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MORE On - 2nd INTERNATIONAL RICE CONGRESS-2006 (IRC-2006) ************************************************************************************* 1. Patent Regime May Hamper Rice Research, Says FARM FRONT Column 2. Field Trials Of Indigenously Developed GOLDEN RICE Soon 3. GM Rice Likely To Make Trade More Complex 4. Nine Asian Nations Sign Multilateral Pact On Rice R & D 5. Experts Caution About Crop Loss Due To GHG Emissions & Climate Change 6. Bayer AG To Launch An Array Of New Products 7. Pyramiding Of Rice Genes On Cards ----- FARM FRONT Column Rice patents may hamper research http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=143524 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online: Monday, October 16, 2006 at 0000 hours IST The mega event, the 2nd International Rice Congress-2006 (IRC) concluded in Delhi last week with a determination to boost rice production for food and nutritional security, trade and elevating millions of the world’s poor. The scientists gathered at the conclave earmarked areas of activities like development of seeds resistant to submergence, drought and salinity through genetic enhancement, molecular breeding and transgenics. Quality seed production and storage, nutrient use efficiency, combating global climate change, conservation agriculture and restoring soil health, creating markets for rice, development and popularisation of aromatic and medicinal rice, financial and economic profitability, processing and value addition, deployment of ICT in

agriculture and private-public partnership were also discussed. Farm ministers of nine Asian countries—China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, The Philippines, Sri Lanka and Vietnam —signed an accord for multi-lateral cooperation. The efforts to ensure food and nutritional security in rice are laudable. But rice scientists are likely to face major hurdle in moving towards their goal. Swiss biotech giant Syngenta has tightened its monopoly control over rice by seeking global patent rights over thousands of gene sequences. The rice DNA contains 37,544 genes, roughly one-fourth more than the genes in a human body. With the multinational all set to “own” the world’s most important staple crop, there may be serious implications for future research. Syngenta has filed for its rights before the European Patent Office, US Patent and Trademark Office and the World Intellectual Property Rights Organisation.

Syngenta’s claims are also aimed at other important food crops like wheat, corn, sorghum, rye, banana, soyabean, fruits and vegetables, besides others. The company has claimed that most of the gene sequences that it has “invented” are identical in other crops and therefore the patent rights need to be extended to these crops as well. The scientists at the IRC were happy in reiterating that the gene sequencing and the knowledge of structural genomics have given a wonderful tool for developing new rice types. Little do they know that their task may not be an easy one, once Syngenta is accorded with patent rights. However, director-general of the International Rice Research Institute Robert S Zeigler was vocal in saying that germplasm and research tools should not be patented, while the final product may be patented. Zeigler needs the support of global IPR experts and scientists to translate his noble intention

into action. The seed multinationals like Monsanto, Bayers and Syngenta have always been using the national research institutes and inter-governmental agencies to further its goals. The public sector national and international global research bodies have begun depending on these multinationals for funds. In the era of “economic liberalisation”, most of the governments, particularly in the developing world, are withdrawing their controls and are under fiscal strain. The contribution of both the developed and developing countries to public sector research is on the decline. A session on commerce within the IRC cautioned that global trade is likely to become complex with the commercialisation of GM rice. There would be problems of certification and labeling as consumers in some countries do not want to eat GM food. Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh, while inaugurating the congress, advocated the

deployment of biotechnology. He called for balancing of ethical and religious issues and did not speak on the safety aspects relating to health and environment. But a session in the congress did dwell on biosafety issues of GM crops. Zeigler and others clarified that all biotechnological applications may not lead to a GM product—some like marker assisted selection and gene pyramiding may lead to a non-GM product. There are ample options before scientists to develop improved plant types, without taking help of transgenic technology. GM crops developed so far promise no increase in genetic yield potential and they are mostly claimed to be insect and pest resistant.-------------------------------- Field trials of indigenously developed GM Golden Rice soon http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=143306 ASHOK B SHARMA Posted online: Friday, October 13, 2006 at 0102 hours IST NEW DELHI, OCT 12: India is not lagging behind in developing its versions of the genetically modified (GM) Golden Rice. Director-general of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Mangla Rai said, “We would possibly go for largescale field trials of our Golden Rice within a year.” Golden Rice, as per claims, ensures nutritional security. It is argued that Golden Rice has high levels of carotenoids and iron. Rai further said, “Elite Indica Rice has now been developed with 9.3 ug/q carotenoid level and 14-18 ug/q iron level in rice seeds after polishing. Further significant contributions have been made in developing this improved Indica Golden Rice by developing homozygous rice lines using

another culture and also marker-free Golden Indica Rice was repeated.” The development of GM rice, however, can have some adverse trade implications. The trade session of the ongoing IInd International Rice Congress here on Wednesday discussed how complex global trade would become with the commercialisation of GM rice. In this context, the southwest regional director of IRRI, Steve Linscombe, said, “Though in US, GM rice events like 06 and 62 have been approved and found safe, the concerned company has not yet commercialised it, keeping in view some public concerns about this food crops. Same transgenic protein occurs in the herbicide resistant GM maize and Canola.” Linscombe said that bar gene has been inserted in LL Rice 06, 62 and 601. Speaking on the recent slippage of LL Rice 601 into the food chain in US, he admitted that the event 601 was not yet approved, but the US administration claims it to be safe.

“Perhaps, the USFDA would evaluate this event soon.” In India a group of researchers isolated, characterized and incorporated into rice Sod1 gene cloned from mangrove. Transgenic PB1 with Sod1 gene was crossed with IR 120 and IR 64 rice and non-Basmati rice lines were field evaluated.----------- GM rice likely to make trade more complex Experts in IRC see challenge in assessing implication of trade on food security http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_143180 ASHOK B SHARMA ECONOMY BUREAU Posted online: Thursday, October 12, 2006 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, OCT 11: The

rice market in the near future would be complex due to the proposed commercialisation of genetically-modified (GM) rice, trade experts at the 2nd International Rice Congress (IRC-2006) cautioned. The issue would be linked with food safety and certification. During the discussions in the session on market intelligence and international trade, experts also said that the challenge would be to assess implication of future rice market and trade on food security, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI)’s Asia director, Ashok Gulati said while briefing mediapersons on Wednesday. Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)’s director, Prabhu Pingali said, “In future rice will become an inferior commodity in Asia, but its importance will grow in Africa. Per capita rice consumption in most Asian economies is declining due to rising incomes and rapid urbanisation. At the same time, global trade in rice is

growing at a faster rate than other major cereals, such as wheat and corn. Global trade in rice increased from 4% to 7% of total production during 1992-2004. Rising production has led to decline in real prices for the crop, which has helped to sustain household food security. Evidence shows countries move away from taxing rice to subsidising it as domestic income levels increase.” Gulati blamed the subsidy regime for the fall in global rice prices. In the session on breeding rice for resistance to biotic stress, experts said through marker-assisted selection useful genes resistance to bacterial blight, blast and gall midge have been pyramided. The newly pyramided rice lines show broad spectrum of resistance to these pests. The rice varieties and hybrids so developed in the process were, however, not genetically modified ones as no transgene from other crops were involved. Denying ISAAA report of commercialisation of GM rice in Iran, DS Brar of International Rice Research Institure (IRRI) said, “We have so far received no confirmed reports on this issue.” In the session on nutrient use efficiency, experts suggested the site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) approach which would enable farmers to optimally nourish their crops and increase productivity and production. The SSNM approach would also help restore soil health aggravated by umbalanced use of different chemical fertilisers. On seeds production, experts said that on a global scale the price of seeds were higher than price of grains. However, in Indian context the seed prices in general are not a cause for concern. Certification for quality seeds has gain importance. More than 80% of hybrid rice seed are being produced in Kareem Nagar and Warangal districts in Andhra

Pradesh.-- Nine-nation multilateral pact signed on rice R & D http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=143047 ASHOK B SHARMA ECONOMY BUREAU Posted online: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, OCT 10: In a significant step towards strengthening rice research and development, nine Asian countries, including India, have agreed to establish a comprehensive partnership, laying greater emphasis on social, cultural and human dimension aspects. The agriculture ministers from China, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Vietnam and India met here on Monday on the

occasion of the IInd International Rice Congress- 2006 (IRC-2006) and have signed a joint declaration to this effect. This Delhi Declaration suggested that the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) should form a taskforce comprising experts from different countries and centres of excellence to prepare a road map for this purpose. The ministers confirmed the spirit of the Beijing Declaration, signed on the occasion of the Ist IRC held in China in September 2002. They also expressed their commitments to the intellectual property rights (IPR) regime as per WTO stipulations and provisions, including those relating to indigenously developed improved varieties of rice. The Delhi Declaration noted that the farmers were facing the challenge of producing more rice at less cost in a deteriorating environment. It expressed the need to address the UN Millennium Developmenmt Goals

(MDGs) on poverty alleviation, food and nutritional security and environment conservation on a partnership mode. Hence a multilateral framework based on partnership was the need of the hour, it said. It further clarified that this multilateral farmework would not replace existing bilateral relationships but would strengthen them. In a sectorial discussion within the IRC-2006, the experts came to the conclusion that excessive application of nitrogenous fertilisers has led to poor soil health and decline in factor productivity of crops. Therefore, adequate policy measures were required to address the issue. Falling short in calling for total organic farming, the experts suggested mixed use of chemical and organic manuare to rectify soil health. As intensive tillage affected soil health, alternate options like direct seeding, zero or minimum tillage techncology should be adopted. In another session, experts called for development of “novel plant” and quality hybrids for boosting rice production and productivity. The noted plant breeder, Gurudev S Kush clarified to mediapersons that novel plant does not necessarily mean development of GM crops. In separate sessions experts deliberated on raising farm income and cost-effective storage system.---- Experts warn of heavy crop losses due to high greenhouse gas emissions http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=143308 HARIKRISHNAN VR Posted online: Friday, October 13, 2006 at 0124 hours IST NEW DELHI, OCT 12 : High greenhouse gas emissions may take a heavy toll on Asia’s food front, warned

climate change experts. Kezuhiko Kobayashi, professor (Dept of Global Agricultural Changes), University of Tokyo, said Asia is going to experience huge crop losses, sometimes more than 60%, in certain crops like winter wheat in China and South Korea by 2020 due to high greenhouse gas emissions, especially ozone concentrations at ground level. India may also be affected, though no conclusive evidence regarding the country is available yet, he added. Not much study on rice has been done, he added. Kobayashi was presenting a paper in the ongoing IInd International Rice Congress (IRC) here. “Considering the rise in ambient ozone levels, it is going to have an increasingly large impact on crop production,” he said. The ozone concentrations might rise from the current average level of 10 parts per billion (ppb) to 20 ppb by 2020, he said. Ozone levels rise as a result of increased burning of fossil fuels, including

auto exhaust. “In rural areas, ozone can cause damage. Though we need more evidence, there are too much reasons to believe,” Kobayashi later told FE. However, some Indian experts did not buy Kobayashi’s argument. DC Uprety, principal scientist, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, said the prediction has gone too far. In 1999, Chinese scientists have suggested that ground level ozone concentrations in China may go high enough to seriously damage the country’s wheat production and food security. “Personally, I think Kobayashi’s forecast is not that conclusive. Greenhouse emissions like carbon dioxide (CO2) are a blessing in disguise. It may increase photosynthesis, and hence increase yield,” Uprety told FE. Kobayashi refuted such observations saying, “Over estimating the beneficial effects of CO2 is not good. We should be more pessimistic.”--------- Bayer AG to

launch an array of products soon http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=143049 COMMODITIES BUREAU Posted online : Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, OCT 10: As part of its focus towards research and development (R & D) in seed business, Bayer AG has proposed to increase its investment from the present euro 90 million to euro 200 million in the next five years. The investment will be used for its research towards rice, the second most important cereal grown globally. Addressing the mediapersons here, Frederic Arboucalot, a general manager with Bayer BioScience, said there is a pipeline of products which are in advanced trials. “We have about 185 candidates which are expected

to be launched across different regions in the near future,” he said. Talking about the flagship brand— Arize rice hybrids— he said this brand is expected to revolutionise rice production in the country setting new trends. Says Mahesh Girdhar, head, Bayer BioScience India, “Arize 6444, widely recognised as the market leader in India, has given high yields and excellent returns on investment for farmers consistently over the last three years. According to an Arize Farmers’ Survey, conducted over three years across 320 sites in major rice growing states in the country, the average yield of Arize 6444 was 34% higher per hectare compared to the inbred varieties. Arize rice hybrids have also contributed in significantly raising production and profitability for farmers with high adoption rate by farmers.- Pyramiding of rice genes on cards http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=143048 BV MAHALAKSHMI Posted online : Wednesday, October 11, 2006 at 0000 hours IST NEW DELHI, OCT 10: With a focus on increasing productivity, variety and protection, the Hyderabad-based Directorate of Rice Research (DRR) is working on germ characterisation and evaluation and use through multi-location germplasm nursery trials. DRR is also looking into fingerprinting of rice genetic resources, including varieties using molecular markers. “We are in the process of pyramiding of genes using markers as part of our marker selection programme. When decoded, this would help in mitigating diseases such as blast, gall midge, etc,” BC Viraktamath, project director, DRR, told FE. In fact, wild

species can be used as reservoirs as they can act as donors for developing resistance among rice varieties. Since genetic enhancement of biotic stress tolerance through marker-aided selection and genetic engineering to generate gene pyramids for durable and multiple pest resistance. Further, after having developed three high yielding aromatic basmati varieties —Kasturi, Vasumathi and Mugad Sugandha—, it is now in the process of classification of basmati rice. “We are working on the genetic enhancement for grain quality and yield potential of aromatic rice,” he said. In fact, DRR is the coordinating agency for this project and hopes to kickstart this project by next year. Besides, molecular IDs for six cytoplasmic male sterility lines and a single seed assay for purity testing of all the public bred rice hybrids have been developed. It has also developed a DNA-based purity test for hybrids and parental lines.

Meanwhile, DRR is engaged in developing a ‘new’ plant which is a semi-taller having large pinnacles. Presently, the plant varieties are semi-dwarf in nature. ‘‘It is currently in the lab stage and four rice research centres at Hyderabad, Jabalpur, Maruteru and New Delhi are working on this new plant. DRR is expect to complete field trials in the next two-three years and later take the trials to a larger scale,’’ he informed. The yield is expected to be 15% more than the high yielding variety which is about five to six tonnes per hectare. The seed cost is also not expensive as it is only a variety and not a hybrid, he added. ----

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