Dear Subscribers,
Here is Update 2-2013 of FAO-BiotechNews. As usual, we welcome any feedback you have about this Update.
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John
John Ruane
The Coordinator of FAO-BiotechNews, 14-6-2013
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
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FAO Biotechnology website http://www.fao.org/biotech/en/ (in Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish)
*** NEWS *** (http://www.fao.org/biotech/biotech-news/en/)
1) Genomics in food and agriculture – FAO e-mail conference
On 4-24 March 2013, the FAO Biotechnology Forum hosted a moderated e-mail conference on the "Impacts of genomics and other 'omics' for the crop, forestry, livestock, fishery and agro-industry sectors in developing countries". Before the conference, a 10-page background document was published, which provides an easily-readable overview of the current status regarding genomics in food and agriculture and briefly discusses some of the main ways in which the knowledge from genomics can be used. About 520 people subscribed to the conference, posting a total of 61 messages, 57% of which came from people living in developing countries. Discussions in the 3-week long conference focused on the challenges and opportunities of genomics, particularly in crops but also in livestock. There seemed to be agreement about the tremendous promise of genomics but recognition that it is still very much an emerging field for developing countries. During the conference there was also general support for establishment of a moderated platform for informal exchange of experiences, data, knowledge and expertise on genomics and other aspects of breeding for the global community. See the background document, and all the messages posted, at http://www.fao.org/biotech/biotech-forum/en/. For more information, contact [log in to unmask] This was the 19th e-mail conference hosted by the FAO Biotechnology Forum since it was launched in the year 2000.
2) FAO biotechnology publications available
A number of FAO books on agricultural biotechnologies are available on request. These include “Socio-economic impacts of non-transgenic biotechnologies in developing countries: The case of plant micropropagation in Africa” (on the web at http://www.fao.org/docrep/011/i0340e/i0340e00.htm) and “Marker-assisted selection: Current status and future perspectives in crops, livestock, forestry and fish” (http://www.fao.org/docrep/010/a1120e/a1120e00.htm). Copies of the FAO Biotechnology Glossary (http://www.fao.org/biotech/biotech-glossary/en/) are also available in Chinese, English, French and Russian. These also include “Agricultural biotechnology for developing countries - Results of an electronic forum”, in Spanish (http://www.fao.org/docrep/004/y2729s/y2729s00.htm), and “Results from the FAO Biotechnology Forum: Background and dialogue on selected issues” (http://www.fao.org/docrep/009/a0744e/a0744e00.htm), two books which provide the background and summary documents of Conferences 1-6 and 7-12 respectively of the FAO Biotechnology Forum. To request a copy of one or more of these publications, please send your full postal address to [log in to unmask]
3) FAO GM Foods Platform
The 36th Session of the Codex Alimentarius Commission takes place in Rome, Italy on 1-5 July 2013. Documents prepared for this meeting include a 2-page Information Paper (CAC/36/INF/8) about the FAO GM Foods Platform (http://fao.org/gm-platform), which is a new online platform to share information on safety assessment of foods derived from recombinant-DNA plants authorized in accordance with the Codex Guideline entitled “Guideline for the conduct of food safety assessment of foods derived from recombinant-DNA plants” (Guideline CAC/GL 45-2003, annex III adopted in 2008). See ftp://ftp.fao.org/codex/meetings/cac/cac36/if36_08e.pdf or contact [log in to unmask] for more information. The Joint FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission is an intergovernmental body which sets international food safety and quality standards to promote safer and more nutritious food for consumers worldwide.
4) E-learning bioinformatics course on animal viral pathogens
With the support of FAO and the joint FAO/IAEA division, the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics is developing a publicly accessible e-learning bioinformatics course on animal viral pathogens. The first module of this course, entitled "Phylogenetics of animal pathogens: Basic principles and applications" is already available on the web. It has been designed as a self-learning module for animal health laboratory staff and is organized in four chapters: basic notions on phylogenetic trees; how to build phylogenetic trees; how to interpret phylogenetic trees; and exercises. See http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/news_010313b.html or contact [log in to unmask] for more information.
5) Public-private partnerships: Country case studies
Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are being promoted as an important institutional mechanism for gaining access to additional financial resources, sharing risks, and addressing other constraints in pursuit of sustainable and inclusive agricultural development. In 2010, FAO’s Rural Infrastructure and Agro-Industries Division initiated a series of appraisals of PPPs implemented in certain African, Asian and Latin American countries. The main objective was to draw lessons that can be used to provide guidance to FAO member countries on how to partner effectively with the private sector to mobilize support for agribusiness development. Twelve country reports are currently available and some of the PPP case studies they contain involve use of agricultural biotechnologies. These include the production of monoclonal antibodies and development of a rapid assay to detect white leaf disease in sugarcane in Thailand; the adoption of biogas energy technology in integrated poultry slaughterhouses in Thailand; and the delivery of Rhizobium inoculant biofertilizers in Kenya. See http://www.fao.org/ag/ags/ags-division/publications/country-case-studies/en/ or contact [log in to unmask] for more information.
6) Mitigation of methane and nitrous oxide emissions from livestock production
Animal production is a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions worldwide. As part of a stream of activities carried out by FAO to identify low GHG emission pathways for the livestock sector, FAO has just published "Mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions in livestock production: A review of technical options for non-CO2 emissions" written by A.N. Hristov, J. Oh, C. Lee and co-authors and edited by P. Gerber, B. Henderson and H.P.S. Makkar. The 206-page publication evaluates the potential of enteric fermentation (i.e. fermentation of feed in the rumen as part of the normal digestive processes of livestock), manure and manure management and, thirdly, animal husbandry practices for mitigating methane and nitrous oxide, i.e. non-carbon dioxide (non-CO2), GHG emissions from livestock production. The section on animal husbandry also covers use of recombinant bovine somatotropin as well as artificial insemination and other reproductive technologies. See http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3288e/i3288e00.htm or contact [log in to unmask] for more information.
7) Lessons from highly pathogenic avian influenza
As part of its Animal Production and Health Paper series, FAO recently published “Lessons from HPAI: A technical stocktaking of outputs, outcomes, best practices and lessons learned from the fight against highly pathogenic avian influenza in Asia 2005−2011”. Since 2004, FAO has been at the forefront of the global effort to fight H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which emerged in Southeast Asia in 2003. The 95-page book documents the result of an initiative by the Regional office for Asia and the Pacific of FAO’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) to reflect on the work done so far to control HPAI in the Asia region, and to identify its impact and achievements, success stories, challenges and lessons learned. Different chapters are dedicated to the topics of coordination, surveillance, laboratory capacity, vaccination, biosecurity, socio-economics, wildlife, communication and advocacy and, finally, lessons learned. See http://www.fao.org/docrep/017/i3183e/i3183e00.htm or contact [log in to unmask] for more information.
8) Microbiology agents and animal feed
Microbiological agents are one of the most significant contaminants of animal feed. The detection and enumeration of harmful bacteria, yeasts, fungi and parasites is imperative for the health of the animals and of the humans consuming animal products. As part of its Animal Production and Health Manual series, FAO has just published “Quality assurance for microbiology in feed analysis laboratories” which complements a previous FAO publication on “Quality assurance for animal feed laboratories” and describes additional procedures for detection and isolation of microbiological agents which may be found in animal feeds. Written by R.A. Cowie and edited by H.P.S. Makkar, the 196-page book is organized in three sections: the Quality Management System in a microbiology laboratory; quality assurance and general laboratory procedures; and microbiology procedures. See http://www.fao.org/docrep/018/i3287e/i3287e.pdf (800 KB) or contact [log in to unmask] to request a copy, providing your full postal address.
9) Compliance Committee under the Cartagena Protocol - 10th meeting report
Under the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, a Compliance Committee was established to promote compliance, to address cases of non-compliance, and to provide advice or assistance. The report is now available of the 10th meeting of the Compliance Committee which took place on 29-31 May 2013 in Montreal, Canada. See the 9-page report, together with the other meeting documents, at http://www.cbd.int/doc/default.shtml?mtg=BSCC-10 or contact [log in to unmask] for further information.
10) OECD Biotechnology Update 25
The latest issue (June 2013) of the OECD Biotechnology Update, prepared by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Internal Co-ordination Group for Biotechnology, is now available. The 35-page newsletter provides updated information on OECD activities related to biotechnology. See http://www.oecd.org/env/ehs/biotrack/Biotech_Update_No25_6June2013.pdf (1.4 MB) or contact [log in to unmask] for more information.
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