LIEBERT FEATURES WOMEN IN BIOTECHNOLOGY LAW AND REGULATION

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1 July 29,2015 GLOBAL LIEBERT FEATURES WOMEN IN BIOTECHNOLOGY LAW AND REGULATION A special feature on Women in Biotechnology Law and Regulation was published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. as part of their Biotechnology Law Report. This is the first of the series listing the key women with significant contributions in the fields of biotechnology law and regulation. One of the 23 featured women is Dr. Mahaletchumy Arujanan, Executive Director of the Malaysian Biotechnology Information Center (MABIC). She serves as the editor-in-chief of MABIC's The Petri Dish, the first biotech paper in Malaysia, which is also distributed in other countries. According to the Report, Dr. Arujanan deals with all areas of biotechnology to facilitate its growth, particularly in regulations, human capital development, public understanding, bioeconomy, and commercialization. She also organized several dialogues with scientists and religious scholars to ensure that GM food is accepted as halal. Other women biotechnologists included in the list are Drs. Pamela Ronald and Alison Van Eenennaam of University of California Davis, who have significant contributions in the field of agricultural biotechnology. Get a copy of the report at Liebert Publisher. AFRICA AGRI-BIOTECH AND BIOSAFETY COMMUNICATION TRAINING IN MALAWI The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA AfriCenter), in conjunction with the National Commission of Science and Technology in Malawi (NCST), and the Program for Biosafety Systems (PBS) conducted a science communications training workshop for different biotech stakeholders in Malawi. As of October 2014, Malawi harvested its 2nd season confined field trial (CFT) for Bt cotton as well as its 1st multi-location trial. Recently, an application to conduct CFTs of Bt cowpea was accepted by the Biosafety Regulation Authority. Although the promising results from the Bt cotton CFTs has garnered much needed support for the technology, the safety of biotech crops is still treated with skepticism by the public. Hence the main objective of the workshop was to strengthen the capacity of key stakeholders to effectively communicate biosafety processes and on the safety and benefits of transgenic foods. The workshop took place on July 15-17, 2015 at the Silver Sands Hotel in Salima, Malawi. Opening the workshop, the Director General of NCST, Mr. Anthony Muyepa, commended the organizers for the timely training as it is crucial for Malawi to create a team that will effectively

2 engage the public and provide information in a way that builds their trust and clears misconceptions. He indicated that this is particularly critical now that Malawi will be testing Bt cowpea, which is a major food crop in the country. Participants to the workshop were drawn from government departments, universities, research institutes, and farmer leaders. Participants expressed their satisfaction at being equipped with skills to help them effectively communicate agri-biotech issues to various stakeholders. They appreciated the need for being reactive rather than proactive in countering misinformation. "Lack of information can be misinformation, so provide correct and timely information." This is a lesson learnt by one of the participants. For more information, contact Dr. Margaret Karembu mkarembu@isaaa.org. AMERICAS BACTERIAL PROTEIN ACTIVATES RICE IMMUNE SYSTEM Rice's immune responses against bacterial blight have been studied by a team of researchers led by University of California Professor Pamela Ronald. Bacterial blight is caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv oryzae (Xoo), which causes great losses in crops. In the study, the researchers were able to identify a bacterial protein responsible for the activation of defensive response of rice plants towards Xoo. The researchers discovered that a tyrosine-sulfated bacterial protein, RaxX is the one responsible for the activation of rice receptor protein, XA21. The activation of this receptor triggers the immune response of rice against Xoo. This discovery will help in the future developments of resistant crop varieties. Full details of the study can be read at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory website. USDA APHIS DEREGULATES ENLIST COTTON TRAIT The USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) deregulates herbicide tolerant cotton (Enlist cotton) developed by Dow Agrosciences. The decision is based on the final plant pest risk assessment (PPRA), which showed that the GE cotton is unlikely to pose a plant pest risk to agriculture and other plants in the country; and the environmental assessment (EA), which states that the GE cotton is not likely to have a negative impact on the human environment. Enlist cotton exhibits tolerance to Enlist Duo herbicide, a combination of 2,4-D choline and glyphosate, and full tolerance to glufosinate. Read the announcement at the USDA APHIS website.

3 GM RICE PRODUCES HIGH YIELD, LESS GHG EMISSIONS Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences researcher Chuanxin Sun and team from different institutions developed rice plants producing higher yields and lesser greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions. The results of their study were published in Nature. The new rice variety was engineered to express a gene from barley, which makes the plant produce lesser methane and yield 43% more grain. According to Dr. Sun, three years of field trials have shown positive results. Highest decrease in methane emission was observed during the summer, reaching 0.3 to 10% less than the control. The GM rice reduced emissions less dramatically in autumn, due to lower temperatures. Read the news article from MIT Technology Review. For more details, read the research article in Nature. U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PASSES SAFE AND ACCURATE FOOD LABELING ACT The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015 with a vote on July 23, The following day, the bill was received in the Senate. The Act states that the Food and Drug Administration must allow, but not require, GMO food to be labeled as GMO. Once passed as a law, it will set up a harmonized, science-based, voluntary food labeling standard. Several organizations involved in agriculture approved the result, including the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA). "The American Seed Trade Association is pleased to be among more than 400 organizations representing all parts of the food chain in applauding the swift consideration and passage of the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act by the House of Representatives," said Andy Lavigne, President and CEO of ASTA. "We are glad to see the House of Representatives recognize that genetic engineering is an important tool for American agriculture," he added. Read more information at U.S. Congress website and Seed World. ASIA AND THE PACIFIC INDIA'S PM MODI RELEASES ICAR 'VISION 2050' The Prime Minister of India Mr. Narendra Modi released the ICAR Vision 2050 document during the 87th Foundation Day of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in Patna, Bihar on July 25, ICAR Vision 2050 presents a roadmap for food, nutrition and livelihood security to tackle future challenges of India's agriculture sector. Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the Foundation Day, addressed 2,500 agricultural scientists and gave awards to 82 persons, including agricultural

4 scientists, farmers and journalists writing about agriculture. The awards include the prestigious Norman Borlaug Award. Mr. Modi also inaugurated three new projects - Farmers First, Arya and Mera Gaon Mera Gaurav (my village my pride) - to stress on the 'lab to land' concept of the Centre. He called on agricultural scientists from all over the country to speed up the 'lab to land' approach, intended to provide new technologies to farmers, which will lead to a quantum jump in agriculture productivity. The Prime Minister also appreciated agricultural scientists and farmers for their contributions and suggested identification of commodities having high potential of income from national and global markets. He reiterated the need for a second green revolution and urged agricultural scientists to blend their knowledge with potential of farmers to enhance farm productivity per hectare. Union Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Radha Mohan Singh, presided over the function and highlighted the achievements of ICAR in his speech. He appreciated Prime Minister's move for approving various schemes of agricultural education and research for Bihar. He assured Prime Minister to realize his dream of second green revolution through a network of ICAR Institutions and KVKs located in Bihar. Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Balyan and Mr. Mohan Bhai Kundariya, Union Ministers of State for Agriculture were also present during the occasion. For more details, read the news article at the ICAR website. OGTR RECEIVES LICENSE APPLICATION FOR COMMERCIAL RELEASE OF GM CANOLA The Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has received a license application (DIR 139) from Pioneer Hi-Bred Australia for commercial cultivation of genetically modified (GM) canola. DIR 139 is for commercial release of the herbicide tolerant GM canola variety Optimum GLY. Pioneer is seeking approval to cultivate the GM canola in all canola growing areas of Australia, subject to any State legislation restricting areas where GMOs may be grown. The GM canola and its products would enter general commerce, including use in human food and animal feed. OGTR is preparing a comprehensive Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) for the application. The consultation RARMP is expected to be released for public comment and further advice from experts, agencies, and authorities in January There will be at least 30 days allowed for submission of comments. For more information, including the notice of application, questions and answers, and summary of the license application, visit the DIR 139 page of the OGTR website. PHILIPPINE REGION 2 FARMERS EAGER TO GROW BT EGGPLANT More than a hundred farmers and agriculture stakeholders from the Cagayan Valley region of the Philippines affirmed their support for Bt eggplant during the Public Dialogue on Bt Eggplant

5 held on July 22, 2015 at the Department of Agriculture's (DA) Cagayan Valley Regional Experiment Station in Isabela. The farmers signed a declaration of support for the commercial planting of Bt eggplant, acknowledging that the Bt eggplant project followed the national biosafety regulatory protocols, and that modern biotech and its products in the market have passed international standards, among others. Long-time eggplant farmer from Isabela, Mr. Manuel Espiritu, expressed that he has no doubts on the safety of Bt eggplant and said that he wholeheartedly supports the said technology. He asserted that fruit and shoot borer damage indeed significantly decreases his income. The public dialogue clarified the issues on the science, safety, and potential benefits of Bt eggplant in the Philippines. ISAAA Senior Program Officer Dr. Rhodora R. Aldemita gave an overview of agri-biotech and its global adoption status. Bt eggplant study leaders from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, Dr. Lourdes Taylo and Mr. Mario Navasero, introduced the Bt eggplant technology. Other topics tackled were an ex ante study on the socioeconomic benefits of Bt eggplant, the food and environmental safety of biotech crops, and the Philippine biosafety regulatory system, and safety assessment of biotech crops. The activity was organized in response to the farmers' request to know more about Bt eggplant. It was spearheaded by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture - Biotechnology Information Center (SEARCA BIC), DA Regional Field Office 2, Regional Agricultural and Fishery Council 2 (RAFC 2), and Asian Farmers Regional Network (ASFARNET) Region 2. For more information about Bt eggplant in the Philippines, visit the SEARCA BIC website. EUROPE TURKISH BIOSAFETY BOARD APPROVES 5 BIOTECH TRAITS Turkey's Official Gazette for July 16, 2015 published the Biosafety Board Decisions on the import of genetically modified crops for feed use. The Board approved 3 corn (MIR604, MON863, and T25) and 2 soybean (MON87701 and MON87701 x MON89788) events and their products for feed use only. The announcement also included a decision regarding an amendment on the "rules of packaging, carrying, conservation and transferring" for the purpose of preventing contamination. The decision marks the first approvals since 2011 when the Board approved 16 corn events and 3 soybean events. For more details, read the July 21, 2015 USDA FAS GAIN Report for Turkey. Research

6 OVEREXPRESSION OF STRESS-ASSOCIATED PROTEIN FROM RICE INCREASES SALT TOLERANCE IN ARABIDOPSIS The stress-associated protein (SAP) family has been found to provide salinity stress tolerance in plants. Zamri Zainal of the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and a team of researchers studied SAP MR219, a SAP member induced by salinity stresses. Analysis of the SAP MR219 cdna clone isolated from Oryza sativa var. MR219 revealed that its gene product performs its functions via protein protein interactions. The SAP MR219 gene was then introduced and overexpressed in Arabidopsis thaliana, creating transgenic Arabidopsis lines which were evaluated under salinity stress. At 250 mm NaCl, the transgenic lines had almost 50% germination rate whereas the wild-type plants did not grow at all. These results indicate that SAP MR219 may play a significant role in plant response to salt stress. For more information on the following study, read the full article on Plant Omics Journal. RICE ALLELLE EARLY FLOWERING1 AFFECTS SPIKELET FERTILITY THROUGH GIBBERELLIC ACID SIGNALING Gibberellic acid (GA) affects the development of floral organs, especially male organs. Many studies of GA signaling have concentrated on its effect on anther development, but not on grain production. Seoul National University's researchers studied the effect of GA signaling on grain production. Researchers generated lines that are homozygous for the Early flowering1 allele, EL1, or for the non-functional allele, el1. Plants homozygous for el1 exhibited anther deformities and low pollen viability. Further examination of the expression levels in spikelets during heading stage revealed an increased expression of GAMYB, a GA activator, which could be the cause of the low pollen viability and anther deformity. The el1 homozygous plants have male sterile phenotypes largely due to its inability to limit GA signaling. The results suggest that EL1 is tasked with GA signaling and thus is involved in spikelet fertility during grain production. For more information on the journal article, read the full study in Rice journal. Beyond Crop Biotech TOPLESS PLANTS GIVE INSIGHTS IN HUMAN SIGNALING MECHANISMS Van Andel Research Institute (VARI) scientists conducted a study of a plant protein TOPLESS (TPL), responsible for regulating development and stress responses in plants. TPL has also been found to be involved in hormone signaling through its interaction with other molecules responsible for switching genes off. Hence, VARI scientists examined this hormone signalling and interaction in detail.

7 The findings have led the researchers to identify the three dimensional structure of TOPLESS showing its own structure as well as when it is linked to other molecules. This information will aid in the further study of all the interacting molecules in a certain signaling pathway. The development of the structure can also be adopted in humans due to similarities in some signalling pathways with plants. The use of this structure can provide insights in some important biological functions in humans. Read the details of the study at VARI website. DOCUMENT REMINDERS ISAAA RELEASES NEW MYTHS AND FACTS BOOKLET ISAAA releases Biotech Booklet 4, Myths and Facts about Agricultural Biotechnology. The booklet answers 10 myths on agricultural biotech, providing facts and data relevant to each topic. The research for the illustrated booklet was done by Regina Rocero of Puzzled Owl CCEM Co. It is available for download at the ISAAA website. FROM THE BICS ISAAA REPORT LAUNCHED IN IVORY COAST ISAAA AfriCenter in partnership with the Ivorian Agricultural Research Institute (Centre National de Recherche Agronomique (CNRA), and CropLife West Africa launched the ISAAA annual global status report on GM crops (Brief 49) on June 16, 2015 in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Some 56 participants, among them, scientists, journalists, civil society, farmer representatives as well as officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Science and Technology and Environment, attended the event. ISAAA AfriCenter Program Officer Brigitte Bitta presented the ISAAA report. Participants were acquainted with the status of biotechnology research and biosafety in the country. Dr. Moussa Sawadogo, the Environmental Biosafety Program Officer at the African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE), Burkina Faso, presented the status of biosafety regimes in Africa and highlighted the experience of Burkina Faso in commercializing Bt cotton. Dr. Kouassi Nazaire, president of the organizing committee announced the imminent creation of the Ivorian Association of biotechnology and invited interested participants to adhere to it in order to join efforts in giving balanced information on biotechnology to stakeholders. For more details, contact Margaret Karembu at mkarembu@isaaa.org.