Nigeria: 'Hybrid Rice Can't Cure Diarrhea'
March 20, 2007
Posted to the web March 20, 2007
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/200703200219.html
Godwin Haruna
Lagos
Attempts at introducing Genetically Modified (GM) rice as a pharmaceutical crop to treat diarrhea in African children is unnecessary, demeaning and a calculated move to distract from ongoing global programmes to save children suffering from the disease, the Friends of the Earth Africa (FOE Africa), has said.
A new variety of GM rice containing Human genes is set to be approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for large-scale planting in Kansas, United States after two other states barred such plantings. The California-based biotech company, Ventria Bioscience, announced that the rice which had been engineered to produce recombinant human milk protein will be used in oral rehydration solutions to treat diarrhea and also as supplements in yogurt, sports drinks and granola bars.
Friends of the Earth groups in Africa, in a statement issued through Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth, Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), condemned the action, stating that barely few months after the illegal contamination of (GM) rice LL601 in Ghana and Sierra Leone; proponents of GMO are once again using Africa to propagate their illegal and unsafe crops.
The group added that despite refusal of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to approve the recombinant pharmaceutical product as safe, not only was Ventria going ahead with its massive planting of drug-containing rice, but 150 infants from age 5 to 33 months have been used to experiment this technology in Peru, one of Latin American's poorest countries.
According to FoE Africa, parents of the children were not adequately informed of the experimental nature of the treatment, and at least two mothers of infants in the clinical trial reported that their infants suffered serious allergic reactions, causing Peruvian government to launch an enquiry into the experiment.
"Africa does not need a genetically modified solution for diarrhea. The solution of diarrhea lies with its cause, not GMO. We are yet to get over the contamination in West Africa of GM rice as commercial imports and food aid from the United States and now this, we are becoming increasing concerned at diverse moves to permeate GMO in this continent,", said FoE Africa GMO campaigner, Nnimmo Bassey.
The first GM food containing human genes is set to raise many socio economic, cultural, religious as well as ethical questions besides the environmental and health concerns, the groups streesed.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Hybrid Rice: China will build a hybrid rice development centre in Madagascar as part of its effort to help Africa to promote agricultural production
China will build a hybrid rice development centre in Madagascar as part of its effort to help Africa to promote agricultural production
Media Release
Feb. 3, 2007
Source: http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/15399.asp
China will build a hybrid rice development centre in Madagascar as part of its effort to help Africa to promote agricultural production, officials said here Saturday.
The project will involve 10 million yuan ( $ 1.28 million) of government fund and be completed by 2010, according to the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Hunan Province, which is responsible for the construction and operation of the centre.
This is one of 10 agricultural technology projects China has promised to build in Africa.
The hybrid rice developed by famous Chinese agronomist Yuan Longping is widely grown in China, and the highest yield reached 12,000 kilograms per hectare.
Chinese farmers grow some 15 million hectares of the hybrid rice a year,accounting for 51 percent of the country's total rice paddies.
Media Release
Feb. 3, 2007
Source: http://www.indiadaily.com/editorial/15399.asp
China will build a hybrid rice development centre in Madagascar as part of its effort to help Africa to promote agricultural production, officials said here Saturday.
The project will involve 10 million yuan ( $ 1.28 million) of government fund and be completed by 2010, according to the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Hunan Province, which is responsible for the construction and operation of the centre.
This is one of 10 agricultural technology projects China has promised to build in Africa.
The hybrid rice developed by famous Chinese agronomist Yuan Longping is widely grown in China, and the highest yield reached 12,000 kilograms per hectare.
Chinese farmers grow some 15 million hectares of the hybrid rice a year,accounting for 51 percent of the country's total rice paddies.
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
NGO urges BPI not to approve Bayer’s LLRICE 62
The Southeast Asia Regional Initiatives for Community Empowerment (SEARICE) urges the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Plant and Industry (DA-BPI) not to approve the application of Bayer for its LLRICE 62 for feed, food and processing. The approval will allow the first genetically modified rice into the country, and would thus set a precedent to the entry of other genetically modified rice in the Philippines.
"Rice is a staple food and source of livelihood of more than 50 million farmers in our country, with roots in our own culture and traditions and thus should be taken with utmost care. Allowing Bayer’s LLRICE 62 into the country will completely alter this, especially since we are talking about an important food crop that is synonymous to our country’s sovereignty. These should be enough reasons for regulators to prudently pause and prayerfully reconsider." said Ms. Agnes Lintao, Policy Officer of SEARICE.
Liberty Link (LL)RICE 62 is developed by Bayer Cropscience, a German company based in US. This, and two other Liberty Link rice varieties – LLRICE 06 and LLRICE 601 – are genetically modified rice resistant to glufosinate-containing herbicides. LLRICE 601, in particular, has figured in much controversy in contamination issues in the US and Europe, especially since it has not been approved for human consumption anywhere else in the world except for the US. Most recently, it has also been found that the imported rice "Uncle Sam Texas Long Grain Rice" is contaminated with LLRICE 601, and is being sold in the country’s leading supermarkets. This poses potential health risk to the general public thus the need to take extra precaution on the approval of LLRICE62.
"The consumer should be cautious and conscious in buying their rice, better yet patronize locally and organically produced rice", Ms. Lintao said
The BPI is the regulating body in the country, which approves genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for direct use, propagation, and commercialization. Ms. Lintao further stresses that the BPI should look beyond the promises that genetic engineering (GE) has deceivingly portrayed in saving the world from hunger and increasing yields. Officials at the agency should keep in mind that even in the Cartagena Protocol, of which the Philippines is a Party, productivity as the main thrust for the promotion of GMOs, but there has been no productivity evaluation to date.
"The BPI, though mandated in just evaluating the safety of GE crops being applied for approval, should still consider and maintain a higher principle in the approval process. A single approval would signify a devastating impact to the country’s food supply in the long term. It is with utmost urgency that we call on the BPI to deny the approval of Bayer’s LLRICE 62."
"Rice is a staple food and source of livelihood of more than 50 million farmers in our country, with roots in our own culture and traditions and thus should be taken with utmost care. Allowing Bayer’s LLRICE 62 into the country will completely alter this, especially since we are talking about an important food crop that is synonymous to our country’s sovereignty. These should be enough reasons for regulators to prudently pause and prayerfully reconsider." said Ms. Agnes Lintao, Policy Officer of SEARICE.
Liberty Link (LL)RICE 62 is developed by Bayer Cropscience, a German company based in US. This, and two other Liberty Link rice varieties – LLRICE 06 and LLRICE 601 – are genetically modified rice resistant to glufosinate-containing herbicides. LLRICE 601, in particular, has figured in much controversy in contamination issues in the US and Europe, especially since it has not been approved for human consumption anywhere else in the world except for the US. Most recently, it has also been found that the imported rice "Uncle Sam Texas Long Grain Rice" is contaminated with LLRICE 601, and is being sold in the country’s leading supermarkets. This poses potential health risk to the general public thus the need to take extra precaution on the approval of LLRICE62.
"The consumer should be cautious and conscious in buying their rice, better yet patronize locally and organically produced rice", Ms. Lintao said
The BPI is the regulating body in the country, which approves genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for direct use, propagation, and commercialization. Ms. Lintao further stresses that the BPI should look beyond the promises that genetic engineering (GE) has deceivingly portrayed in saving the world from hunger and increasing yields. Officials at the agency should keep in mind that even in the Cartagena Protocol, of which the Philippines is a Party, productivity as the main thrust for the promotion of GMOs, but there has been no productivity evaluation to date.
"The BPI, though mandated in just evaluating the safety of GE crops being applied for approval, should still consider and maintain a higher principle in the approval process. A single approval would signify a devastating impact to the country’s food supply in the long term. It is with utmost urgency that we call on the BPI to deny the approval of Bayer’s LLRICE 62."
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
Starting Them Young: The Youth for Biodiversity (Y4B) camp
You often hear of summer youth camps - annual get-a-way places where kids and young-ones are sent off to experience all sorts of activities and meet up with new kids to be-friend and get acquainted with, do activities and interact with. These summer camps would cost the parents almost the same amount as when they send their kids to school, but for a very short period, usually around 2 weeks to a month. Other than making new friends and avoiding being lethargic over the summer, these camps do not offer anything else.
Last May 2 to 10, 2006, a different kind of Youth camp was held in North Cotabato. SEARICE held, for the first time, the Youth for Biodiversity Camp. Recognizing the idealism and the potentials of the youth, their enthusiasm in rising up to challenges, in ensuring small and immediate victories, SEARICE involved the youth in its advocacy for plant genetic resource conservation, development and use (PGR CDU) for food and agriculture. The Youth for Biodiversity Camp is an exploration of the youth’s activism and dynamism in working together (with farmers) towards a sustainable, vibrant and rich future. Dubbed as Y4B, the week-long camp’s concept still had the feel of a summer camp, but with the activities as learning tools for the youth participants geared towards appreciation for biodiversity.
The Y4B camp aimed at increasing the awareness of the youth on the importance of agricultural biodiversity and the issues concerned with it; mobilizing the youth sector to support agricultural biodiversity conservation, development an use; and to revive and link cultural heritage to agro-biodiversity conservation, development and use among the youth sector.
A total of 31 youth participants coming from Bohol, Bukidnon, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat joined the camp, which was called Bukid ni Karl Kalabaw (Farm of Karl the Carabao). The camp adopted the atmosphere of a Big Brother reality show, minus the evictions and eliminations. The SEARICE staffs present in the camp served as counselors, or Youth Rangers as they called themselves.
The activities in the Y4B camp were not only fun and games. It started off with a Biodiversity Trail, which familiarized kids with the diverse life forms and organisms found in the community. Discussions on biodiversity and agro-biodiversity, its importance, and the different issues impacting farmers’ rights to seeds also supplemented the activities. After these issue-discussions were Kalikas-Sining, an art jamming session where the kids designed their own bags and learned other crafts from farmers; community immersion, digital photography, quiz bowl, cultural games, Philippine folk tale sharing, literary and musical show, which art subjects and designs pertain to, which themes revolve around biodiversity conservation, development and use, and a lot of other related issues.
The Y4B camp was a memorable experience for all those who participated in it, which was proudly handled by SEARICE’s younger staff.
The participants, long after the camp period, has been keeping contact with the Youth Rangers and seeking advice in further organizing follow-up activities for the group that was formed from the camp. The recognized leader of the Y4B campers also initiated forming a club in their campus carrying the lessons and knowledge that was imparted to them during the Y4B camp. The aim of generating appreciation for agricultural biodiversity was very well achieved, and those who are continuing the spirit and energy of the Y4B camp are very eager to conduct deepening sessions on the issues and topics that were introduced to them.
Last May 2 to 10, 2006, a different kind of Youth camp was held in North Cotabato. SEARICE held, for the first time, the Youth for Biodiversity Camp. Recognizing the idealism and the potentials of the youth, their enthusiasm in rising up to challenges, in ensuring small and immediate victories, SEARICE involved the youth in its advocacy for plant genetic resource conservation, development and use (PGR CDU) for food and agriculture. The Youth for Biodiversity Camp is an exploration of the youth’s activism and dynamism in working together (with farmers) towards a sustainable, vibrant and rich future. Dubbed as Y4B, the week-long camp’s concept still had the feel of a summer camp, but with the activities as learning tools for the youth participants geared towards appreciation for biodiversity.The Y4B camp aimed at increasing the awareness of the youth on the importance of agricultural biodiversity and the issues concerned with it; mobilizing the youth sector to support agricultural biodiversity conservation, development an use; and to revive and link cultural heritage to agro-biodiversity conservation, development and use among the youth sector.
A total of 31 youth participants coming from Bohol, Bukidnon, North Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat joined the camp, which was called Bukid ni Karl Kalabaw (Farm of Karl the Carabao). The camp adopted the atmosphere of a Big Brother reality show, minus the evictions and eliminations. The SEARICE staffs present in the camp served as counselors, or Youth Rangers as they called themselves. 
The activities in the Y4B camp were not only fun and games. It started off with a Biodiversity Trail, which familiarized kids with the diverse life forms and organisms found in the community. Discussions on biodiversity and agro-biodiversity, its importance, and the different issues impacting farmers’ rights to seeds also supplemented the activities. After these issue-discussions were Kalikas-Sining, an art jamming session where the kids designed their own bags and learned other crafts from farmers; community immersion, digital photography, quiz bowl, cultural games, Philippine folk tale sharing, literary and musical show, which art subjects and designs pertain to, which themes revolve around biodiversity conservation, development and use, and a lot of other related issues. The Y4B camp was a memorable experience for all those who participated in it, which was proudly handled by SEARICE’s younger staff.
The participants, long after the camp period, has been keeping contact with the Youth Rangers and seeking advice in further organizing follow-up activities for the group that was formed from the camp. The recognized leader of the Y4B campers also initiated forming a club in their campus carrying the lessons and knowledge that was imparted to them during the Y4B camp. The aim of generating appreciation for agricultural biodiversity was very well achieved, and those who are continuing the spirit and energy of the Y4B camp are very eager to conduct deepening sessions on the issues and topics that were introduced to them.
RICE FESTIVAL DECLARATION SUPPORTING FARMERS’ RIGHTS FOR FOOD SECURITY
RECOGNIZING that access to safe food is a basic human right that is encompassed in all the Human Rights Conventions to which all nations of the world have ratified and which must be fully implemented in the basic policies of all governments;
CONSCIOUS that protection and promotion of Farmers’ Rights as well as the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources are vital in order to ensure that farmers and farming communities are able to continue their important role in enhancing plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and to make them available for future use;
CONSCIOUS of the need for food security and the broadening of the diversity of plant genetic resources in light of the alarming erosion of the planet’s biodiversity, and the current focus in agriculture on commercial trade and market liberalization;
CONSCIOUS also of the need to strengthen farmers’ seed system responsive to farmers’ needs and local conditions, particularly in eventualities of crisis and emergencies;
CONCERNED about the absence of legislations or policies in many countries in support of farmers’ rights to seeds and sustainable community-based initiatives as a means to enhance food security and contribute to poverty alleviation, and CONSCIOUS of the need to provide a supportive policy environment to promote food security and poverty alleviation;
BELIEVING that the conscious recognition of farmers’ rights to seeds and sustainable community-based initiatives in agriculture enhances food security by increasing farm productivity, ensuring safe and healthy food, and protecting the environment, as well as increasing income of farmers and farming communities;
BELIEVING that investment in agriculture should focus on recognizing and enhancing farmers’ rights to seeds and community-based initiatives;
NOTING the growing movement across the world and in countries advocating for safe food and farmers’ rights to seeds through sustainable community-based initiatives in agriculture and several national and local governments that have formulated policies and legislated laws in promotion thereof;
NOTING the relevance of the advocacy for farmers’ rights and the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources at the regional, national and local levels in light of their inclusion in the Agenda of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture for 2007;
PARTICIPATING in this Regional Conference on Sustainable Community-based Initiatives as Expressions of Farmers’ Rights held October 18, 2006 at MetroCenter, Tagbilaran City, Philippines we hereby call for:
1. The participatory conservation, development and sustainable use of plant genetic resources;
2. The strengthening of farmers’ seed system and research to intensify farmers’ capacity and flexibility in response to local conditions, and on occasions of crisis and emergencies;
3. The promotion and advancement of seed knowledge cultural exchanges among farmers and farming communities;
4. The promotion of sustainable community-based initiatives in response to securing farmers’ rights to seeds and in addressing issues on food security;
5. The adoption and promotion of a comprehensive strategy toward food self-sufficiency and sovereignty, as well as the improvement of the lives of the farmers;
6. The adoption and enforcement of national and local legislations for farmers’ rights to seeds and in support of sustainable community-based initiatives in agriculture, and of strategies, policies, and legislations in promotion, institutionalization, and implementation of farmers’ rights and the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources at the regional, national, and local levels;
7. The people’s active participation in policy-making processes in all levels of government and in international agreements related to food and agriculture policies
*Rice Festival Declaration Supporting Farmers’ Rights for Food Security (Regional Conference on Sustainable Community-based Initiatives as Expressions of Farmers’ Rights on October 18, 2006 at MetroCenter, Tagbilaran City, Philippines)
CONSCIOUS that protection and promotion of Farmers’ Rights as well as the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources are vital in order to ensure that farmers and farming communities are able to continue their important role in enhancing plant genetic resources for food and agriculture and to make them available for future use;
CONSCIOUS of the need for food security and the broadening of the diversity of plant genetic resources in light of the alarming erosion of the planet’s biodiversity, and the current focus in agriculture on commercial trade and market liberalization;
CONSCIOUS also of the need to strengthen farmers’ seed system responsive to farmers’ needs and local conditions, particularly in eventualities of crisis and emergencies;
CONCERNED about the absence of legislations or policies in many countries in support of farmers’ rights to seeds and sustainable community-based initiatives as a means to enhance food security and contribute to poverty alleviation, and CONSCIOUS of the need to provide a supportive policy environment to promote food security and poverty alleviation;
BELIEVING that the conscious recognition of farmers’ rights to seeds and sustainable community-based initiatives in agriculture enhances food security by increasing farm productivity, ensuring safe and healthy food, and protecting the environment, as well as increasing income of farmers and farming communities;
BELIEVING that investment in agriculture should focus on recognizing and enhancing farmers’ rights to seeds and community-based initiatives;
NOTING the growing movement across the world and in countries advocating for safe food and farmers’ rights to seeds through sustainable community-based initiatives in agriculture and several national and local governments that have formulated policies and legislated laws in promotion thereof;
NOTING the relevance of the advocacy for farmers’ rights and the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources at the regional, national and local levels in light of their inclusion in the Agenda of the Governing Body of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture for 2007;
PARTICIPATING in this Regional Conference on Sustainable Community-based Initiatives as Expressions of Farmers’ Rights held October 18, 2006 at MetroCenter, Tagbilaran City, Philippines we hereby call for:
1. The participatory conservation, development and sustainable use of plant genetic resources;
2. The strengthening of farmers’ seed system and research to intensify farmers’ capacity and flexibility in response to local conditions, and on occasions of crisis and emergencies;
3. The promotion and advancement of seed knowledge cultural exchanges among farmers and farming communities;
4. The promotion of sustainable community-based initiatives in response to securing farmers’ rights to seeds and in addressing issues on food security;
5. The adoption and promotion of a comprehensive strategy toward food self-sufficiency and sovereignty, as well as the improvement of the lives of the farmers;
6. The adoption and enforcement of national and local legislations for farmers’ rights to seeds and in support of sustainable community-based initiatives in agriculture, and of strategies, policies, and legislations in promotion, institutionalization, and implementation of farmers’ rights and the conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources at the regional, national, and local levels;
7. The people’s active participation in policy-making processes in all levels of government and in international agreements related to food and agriculture policies
*Rice Festival Declaration Supporting Farmers’ Rights for Food Security (Regional Conference on Sustainable Community-based Initiatives as Expressions of Farmers’ Rights on October 18, 2006 at MetroCenter, Tagbilaran City, Philippines)
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