Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2009

ISAAA Briefs 41-2009

ISAAA predicted in the 2008 Annual Report that biotech crops were poised for a new wave of growth. Substantial gains have already been made in 2009 that are starting to bring that prediction to fruition. With 14 years of regulatory experience, growth can be accelerated moving forward.

Communicating Crop Biotechnology: Stories from Stakeholders

ISAAA Briefs 40-2009

Brief 40 Communicating Crop Biotechnology: Stories from Stakeholders documents how various stakeholders have benefited from science communication efforts and how in turn, they are now part of the process of realizing a collective voice on crop biotechnology. Stories from stakeholders in 14 countries in Africa (Burkina Faso, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda) and Asia (Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam) as well as the global community show that despite the differences in culture, language, and geographical locations, they have similar experiences, face common problems, and share a hope for themselves and their family.

Communicating Crop Biotechnology: Stories from Stakeholders

Index | Video Highlights

The Development and Regulation of Bt Brinjal in India

ISAAA Briefs 38-2009

The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) has released Brief 38 on “The Development and Regulation of Bt Brinjal in India (Eggplant/Aubergine)”. More specifically, Brief 38 is a comprehensive review of all aspects of the cultivation in India of the important vegetable brinjal, also known as eggplant or aubergine. Importantly, the Brief summarizes the development, status and content of the extensive regulatory dossier in India for biotech Bt brinjal, which confers resistance to the most important insect-pest of brinjal, fruit and shoot borer (FSB).

The Development and Regulation of Bt Brinjal in India

Note from Chairman | Executive Summary | Index | Full Report | Order Online

“Those who doubt the safety and benefits of Bt brinjal should go through this book to seek scientific clarifications. The authors need to be congratulated on their efforts in writing this useful and timely book. The book provides a comprehensive review on all aspects of brinjal (eggplant, Solanum melongena) cultivation and also describes the efforts made in developing Bt brinjal to control its major lepidopteran pest, the fruit and shoot borer (FSB) – Leucinodes arbonalis”.

Dr. T.M. Manjunath
Current Science
Vol. 96, No. 7 in 10th April 2009 issue

“On the whole the book gives an in-depth account of technical and scientific clarifications regarding the biosafety and benefits of the Bt brinjal. It is a great source of information for the scientists, researchers, civil societies, students and the stakeholders about the implications and prospects of Bt brinjal. This book should serve as an important source as it provides a wealth of information about existing rigorous scientific regulatory approval process in India”.

Dr. Beena Pandey
Asian Biotechnology and Development Review
Vol. 11, No. 3, July 2009
http://www.ris.org.in/abdr_july2009.htm

Crop Biotech Update | Biofuels Supplement

What is the latest on crop biotechnology? Find out the latest world developments in crop biotechnology that are of relevance to developing countries. The Crop Biotech Update features concise news every week and is also available through the KC subscription service.

See contents of latest Crop Biotech Update Issue

August 27, 2010

Global
• Scientists Simulate Future Demands for Food and Nutrition

Africa
• New Varieties for Drought Tolerant Maize
• Egyptian Scientists and Media Discuss Challenges in Dealing with Biotech Issues
• Field Visit to Bt Maize Fields in Egypt

Americas
• Castor Bean Genome Published
• Researchers Discover Novel Mechanism Protecting Plants Against Freezing
• Monsanto's Bt Roundup Ready 2 Yield Soybeans Approved for Planting in Brazil
• AgriLife Research Scientists Identifies Wheat Streak Resistance Gene
• Scientists Develop Soyscreen Oil to Protect Biological Agent Against Pests
• US Court Revokes Approval of GM Sugar Beets
• Scientists Develop Framework to Monitor Second-Generation Transgenic Crops
• USDA Grants Protection to 17 New Plant Varieties
• Plants Give Up Some Deep Secrets of Drought Resistance

Asia and the Pacific
• China Told to Develop its Own GM Food
• InterGrain and Monsanto Collaborate to Advance Wheat Breeding in Australia
• BAU Celebrates 50th Year
• Phil Regulators and Educators Get Updates on Biotech and Biosafety Assessment

Research
• Scientists Examine Role of Cytokinin in Root to Shoot Signaling of Transgenic Tobacco
• Scientists Develop Marker System for Rice Kernel Length Elongation Traits
• A Subtilisin-like Protein from Soybean Induces Expression of Defense-related Genes

Announcements
• Indian Horticulture Congress 2010
• 20^th International Pepper Conference
• ICAR Winter School on Molecular Techniques in Gene Isolation and Characterization
• IPBO Postgraduate Course on Biosafety

Document Reminders
• ISAAA's Booklet on Agricultural Biotechnology (A Lot More than Just GM Crops)
• USDA GAIN Report: France
• USDA Gain Report: EU

See contents of latest Biofuels Supplement Issue

August 27, 2010

News and Trends
• Nanobiotechnology Puts More Light on Algae, May Help Boost Biofuel Production
• Enzymes in Termite Salivary Tissues Have Potential Lignin-degrading Ability

Energy Crops and Feedstocks for Biofuels Production
• Analysis of Land-Use Impacts from Increased Biofuels Production in the EU
• Complete Sequence of Jatropha Genome Announced

Biofuels Processing
• Alpha-cellulose as a Substrate for Characterization of Cellulases for Bioethanol Production

Biofuels Policy and Economics
• USDA-GAIN Annual Biofuels Report for Philippines

Biotechnology Videos

Videos on "Biotech Agriculture"

Highlights of the Global Status of Biotech Crops

Knowledge, Technology & Alleviation of Poverty

Restoring Lost Cover

Videos on "Biotech Agriculture"

14 years of Biotech Agriculture is an information capsule on the commercialization of biotech crops between 1996 to 2009. Global Biotech Crops Report 2009 video is comprehensive review of the global status of biotech crops including an expert commentary on recent developments on Bt rice and phytase maize in China, a perspective on the development of biotech wheat and spread of biotech crops in the world

Highlights of the Global Status of Biotech Crops

A six-part series:

Knowledge, Technology & Alleviation of Poverty

This ISAAA video presents the major findings of the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops in 2008 and addresses the growing interest biotech crops have experienced in the past years, including substantial advances in Africa. The Video discusses in detail the three questions global society has begun to ask about biotech crops.

Restoring Lost Cover

The video documents efforts of the Tree Biotechnology Programme-Trust (TBP-Trust) to meet the growing demand for quality trees and tree products in the Eastern & Central Africa region through a South-to-South, public-private technology transfer of the proven clonal eucalyptus from South Africa.

See All Biotechnology Videos

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Communication Products

Agricultural Biotechnology (A Lot More than Just GM Crops)

The booklet discusses in detail and in simple language agricultural biotechnology as it compares with conventional breeding, the agricultural biotechnology tools used in crops such as tissue culture and micropropagation, molecular breeding and marker-assisted selection, and genetic engineering and GM crops.

Biotech Crop Profiles

ISAAA Series of Biotech Crop Profiles featuring a comprehensive overview of the adoption, impact and future prospects of biotech crops in developing countries:
1) Bt Cotton in India: A Country Profile