABDC-10/REPORT, from <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/abdc/backdocs/en/">http://www.fao.org/biotech/abdc/backdocs/en/</a> (in English, soon also in Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish). Contact <a href="mailto: ABDC@fao.org">ABDC@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-04-26</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-04-26</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 26 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39297</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO documents for ABDC-10]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39297</link><description><![CDATA[FAO has prepared an extensive series of documents for the FAO international technical conference on Agricultural Biotechnologies in Developing Countries (ABDC-10) that takes place in Guadalajara, Mexico on 1-4 March 2010. Five of them are sector-specific, covering the current status and options for biotechnologies in developing countries in crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture and, finally, in food processing and food safety. A sixth document deals with policy options for agricultural biotechnologies in developing countries and is organised in three broad sections: targeting agricultural biotechnologies to the poor; enabling policies for agricultural biotechnologies; and ensuring access to the benefits of agricultural biotechnologies. These documents are long and available in English. For each one, an easy-to-read synthesis has also been prepared, and is provided in Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Spanish. A seventh document, building on the previous six documents, has also been published which synthesizes the lessons learned and options available to developing countries for making informed decisions regarding adoption of agricultural biotechnologies within their national food security and rural development plans and policies. It also presents a set of Priorities for Action for the international community regarding agricultural biotechnologies for food security in developing countries, focusing on policy- and capacity-development actions. This document is also provided in five languages. ABDC-10 is hosted by the Government of Mexico and co-sponsored by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) and the World Bank are major partners in this initiative. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/abdc/backdocs/">http://www.fao.org/biotech/abdc/backdocs/</a> or contact <a href="mailto:biotech-admin@fao.org">biotech-admin@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-01-29</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-05-31</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 31 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39298</guid><title><![CDATA[CGRFA - 12th Regular Session ]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39298</link><description><![CDATA[At the 12th Regular Session of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA), held at FAO Headquarters, Rome, on 19–23 October 2009, item 8.2 on the agenda was dedicated to “Application and integration of biotechnologies in the conservation and utilization of genetic resources for food and agriculture”. For this item, working document CGRFA-12/09/17 was prepared on “FAO’s policy and technical assistance on biotechnology for food and agriculture, and matters relevant to codes of conduct, guidelines, or other approaches”. The final report of the CGRFA session is now available, and paragraphs 70-74 deal with item 8.2. See the working document and the report at <a href="http://www.fao.org/nr/cgrfa/cgrfa-meetings/cgrfa-comm/twelfth-reg/en/">http://www.fao.org/nr/cgrfa/cgrfa-meetings/cgrfa-comm/twelfth-reg/en/</a> (available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto:"cgrfa@fao.org">cgrfa@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-01-28</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-05-31</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 31 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39299</guid><title><![CDATA[GM food safety training package]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39299</link><description><![CDATA[FAO’s Food Quality and Standards Service has recently published “GM food safety assessment: Tools for trainers”. The training package is composed of three parts. The first, ‘Principles of safety assessment of foods derived from recombinant-DNA plants’, provides guidance for the implementation of an effective framework for safety assessment of foods derived from recombinant-DNA plants. The second, ‘Tools and techniques for trainers’, offers a practical guide for preparing and delivering a workshop on the topic of safety assessment of foods derived from recombinant-DNA plants. The third, ‘Case studies’, presents three safety assessment dossiers that have been summarized for training purposes. The target audience includes national food safety regulators, authorities, and/or scientists tasked with training others to undertake the safety assessment of foods derived from recombinant-DNA plants. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i0110e/i0110e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/012/i0110e/i0110e00.htm</a> (in English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto:Masami.Takeuchi@fao.org">Masami.Takeuchi@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-01-27</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-05-31</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 31 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39300</guid><title><![CDATA[Codex texts on foods derived from modern biotechnology]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39300</link><description><![CDATA[The Codex Alimentarius Commission has recently published “Foods derived from modern biotechnology”, containing texts that represent the outcome of the Commission’s work on principles and guidelines for food safety assessment of foods derived from modern biotechnology. The four texts are the Principles for the risk analysis of foods derived from modern biotechnology; Guideline for the conduct of food safety assessment of foods derived from recombinant-DNA plants; Guideline for the conduct of food safety assessment of foods produced using recombinant-DNA micro-organisms; and guideline for the conduct of food safety assessment of foods derived from recombinant-DNA animals. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/a1554e/a1554e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/a1554e/a1554e00.htm</a> (in English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto:codex@fao.org">codex@fao.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-01-26</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-05-31</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 31 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39301</guid><title><![CDATA[Biosafety Protocol News 6]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39301</link><description><![CDATA[The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity has published the 6th issue of Biosafety Protocol News. The 23-page issue focuses on ‘Public awareness and participation: Experiences and lessons learned from recent initiatives’ and contains eight contributions. One of them is on “Involving rural communities in regulatory and decision-making processes regarding GMOs: Overview of the outcomes of an FAO e-mail conference on public participation” by J. Ruane from the FAO Working Group on Biotechnology. See <a href="http://www.cbd.int/doc/newsletters/bpn/bpn-06.pdf">http://www.cbd.int/doc/newsletters/bpn/bpn-06.pdf</a> or contact <a href="mailto:bch@cbd.int">bch@cbd.int</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-01-25</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-05-31</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 31 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39302</guid><title><![CDATA[OECD - Bioeconomy to 2030]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39302</link><description><![CDATA[In 2005, the International Futures Programme of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) embarked on a project on 'The bioeconomy to 2030: Designing a policy agenda'. The final report has now been published, which examines the range of products and services being impacted by the biological sciences and their potential to further socio-economic goals in OECD and non-OECD countries over the next 20 years. To access background documents, plus the final project report, including its ‘main findings and policy conclusions’, see the <a href="http://www.oecd.org/document/56/0,3343,en_2649_36831301_36960312_1_1_1_1,00.html">website</a>. Contact <a href="mailto: david.sawaya@oecd.org">david.sawaya@oecd.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-01-24</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2010-05-31</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 31 May 2010 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39034</guid><title><![CDATA[Agricultural biotechnologies in developing countries – Learning from the past ]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39034</link><description><![CDATA[The background document to the FAO e-mail conference entitled “Learning from the past: Successes and failures with agricultural biotechnologies in developing countries over the last 20 years” is now available. The biggest part of the 16-page document provides an overview of the main kinds of agricultural biotechnologies that have been used in the crop, forestry, livestock, fishery and agro-industry sectors in developing countries in the past and that should be covered in the e-mail conference. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/C16doc.htm">http://www.fao.org/biotech/C16doc.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: biotech-admin@fao.org">biotech-admin@fao.org</a> to request a copy. The moderated e-mail conference is open to everyone and runs from 8 June to 5 July 2009. It is hosted by the FAO Biotechnology Forum and is being held as part of the build up to the FAO international technical conference on Agricultural Biotechnologies in Developing Countries (ABDC-10). To join the Forum (and also register for the conference), send an e-mail to <a href="mailto: mailserv@mailserv.fao.org">mailserv@mailserv.fao.org</a> and enter the following text on two separate lines:
subscribe BIOTECH-L
subscribe biotech-room4

Forum members wishing to register for the conference should leave out the first line of the above message. For more information, contact <a href="mailto: biotech-mod4@fao.org">biotech-mod4@fao.org</a>.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-06-20</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-07-29</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 29 Jul 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39033</guid><title><![CDATA[ABDC-10 website]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39033</link><description><![CDATA[The FAO international technical conference on “Agricultural biotechnologies in developing countries: Options and opportunities in crops, forestry, livestock, fisheries and agro-industry to face the challenges of food insecurity and climate change” will take place in Guadalajara, Mexico on 1-4 March 2010. ABDC-10 is co-organized by FAO and the Government of Mexico. The ABDC-10 website has now been launched, providing comprehensive information about the conference, including its background, rationale, scope and objectives, expected outputs, organisation and funding, steering committee as well as the FAO documents currently being prepared for the conference. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/abdc/">http://www.fao.org/biotech/abdc</a> (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: ABDC@fao.org">ABDC@fao.org</a> for more information.  ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-06-19</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-09-24</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39035</guid><title><![CDATA[Codex Committee on Food Labelling - 37th session report]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39035</link><description><![CDATA[The report of the 37th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling, that took place on 4-8 May 2009 in Calgary, Canada, is now available. Agenda Item 6 was dedicated to "Labelling of foods and food ingredients obtained through certain techniques of genetic modification/genetic engineering" and is covered in paragraphs 88-105 of the report. See the report (ALINORM 09/32/22), together with the agenda providing links to the meeting's documents, at <a href=" http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp"> http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp</a> or contact <a href="mailto: codex@fao.org">codex@fao.org</a> for further information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-06-18</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-06-8</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 8 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39036</guid><title><![CDATA[Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling - 30th session report]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39036</link><description><![CDATA[The report of the 30th Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling, that took place on 9-13 March 2009 in Balatonalmadi, Hungary, is now available. Agenda Item 7 was dedicated to "Proposed draft guidelines on criteria for methods for the detection and identification of foods derived from biotechnology" and is covered in paragraphs 93-108 of the report. See the report (ALINORM 09/32/23), together with the agenda providing links to the meeting's documents, at <a href="http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp">http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp</a> or contact <a href="mailto: codex@fao.org">codex@fao.org</a> for further information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-06-17</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-06-8</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 8 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39037</guid><title><![CDATA[Biotechnology and biosafety in Belarus]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39037</link><description><![CDATA[FAO has just published a report entitled “The status of agricultural biotechnology and biosafety in Belarus”. The 33-page report gives a brief overview of the national situation regarding agriculture, including policy and research, and biotechnology, in particular GMOs, concerning issues such as policy, research and regulatory frameworks. See <a href="ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/ak226e/ak226e00.pdf">ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/ak226e/ak226e00.pdf</a> or contact <a href="mailto: karin.nichterlein@fao.org">karin.nichterlein@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-06-16</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-06-8</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 8 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/39038</guid><title><![CDATA[Reports of regional consultations on plant breeding capacity]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=39038</link><description><![CDATA[The Global Partnership Initiative for Plant Breeding Capacity Building (GIPB), FAO and partners have previously carried out a worldwide assessment of national plant breeding and related biotechnology capacity (PBBC). To analyse these results, the GIPB recently held three regional electronic discussions: for Latin America and the Caribbean, South-Eastern and Southern Asia and for Western Asia and Northern Africa. Final reports from the first two regional consultations are now available. See the <a href="http://km.fao.org/gipb/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=380&Itemid=271">documents</a> or contact <a href="mailto: gipb@fao.org">gipb@fao.org</a> for more details. The GIPB is a global platform facilitated by FAO. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-06-15</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-06-8</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 8 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38904</guid><title><![CDATA[Socio-economic impacts of non-GM biotechnologies: Micropropagation]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38904</link><description><![CDATA[FAO’s Research and Extension Division has just published “Socio-economic impacts of non-transgenic biotechnologies in developing countries: The case of plant micropropagation in Africa”. The 75-page publication comprises three papers. The first, by A. Sonnino and co-authors, discusses some approaches used in impact assessment of innovations and presents a general overview of the literature about the impacts of non-transgenic biotechnologies. The second, by Z. Dhlamini and co-authors, surveys the extent of micropropagation application in Gabon, Mali, Nigeria, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The third, by P. Warren and co-authors, reports the findings of two field studies, on micropropagation of banana in Uganda and of sweetpotato in Zimbabwe, aimed at better understanding the process of adoption of micropropagated planting materials and its impacts on livelihoods. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/i0340e/i0340e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/i0340e/i0340e00.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: charlotte.lietaer@fao.org">charlotte.lietaer@fao.org</a> to request a copy, providing your full postal address.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-03-10</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-03-10</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38906</guid><title><![CDATA[State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources - Translations]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38906</link><description><![CDATA[In September 2007, FAO released "The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture", a comprehensive 511-page publication drawing on 169 Country Reports and a range of other sources to provide the first global assessment of animal genetic resources and their management. It also contains many sections indirectly or directly relevant to biotechnology, such as applications of molecular markers and reproductive technologies. The publication is now also available in Chinese and French, with Arabic in the pipeline. A 37-page summary version is now also available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Polish, Russian and Spanish, with other languages, such as Korean, Portuguese and Thai, to follow. See the full or summary versions at <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1250e/a1250e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1250e/a1250e00.htm</a> and <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1260e/a1260e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1260e/a1260e00.htm</a> respectively or contact <a href="mailto: dad-is@fao.org">dad-is@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-03-8</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-03-10</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38907</guid><title><![CDATA[Risk analysis in aquaculture]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38907</link><description><![CDATA[As part of its Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper series, FAO's Fisheries and Aquaculture Department has just published “Understanding and applying risk analysis in aquaculture”, edited by M.G. Bondad-Reantaso, J.R. Arthur and R.P. Subasinghe. The 304-page publication is organised in two parts. Part 1 contains 12 peer-reviewed technical papers presented during an expert workshop with the same title, held on 7-11 June 2007 in Rayong, Thailand, organised by FAO and the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia and the Pacific (NACA). One of the 12 papers, entitled ‘Application of risk analysis to genetic issues in aquaculture’, by E. Hallerman, covers genetically modified organisms. Part 2 contains the proceedings of the workshop. See <a href="ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0490e/i0490e.pdf">ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0490e/i0490e.pdf</a> (4.3 MB) or contact <a href="mailto: Melba.Reantaso@fao.org">Melba.Reantaso@fao.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-03-7</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-03-10</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38908</guid><title><![CDATA[EUFMD Standing Technical Committee meeting ]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38908</link><description><![CDATA[The Research Group of the Standing Technical Committee of the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EUFMD) met in Closed and Open Sessions on 14-17 October 2008 in Erice, Italy. The meeting report as well as papers and posters from the Open Session, covering issues such as novel vaccine delivery approaches and development of new diagnostic test systems, are now available on the web. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease of cloven-hoofed animals and the EUFMD is a regional body, established under the auspices of FAO in 1954, specialised in supporting member countries (currently 35) in the European region to prevent FMD. See the <a href="http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/commissions/en/eufmd/resgr_erice.html">meeting website</a> or contact <a href="mailto: keith.sumption@fao.org">keith.sumption@fao.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-03-6</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-03-10</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38909</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO Desert Locust Control Committee - 39th Session]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38909</link><description><![CDATA[The 39th Session of the FAO Desert Locust Control Committee (DLCC) takes place on 10-13 March 2009 at FAO Headquarters, Rome. The provisional agenda contains four items on environmental management, two of which deal with use of bio-pesticides (based on the insect pathogenic fungus Metarhizium). Papers related to these items are now available on the web. The DLCC was established in 1955, meets every 2-3 years and is the primary forum that brings together locust-affected countries, donors and other agencies to advise FAO on Desert Locust management. See the <a href="http://www.fao.org/ag/locusts/en/publicat/meeting/topic/dlcc/session/documents_1665.html">meeting website</a> or contact <a href="mailto: james.everts@fao.org">james.everts@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-03-5</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-03-10</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38910</guid><title><![CDATA[Spirulina culture, production and use]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38910</link><description><![CDATA[As part of its FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular series, FAO has just published "A review on culture, production and use of spirulina as food for humans and feeds for domestic animals" by M.A.B. Habib, M. Parvin, T.C. Huntington and M.R. Hasan. Spirulina are multicellular, filamentous blue-green microalgae that are popular in the health food industry and increasingly as a protein and vitamin supplement to aquaculture diets. The main objective of this 33-page document is to assess and evaluate existing knowledge on the culture, production and use of spirulina for both human consumption and animal feeds. Gene manipulation of spirulina is discussed in Section 5. See <a href="ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0424e/i0424e00.pdf">ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/011/i0424e/i0424e00.pdf</a> or contact <a href="mailto: Mohammad.Hasan@fao.org">Mohammad.Hasan@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-03-4</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-03-10</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38911</guid><title><![CDATA[Codex Committee on Food Labelling – 37th Session]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38911</link><description><![CDATA[The 37th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling takes place on 4-8 May 2009 in Calgary, Canada. Item nr. 6 on the provisional agenda is "Labelling of foods and food ingredients obtained through certain techniques of genetic modification/genetic engineering". See the meeting agenda at <a href="http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp">http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp</a> (in English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: codex@fao.org">codex@fao.org</a> for further information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-03-3</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-03-10</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38912</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO/IAEA Animal Production and Health Newsletter 49]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38912</link><description><![CDATA[The January 2009 newsletter from the Animal Production and Health Section of the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture is now available. The 35-page newsletter, issued twice a year, gives an overview of past and upcoming projects, publications and events. See <a href="http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/aph/public/newsletters-aph.html">http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/aph/public/newsletters-aph.html</a> or contact <a href="mailto: R.Schellander@iaea.org">R.Schellander@iaea.org</a> to subscribe to the newsletter.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-03-2</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-03-10</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38913</guid><title><![CDATA[Commercial risks of GM products]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38913</link><description><![CDATA[As part of its IFPRI Discussion Papers series, the International Food Policy Research Institute has just published "Biosafety decisions and perceived commercial risks: The role of GM-free private standards” by G. Gruere and D. Sengupta. The paper studies the interactions between importing food companies and their GM-free private standards and biotechnology decision making in developing countries. See <a href="http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/dp/IFPRIDP00847.pdf">http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/dp/IFPRIDP00847.pdf</a> or contact <a href="mailto: ifpri@cgiar.org">ifpri@cgiar.org</a> for more information. IFPRI Discussion Papers contain preliminary material and research results and are circulated in order to stimulate discussion and critical comment. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-03-1</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-03-10</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 10 Mar 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38745</guid><title><![CDATA[Regional consultations on plant breeding capacity]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38745</link><description><![CDATA[The Global Partnership Initiative for Plant Breeding Capacity Building (GIPB), FAO and partners have previously carried out a worldwide assessment of national Plant Breeding and related Biotechnology Capacity (PBBC). To analyse the results, the GIPB is holding three electronic discussions (for Latin America and the Caribbean; South-Eastern and Southern Asia; and Western Asia and Northern Africa). For each one, a background note has been prepared summarizing the key findings from countries in the region. The main objective of these regional consultations is to discuss and recommend appropriate strategies to strengthen capacity to use plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. See <a href="http://km.fao.org/gipb/">http://km.fao.org/gipb/</a> or contact <a href="mailto: gipb@fao.org">gipb@fao.org</a> for more details. The GIPB is a global platform facilitated by FAO.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-02-4</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-02-2</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 2 Feb 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38746</guid><title><![CDATA[Biosafety Protocol News 5]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38746</link><description><![CDATA[The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity has just published the 5th issue of Biosafety Protocol News. The 15-page issue presents a series of articles describing experiences and lessons learned from eight recent biosafety capacity-building initiatives, one of which is dedicated to "Best practices and lessons learned from the FAO regional project on capacity-building in the biosafety of GM crops in Asia", by A. Sonnino. See <a href="http://www.cbd.int/doc/newsletters/bpn/bpn-03-05-en.pdf">http://www.cbd.int/doc/newsletters/bpn/bpn-03-05-en.pdf</a> or contact <a href="mailto: bch@cbd.int">bch@cbd.int</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-02-3</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-02-2</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 2 Feb 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38747</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO/IAEA Plant Breeding and Genetics Newsletter 22]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38747</link><description><![CDATA[The January 2009 newsletter from the Plant Breeding and Genetics Section of the Joint FAO/IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture is now available. This 55-page newsletter, issued twice a year, gives an overview of their past and upcoming events (meetings, training courses etc.), ongoing projects and publications. See <a href="http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/pbg/public/newsletters-pbg.html">http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/pbg/public/newsletters-pbg.html</a> (2.4 MB) or contact <a href="mailto: k.allaf@iaea.org">k.allaf@iaea.org</a> to request a copy.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-02-2</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-02-2</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 2 Feb 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38748</guid><title><![CDATA[Capacity building in basic molecular biology]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38748</link><description><![CDATA[A new research funding opportunity has recently been announced, aiming to create a network of research laboratories involved in the study of plant and animal pathogens that affect agricultural productivity in developing regions. It is jointly financed by the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World (TWAS) and the International Basic Sciences Programme of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO/IBSP). The deadline for submitting expressions of interest is 31 March 2009. See <a href="http://www.icgeb.org/icgeb-twas-unescoibsp-joint-project.html">http://www.icgeb.org/icgeb-twas-unescoibsp-joint-project.html</a> or contact <a href="mailto: bargenti@icgeb.org">bargenti@icgeb.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-02-1</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-02-2</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 2 Feb 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38720</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO publication on water scarcity and biotechnologies]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38720</link><description><![CDATA[As part of its Land and Water Discussion Papers series, FAO has just published "Coping with water scarcity: What role for biotechnologies?" by J. Ruane, A. Sonnino, P. Steduto and C. Deane. The publication brings together the background paper and the summary report from a moderated e-mail conference that was organised by FAO as one of its initiatives to mark World Water Day 2007, whose theme was "Coping with water scarcity". The conference's main focus was on the use of biotechnologies to increase the efficiency of water use in agriculture, while a secondary focus was on two specific water-related applications of micro-organisms, in wastewater treatment and in inoculation of crops and forest trees with mycorrhizal fungi. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/i0487e/i0487e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/i0487e/i0487e00.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: charlotte.lietaer@fao.org">charlotte.lietaer@fao.org</a> to request a copy, providing your full postal address.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-01-7</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-01-20</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38721</guid><title><![CDATA[Results of e-mail conference on biotechnologies and bioenergy]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38721</link><description><![CDATA[The FAO moderated e-mail conference entitled "The role of agricultural biotechnologies for production of bioenergy in developing countries" ran from 10 November to 14 December 2008. Major topics of discussion included applying biotechnologies in jatropha; the potential benefits for small-scale farmers of applying biotechnologies for bioenergy production; biogas production in developing countries; and production of enzymes for efficient bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass to liquid biofuels. Of the different biotechnologies, most attention was paid to applications of genetic modification, molecular markers and tissue culture in crops for biofuel purposes. About 430 people subscribed to the conference and 88 messages were posted by 52 people in 21 different countries. Sixty percent of messages came from people living in developing countries. The messages are available at <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/logs/c15logs.htm">http://www.fao.org/biotech/logs/c15logs.htm</a> or can be requested as a single e-mail (size 135 KB) from <a href="mailto: biotech-admin@fao.org">biotech-admin@fao.org</a>. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-01-6</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-01-20</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38722</guid><title><![CDATA[Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling - 30th Session]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38722</link><description><![CDATA[The 30th Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling takes place on 9-13 March 2009 in Balatonalmadi, Hungary. Item 7 on the provisional agenda is "Proposed draft guidelines on criteria for methods for the detection and identification of foods derived from biotechnology". See the meeting agenda, and eventually the meeting documents, at <a href="http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp">http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp</a> (in English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: codex@fao.org">codex@fao.org</a> for further information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-01-5</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-01-20</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38723</guid><title><![CDATA[CBD and its Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38723</link><description><![CDATA[The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has just released a 91-page report on its activities on implementation of the work programme of the CBD and its Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, covering the period from January to December 2008. In addition, on a related matter, the report on agenda item 49.f (on 'Sustainable development: Convention on Biological Diversity') from the Second Committee of the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly is now available on the web. See <a href="http://www.cbd.int/doc/reports/cbd-report-2008-en.pdf">http://www.cbd.int/doc/reports/cbd-report-2008-en.pdf</a> (in English) and <a href="http://www.un.org/ga/second/63/reports.shtml">http://www.un.org/ga/second/63/reports.shtml</a> (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) respectively or contact <a href="mailto: secretariat@cbd.int">secretariat@cbd.int</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-01-4</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-01-20</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38724</guid><title><![CDATA[Distance learning course on biotechnology and intellectual property]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38724</link><description><![CDATA[The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Worldwide Academy is giving a distance learning advanced course on biotechnology and intellectual property (IP) from 26 March to 4 June 2009. One of the aims of the course is to enable participants to learn about definitions and concepts that are commonly used in the IP field, especially by IP professionals who work in the biotechnology field. The course covers topics such as the nature of plant breeder's rights systems and IP as a factor in research in development and it assumes that the student has general background in IP law or in biotechnology. It involves about 100 hours of study time over a period of 10 weeks and is offered in English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. Registration is open until 18 February 2009. See the <a href="http://www.wipo.int/academy/en/courses/distance_learning/catalog/dl204bio.html">course website</a> or contact <a href="mailto: DL204e.academy@wipo.int">DL204e.academy@wipo.int</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-01-3</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-01-20</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38725</guid><title><![CDATA[Aquatic animal diseases]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38725</link><description><![CDATA[A recent issue, 27(1), of the Scientific and Technical Review, published by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), focuses on 'Changing trends in managing aquatic animal disease emergencies'. The main purpose of the 16-paper issue is to provide a state-of-the-art compilation and assessment of aquatic animal disease emergency management strategies, covering policies as well as operational tools, from international to farm level. Two of the 16 papers are about biotechnology, namely "Biotechnology and DNA vaccines for aquatic animals" by G. Kurath and "Recent applications of biotechnology to novel diagnostics for aquatic animals" by A. Adams and K.D. Thompson. See the <a href="http://www.oie.int/boutique/index.php?page=ficprod&id_produit=113&fichrech=1&lang=en">issue</a> (in English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: publications.dept@oie.int">publications.dept@oie.int</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-01-2</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-01-20</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38726</guid><title><![CDATA[Molecular markers for tropical trees]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38726</link><description><![CDATA[As part of its ICRAF Technical Manual series, the World Agroforestry Centre has recently published "Molecular markers for tropical trees: A practical guide to principles and procedures", by A. Muchugi and co-authors, edited by I. Dawson and R. Jamnadass. The 89-page guide describes some of the key issues that should be considered before starting molecular studies (part 1); relates the characteristics and practical procedures of different molecular methods (part 2); and describes how to handle the molecular data obtained (part 3). The guide is designed for technicians, students and other laboratory researchers interested in exploring the practical applications of molecular marker techniques for tree management as well as for managers and scientists working across disciplines who need to understand more about molecular marker research. See the <a href="http://www.worldagroforestrycenter.org/downloads/publications/PDFS/mn15601.pdf">guide</a> (708 KB) or contact <a href="mailto: icrafmolecularlab@cgiar.org">icrafmolecularlab@cgiar.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-01-1</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-01-20</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 20 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38669</guid><title><![CDATA[Launch of RSS feeds for FAO-BiotechNews]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38669</link><description><![CDATA[The FAO Working Group on Biotechnology is pleased to announce the launch of Really Simple Syndication (RSS) feeds for FAO-BiotechNews. By subscribing, users receive automatic updates to their own computer every time there are updates of FAO-BiotechNews. A total of 18 different options are available - users can choose to have RSS feeds in one or more of the six FAO languages (i.e. Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) and can choose News, Events or both from FAO-BiotechNews. To subscribe, click on the orange RSS feed tag of interest at <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech">http://www.fao.org/biotech</a> or see instructions at <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/help_rss_en.asp">http://www.fao.org/biotech/help_rss_en.asp</a>. For more information, contact <a href="mailto: biotech-website@fao.org">biotech-website@fao.org</a>. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-12-6</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-12-16</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38670</guid><title><![CDATA[Biotechnology, biosafety and the CGIAR]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38670</link><description><![CDATA[On 22-24 April 2008, a workshop was held in Los Banos, the Philippines, on "Biotechnology, biosafety and the CGIAR: Promoting best practice in science and policy", organised by the Science Council (SC) of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the International Rice Research Institute and Bioversity International. It reviewed biotechnology-related work in the CGIAR and partner National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) and focused discussion on three major issues: i) How CGIAR Centers can best work with NARS to ensure a smooth and timely delivery of research products to target farmers; ii) CGIAR's need for a Biotechnology Research Support Network, its roles and functions; and iii) How CGIAR should deal with policy issues related to biotechnology and be represented in international fora. A pre-publication version of the workshop report with a SC commentary is now available. See the <a href="http://www.sciencecouncil.cgiar.org/home/priorities-strategies/en/ ">document</a> or contact <a href="mailto: haruko.okusu@fao.org">haruko.okusu@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-12-5</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-12-16</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38671</guid><title><![CDATA[Sugarcane-based bioethanol]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38671</link><description><![CDATA[At the International Seminar of Biofuels in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in November 2008, a new book entitled "Sugarcane-based bioethanol: Energy for sustainable development" was launched. Co-ordinated by the Brazilian National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) and the Center for Strategic Studies and Management (CGEE) with support from the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean and the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the 300-page book aims to provide grounds for a meaningful and objective discussion on the potential and constraints of producing bioethanol from sugarcane, especially in those countries where sugarcane is already being cultivated. Chapter 5 on 'Advanced technologies in the sugarcane agroindustry' discusses applications of biotechnologies for the conversion of lignocellulosic residues to bioethanol. See <a href="http://www.bioetanoldecanadeazucar.org">http://www.bioetanoldecanadeazucar.org</a> (in English, Spanish and Portuguese) or contact <a href="mailto: Guilherme.Schuetz@fao.org">Guilherme.Schuetz@fao.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-12-4</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-12-16</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38672</guid><title><![CDATA[63rd session of the UN General Assembly]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38672</link><description><![CDATA[The General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) opened its 63rd session on 16 September 2008 at the UN Headquarters in New York, United States. The wide range of agenda items for consideration includes item 49.f on 'Sustainable development: Convention on Biological Diversity', for which a report (nr. A/63/294, pages 20-25) was prepared by the Convention's secretariat, summarising major developments regarding the Convention, including its Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. See the report (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish), plus the draft resolution, at <a href="http://www.un.org/ga/second/63/documentation.shtml">http://www.un.org/ga/second/63/documentation.shtml</a> or contact <a href="mailto: inquiries@un.org">inquiries@un.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-12-3</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-12-16</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38673</guid><title><![CDATA[OIE ad hoc groups on vaccinology and molecular diagnostics ]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38673</link><description><![CDATA[A meeting of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) ad hoc Group on Biotechnology was held on 26-28 August 2008 in Paris, France. This was the last meeting of the OIE ad hoc Group in its current format, and its aim was to discuss and propose terms of reference for the formation of two new ad hoc Groups to focus on diagnostics and vaccines related to new and emerging biotechnologies (the ad hoc Group on Molecular Diagnostics and the ad hoc Group on Vaccinology respectively). See the meeting report (Appendix V, pages 33-40) at <a href="http://www.oie.int/downld/SC/2008/A_BSC_sept2008.pdf">http://www.oie.int/downld/SC/2008/A_BSC_sept2008.pdf</a> (942 KB) or contact <a href="mailto: scientific.dept@oie.int">scientific.dept@oie.int</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-12-2</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-12-16</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38674</guid><title><![CDATA[New OECD consensus documents]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38674</link><description><![CDATA[As part of its Series on Harmonisation of Regulatory Oversight in Biotechnology, the OECD Environment, Health and Safety Division publishes consensus documents containing information for use during the regulatory assessment of a particular product, typically on the biology of certain plant species. Four new documents have recently been published in this series, on the biology of cotton, lodgepole pine, western white pine and Douglas-fir. Similarly, as part of its Series on the Safety of Novel Foods and Feeds, the OECD Environment, Health and Safety Division also publishes consensus documents, containing information for use during the regulatory assessment of a particular food/feed product. In this series, a new consensus document on the tomato has recently been published. See the <a href="http://www.oecd.org/findDocument/0,3354,en_2649_37437_1_119829_1_1_37437,00.html">documents</a> or contact <a href="mailto: ehscont@oecd.org">ehscont@oecd.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-12-1</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-12-16</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 16 Dec 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38603</guid><title><![CDATA[Bioenergy and biotechnologies]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38603</link><description><![CDATA[The background document for the FAO e-mail conference entitled "The role of agricultural biotechnologies for production of bioenergy in developing countries" is now available. The 22-page publication gives an overview of the current status regarding bioenergy, focusing on first- and second-generation liquid biofuels, including the reasons for the major current focus on liquid biofuels as well as current concerns about them. Some of the potential ways in which biotechnologies could contribute to bioenergy production are then assessed, covering production of biomass as well as conversion of the biomass to first- or second-generation liquid biofuels, in addition to production of biodiesel from microalgae and production of biogas. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/C15doc.htm">http://www.fao.org/biotech/C15doc.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: biotech-admin@fao.org">biotech-admin@fao.org</a> to request a copy. The moderated e-mail conference is open to everyone and runs from 10 November to 7 December 2008. It is hosted by the FAO Biotechnology Forum and organised in collaboration with the FAO Working Group on Bioenergy. To join the Forum (and also register for the conference), send an e-mail to <a href="mailto: mailserv@mailserv.fao.org">mailserv@mailserv.fao.org</a> and enter the following text on two separate lines:
subscribe BIOTECH-L
subscribe biotech-room3

Forum members wishing to register for the conference should leave out the first line of the above message. For more information, contact <a href="mailto: biotech-mod3@fao.org">biotech-mod3@fao.org</a>.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-10-31</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-11-3</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 3 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38604</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO Biotechnology Glossary - Multilingual CD-ROM]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38604</link><description><![CDATA[Following the publication in July 2008 of the Russian version of the FAO Biotechnology Glossary, FAO has now produced a CD-ROM containing the Arabic, English, French, Spanish and Russian versions of the glossary. Also available on the web at <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/index_glossary.asp">http://www.fao.org/biotech/index_glossary.asp</a>, the glossary is a convenient reference source for researchers, students, technicians and translators. It provides consolidated, comprehensive and accessible definitions of over 3,000 terms and acronyms that are used regularly in biotechnology, including genetic engineering, and closely allied fields. The CD-ROM is equipped with user-friendly searching facilities that allow easy cross-referencing among the five languages. To request a copy of the multilingual CD-ROM and/or the Russian glossary, contact <a href="mailto: charlotte.lietaer@fao.org">charlotte.lietaer@fao.org</a> providing your full postal address. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-10-30</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-11-4</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 4 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38605</guid><title><![CDATA[Establishing a laboratory for plant nutrient analysis]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38605</link><description><![CDATA[As part of its Fertilizer and Plant Nutrition Bulletin series, FAO has just published "Guide to laboratory establishment for plant nutrient analysis" by M.R. Motsara and R.N. Roy. This 204-page publication provides practical guidelines on establishing service laboratories for the analysis of soil, plants, water and fertilizers. It also dedicates a chapter to biofertilizer assay and production, discussing the bacterial cultures that serve either as a source of nitrogen, such as Rhizobium, Azotobacter and Azospirillum, or for improving the availability of soil phosphorus, such as phosphate-solubilizing microbes. It provides methods for their isolation, identification, multiplication and commercial production. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/i0131e/i0131e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/i0131e/i0131e00.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: clemencia.liconamanzur@fao.org">clemencia.liconamanzur@fao.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-10-29</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-11-4</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 4 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38606</guid><title><![CDATA[BCH online forum on capacity-building - first conference]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38606</link><description><![CDATA[The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity is organising an online conference on "Capacity-building in environmental risk assessment and post-release monitoring of LMOs: Current status, priority needs and future capacity-building measures" from 3 to 14 November 2008. Organised in four sessions over 10 days, the moderated conference aims to provide an initial forum for the exchange of views, ideas and experiences regarding the priority needs and possible strategic ways and means of enhancing the capacities of developing countries and countries with economies in transition in risk assessment and post-release monitoring of living modified organisms (LMOs). The conference is open to anyone wishing to register. See <a href="http://bch.cbd.int/onlineconferences/agenda_ra_cb.shtml">http://bch.cbd.int/onlineconferences/agenda_ra_cb.shtml</a> or contact <a href="mailto: capacitybuilding.forum@cbd.int">capacitybuilding.forum@cbd.int</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-10-28</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-11-4</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 4 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38607</guid><title><![CDATA[Compliance Committee of the Cartagena Protocol - 5th meeting ]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38607</link><description><![CDATA[Under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, a Compliance Committee has been established to promote compliance, to address cases of non-compliance, and to provide advice or assistance. Documents for the fifth meeting of the Compliance Committee, to be held on 19-21 November 2008 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, are now available on the web. See <a href="http://www.cbd.int/doc/?meeting=BSCC-05">http://www.cbd.int/doc/?meeting=BSCC-05</a> or contact <a href="mailto: secretariat@cbd.int">secretariat@cbd.int</a> for further information. For more details on the Compliance Committee's work, see <a href="http://www.cbd.int/biosafety/issues/compliance.shtml">http://www.cbd.int/biosafety/issues/compliance.shtml</a>.  ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-10-27</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-11-4</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 4 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38608</guid><title><![CDATA[Green Customs Guide - Cartagena Protocol]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38608</link><description><![CDATA[Coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, the Green Customs Initiative is a collaborative effort of 10 international organisations and convention secretariats concerned with the implementation or enforcement of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) with trade-related aspects. As part of this Initiative, the "Green customs guide to multilateral environmental agreements" has just been published. MEAs regulate the transboundary movement of a wide variety of items that customs or border control officers might encounter and this guide is intended to help them in their work. The 117-page book is organised in four chapters, where Chapter 2 provides an overview of the seven treaties covered by the Initiative, one of which is the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The guide is available at <a href="http://www.greencustoms.org/">http://www.greencustoms.org/</a> or contact <a href="mailto: greencustoms@unep.fr">greencustoms@unep.fr</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-10-26</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-11-4</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 4 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38611</guid><title><![CDATA[IFPRI Discussion Papers on GMOs]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38611</link><description><![CDATA[Under its IFPRI Discussion Papers series, the International Food Policy Research Institute publishes papers containing preliminary material and research results which are circulated to stimulate discussion and critical comment. Three of its recent papers deal with genetically modified organisms. Paper number 795, entitled "Publish or patent? Knowledge dissemination in agricultural biotechnology", by A. Michiels and B. Koo, analyses recent patterns of knowledge generation and dissemination in agricultural biotechnology, in particular plant breeding, by using the example of the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method. Paper 796, entitled "Biosafety at the crossroads: An analysis of South Africa's marketing and trade policies for genetically modified products", by G.P. Gruere and D. Sengupta, analyses the current and potential future of South African trade-related policies on GM products. Paper 808, entitled "Bt cotton and farmer suicides in India: Reviewing the evidence", by G.P. Gruere, P. Mehta-Bhatt and D. Sengupta, reviews the evidence on the alleged resurgence of farmer suicides in India and the potential relationship between the adoption of Bt cotton and suicides among Indian farmers. See <a href="http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/pubs.htm#dp">http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/pubs.htm#dp</a> or contact <a href="mailto: ifpri@cgiar.org">ifpri@cgiar.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-10-25</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-11-4</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 4 Nov 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38525</guid><title><![CDATA[Codex Alimentarius Commission - 31st session report]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38525</link><description><![CDATA[At the 31st session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission, held from 30 June to 4 July 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland, the Commission adopted 35 new or revised Codex standards or related texts. These include the 'Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Animals' as well as two new annexes to the 'Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Plants', namely 'Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Plants Modified for Nutritional or Health Benefits' and 'Food Safety Assessment in Situations of Low-level Presence of Recombinant-DNA Plant Material in Food'. In addition, the Commission approved new work for the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling on 'Guidelines on Criteria for Methods for the Detection and Identification of Foods Derived from Biotechnology' and agreed to dissolve the Ad hoc Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology. See the report (ALINORM 08/31/REP), together with the agenda providing links to the meeting's documents, at <a href="http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp?lang=en">http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp?lang=en</a> (in English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: codex@fao.org">codex@fao.org</a> for further information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-09-25</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-10-1</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 1 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38526</guid><title><![CDATA[Biosafety in Asia-Pacific countries ]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38526</link><description><![CDATA[A new publication entitled "Biosafety regulations of Asia-Pacific countries", by K. Gupta, J.L. Karihaloo and R.K. Khetarpal, is now available on the web. Published by FAO, the Asia-Pacific Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology (APCoAB) and the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), the 108-page document lists and briefly details the regulatory instruments related to biosafety of products of biotechnology for agriculture and food existing in 39 countries of Asia and the Pacific. It contains additional chapters providing an introduction to recent developments in agricultural biotechnology in the region, issues on biosafety, and international regulatory instruments on biosafety. A brief analysis of the present status of national biosafety regulations with respect to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is also included. See <a href="http://www.apcoab.org/documents/bs_pub.pdf">http://www.apcoab.org/documents/bs_pub.pdf</a> (670 KB) or contact <a href="mailto: kakoli.ghosh@fao.org">kakoli.ghosh@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-09-24</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-10-1</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 1 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38527</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO/IAEA Plant Breeding and Genetics Newsletter 21]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38527</link><description><![CDATA[The July 2008 newsletter from the Plant Breeding and Genetics 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. This 43-page newsletter, issued twice a year, gives an overview of their past and upcoming events (meetings, training courses etc.), ongoing projects and publications. See <a href="http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/pbg/public/pb-nl-21.pdf">http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/pbg/public/pb-nl-21.pdf</a> (2.6 MB) or contact <a href="mailto: k.allaf@iaea.org">k.allaf@iaea.org</a> to request a copy.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-09-23</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-10-1</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 1 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38528</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO/IAEA Animal Production and Health Newsletter 48]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38528</link><description><![CDATA[The July 2008 newsletter 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 39-page newsletter, issued twice a year, gives an overview of past and upcoming projects, publications and events. See <a href="http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/aph/public/ap-nl-48.pdf">http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/aph/public/ap-nl-48.pdf</a> (0.8 MB) or contact <a href="mailto: R.Schellander@iaea.org">R.Schellander@iaea.org</a> to subscribe to the newsletter. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-09-22</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-10-1</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 1 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38529</guid><title><![CDATA[Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety - 5th Anniversary]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38529</link><description><![CDATA[To mark the 5th anniversary of the entry into force of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, on 11 September 2008, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity released a range of outreach materials related to the anniversary, whose theme was 'The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety: Five years of global cooperation towards sustainable development'. These include a statement from the UN Secretary General, a press release, poster and CD-ROM as well as a 5th anniversary edition of the newsletter Biosafety Protocol News. See <a href="http://www.cbd.int/biosafety/anniversary/">http://www.cbd.int/biosafety/anniversary/</a> or contact <a href="mailto: cpb5years@cbd.int">cpb5years@cbd.int</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-09-21</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-10-1</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 1 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38530</guid><title><![CDATA[GCP Capacity-building corner]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38530</link><description><![CDATA[The website of the Generation Challenge Programme (GCP) of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) contains a 'Capacity-building corner' providing information about GCP training events, fellowship and grant opportunities, and other human resource development activities in the fields of plant genetic resources, genomics and molecular breeding. One of the corner's components, on 'learning materials', has recently been greatly expanded, so that now it contains a distant learning module for scientists covering genetic resource policies and implications on freedom to operate (developed in collaboration with Wageningen University and Research Centre); a self-study introductory online course on crop bioinformatics (a joint project between the GCP and the International Rice Research Institute); and a new learning module on genomics and comparative genomics (developed jointly by the GCP and Cornell University’s Institute for Genomic Diversity). See <a href="http://www.generationcp.org/sp5/?da=08123058">http://www.generationcp.org/sp5/?da=08123058</a> or contact <a href="mailto: c.devicente@cgiar.org">c.devicente@cgiar.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-09-20</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-10-1</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 1 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38531</guid><title><![CDATA[GM vegetables in Ghana]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38531</link><description><![CDATA[As part of its IFPRI Discussion Papers series, the International Food Policy Research Institute has just published "Insecticide use on vegetables in Ghana: Would GM seed benefit farmers?" by D. Horna and co-authors. This analysis investigates the potential for adoption of GM vegetables by examining the determinants of insecticide use and estimating the extent to which insecticide use abates damage to the crop. See <a href="http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/dp/ifpridp00785.asp">http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/dp/ifpridp00785.asp</a> or contact <a href="mailto: ifpri@cgiar.org">ifpri@cgiar.org</a> for more information. IFPRI Discussion Papers contain preliminary material and research results and are circulated in order to stimulate discussion and critical comment.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-09-19</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-10-1</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 1 Oct 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38366</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO Biotechnology Glossary - Russian translation]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38366</link><description><![CDATA[The FAO Biotechnology Glossary is now available in Russian. Apart from a translation of the over 3,000 terms and definitions contained in the original English glossary, the 381-page publication also contains an additional English-Russian vocabulary of biotechnology-related terms. The glossary provides consolidated, comprehensive and accessible definitions of terms and acronyms that are used regularly in biotechnology, including genetic engineering, and closely allied fields. The initial draft was prepared by G. Camarova (State Agricultural University of Moldova, Republic of Moldova) and revised by T. Gavrilenko, I. Anisimova and O. Antonova (N.I.Vavilov Institute of Plant Industry, Russian Federation) for plant-related terminology and by O. Kuznetsova and S. Kharitonov (Russian State Agrarian University, Russian Federation) for animal-related terminology. It is available in PDF, and soon as a web-based searchable database, at <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/index_glossary.asp">http://www.fao.org/biotech/index_glossary.asp</a> or contact <a href="mailto: karin.nichterlein@fao.org">karin.nichterlein@fao.org</a> to request a copy, providing your full postal address. The book was prepared by FAO's Research and Extension Division, in collaboration with the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia. The original English version was prepared by A. Zaid, H.G. Hughes, E. Porceddu and F. Nicholas in 2001. The glossary has previously been translated into Arabic, French, Serbian, Spanish and Vietnamese and these versions can also be downloaded from the above website. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-07-8</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-07-18</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38368</guid><title><![CDATA[Pest free potato micropropagative material]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38368</link><description><![CDATA[The Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) has submitted for member consultation a number of draft International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), one of which is entitled 'Pest free potato micropropagative material and minitubers for international trade'. The standard provides guidance on the production, maintenance and certification of pest free potato (Solanum spp.) micropropagative material and minitubers intended to be moved in international trade. Micropropagation is a biotechnology involving the miniaturised in vitro multiplication and/or regeneration of plant material under aseptic and controlled environmental conditions, while minitubers are tubers produced in a protected environment from potato micropropagative material. See <a href="https://www.ippc.int/id/201049?language=en">https://www.ippc.int/id/201049?language=en</a> (in English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: ippc@fao.org">ippc@fao.org</a> for more information. Contracting Parties, Regional Plant Protection Organizations and relevant international organizations are invited to comment on this and other draft ISPMs through their IPPC contact point. Templates for providing comments are available from the above link and the deadline for submission of comments is 30 September 2008. The IPPC is an international treaty relating to plant health, to which 169 governments currently adhere, and its Secretariat is based at FAO Headquarters, Rome.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-07-7</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-07-18</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38369</guid><title><![CDATA[Biotechnology policy documents of FAO members]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38369</link><description><![CDATA[The annotated list of on-line biotechnology policy documents of FAO members has recently been updated. Most of the 24 entries are national policy documents, covering applications of biotechnology in food and agriculture as well as in other areas, such as pharmaceuticals and human health care. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/country.asp">http://www.fao.org/biotech/country.asp</a> (available in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: biotech-website@fao.org">biotech-website@fao.org</a> to provide comments.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-07-6</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-07-18</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38370</guid><title><![CDATA[Final reports of COP-MOP 4 and COP-9]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38370</link><description><![CDATA[The final reports of the 4th meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP 4), held on 12-16 May 2008 in Bonn, Germany, and of the 9th Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP-9), held in the same place on 19-30 May 2008, are now available. See <a href="http://www.cbd.int/mop4/doc/">http://www.cbd.int/mop4/doc/</a> (107 pages, available in all six UN languages, i.e. in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) and <a href="http://www.cbd.int/cop9/doc/">http://www.cbd.int/cop9/doc/</a> (246 pages, in English with other UN languages to come) respectively or contact <a href="mailto: secretariat@biodiv.org">secretariat@biodiv.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-07-5</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-07-18</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38371</guid><title><![CDATA[UNIDO e-Biosafety courses]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38371</link><description><![CDATA[As part of a network of regional centres providing comprehensive training in biosafety established by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), registration is now open for two e-Biosafety courses for 2008/2009. The international e-course at 'biosafety and plant biotechnology' at Ghent University (Belgium) begins tentatively on 29 September 2008 and registration is open until 31 August. The 'e-learning master in biosafety in plant biotechnology' at Marche Polytechnic University (Italy) starts tentatively on 5 November 2008 and applications are accepted between 15 July and 15 October. See <a href="http://binas.unido.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page">http://binas.unido.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page</a> or contact <a href="mailto: Sylvia.Burssens@UGent.be">Sylvia.Burssens@UGent.be</a> or <a href="mailto: b.mezzetti@univpm.it">b.mezzetti@univpm.it</a> respectively.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-07-4</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-07-18</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38373</guid><title><![CDATA[OECD bioeconomy project: Scenarios, business models, IPRs, regulation, ethics]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38373</link><description><![CDATA[In 2005, the International Futures Programme (IFP) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) embarked on a project on 'The bioeconomy to 2030: Designing a policy agenda', aiming to assess "how pervasive biotechnological applications are likely to become, the prospects for further development over the next two to three decades, the potential impact on the economy and society, and the policy agenda needed to promote and diffuse this new wave of innovations in a way that is consistent with broader socioeconomic goals". The IFP has just released a number of background documents prepared within the context of the project, several of which deal directly with agricultural biotechnology. These include "Agricultural biotechnology to 2030", by A.M. Murphy, D. van Moorsel and M. Ching (22 pages, considering two different future scenarios); "Small and medium enterprises in agricultural biotechnology", by S.C. Blank (41 pages); "Intellectual property rights in agricultural and agro-food biotechnologies to 2030", by M. Trommetter (a 41-page report presenting options for intellectual property rights in agricultural biotechnologies by 2030); "An overview of regulatory tools and frameworks for modern biotechnology: A focus on agro-food", by M. Cantley (a 123-page paper aiming to give a picture of the main aspects of regulatory measures applied to modern biotechnology, and the products and services derived from it, in selected OECD and non-OECD countries); and "Biotechnology: Ethical and social debates", by N. Rigaud (an 89-page document focusing on six issues - genetically modified (GM) crops and GM food; biomass energy and biofuels; bioprospecting; GM and cloned animals and their welfare; private genetic information; and stem cell research). See the <a href="http://www.oecd.org/document/56/0,3343,en_2649_36831301_36960312_1_1_1_1,00.html">documents</a> or contact <a href="mailto: david.sawaya@oecd.org">david.sawaya@oecd.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-07-3</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-07-18</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38374</guid><title><![CDATA[bEcon bibliography]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38374</link><description><![CDATA[The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has just released bEcon, a web-based bibliography including peer-reviewed applied economics literature that assesses the impacts of genetically modified (GM) crops in developing economies. The publications are organised into four main categories: the impacts of GM crops on farms, on consumers, on industries/sectors, and on international trade. For inclusion in the database, publications must focus on GM crops in non-industrialised agriculture, including at least one developing economy, and be peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters and published conference proceedings. Technical reports, working papers and discussion papers are considered if there is some indication of peer review. The database is updated every 3 months and a CD-ROM is produced annually. See <a href="http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/becon/beconabout.asp">http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/becon/beconabout.asp</a> or contact <a href="mailto: P.Zambrano@cgiar.org">P.Zambrano@cgiar.org</a> for more information or <a href="mailto: IFPRI-Library@cgiar.org">IFPRI-Library@cgiar.org</a> to request CD-ROM copies of bEcon.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-07-2</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-07-18</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38375</guid><title><![CDATA[Ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38375</link><description><![CDATA[A new publication, entitled "Multi-institutional distance learning course on the ex situ conservation of plant genetic resources", is now available which covers the basic concepts of plant genetic resources, germplasm acquisition, introduction, conservation, characterisation, documentation, and germplasm bank management. Funded by the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), this English-language version is based on the materials used in the 2004 Spanish-language distance learning course, organised by the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT), Bioversity International and the National University of Colombia, with the support of REDCAPA. See <a href="http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/ccc/course_ex_situ.htm">http://www.ciat.cgiar.org/ccc/course_ex_situ.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: e.hesse@cgiar.org">e.hesse@cgiar.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-07-1</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-07-18</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38286</guid><title><![CDATA[Global assessment of plant breeding capacity]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38286</link><description><![CDATA[Since 2002, FAO and its partners have been carrying out a survey to assess national plant breeding and related biotechnology capacity worldwide. The survey is currently concluded in 62 countries and is still ongoing in 30 countries through the support of FAO and the Global Partnership Initiative for Plant Breeding Capacity Building (GIPB). The Plant Breeding and related Biotechnology Capacity assessment (PBBC) database is now available on the web, providing information from the survey in an easily searchable format. See <a href="http://km.fao.org/gipb/pbbc/">http://km.fao.org/gipb/pbbc/</a> or contact <a href="mailto: elcio.guimaraes@fao.org">elcio.guimaraes@fao.org</a> for more information or with suggestions/comments. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-16</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38287</guid><title><![CDATA[Micropropagation for sugarcane seed production]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38287</link><description><![CDATA[A new report on "Micropropagation for quality seed production in sugarcane in Asia and the Pacific", by N.C. Jalaja, D. Neelamathi and T.V. Sreenivasan, is now available on the web. Published by FAO, the Asia–Pacific Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology (APCoAB) and the Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI), the 46-page report gives a step-by-step protocol for the production of disease-free planting material in sugarcane using the meristem tip culture method. Field multiplication of in-vitro raised plantlets aimed at reducing the farmer-level cost of seedlings is also detailed. Success stories of sugarcane micropropagation for seed production in India, Australia and the Philippines are also described. See <a href="http://www.apcoab.org/documents/sugar_pub.pdf">http://www.apcoab.org/documents/sugar_pub.pdf</a> (2.2 MB) or contact <a href="mailto: kakoli.ghosh@fao.org">kakoli.ghosh@fao.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-15</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38288</guid><title><![CDATA[Agricultural biotechnology network - Near East and North Africa]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38288</link><description><![CDATA[On 15-16 December 2007, an expert consultation meeting for the establishment of a regional network for agricultural biotechnology in the Near East and North Africa was held in Cairo, Egypt. The meeting was sponsored by the Association of Agricultural Research Institutions in the Near East and North Africa (AARINENA), the Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR), FAO and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) and hosted by the Egypt Agricultural Research Center. At the meeting, the proposal to establish the network was adopted unanimously and decisions were taken regarding location of the network secretariat, election of officers, selection of technical working groups and a program of activities. See an overview of the <a href="http://www.aarinena.org/rais/documents/newsletter/vol15no2/5-6E.pdf">meeting</a> (568 KB) or contact <a href="mailto: i.hamdan@cgiar.org">i.hamdan@cgiar.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-14</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38289</guid><title><![CDATA[Consultation on jatropha development]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38289</link><description><![CDATA[On 10-11 April 2008, the "International consultation on pro-poor Jatropha development" was held in Rome, Italy, jointly organised by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the United Nations Foundation, FAO and the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. The consultation was designed to support the recently-approved research grant financed by IFAD, which, inter alia, aims to develop appropriate technologies to intensify biofuel feedstock production, study the economics of rural electrification and assess its impact on poverty. The consultation was organised in 11 sessions, one of which was dedicated to breeding, where applications of molecular markers were also discussed. Presentations from the consultation are now available on the web. See <a href="http://www.ifad.org/events/jatropha/index.htm">http://www.ifad.org/events/jatropha/index.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: v.raswant@ifad.org">v.raswant@ifad.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-13</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38290</guid><title><![CDATA[Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Information volume 30]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38290</link><description><![CDATA[The latest Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Information bulletin (volume 30, part 2) is now available on the web. Published twice a year by FAO in English and French, the bulletin contains both news and scientific abstracts aiming to collate and disseminate current information on all aspects of tsetse and trypanosomiasis research and control to institutions and individuals involved in the problems of African trypanosomiasis (a vector-borne disease affecting people and animals caused by various species of blood parasites called trypanosomes). The bulletins also include items covering biotechnology applications for disease diagnosis and in trypanosome research. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/paat/ttiq.html">http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/paat/ttiq.html</a> or contact <a href="mailto: MariaGrazia.Solari@fao.org">MariaGrazia.Solari@fao.org</a> to subscribe.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-12</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38291</guid><title><![CDATA[Codex Committee on Food Labelling - 36th session report]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38291</link><description><![CDATA[The report of the 36th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL), that took place from 28 April to 2 May 2008 in Ottawa, Canada, is now available. Agenda Item 5, on "Labelling of foods and food ingredients obtained through certain techniques of genetic modification/genetic engineering", is covered in paragraphs 75-93 of the report. See <a href="http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp?lang=en">http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp?lang=en</a> (document ALINORM 08/31/22) or contact <a href="mailto: codex@fao.org">codex@fao.org</a> for further information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-11</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38292</guid><title><![CDATA[IPPC diagnostic protocols meeting report]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38292</link><description><![CDATA[Five technical panels have been set up under the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC). One of these, the Technical Panel on Diagnostic Protocols (TPDP), produces diagnostic protocols for specific pests, often involving use of morphological and molecular/biochemical diagnostic techniques. The report of the TPDP meeting held on 24-28 September 2007 in Buenos Aires, Argentina is now available. See <a href="https://www.ippc.int/id/59235?language=en">https://www.ippc.int/id/59235?language=en</a> or contact <a href="mailto: ippc@fao.org">ippc@fao.org</a> for more information. The IPPC is an international treaty relating to plant health, to which 169 governments currently adhere, and its Secretariat is based at FAO Headquarters, Rome.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-10</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38294</guid><title><![CDATA[Aarhus Convention - GMOs workshop]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38294</link><description><![CDATA[On 19-20 May 2008, an international workshop on "Good practices regarding access to information, public participation and access to justice with respect to GMOs" was held in Cologne, Germany, with a particular focus on the needs and challenges facing countries in transition (especially those from Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia) and developing countries. It was held under the auspices of 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). See the workshop documents (in English, some also in French and Russian) at <a href="http://www.unece.org/env/pp/gmo.htm#gmoworkshop">http://www.unece.org/env/pp/gmo.htm#gmoworkshop</a> or contact <a href="mailto: public.participation@unece.org">public.participation@unece.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-9</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-07-18</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38293</guid><title><![CDATA[Advance version of COP-MOP 4 report (Cartagena Protocol)]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38293</link><description><![CDATA[An advance version of the report of the 4th meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP 4), that took place on 12-16 May 2008 in Bonn, Germany, is now available on the web. This 105-page document is subject to final clearance. See the <a href="http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/bs/mop-04/official/mop-04-18-en.pdf">report</a> or contact <a href="mailto: secretariat@cbd.int">secretariat@cbd.int</a> for more information. Documents, press releases and webcasts from the meeting are also available at <a href="http://www.cbd.int/mop4/">http://www.cbd.int/mop4/</a>.  ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-8</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-07-18</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38295</guid><title><![CDATA[Assessment of internationally funded biosafety and biotechnology training]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38295</link><description><![CDATA[The United Nations University's Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) has recently published "Internationally funded training in biosafety and biotechnology – Is it bridging the biotech divide", by S. Johnston, C. Monagle, J. Green and R. Mackenzie. The 233-page report marks the conclusion of a global assessment, undertaken by UNU-IAS from 2004 to 2007, aiming to provide a neutral, independent and objective assessment of the various internationally funded training programmes for biosafety and biotechnology, especially to the extent that it is necessary for biosafety, in the developing world. See <a href="http://www.ias.unu.edu/sub_page.aspx?catID=111&ddlID=673">http://www.ias.unu.edu/sub_page.aspx?catID=111&ddlID=673</a> or contact <a href="mailto: johnston@ias.unu.edu">johnston@ias.unu.edu</a> for further information or to request a printed copy of the report.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-7</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38296</guid><title><![CDATA[OIE ad hoc Group on Biotechnology - 4th meeting report]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38296</link><description><![CDATA[The 4th meeting of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) ad hoc Group on Biotechnology was held on 28-30 November 2007 in Paris, France. The ad hoc Group discussed a range of issues, including position papers prepared on RNA-based biotechnologies and on nanotechnologies; the follow-up to an international symposium on animal genomics for animal health; and timetables for preparation of background papers on topics such as RNA-based technologies for the treatment and control of animal diseases or transgenic animal technology for livestock. See <a href="http://www.oie.int/downld/SC/2008/A_BSC_Jan2008.pdf">http://www.oie.int/downld/SC/2008/A_BSC_Jan2008.pdf</a> (report included as Appendix III, pages 13-26, 619 KB) or contact <a href="mailto: scientific.dept@oie.int">scientific.dept@oie.int</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-6</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38297</guid><title><![CDATA[OIE Scientific and Technical Review issue 26(3)]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38297</link><description><![CDATA[All 21 articles from the December 2007 issue of the OIE Scientific and Technical Review are now available on the web. Submitted by experts from around the world, they describe different animal disease surveillance strategies and the control and elimination of important animal diseases. The organisation of veterinary services is also discussed, as are diagnosis and vaccines. See the <a href="http://www.oie.int/boutique/index.php?page=ficprod&id_produit=120&fichrech=1&lang=en">issue</a> or contact <a href="mailto: publications.dept@oie.int">publications.dept@oie.int</a> for more information. The Scientific and Technical Review is a peer-reviewed journal published by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) three times a year which contains in-depth studies devoted to current scientific and technical developments in animal health and veterinary public health world-wide. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-5</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-01-8</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 8 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38298</guid><title><![CDATA[OECD Biotechnology Update 19]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38298</link><description><![CDATA[Issue number 19 (April 2008) of the OECD Biotechnology Update is now available. Presented by OECD's Internal Co-ordination Group for Biotechnology, the 25-page newsletter aims to provide updated information on activities at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development related to biotechnology. See <a href="http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/33/1/40628456.pdf">http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/33/1/40628456.pdf</a> (382 KB) or contact <a href="mailto: icgb@oecd.org">icgb@oecd.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-4</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38299</guid><title><![CDATA[Plant breeding capacity - Cameroon, Kenya, the Philippines and Venezuela]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38299</link><description><![CDATA[As part of its IFPRI Discussion Papers series, the International Food Policy Research Institute has just published "Plant genetic resources for agriculture, plant breeding, and biotechnology: Experiences from Cameroon, Kenya, the Philippines, and Venezuela" by J. Falck-Zepeda and co-authors. Using data from a global survey that FAO and its partners have been carrying out on national plant breeding and related biotechnology capacity, the 48-page study examines investments in human and financial resources and the distribution of resources among the different programs, as well as the capacity and policy development for agricultural research in the four selected countries. See <a href="http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/dp/ifpridp00762.asp">http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/dp/ifpridp00762.asp</a> or contact <a href="mailto: ifpri@cgiar.org">ifpri@cgiar.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-3</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38300</guid><title><![CDATA[GM bananas in Uganda]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38300</link><description><![CDATA[In another paper in its IFPRI Discussion Papers series, the International Food Policy Research Institute has just published "Introducing a genetically modified banana in Uganda: Social benefits, costs, and consumer perceptions" by E. Kikulwe, J. Wesseler and J. Falck-Zepeda. The purpose of this 29-page paper is to examine potential social welfare impacts of adopting GM bananas in Uganda. See <a href="http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/dp/ifpridp00767.asp">http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/dp/ifpridp00767.asp</a> or contact <a href="mailto: ifpri@cgiar.org">ifpri@cgiar.org</a> for more information. IFPRI Discussion Papers contain preliminary material and research results and are circulated in order to stimulate discussion and critical comment.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-2</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38301</guid><title><![CDATA[Quality Protein Maize manual]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38301</link><description><![CDATA[The International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) has just published "Breeding Quality Protein Maize (QPM): Protocols for developing QPM cultivars" by B.S. Vivek and co-authors. The 50-page manual is intended for maize breeders who would like to start developing QPM cultivars. It is a compilation and consolidation of several breeding protocols successfully used at CIMMYT over two decades of QPM development and breeding. A brief background and the basic theory of QPM genetics are explained, leading up to detailed methods and procedures of QPM development. A chapter is dedicated to marker-assisted selection. QPM grain contains enhanced levels of the essential amino acids lysine and tryptophan, along with other characteristics that make more of its protein useful to humans or farm animals. See the <a href="http://www.cimmyt.org/english/docs/manual/protocols/qpm_protocols.pdf">manual</a> (1.7 MB) or contact <a href="mailto: lvillasenor@cgiar.org">lvillasenor@cgiar.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-1</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-06-25</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jun 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38227</guid><title><![CDATA[International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38227</link><description><![CDATA[In 2002, the World Bank and FAO initiated a global consultative process to determine whether an international assessment of agricultural knowledge, science and technology was needed. These initial consultations resulted in the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology for Development (IAASTD), an inter-governmental process with a multi-stakeholder Bureau co-sponsored by FAO, the Global Environment Facility (GEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the World Bank and World Health Organization (WHO). The Bureau comprised 30 government and 30 civil society representatives (NGOs, producer and consumer groups, private sector entities and international organizations). The IAASTD brought together around 400 scientists from around the globe to produce a global assessment and five sub-global assessments reports (for Central and West Asia and North Africa [CWANA], East and South Asia and the Pacific [ESAP], Latin America and the Caribbean [LAC], North America and Europe [NAE] and sub-Saharan Africa [SSA]). At its final plenary session, held on 7-12 April 2008 in Johannesburg, South Africa, the IAASTD reports were launched and governments approved (a small number not fully) the Global Summary for Decision Makers (based on the global assessment); the five sub-Global Summaries for Decision Makers (one each for the sub-global assessments); and the Executive Summary of the Synthesis Report. The Synthesis Report integrates the key findings from the global and sub-global assessments, and focuses on eight topics: bioenergy; biotechnology; climate change; human health; natural resource management; traditional knowledge and community based innovation; trade and markets; and women in agriculture. See <a href="http://www.agassessment.org/">http://www.agassessment.org/</a> or contact <a href="mailto: bmcintyre@worldbank.org">bmcintyre@worldbank.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-12</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-22</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38228</guid><title><![CDATA[Bioenergy and biotechnology]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38228</link><description><![CDATA[On 12 October 2007, FAO organised a seminar on "The role of agricultural biotechnologies for production of bioenergy in developing countries" in Rome, Italy. Papers from invited speakers are now available on the web. The first covers issues such as the current global situation regarding biofuels; the potential impacts of genetic modification; trade implications; biofuels certification; and product differentiation under the World Trade Organization (by S. Zarrilli). The second focuses on technical issues and options for the use of genomics for production of lignocellulosic biomass and its conversion to biofuel (G.A. Tuskan). The third describes some of the biochemical aspects behind breakdown of lignocellulosic biomass to bioethanol; the importance of cellulases; as well as giving some of the history of Brazilian research in this area (E.P.S. Bon and M.A. Ferrara). See <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/seminaroct2007.htm">http://www.fao.org/biotech/seminaroct2007.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: biotech-website@fao.org">biotech-website@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-11</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-22</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38229</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO Biosecurity Toolkit]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38229</link><description><![CDATA[Biosecurity is a strategic and integrated approach to analysing and managing relevant risks to human, animal and plant life and health, and associated risks to the environment. It covers food safety, zoonoses, the introduction of animal and plant diseases and pests, the introduction and release of living modified organisms (LMOs) and their products, and the introduction and management of invasive alien species. The "FAO Biosecurity Toolkit" has now been published, providing practical guidance and support to develop and implement national biosecurity frameworks at the country level. The toolkit comprises three parts: biosecurity principles and components; a guide to assess biosecurity capacity; and an overview and framework manual for biosecurity risk analysis. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1140e/a1140e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1140e/a1140e00.htm</a> (in English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: biosecurity@fao.org">biosecurity@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-10</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-23</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38230</guid><title><![CDATA[Biotechnology and genetic resources ]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38230</link><description><![CDATA[On 22 February 2008, the FAO Working Group on Biotechnology organised a side event to the 13th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA), entitled "Biotechnology as a toolbox to study and monitor agricultural genetic resources". Summaries and presentations from the event are now available on the web, covering the application of molecular markers to conservation biology of fishes or to monitoring adaptation and migration of forest tree species, as well as FAO’s work in the field of biotechnology. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/seminarsbstta.htm">http://www.fao.org/biotech/seminarsbstta.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: biotech-website@fao.org">biotech-website@fao.org</a> for more information.  ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-9</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-23</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38231</guid><title><![CDATA[Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling - 29th session report]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38231</link><description><![CDATA[The report of the 29th Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling, that took place on 10-14 March 2008 in Budapest, Hungary, is now available. Agenda Item 6, on "Criteria for the methods for the detection and identification of foods derived from biotechnology", is covered in paragraphs 87-93 of the report. See document ALINORM 08/31/23, as well as the meeting agenda, at <a href="http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp">http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp</a> or contact <a href="mailto: codex@fao.org">codex@fao.org</a> for further information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-8</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-23</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38232</guid><title><![CDATA[Use of PCR in detection of trypanosomes]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38232</link><description><![CDATA[The Animal Production and Health Section of the Joint FAO/IAEA Division in Vienna, Austria has recently published "Developing methodologies for the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the diagnosis and monitoring of trypanosomosis". Trypanosomiasis is a vector-borne disease affecting people and animals caused by various species of blood parasites called trypanosomes. This 287-page book presents the final results from a Coordinated Research Project, lasting from 2001 to 2005, initiated to try and improve the diagnosis of trypanosomoses using molecular based methods. See the <a href="http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/aph/public/TE_1559_web.pdf">publication</a> (4.1 MB) or contact <a href="mailto: aph-webcontact@iaea.org">aph-webcontact@iaea.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-7</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-23</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38233</guid><title><![CDATA[Patent landscaping in the life sciences]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38233</link><description><![CDATA[On 7-8 April 2008, a symposium on "Public policy patent landscaping in the life sciences" was held in Geneva, Switzerland, organized by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in cooperation with FAO. Patent landscapes provide information on "what is actually patented, where and by whom". The event focused on how to develop improved information products that meet the needs of policymakers in the life sciences to strengthen the factual background for policy discussions. It took place in the context of a cooperation program between FAO and WIPO on patent landscaping for policy makers and included, among others, a session dealing with patent landscapes on gene promoters for rice, maize, potato and soybean and the patent landscape of the rice genome. While there were no formal outcomes from this exploratory symposium, it identified possible future areas of cooperation that would see closer integration between patent information tools and the ongoing needs of policymakers concerned with plant genetic resources. See the <a href="http://www.wipo.int/meetings/en/2008/lifesciences/patent_landscaping/program.html">website</a> (agenda and some presentations) or contact <a href="mailto: publicinf@wipo.int">publicinf@wipo.int</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-6</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-23</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38234</guid><title><![CDATA[NERICA compendium ]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38234</link><description><![CDATA[The Africa Rice Center (WARDA), FAO and the Sasakawa Africa Association have just published "NERICA: the New Rice for Africa – a Compendium", edited by E.A. Somado, R.G. Guei and S.O. Keya. The 210-page document brings together the results of scientific research on NERICA rice varieties, ranging from the choice of land to planting, integrated crop and pest management, harvest and post-harvest operations, agro-processing technologies and nutritional quality, and adoption impact on rice farmers' livelihoods. It is split into 17 modules, one of which is dedicated to molecular characterisation of NERICA lines. NERICA rice varieties are derived from the crossing of two species of cultivated rice, the African rice and the Asian rice, using embryo rescue and anther culture techniques, combining the high yields from the Asian rice with the ability of the African rice to thrive in harsh environments. See <a href="http://www.warda.org/warda/techreport.asp">http://www.warda.org/warda/techreport.asp</a> or contact <a href="mailto: Gouantoueu.Guei@fao.org">Gouantoueu.Guei@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-5</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-23</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38235</guid><title><![CDATA[Sustainable utilisation of animal genetic resources]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38235</link><description><![CDATA[On 2-4 July 2006, an expert meeting on "Sustainable utilization of animal genetic resources" was held in Ferentillo, Italy, jointly organized by FAO and the World Association for Animal Production. It outlined guiding principles for sustainable utilisation of animal genetic resources (AnGR) and key strategies for achieving this objective. The report of the meeting, edited by D. Weary, D. Pilling and B. Rischkowsky, has now been published, containing e.g. a paper on the implications of health regulations on sustainable use of AnGR, covering advances in reproductive biotechnologies. See <a href="http://dad.fao.org/cgi-bin/getblob.cgi?sid=-1,297">http://dad.fao.org/cgi-bin/getblob.cgi?sid=-1,297</a> or contact <a href="mailto: dad-is@fao.org">dad-is@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-4</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-22</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 22 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38236</guid><title><![CDATA[Cartagena Protocol: COP-MOP 4 documents]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38236</link><description><![CDATA[The 4th meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP 4) took place on 12-16 May 2008 in Bonn, Germany, back-to-back with the 9th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, on 19-30 May. The meeting addressed a number of standing issues on the COP-MOP agenda (i.e. compliance; operation and activities of the Biosafety Clearing-House; capacity building; financial mechanisms and resources; cooperation with other organizations, conventions and initiatives; and administration and budgetary matters). It also addressed a number of substantive issues arising from the medium-term programme of work and previous COP-MOP decisions (i.e. handling, transport, packaging and identification of living modified organisms; risk assessment and risk management; liability and redress; subsidiary bodies; monitoring and reporting; assessment and review; socio-economic considerations; public awareness and participation; and notification requirements). See <a href="http://www.cbd.int/mop4/">http://www.cbd.int/mop4/</a> for background and access to official documents (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) and information documents (in English) or contact <a href="mailto: secretariat@cbd.int">secretariat@cbd.int</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-3</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-23</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38237</guid><title><![CDATA[Biotechnology and intellectual property - Distance learning course]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38237</link><description><![CDATA[The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Worldwide Academy is offering a distance learning advanced course on biotechnology and intellectual property (IP). One of the aims of the course is to enable participants to learn about definitions and concepts that are commonly used in the IP field, especially by IP professionals who work in the biotechnology field. The course covers topics such as the nature of plant breeder's rights systems and IP as a factor in research in development. It involves about 100 hours of study time over a period of 10 weeks and is offered twice a year, initially in English, French and Spanish. See the <a href="http://www.wipo.int/academy/en/courses/distance_learning/catalog/dl204bio.html">website</a> or contact <a href="mailto: DL204e.academy@wipo.int">DL204e.academy@wipo.int</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-2</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-23</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/38238</guid><title><![CDATA[Regional regulation of GMOs]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=38238</link><description><![CDATA[As part of its IFPRI Discussion Papers series, the International Food Policy Research Institute has just published "Regional biotechnology regulations: Design options and implications for good governance" by R. Birner and N. Linacre. In this paper the authors develop a conceptual framework that identifies key factors for consideration when designing a regional system for regulation of genetically modified organisms. The case of West Africa is used to illustrate the framework, and reference is made to the European Union for comparison purposes. See <a href="http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/dp/ifpridp00753.asp">http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/dp/ifpridp00753.asp</a> or contact <a href="mailto: ifpri@cgiar.org">ifpri@cgiar.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-1</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-05-23</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Fri, 23 May 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37962</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO e-conference on biotechnologies and water scarcity - Summary document]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37962</link><description><![CDATA[The summary document of the FAO e-mail conference entitled "Coping with water scarcity in developing countries: What role for agricultural biotechnologies?" has now been published. It provides a summary of the main issues discussed during this moderated e-mail conference, hosted by the FAO Biotechnology Forum from 5 March to 1 April 2007, based on the messages posted by the participants, 75% of which came from people in developing countries. The major topics discussed were the application of biotechnologies (mainly genetic modification and marker-assisted selection) to develop crops with improved drought resistance or water use efficiency; the use of bacteria and mycorrhizal fungi in water-limited conditions; and the use of biotechnology in wastewater treatment. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/logs/C14/summary.htm">http://www.fao.org/biotech/logs/C14/summary.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: biotech-admin@fao.org">biotech-admin@fao.org</a> to request a copy.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-12</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-21</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37963</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO Biotechnology website - updates]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37963</link><description><![CDATA[The annotated list of on-line documents has been updated, so it now includes 180 web links to a wide range of articles, books, meeting reports, proceedings and studies published by FAO, or prepared in collaboration with FAO, over the last 10 years concerning biotechnology in food and agriculture. In addition, the FAO newsroom has just released a news story (in Russian) about the recent launch of the Russian version of the FAO biotechnology website. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/doc.asp">http://www.fao.org/biotech/doc.asp</a> and <a href="http://www.fao.org/newsroom/ru/news/2008/1000785/index.html">http://www.fao.org/newsroom/ru/news/2008/1000785/index.html</a> respectively or contact <a href="mailto: biotech-website@fao.org">biotech-website@fao.org</a> with questions or comments. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-11</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-21</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37964</guid><title><![CDATA[Codex Committee on Food Labelling - 36th Session]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37964</link><description><![CDATA[The 36th Session of the Codex Committee on Food Labelling (CCFL) takes place from 28 April to 2 May 2008 in Ottawa, Canada. Item nr. 5 on the provisional agenda is "Labelling of foods and food ingredients obtained through certain techniques of genetic modification/genetic engineering". See the meeting agenda at <a href="http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp">http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp</a> (in English, French and Spanish); some background to the CCFL's work on labelling of GM foods at <a href="http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/agns/biotechnology_labelling_en.asp">http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/agns/biotechnology_labelling_en.asp</a> (in English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: codex@fao.org">codex@fao.org</a> for further information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-10</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-21</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37965</guid><title><![CDATA[Freshwater fish seed resources for sustainable aquaculture]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37965</link><description><![CDATA[As part of its Fisheries Technical Paper series, FAO's Fisheries and Aquaculture Department has just published "Assessment of freshwater fish seed resources for sustainable aquaculture", edited by M.G. Bondad-Reantaso. The 628-page publication is organised in two parts. Part 1 contains the proceedings and major recommendations of an expert workshop held on 23-26 March 2006 in Wuxi, China with 3 major themes: key issues concerning (i) seed quality, genetics, technology and certification; (ii) seed networking, distribution, entrepreneurship and certification; and (iii) development of the freshwater fish seed production sector that will benefit rural fish farmers. Part 2 contains 3 regional syntheses; 21 country case studies; 5 thematic reviews and 3 contributed papers on freshwater fish seed resources for sustainable aquaculture. One of the thematic reviews, by G.C. Mair and entitled "Genetics and breeding in seed supply for inland aquaculture", covers the application of genetic technologies in aquaculture. See <a href="ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a1495e/a1495e00.pdf">ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/a1495e/a1495e00.pdf</a> or contact <a href="mailto: Melba.Reantaso@fao.org">Melba.Reantaso@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-9</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-21</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37966</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO/IAEA Animal Production and Health Newsletter 47]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37966</link><description><![CDATA[The December 2007 newsletter 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 27-page newsletter, issued twice a year, gives an overview of past and upcoming projects, publications and events. The editorial highlights their activities related to small ruminant reproduction and breeding. See <a href="http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/aph/public/ap-nl-47.pdf">http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/aph/public/ap-nl-47.pdf</a> (703 KB) or contact <a href="mailto: R.Schellander@iaea.org">R.Schellander@iaea.org</a> to subscribe to the newsletter. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-8</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-21</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37967</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO/IAEA Plant Breeding and Genetics Newsletter 20]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37967</link><description><![CDATA[The January 2008 newsletter from the Plant Breeding and Genetics 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. This 43-page newsletter, issued twice a year, gives an overview of their past and upcoming events (meetings, training courses etc.), ongoing projects and publications. See <a href="http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/pbg/public/pb-nl-20.pdf">http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/pbg/public/pb-nl-20.pdf</a> (1.2 MB) or contact <a href="mailto: k.allaf@iaea.org">k.allaf@iaea.org</a> to request a copy.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-7</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-21</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37968</guid><title><![CDATA[Compliance Committee under the Cartagena Protocol - 4th meeting report]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37968</link><description><![CDATA[The report is now available of the 4th meeting of the Compliance Committee under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, which took place on 21-23 November 2007 in Montreal, Canada. See the 8-page report, together with the other meeting documents, at <a href="http://www.cbd.int/doc/?mtg=bscc-04">http://www.cbd.int/doc/?mtg=bscc-04</a>. See more about the Compliance Committee at <a href="http://www.cbd.int/biosafety/issues/compliance.shtml">http://www.cbd.int/biosafety/issues/compliance.shtml</a> or contact <a href="mailto: secretariat@cbd.int">secretariat@cbd.int</a> for further information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-6</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-21</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37969</guid><title><![CDATA[Biosafety Protocol News - 3rd issue]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37969</link><description><![CDATA[The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity has just published the 3rd issue of its Biosafety Protocol News. This 14-page issue focuses on experiences and lessons learned in the implementation of the identification and documentation requirements in the context of paragraph 2 of Article 18 of the Protocol. See <a href="http://www.cbd.int/doc/newsletters/bpn/bpn-02-03-en.pdf">http://www.cbd.int/doc/newsletters/bpn/bpn-02-03-en.pdf</a> (1 MB) or contact <a href="mailto: bch@cbd.int">bch@cbd.int</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-5</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-21</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37970</guid><title><![CDATA[Trade-related measures of the Cartagena Protocol]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37970</link><description><![CDATA[The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has recently published "Trade-related measures and Multilateral Environmental Agreements", prepared for UNEP by the Center for International Environmental Law. The 31-page paper aims to contribute to ongoing negotiations at the World Trade Organization (WTO) by analyzing Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) trade-related measures in the context of the overall objective of the MEAs. It provides a detailed review of the main provisions and specific trade-related measures found in six MEAs, including the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. See the <a href="http://www.unep.ch/etb/areas/pdf/MEA%20Papers/TradeRelated_MeasuresPaper.pdf">paper</a> (371 KB) or contact <a href="mailto: benjamin.simmons@unep.ch">benjamin.simmons@unep.ch</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-4</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-21</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37971</guid><title><![CDATA[Proceedings of plant breeding symposium - Mexico 2006]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37971</link><description><![CDATA[On 20-25 August 2006, the International Plant Breeding Symposium was held in Mexico City, Mexico, organised, among others, by the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). Twenty-two of the 28 papers presented at the symposium have now been published as a special supplement to the journal Crop Science, freely available on the web. One of the papers is entitled "Assessment of the national plant breeding and associated biotechnology capacity around the world", by E.P. Guimaraes and co-authors from FAO.  See <a href="http://crop.scijournals.org/content/vol47/Supplement_3/">http://crop.scijournals.org/content/vol47/Supplement_3/</a> or contact <a href="mailto: elcio.guimaraes@fao.org">elcio.guimaraes@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-3</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-21</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37972</guid><title><![CDATA[GM food and international trade ]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37972</link><description><![CDATA[As part of its IFPRI Discussion Papers series, the International Food Policy Research Institute has just published "Genetically modified food and international trade: The case of India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines" by G. Gruere, A. Bouet and S. Mevel. The aim of this 48-page paper is to study the potential effects of introducing GM food crops in these four countries in the presence of trade-related regulations of GM food in major importers. See <a href="http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/dp/ifpridp00740.asp">http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/dp/ifpridp00740.asp</a> or contact <a href="mailto: ifpri@cgiar.org">ifpri@cgiar.org</a> for more information. IFPRI Discussion Papers contain preliminary material and research results and are circulated in order to stimulate discussion and critical comment. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-2</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-21</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37973</guid><title><![CDATA[GCP fellowships 2008]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37973</link><description><![CDATA[Every year, the Generation Challenge Programme (GCP) of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) offers a number of fellowships to developing country crop science researchers wishing to broaden their skills by conducting research outside their home countries/institutions. Applications for 2008 fellowships are now open, under six different themes (including 'the use of relatedness information in linkage disequilibrium mapping: pedigree information versus molecular marker information' and 'marker-based estimation of coancestry measures in genebank collections'). Deadline is 29 February. See <a href="http://www.generationcp.org/latestnews.php?i=967">http://www.generationcp.org/latestnews.php?i=967</a> or contact <a href="mailto: l.ruiz@cigar.org">l.ruiz@cigar.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-1</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2008-02-21</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37773</guid><title><![CDATA[Biotechnologies for plant conservation and use - A school play]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37773</link><description><![CDATA[FAO's Plant Production and Protection Division has just published "Biotechnology tools for conservation and use of plants: A school play for senior students", with the story line, script and graphic design by R. Speedy and character illustration by I. Steele and R. Speedy. The 144-page play, for high school students aged 15 to 16 years, tells the story of maintenance and use of cassava. Through it, the play introduces students to the main concepts in plant genetic resources and the various biotechnology tools (such as tissue culture, micropropagation, cryopreservation and marker-assisted selection) used for their conservation and for crop production and long term food security. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/ai212e/ai212e00.htm">http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/ai212e/ai212e00.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: kakoli.ghosh@fao.org">kakoli.ghosh@fao.org</a> to request a copy.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-12-9</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-12-17</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37774</guid><title><![CDATA[Biosafety within a biosecurity framework - Consultation report]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37774</link><description><![CDATA[From 28 February to 3 March 2006, FAO organised an expert consultation on "Biosafety within a biosecurity framework: Contributing to sustainable agriculture and food production" in FAO Headquarters, Rome. Its main purposes were to a) identify and analyse potential safety issues associated with current and future applications of new biotechnologies in various sectors relevant for sustainable agriculture and food production and b) develop recommendations for FAO to appropriately address these, in particular regarding optimal risk analysis approaches. Prior to the consultation, a background paper entitled "FAO’s role in biosafety within a biosecurity framework: Scope and relevance of 'biosafety' as a contribution to sustainable agriculture and food production" was made available to participants. The report of the consultation, which includes the background paper, is now available on the web. See the <a href="http://www.fao.org/ag/agn/agns/meetings_consultations_2006_en.asp">report</a> or contact <a href="mailto: food-quality@fao.org">food-quality@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-12-8</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-12-17</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37775</guid><title><![CDATA[Edouard Saouma Award 2006-2007]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37775</link><description><![CDATA[At the biennial FAO Conference, the Edouard Saouma Award is given to a national or regional institution which, in the course of the biennium preceding the Conference, has implemented with particular efficiency a project funded by the Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP), one of the main instruments through which FAO provides technical assistance directly to its Member countries. On 17 November 2007, the opening day of the 34th Session of the FAO Conference, the Edouard Saouma Award 2006-2007 was given by the FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf to Argentina’s Secretariat for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Livestock (SAGPyA) for its work on the TCP project to evaluate post-harvest management of Living Modified Organisms and identification of strategies for implementation of Article 18.2a of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. See a <a href="http://www.fao.org/unfao/bodies/conf/c2007/index_en.htm">summary of the project</a> (Document C 2007/INF/8, in Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: nuria.urquia@fao.org">nuria.urquia@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-12-7</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-12-17</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37776</guid><title><![CDATA[Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37776</link><description><![CDATA[Adopted by 109 country delegations at the International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, held in Interlaken, Switzerland on 3-7 September 2007, the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources and the Interlaken Declaration on Animal Genetic Resources, which recognizes the need for prompt action to ensure these resources are well managed and address their erosion, are now both available on the web, in a single publication. The Global Plan of Action includes 23 Strategic Priorities that are grouped into 4 areas: characterization, inventory and monitoring of trends and associated risks; sustainable use and development; conservation; and policies, institutions and capacity-building. For each Strategic Priority, specific Actions are proposed and some of them are directly or indirectly related to applications of agricultural biotechnology, such as to "develop technical standards and protocols for phenotypic and molecular characterization" and to "establish or strengthen national and regional facilities for ex situ conservation, in particular cryogenic storage". See the <a href="http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/genetics/ITC_press.html">publication</a> (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Spanish and with Russian forthcoming) or contact <a href="mailto: dad-is@fao.org">dad-is@fao.org</a> to request a copy. In November 2007, the FAO Conference also adopted a resolution endorsing the Global Plan and the Interlaken Declaration.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-12-6</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-12-17</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37777</guid><title><![CDATA[REDBIO 2007 news stories]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37777</link><description><![CDATA[On 22-26 October 2007, the VI Latin American and Caribbean Congress of Agricultural Biotechnology (REDBIO 2007) was held in Vina del Mar, Chile. A number of news stories from this meeting are now available on the REDBIO website, including one based on the presentation by Elcio Guimaraes of an FAO study on the global situation regarding national plant breeding and biotechnology capacities as well as one on the Vina del Mar declaration, read and approved by the participants at the congress. See <a href="http://www.redbio.org/">http://www.redbio.org/</a> or contact <a href="mailto: juan.izquierdo@fao.org">juan.izquierdo@fao.org</a> for more information. REDBIO is the Technical Co-operation Network on Plant Biotechnology in Latin America and the Caribbean, based at the FAO Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean in Santiago, Chile.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-12-5</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-12-17</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37778</guid><title><![CDATA[Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37778</link><description><![CDATA["Water for Food, Water for Life: A Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture", a 664-page book edited by D. Molden and published by Earthscan and the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in early 2007, is now available on the web. The Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture (CA) is a critical evaluation of the benefits, costs and impacts of the past 50 years of water development, the water management challenges communities face today, and the solutions people have developed around the world, and uses scenarios to explore the consequences of a range of potential investments. Its scope is water management in agriculture, including fisheries and livestock, and the full spectrum of crop production. It aims to inform investors and policymakers about water and food choices in light of such crucial influences as poverty, ecosystems, governance and productivity. Some of the book's 16 chapters consider the role of biotechnologies, such as chapter 7 on 'Pathways for increasing agricultural water productivity' and chapter 14 on 'Rice: feeding the billions'. See <a href="http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/assessment/Publications/books.htm">http://www.iwmi.cgiar.org/assessment/Publications/books.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: comp.assessment@cgiar.org">comp.assessment@cgiar.org</a> or <a href="mailto: jeanmarc.faures@fao.org">jeanmarc.faures@fao.org</a> for more information. The CA is co-sponsored by FAO, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and organised through the CGIAR’s Systemwide Initiative on Water Management, convened by IWMI, which initiated the process and provided a secretariat to facilitate the work. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-12-4</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-12-17</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37779</guid><title><![CDATA[Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling - 29th Session]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37779</link><description><![CDATA[The 29th Session of the Codex Committee on Methods of Analysis and Sampling takes place on 10-14 March 2008 in Budapest, Hungary. Item 6 on the provisional agenda is "Criteria for the methods for the detection and identification of foods derived from biotechnology". See the meeting agenda, and eventually the meeting documents, at <a href="http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp">http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/current.jsp</a> (in English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: codex@fao.org">codex@fao.org</a> for further information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-12-3</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-12-17</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37780</guid><title><![CDATA[Cartagena Protocol: COP-MOP/4]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37780</link><description><![CDATA[The 4th meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP/4) takes place on 12-16 May 2008 in Bonn, Germany, back-to-back with the 9th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity which takes place on 19-30 May. The first official documents from COP-MOP/4 are now available on the web, including an 18-page annotated provisional agenda. See <a href="http://www.cbd.int/doc/meeting.aspx?mtg=MOP-04">http://www.cbd.int/doc/meeting.aspx?mtg=MOP-04</a> or contact <a href="mailto: secretariat@cbd.int">secretariat@cbd.int</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-12-2</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-12-17</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37781</guid><title><![CDATA[Cartagena Protocol: Liability and redress ]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37781</link><description><![CDATA[The 4th 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 was held on 22-26 October 2007 in Montreal, Canada. The 63-page meeting report is now available. See the report, plus meeting documents, at <a href="http://www.cbd.int/doc/meeting.aspx?mtg=BSWGLR-04">http://www.cbd.int/doc/meeting.aspx?mtg=BSWGLR-04</a> (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: secretariat@cbd.int">secretariat@cbd.int</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-12-1</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-12-17</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 17 Dec 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37402</guid><title><![CDATA[Launch of the FAO Biotechnology website in Russian]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37402</link><description><![CDATA[The FAO Biotechnology website was originally launched in 2000 in the English language and expanded in 2001 to include Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish. In collaboration with its Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, FAO has now launched the Russian version of the website, which includes updated information on FAO’s work and international developments regarding agricultural biotechnologies and their products, as well as on related policy and regulatory issues surrounding research and application of agricultural biotechnologies. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/index.asp?lang=ru">http://www.fao.org/biotech/index.asp?lang=ru</a> or contact <a href="mailto: biotech-website@fao.org">biotech-website@fao.org</a> for more information or with comments. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-30</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-19</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37214</guid><title><![CDATA[Launch of FAO-BiotechNews-Ar]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37214</link><description><![CDATA[The FAO Working Group on Biotechnology has just launched FAO-BiotechNews-Ar, an e-mail newsletter providing updates of news and event items in Arabic that are relevant to applications of biotechnology in food and agriculture in developing countries. It is the Arabic version of the English-language newsletter FAO-BiotechNews. The main focus of its news and event items is on the activities of FAO, of other United Nations (UN) agencies/bodies and of the 15 research centres supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), in addition to activities of a few major non-UN inter-governmental organizations. See more details about FAO-BiotechNews-Ar at <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/welar.pdf">http://www.fao.org/biotech/welar.pdf</a> (in Arabic). To subscribe, send an e-mail to <a href="mailto: mailserv@mailserv.fao.org">mailserv@mailserv.fao.org</a> with the subject blank and the following one-line text message:
subscribe FAO-BiotechNews-Ar-L]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-29</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-19</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37403</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO Director-General's speech at M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation ]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37403</link><description><![CDATA[On 7 August 2007, the FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf delivered the Foundation Day Lecture on 'A world without hunger' at the M.S. Swaminathan Foundation Conference in Chennai, India. In addition to issues such as transboundary pests and diseases, climate change, bioenergy and the right to food, he also addressed the role of agricultural biotechnologies. See the <a href="http://www.fao.org/english/dg/2007/Swaminathan.htm">speech</a>, the <a href="http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2007/1000646/index.html">FAO news release</a> (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: FAO-Newsroom@fao.org">FAO-Newsroom@fao.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-28</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-19</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37404</guid><title><![CDATA[International Year of the Potato 2008]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37404</link><description><![CDATA[The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2008 as the International Year of the Potato (IYP) and FAO is leading its implementation. The IYP website has now been launched, providing a wealth of information about the IYP and its related events, as well as about the potato, including a series of factsheets compiled by FAO specialists on key issues in potato development. One of the factsheets is dedicated to the potato and biotechnology. See <a href="http://www.potato2008.org/en/potato/factsheets.html">http://www.potato2008.org/en/potato/factsheets.html</a> (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: potato2008@fao.org">potato2008@fao.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-27</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-19</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37405</guid><title><![CDATA[Fighting the cassava mosaic disease ]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37405</link><description><![CDATA[A recent FAO news story is dedicated to the spread of the cassava mosaic disease (CMD) and the efforts made to develop disease-free cassava in the Great Lakes region of Africa. It also provides a link to a video made about an FAO project, funded by the European Commission’s Humanitarian Aid department, involving the use of micropropagation for the rapid multiplication and distribution of CMD-free planting materials. See the <a href="http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/field/2007/1000693/index.html">news story</a> (in English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: NeBambi.Lutaladio@fao.org">NeBambi.Lutaladio@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-27</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-19</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37213</guid><title><![CDATA[Bioenergy and agricultural biotechnologies]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37213</link><description><![CDATA[On 12 October 2007, a half-day seminar on "The role of agricultural biotechnologies for production of bioenergy in developing countries" was held at FAO Headquarters, Rome, jointly organised by the FAO Working Group on Biotechnology and the FAO Working Group on Bioenergy, with the support of the US mission. Presentations from the meeting are now available on the web, covering topics such as global perspectives on production of biotechnology-based bioenergy; genomics and bioenergy; and bioethanol production via enzymatic hydrolysis of cellulosic biomass. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/seminaroct2007.htm">http://www.fao.org/biotech/seminaroct2007.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: biotech-website@fao.org">biotech-website@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-27</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-6</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 6 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37406</guid><title><![CDATA[Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37406</link><description><![CDATA[Issue 150 (June 2007) of the Plant Genetic Resources Newsletter is now available on the web, including e.g. an article about the use of molecular markers to analyse the genetic diversity and relationships among sweet potato landraces in China. The newsletter is a peer-reviewed journal published 4 times a year by Bioversity International and FAO that features articles in English, French or Spanish on plant genetic resources research. See the <a href="http://www.bioversityinternational.org/publications/pgrnewsletter/">newsletter</a> or contact <a href="mailto: bioversity-publications@cgiar.org">bioversity-publications@cgiar.org</a> to obtain copies or to be placed on the mailing list. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-26</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-19</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37215</guid><title><![CDATA[Codex Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology - 7th session report]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37215</link><description><![CDATA[The report of the 7th Session of the Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology, held on 24-28 September 2007 in Chiba, Japan, is now available. Among the conclusions reached at the meeting, the Task Force agreed to forward to the 31st Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (to be held from 30 June to 5 July 2008) for adoption at Step 5/8 the i) Proposed Draft Guideline for the Conduct of Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Animals; ii) Proposed Draft Annex on Food Safety Assessment of Foods Derived from Recombinant-DNA Plants Modified for Nutritional or Health Benefits; and iii) Proposed Draft Annex on Food Safety Assessment in Situations of Low-level Presence of Recombinant-DNA Plant Material in Food. See the report (ALINORM 08/31/34), together with the provisional agenda providing links to the meeting's documents, at <a href="http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp?year=08">http://www.codexalimentarius.net/web/archives.jsp?year=08</a> or contact <a href="mailto: codex@fao.org">codex@fao.org</a> for further information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-25</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-19</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37216</guid><title><![CDATA[State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37216</link><description><![CDATA[On 3-7 September 2007, the first International Technical Conference on Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture was held in Interlaken, Switzerland, organized by FAO and hosted by the Government of Switzerland. During the conference, the FAO report "The State of the World’s Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture" was released. This comprehensive 511-page publication draws on 169 Country Reports, contributions from a number of international organizations, 12 specially commissioned thematic studies and wider expert knowledge to provide the first global assessment of these resources and their management. It contains many sections indirectly or directly relevant to biotechnology, such as applications of molecular markers and reproductive technologies. The main achievement of the conference was the adoption of the Global Plan of Action for Animal Genetic Resources as a critical milestone in international efforts to promote conservation and wise management of the world’s animal genetic resources for food and agriculture. See this <a href="http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/genetics/ITC_docs.html">website</a> (includes the full 'State of the World' report in English; a 37-page "brief" version, presenting a summary of the key findings of the main report, in Arabic, Chinese, English, French and Spanish; and the conference report) or contact <a href="mailto: dad-is@fao.org">dad-is@fao.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-24</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-6</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 6 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37217</guid><title><![CDATA[Biotechnology and biosafety in West Asia and North Africa]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37217</link><description><![CDATA[On 8-10 September 2007, a regional consultation on “Biotechnology and biosafety for agriculture and the environment in the West Asia and North Africa sub-region" was held in Aleppo, Syria, sponsored by FAO, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA). Its objective was to develop a proposal for an integrated regional framework on biotechnology and biosafety involving major stakeholders. See a news story about the workshop at <a href="http://www.icarda.org/News/2007/12Sep07/12Sep07.htm">http://www.icarda.org/News/2007/12Sep07/12Sep07.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: kakoli.ghosh@fao.org">kakoli.ghosh@fao.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-23</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-6</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 6 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37218</guid><title><![CDATA[FAO Biotechnology Glossary - Vietnamese translation]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37218</link><description><![CDATA[The FAO Glossary of Biotechnology for Food and Agriculture has been translated into Vietnamese, published by the Center for Information and Technological Transfer of Biology (CITB), in Vietnam, through an arrangement with FAO. The book provides in English the same 3,196 terms and definitions contained in the original glossary as well as their Vietnamese translation. The glossary provides consolidated, comprehensive and accessible definitions of terms and acronyms that are used regularly in biotechnology, including genetic engineering, and closely allied fields. The original English version of the glossary was written by A. Zaid, H.G. Hughes, E. Porceddu and F. Nicholas. See <a href="http://www.fao.org/biotech/vietgloss.htm">http://www.fao.org/biotech/vietgloss.htm</a> or contact <a href="mailto: nguyenbahai@hn.vnn.vn">nguyenbahai@hn.vnn.vn</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-22</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-6</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 6 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37219</guid><title><![CDATA[GIPB website launched]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37219</link><description><![CDATA[The website of the Global Partnership Initiative for Plant Breeding Capacity Building (GIPB) has now been launched. This multi-stakeholder initiative, whose Secretariat will be initially hosted by FAO, aims to enhance the capacity of developing countries to improve crops for food security and sustainable development through better plant breeding and delivery systems. Among the items of interest, the website includes preliminary results from an electronic consultation process, involving stakeholders from international organisations, foundations, universities and research institutes, civil society associations and national and regional bodies, that took place from July to September 2007.  The results of this consultation define the longer-term priorities and strategies for the GIPB and will guide formulation of its organizational and implementation framework. See <a href="http://km.fao.org/gipb/">http://km.fao.org/gipb/</a> or contact <a href="mailto: gipb@fao.org">gipb@fao.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-21</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-6</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 6 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37220</guid><title><![CDATA[Biopesticides against the Desert Locust]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37220</link><description><![CDATA[As publication 34 in its Desert Locust Technical Series, FAO's Plant Production and Protection Division has just published a "Review of the efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum against the Desert Locust" by H. van der Valk. Isolates of the entomopathogenic (i.e. pathogenic to insects only) fungus Metarhizium can be used as a biopesticide against the Desert Locust. See the <a href="http://www.fao.org/ag/locusts/en/publicat/docs/tech/index.html">publication</a> or contact <a href="mailto: james.everts@fao.org">james.everts@fao.org</a> for more information.  ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-20</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-6</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Tue, 6 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37407</guid><title><![CDATA[62nd session of the UN General Assembly]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37407</link><description><![CDATA[The General Assembly of the United Nations (UN) opened its 62nd session on 18 September 2007 at the UN Headquarters in New York, United States. The wide range of agenda items for consideration includes item 54.f on 'Sustainable development: Convention on Biological Diversity', for which a report (nr. A/62/276) has been prepared summarising the ongoing work regarding the Convention, including its Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. It also includes agenda item 56.b, entitled 'Globalization and interdependence: Science and technology for development', for which a report (nr. A/62/136) has been submitted by the Secretary-General that includes an update on UN system-wide collaboration on biotechnology-related activities. See reports related to these agenda items (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish), plus draft resolutions, at <a href="http://www.un.org/ga/second/62/documentation.shtml">http://www.un.org/ga/second/62/documentation.shtml</a> or contact <a href="mailto: inquiries@un.org">inquiries@un.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-19</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-19</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37409</guid><title><![CDATA[Regional workshops on risk assessment and risk management - Cartagena Protocol]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37409</link><description><![CDATA[One of the decisions (BS-II/9) made at the 2nd meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (COP-MOP/2) included a request that the Executive Secretary would convene, prior to the 4th meeting, regional workshops on capacity-building and exchange of experiences on risk assessment and risk management of living modified organisms. In this context, an African regional workshop was held on 23-25 August 2007 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, hosted by the African Union Commission and funded by the Government of the Netherlands and its <a href="http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/bs/rwcbafr-01/official/rwcbafr-01-02-en.pdf">report</a> is now available. Secondly, a Central and Eastern European regional workshop will be held on 26-28 November 2007 in Chisinau, Moldova, hosted by the Government of Moldova, with funding from the Government of Switzerland, and the meeting documents are available at <a href="http://www.cbd.int/doc/meeting.asp?mtg=RWCBCEE-01">http://www.cbd.int/doc/meeting.asp?mtg=RWCBCEE-01</a>. Contact <a href="mailto: secretariat@cbd.int">secretariat@cbd.int</a> for any further information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-18</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-19</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37410</guid><title><![CDATA[World Bank background papers for the WDR 2008]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37410</link><description><![CDATA[The World Bank has recently published "Agricultural biotechnology: Transgenics in agriculture and their implications for developing countries", by E. Pehu and C. Ragasa, a 38-page paper that synthesises peer-reviewed research results published within the past three years and a few earlier, ground-breaking papers that are central to economic debates on the subject. It has also published "Science, technology and skills", by P. Pardey and and co-authors, a 118-page report that looks at the changing context of agricultural research and development, including some discussion about biotechnology. Both were prepared as background papers for the World Development Report 2008, recently published by the World Bank. See <a href="http://go.worldbank.org/R1GDGYU5E0">http://go.worldbank.org/R1GDGYU5E0</a> and <a href="http://go.worldbank.org/WW4BTHM0D0">http://go.worldbank.org/WW4BTHM0D0</a> respectively or contact <a href="mailto: wdr2008@worldbank.org">wdr2008@worldbank.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-17</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-19</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37411</guid><title><![CDATA[OARE initiative expanded]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37411</link><description><![CDATA[In October 2006, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Yale University and leading science and technology publishers launched the Online Access to Research in the Environment (OARE) initiative. The second phase of this initiative has just been announced, so that eligible institutions in a total of 107 low-income countries can now have free or low cost access to over 1,300 environment related scientific journals (some of which cover applications of biotechnology in food and agriculture). See <a href=" http://www.oaresciences.org">http://www.oaresciences.org</a> (in English, French and Spanish) or contact <a href="mailto: oare@oaresciences.org">oare@oaresciences.org</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-16</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-19</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37412</guid><title><![CDATA[OIE ad hoc Group on Biotechnology - 3rd meeting report]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37412</link><description><![CDATA[The 3rd meeting of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) ad hoc Group on Biotechnology was held on 12-14 June 2007 in Paris, France. The ad hoc Group's purpose is to address the scientific and technical aspects of biotechnology that impact on animal health. The meeting report (unofficial version) is now available. See the <a href="http://www.oie.int/downld/SC/2007/A_BSC_sept2007.pdf">report</a> (in Appendix III, pages 13-40, 1.1 MB) or contact <a href="mailto: scientific.dept@oie.int">scientific.dept@oie.int</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-15</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-19</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37413</guid><title><![CDATA[Vaccination and vaccines in animal health]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37413</link><description><![CDATA[In order to provide World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Delegates with updated information to scientifically support decision-making, two special issues of the OIE Scientific and Technical Review have been dedicated to animal vaccination. The issues, edited by P.-P. Pastoret, M. Lombard and A.A. Schudel, are designed to provide useful generic information rather than give detailed technical descriptions of specific diseases or vaccines. The papers are organised under the following main headings: development and production of vaccines (including e.g. a paper on genomics and vaccine development); why use vaccines?; the scientific and economic basis of vaccination; regulatory aspects; and socio-ethical aspects. All the papers from the first issue, 26 (1), are currently available on the web while those from the second issue, 26 (2), will be available shortly. See the <a href="http://www.oie.int/boutique/index.php?page=recherche&lang=en&rechsimple=review">issues</a> or contact <a href="mailto: publications.dept@oie.int">publications.dept@oie.int</a> for more information.]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-14</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2009-01-8</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Thu, 8 Jan 2009 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37414</guid><title><![CDATA[Ex situ conservation of coffee genetic resources]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37414</link><description><![CDATA[As part of its Topical Reviews in Agricultural Biodiversity series, Bioversity International has just published "Complementary strategies for ex situ conservation of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) genetic resources. A case study in CATIE, Costa Rica", edited by F. Engelmann, M.E. Dulloo, C. Astorga, S. Dussert and F. Anthony. The aim of this 61-page publication, sub-divided into seven chapters, is to "illustrate how new technologies (molecular biology and cryopreservation) can be efficiently employed to complement more classical ones for characterizing and rationalizing an ex situ germplasm collection, and to improve its conservation status". See the <a href="http://www.bioversityinternational.org/Publications/Pdf/1244.pdf">publication</a> (515 KB) or contact <a href="mailto: Bioversity-publications@cgiar.org">Bioversity-publications@cgiar.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-13</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-19</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37415</guid><title><![CDATA[Mexican farmers' preferences - Milpa system and GM maize]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37415</link><description><![CDATA[As part of its IFPRI Discussion Papers series, the International Food Policy Research Institute has just published "Farmer preferences for milpa diversity and genetically modified maize in Mexico: A latent class approach" by E. Birol, E.R. Villalba, and M. Smale. The aim of this 31-page paper is to estimate Mexican farmers’ valuation of the most important components of agrobiodiversity found in the milpa system, and the option to cultivate GM maize in this system, using data collected from 420 farm households across three states of Mexico. (The Mexican milpa system refers to a complex combination of agronomic practices, crop associations and rotation sequences). See the <a href="http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/dp/IFPRIDP00726.pdf">paper</a> (359 KB) or contact <a href="mailto: ifpri@cgiar.org">ifpri@cgiar.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-12</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-19</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item><item><guid isPermaLink="false">fao.org.nems/37416</guid><title><![CDATA[Potential impact of Bt cotton in West Africa ]]></title><link>http://www.fao.org/nems/rss/html_nems_detail.asp?event_id=37416</link><description><![CDATA[As part of its IFPRI Discussion Papers series, the International Food Policy Research Institute has published "The economic impact and the distribution of benefits and risk from the adoption of insect resistant (Bt) cotton in West Africa" by J. Falck-Zepeda, D. Horna and M. Smale. The 58-page study estimates the potential impact of the deployment of insect resistant cotton in selected countries in West Africa using different scenarios. See the <a href="http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/dp/IFPRIDP00718.pdf">paper</a> (587 KB) or contact <a href="mailto: ifpri@cgiar.org">ifpri@cgiar.org</a> for more information. ]]></description><ags:dateStart scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-11</ags:dateStart><ags:dateEnd scheme="dcterms:W3CDTF">2007-11-19</ags:dateEnd><ags:location><ags:locationCountry schema="dcterms:ISO3166">XXX</ags:locationCountry></ags:location><pubDate>Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:00 +0100</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
