By Jaden Sloan
Hydroponic greenhouses grant an inert mode of raising plants. Most plants that are hydroponically raised must be treated with prim attention in controlled conditions. The use of nettle is frequent on this kind of greenhouses where the grate chains the roots of the plants because no soil is worn in raising the plants. It also balances the assorted nutrients that provide the plants as liquid.
Those large commercially oriented greenhouse have automated habits to refine and publicize seeds. All the things wanted to grow the seeds are all set with automated nursing and maintenance. There are receptive sensors on the gravel that automatically turns on the pumps that contains water or other element solutions that are practical on the seeds.
Using hydroponic greenhouses gives a gardener the gain of increasing the crop total yielded in a solo return. In ordinary agriculture, he may only fabricate the normal crop garner. He may lookalike or triple the crop production by applying the methods in hydroponic farming. It should found big winner in his greenhouse by using substance fertilizers somewhat than the customary potting soil or organic fertilizers.
Steve Fox of New Mexico proposes the greenhouse gardeners should grow the production of yielded crop by extensively practicing the use of lifeless compound fertilizers. He may also avert poisoning the soil from organic substance fertilizers that kills the living microorganisms that are elemental in the pure lump of the plants. He says that these chemicals should be worn only on controlled conditions by elite hydroponic greenhouses where the destruction of the gravel beds will be avoided which are important in the for the origin backing of the hydroponically raised plants.
A guise may wonder how the food he eats comes from hydroponic greenhouses conscious that this structure used element dead fertilizer. This could upset a someone's mindset on the food that he eats. Many nutritionists have proven that these vegetables or fruits that came from hydroponic greenhouses are protected and nutritious because plants only absorb the fertilizer in an organic territory.
Daniel Arnon, a physiologist professor from the University of California have declared that the place nutrients acquired from organic composts are useful to plants when they are converted into dead status because of the function of the microorganisms to fertilize the soil. Many food scientists have studied and proved that all fertilizer rudiments should be converted first into soluble form before the roots of the conceal use it.
The usually used element fertilizers have oriented many greenhouses to feed the crops and not the soil. This may outcome to the decease of the soil because of the fracture down of the organic composition. When it comes to fertilize the soil, it is important to reminisce the decorous organic steps to feed the soil so that it will construct sufficient inorganic fertilizer required to yield more nutrients in it. The points out that organic gardening may not necessarily engender the wanted nutrients, where in organic fertilizer must be bent first to source the nutrients in the organic form.
When the qualities applies raw compound fertilizers on the soil, he may affect the soil order. Microorganisms that may have been living in the soil would assuredly die because these artificial fertilizers. The soil could no longer grow any plants save the continual use of substance fertilizers is applied.
Hydroponic gardening may not necessary the navy of the soil. The plants are fed through extort nutrient dosages to encourage their production and for earlier lump. Business minded persons are interested on this kind of method. On the other hand, the world nowadays cannot anymore accommodate the upward plead for food because of the unstoppable tumor of the world's population that is why chemicals are now widely used on many crops to persuade with the increasing petition for food bring.
Many experts attain that the use of substance solutions in crops is bad for the environment. Most of these chemical solutions are made from fuel yield that should give the qualities the conclusion that these products are pollutants. However, the near period dictate the require to accept this veracity because of the must to supply the farmers with the needed chemical solutions to produce and return more crops to sustain the production of food.
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Read about hardy roses and iceberg roses at the Types Of Roses website.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Agriculture
Not a particularly specific blog posting but something I thought I would throw out into the ether.
I had an interesting interview with Jon Maguire the Chief Investment Officer of a UK fund management company called Cru. Scanning some of the news sites, I see that Maguire and Cru have raised a few hackles in SA and the UK.
Whether people like them or their investment methodology is not of any particular consequence to me. However I did want to touch on one of the comments he made.
One of the sectors they believe provide some great opportunities are the African agricultural sectors. "Farming" will never hold the appeal of high finance or technology, but the reality is there will always be mouths to feed, there is a global shortage of food (i.e. plenty of demand for the product) and with banking on the back foot agriculture is one of the areas where they are seeing some opportunities.
They've invested in places like Malawi, where farming is a relatively low cost investment.
With the global economy facing a massive downturn, food remains a highly defensive industry in which to be in - as they say when things go pear shaped there are always two sectors you can rely on - Food and Beer!
Would be interesting to hear from other entrepreneurs and investors about issues for or against the South African / African agriculture sector as a viable industry to consider.
I had an interesting interview with Jon Maguire the Chief Investment Officer of a UK fund management company called Cru. Scanning some of the news sites, I see that Maguire and Cru have raised a few hackles in SA and the UK.
Whether people like them or their investment methodology is not of any particular consequence to me. However I did want to touch on one of the comments he made.
One of the sectors they believe provide some great opportunities are the African agricultural sectors. "Farming" will never hold the appeal of high finance or technology, but the reality is there will always be mouths to feed, there is a global shortage of food (i.e. plenty of demand for the product) and with banking on the back foot agriculture is one of the areas where they are seeing some opportunities.
They've invested in places like Malawi, where farming is a relatively low cost investment.
With the global economy facing a massive downturn, food remains a highly defensive industry in which to be in - as they say when things go pear shaped there are always two sectors you can rely on - Food and Beer!
Would be interesting to hear from other entrepreneurs and investors about issues for or against the South African / African agriculture sector as a viable industry to consider.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Sustainable production of fruit and vegetables
Consumers are increasingly inquiring about the ecological and social conditions under which their food is produced. Moreover, the focus is no longer on the quality alone. The availability of high quality food is also assuming greater importance. There is a trend to the more sustainable production of food, particularly in the case of fresh fruit and vegetables. But what does “sustainable production” actually mean?
Together with the REWE Group, BASF is developing a concept for the sustainable production of selected fruit and vegetable varieties
BASF Crop Protection has been one of the partners of the “Best Alliance” initiative for sustainable contract cultivation. The REWE Group set up the project in order to shape the procurement and cultivation of fruit and vegetables more responsibly. The “Alliance of the Best” is based on close cooperation with partners from agriculture, service providers, manufacturers of crop protection active ingredients and agricultural advisory services as well as with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as independent competence partners.
This successful cooperation is now being extended: With the joint development of a concept for the sustainable production of selected fruit and vegetable varieties, BASF’s sustainability experts are supporting the REWE Group in implementing a sustainable procurement strategy within the “Best Alliance” brand.
In order for consumers and other interest groups to better understand what is meant by the sustainability of the products, it is necessary to establish clearly defined criteria and standards.
The requirements regarding fruit and vegetables of the “Best Alliance” brand involve three areas: The optimized use of crop protection active ingredients and adherence to defined environmental and social standards. For a product to be able to bear the “Best Alliance” brand in the long term, it is essential that there is a continuous improvement in all three fields.
Eco-efficiency analysis for assessing sustainability
Apart from the defined basic criteria, investigations are being carried out to determine how the eco-efficiency analysis can be used in future as a central control tool in connection with “Best Alliance”. By identifying the adjusting lever for sustainability and permanent optimizations together with the producers and the supply chain, an improvement process is being installed that at the same time involves the verticalization of REWE’s procurement chains in the case of fruit and vegetables in the form of contract cultivation. “A clear commitment to sustainable production within the “Best Alliance” brand is an important and consistent step for REWE. It is crucial to implement more comprehensible criteria in the sense of ecological and social responsibility”, says Guido Siebenmorgen, head of the strategic purchasing of food in the REWE Group.
The method developed by BASF and certified by the German Technical Inspection Organization (TÜV) assesses the economic and ecological effects over the whole life cycle. It identifies the crucial adjusting levers for improving a product’s sustainability along the value adding chain. In this way, all participants in the procurement chain are involved in the improvement process. Similar products or processes can be compared using the eco-efficiency analysis. “Only if all the influences are taken into account in their entirety, can the best balance be found between the requirements of industry, society and the environment”, says Klaus Welsch, Vice President for BASF’s Crop Protection business in Europe
Under the motto “Living Food Quality Together”, BASF is continuing to extend its partnerships with the food value chains in various countries and crops.
Sustainability in BASF’s customer relations
The issue of sustainability is playing an important role for more and more customers. Therefore, in connection with the Success initiative – added value through sustainability – BASF supports customers in implementing sustainability in their business processes. Thanks to its many years of experience, BASF is in a good position regarding the sustainability issue: Only at the beginning of September was BASF chosen as the top chemical company in the most important sustainability index in the world, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World). For example, the climate strategy, environmental and social reporting and the development of innovative and eco-efficient products were the decisive factors for this distinction. In the DJSI World, of the 2500 companies of the Dow Jones Global Index, the leading ten percent of each sector are listed in the area of sustainability.
Together with the REWE Group, BASF is developing a concept for the sustainable production of selected fruit and vegetable varieties
BASF Crop Protection has been one of the partners of the “Best Alliance” initiative for sustainable contract cultivation. The REWE Group set up the project in order to shape the procurement and cultivation of fruit and vegetables more responsibly. The “Alliance of the Best” is based on close cooperation with partners from agriculture, service providers, manufacturers of crop protection active ingredients and agricultural advisory services as well as with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as independent competence partners.
This successful cooperation is now being extended: With the joint development of a concept for the sustainable production of selected fruit and vegetable varieties, BASF’s sustainability experts are supporting the REWE Group in implementing a sustainable procurement strategy within the “Best Alliance” brand.
In order for consumers and other interest groups to better understand what is meant by the sustainability of the products, it is necessary to establish clearly defined criteria and standards.
The requirements regarding fruit and vegetables of the “Best Alliance” brand involve three areas: The optimized use of crop protection active ingredients and adherence to defined environmental and social standards. For a product to be able to bear the “Best Alliance” brand in the long term, it is essential that there is a continuous improvement in all three fields.
Eco-efficiency analysis for assessing sustainability
Apart from the defined basic criteria, investigations are being carried out to determine how the eco-efficiency analysis can be used in future as a central control tool in connection with “Best Alliance”. By identifying the adjusting lever for sustainability and permanent optimizations together with the producers and the supply chain, an improvement process is being installed that at the same time involves the verticalization of REWE’s procurement chains in the case of fruit and vegetables in the form of contract cultivation. “A clear commitment to sustainable production within the “Best Alliance” brand is an important and consistent step for REWE. It is crucial to implement more comprehensible criteria in the sense of ecological and social responsibility”, says Guido Siebenmorgen, head of the strategic purchasing of food in the REWE Group.
The method developed by BASF and certified by the German Technical Inspection Organization (TÜV) assesses the economic and ecological effects over the whole life cycle. It identifies the crucial adjusting levers for improving a product’s sustainability along the value adding chain. In this way, all participants in the procurement chain are involved in the improvement process. Similar products or processes can be compared using the eco-efficiency analysis. “Only if all the influences are taken into account in their entirety, can the best balance be found between the requirements of industry, society and the environment”, says Klaus Welsch, Vice President for BASF’s Crop Protection business in Europe
Under the motto “Living Food Quality Together”, BASF is continuing to extend its partnerships with the food value chains in various countries and crops.
Sustainability in BASF’s customer relations
The issue of sustainability is playing an important role for more and more customers. Therefore, in connection with the Success initiative – added value through sustainability – BASF supports customers in implementing sustainability in their business processes. Thanks to its many years of experience, BASF is in a good position regarding the sustainability issue: Only at the beginning of September was BASF chosen as the top chemical company in the most important sustainability index in the world, the Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI World). For example, the climate strategy, environmental and social reporting and the development of innovative and eco-efficient products were the decisive factors for this distinction. In the DJSI World, of the 2500 companies of the Dow Jones Global Index, the leading ten percent of each sector are listed in the area of sustainability.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Scratchboard Art wins Award at Kirstenbosch Exhibition
Scraperboard art is an interesting art form. The image is scratched into the medium, rather than painted on in the traditional manner. The medium itself consists of a sheet of board, which is coated with white chalk (clay). It is then sprayed (overlaid) with a matt black ink.
To create the image, the artist uses a sharp, (usually arrow-shaped) metal instrument, to scratch away the black surface and reveal the white area. The medium allows for intricate detail, sharp contrast, and a wide range of textures. Depending on the intent of the artist, several areas may be cleared out for layering with watercolours, airbrush or acrylics. These layers are then scratched off one by one to create different shades of colour that blend into and highlight certain parts of the image. This technique can yield an image that appears remarkably lifelike.
From the 9th of September, the artist, Solly Gutman, who lives in Cape Town will be exhibiting at the Kirstenbosch Biennale which is an exhibition of botanical art focusing on flora indigenous to Southern Africa where selected artists from South African and abroad will be exhibiting. It is the 2nd time that Solly has been invited to exhibit and we are hoping that it will introduce people to the Scraperboard/Scratchboard medium.
The artist commenced working in the Scraperboard medium in 1968, and this has remained his exclusive medium. Solly Gutman has a love of early Cape Town & the surrounding areas and he has previously done work for the Robben Island Group and held numerous exhibitions around Cape Town. You can find out more about this medium on the following website - www.scraperboardart.co.za
Source: SanePR
To create the image, the artist uses a sharp, (usually arrow-shaped) metal instrument, to scratch away the black surface and reveal the white area. The medium allows for intricate detail, sharp contrast, and a wide range of textures. Depending on the intent of the artist, several areas may be cleared out for layering with watercolours, airbrush or acrylics. These layers are then scratched off one by one to create different shades of colour that blend into and highlight certain parts of the image. This technique can yield an image that appears remarkably lifelike.
From the 9th of September, the artist, Solly Gutman, who lives in Cape Town will be exhibiting at the Kirstenbosch Biennale which is an exhibition of botanical art focusing on flora indigenous to Southern Africa where selected artists from South African and abroad will be exhibiting. It is the 2nd time that Solly has been invited to exhibit and we are hoping that it will introduce people to the Scraperboard/Scratchboard medium.
The artist commenced working in the Scraperboard medium in 1968, and this has remained his exclusive medium. Solly Gutman has a love of early Cape Town & the surrounding areas and he has previously done work for the Robben Island Group and held numerous exhibitions around Cape Town. You can find out more about this medium on the following website - www.scraperboardart.co.za
Source: SanePR
SHEQ Content
ManufacturingHub.co.za is currently in the process of finalising a content sharing agreement with leading SHEQ website SHEQAfrica.com.
In the interim we have begun displaying some of their Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality related news and information on our site here.
We are aware of the display problem with Internet Explorer 7 and are in the process of rectifying it.
For further information please do not hesitate to contact Marc Ashton on 082-561-1585 or e-mail marc@rival.co.za
Kind regards,
Marc Ashton
Managing Editor
In the interim we have begun displaying some of their Safety, Health, Environmental and Quality related news and information on our site here.
We are aware of the display problem with Internet Explorer 7 and are in the process of rectifying it.
For further information please do not hesitate to contact Marc Ashton on 082-561-1585 or e-mail marc@rival.co.za
Kind regards,
Marc Ashton
Managing Editor
Monday, September 8, 2008
ManufacturingHub.co.za seeks writers
ManufacturingHub.co.za - www.manufacturinghub.co.za - is looking to source some new content and we’re looking to hit some of the SA science, manufacturing and biotechnology communities for some ideas.
And the best part of it - we’ll even pay for it (Admittedly not very well but hopefully as the traffic grows we can take it from there).
We woudl like to invite you to circulate amongst your friends and professional colleagues that we have a SMALL writing budget that we would like to try and utilise for ManufacturingHub.co.za (www.manufacturinghub.co.za).
If you believe you have a topic that would be applicable to professionals in the SA Food, Pharmaceutical, Chemical / Biotechnology communities then by all means please either drop me a brief or suggestion and we can take it from there.
We are looking for some content that is fresh and sharp and maybe a little provocative (in a targeted way!). The idea is to now really step up this resource to get South Africans recognising ManufacturingHub.co.za as the premier online industrial resource for the SA Food, Pharmaceutical, Chemical and Cosmetic Manufacturing industries.
Details as below:
Marc Ashton - Managing Editor
www.manufacturinghub.co.za
marc@rival.co.za
Facebook group - http://www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7654433017
Also spread the word about this group and try and build it a bit so we can expend the SA science community a bit online.
Regards,
Marc Ashton
Saturday, August 16, 2008
NEW PRIVATE EQUITY FUND LAUNCHED TO INVEST IN AGRIBUSINESS IN AFRICA
A new R700-million private equity fund has been launched with the aim of investing in the buoyant agribusiness sector across sub-Saharan Africa. The Agri-Vie Fund, formed by Sanlam Private Equity and the investment group Strategy Partners, will focus on entrepreneurs involved in the agribusiness value chain, rather than directly in the farming industry. It offers an opportunity for potential investors to tap into this growing African market and gives strategic assistance to the owners of agri businesses.
The fund recently had its first close at R330-million, with initial investments from the insurance industry and development finance institutions such as the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) through the Risk Capital Facility - a fund established by the European Community and the government of South Africa and managed by the IDC - and the US-based Kellogg Foundation. The fund is open to other investors until May 2009.
Pieter Kriel, chief executive of Sanlam Private Equity, said that agribusiness is the mainstay of the economy in most sub-Saharan countries. “On average the gross domestic products in sub-Saharan Africa have grown between six and seven percent in the past three years and the number of democracies has more than doubled since 1999. The resultant effect is that these countries offer exceptional opportunities for investors.”
The fund will look at businesses which offer value-added components along the agri-business value chain. “We will not invest in farms, but rather in the processing and marketing of farming outputs such as food, certain beverages and fibre products. By following the route of expanding the industry, it will ultimately create new growth opportunities for existing and emerging farmers. In addition, Agri-Vie's mandate includes investment into ecotourism in the context of integrated rural development,” said Kriel.
Emile du Toit, the divisional executive for private equity at DBSA said, “Agribusiness is an important contributor to economic growth in the region and is poised for significant expansion. Given the significant lack of equity risk capital to finance agribusiness transactions, the DBSA’s participation in this fund allows it to play a catalytic role in developing financial infrastructure to provide access to much needed long-term risk capital in this critical sector.”
Du Toit added that sustainable investment in agriculture can make a significant contribution to socio-economic development, in keeping with DBSA’s development mandate. “I believe that several countries on the continent have comparative advantages in agriculture, which provide a logical base for economic growth.”
Agri-Vie investors have appointed an active management structure, led by Herman Marais of Strategy Partners, which comprises members from Sanlam Private Equity and a women-led agricultural investment group, Makotulo Agricultural Company, among others.
Marais said that Agri-Vie is a true business partner for agribusiness entrepreneurs. “The fund contributes risk capital and management know-how to fully unlock the potential of businesses.”
He said, “Over and above the opportunities associated with the prevailing global food and commodities cycle, there is growing demand globally for various African exports such as organically grown vegetables, fruit and flowers, processed natural fibre for industrial applications as well as natural supplements and health products. However, there are numerous existing agri-enterprises across the African continent which are not performing to their potential - mainly as a result of lack of access to capital, limited market knowledge and infrastructure limitations.
“Agri-Vie aims to be a catalyst to unlock this potential to the advantage of the enterprises concerned, their host communities and the fund’s investors. Agri-Vie believes that sustainable development is best brought about by the disciplines of investment rather than aid grants.”
Kriel said that the fund had a strong empowerment focus. “Our involvement was partly spurred by the Financial Sector Charter which designates agri as an area of ‘targeted investment’. Both Sanlam Private Equity and Strategy Partners truly believe in the business and investment potential of agribusiness in South Africa and on the continent and are delighted to be playing a role in realising it. The South African portion of the fund was started with the express purpose of empowering agri-businesses and playing a key catalyst role for BEE in the agribusiness sector.”Agribusiness women such as Ntombi Msimang and Jean Davidson are among the directors of the Makotulo Consortium. Kate Moloto, a shareholder in Agri-Vie’s investment management structure, says “Women are far behind with regard to participation as owners and managers in agribusiness. Through Agri-Vie, we intend to make a meaningful contribution to empowering women in this sector.”Marais said the fund had found a niche in Africa and was already experiencing healthy transaction flow. “We have had significant interest from international investors and have formed a parallel structure to the South African portion of the fund – a separate entity domiciled in Mauritius which is focused on investment in sub-Saharan countries outside of South Africa. We are already evaluating more than 20 possible investments in South Africa and the Mauritius structure of the fund is looking at a similar number in countries such as Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya.”Friday, August 8, 2008
Biotech Crops Experience Remarkable Dozen Years of Double-Digit Growth
After a dozen years of commercialization, biotech crops are still gaining ground with another year of double-digit growth and new countries joining the list of supporters, according to a report released today by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA). In 2007, biotech crop area grew 12 percent or 12.3 million hectares to reach 114.3 million hectares, the second highest area increase in the past five years.
In addition to planting more biotech hectares, farmers are quickly adopting varieties with more than one biotech trait. These “trait hectares” grew at a swift 22 percent, or 26 million hectares, to reach 143.7 million hectares – more than double the area increase of 12.3 million hectares. New crops were also added to the list as China reported the plantation of 250,000 biotech poplar trees. The insect-resistant poplar trees can contribute to reforestation efforts.
Further, 2 million more farmers planted biotech crops last year to total 12 million farmers globally enjoying the advantages from the improved technology. Notably, 9 out of 10, or 11 million of the benefiting farmers, were resource-poor farmers, exceeding the 10-million milestone for developing countries for the first time. In fact, the number of developing countries (12) planting biotech crops surpassed the number of industrialized countries (11), and the growth rate in the developing world was more than three times that of industrialized nations (21 percent compared to 6 percent.)
“With increasing food prices globally, the benefits of biotech crops have never been more important,” said Clive James, chairman and founder of ISAAA and the report’s author. “Already those farmers who began adopting biotech crops a few years ago are beginning to see socio-economic advantages compared to their peers who haven’t adopted the crops. If we are to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of cutting hunger and poverty in half by 2015, biotech crops must play an even bigger role in the next decade.”
According to the report, biotech crops have delivered unprecedented benefits that contribute toward the MDGs, particularly in countries like China, India and South Africa. The potential in the second decade of biotech crop commercialization (2006-2015) is enormous.
Studies in India and China show Bt cotton has increased yields by up to 50 percent and 10 percent, respectively, and reduced insecticide use in both countries up to 50 percent or more. In India, growers increased income by up to $250 (Rs 10,000) or more per hectare, increasing farmer income nationally from $840 million to $1.7 billion last year. It is noteworthy that for the six year period 2002-2007, there was a 125 fold increase in Bt cotton in India – this is four times the 67 fold increase for global biotech crops during the 12 year period 1996-2007. Chinese farmers saw similar gains with incomes growing an average of $220 per hectare, or more than $800 million nationally. Importantly, these studies showed strong farmer confidence in the crops with 9 of 10 Indian farmers replanting biotech cotton year on year, and 100 percent of Chinese farmers choosing to continue utilizing the technology.
While these types of economic benefits are well substantiated, the welfare benefits associated with biotech crops are starting to emerge. A study of 9,300 Bt cotton and non-Bt cotton-growing households in India indicated that women and children in Bt cotton households have slightly more access to welfare benefits than non-Bt cotton growers. These include slight increases in pre-natal visits, assistance with at-home births, higher school enrollment for children and a higher proportion of children vaccinated.
Mrs. Aakkapalli Ramadevi, is a woman subsistence farmer from Andhra Pradesh, who laboriously tills 3 acres (1.3 hectares), and is typical of a small and resource-poor farmer in India who has benefited from Bt cotton. Before the advent of Bt cotton she said “The yields were very low and we used to incur losses, so we were perpetually losing money – my entire family had to stay in the farm and we had to spend 50% of the yield on pesticide alone”. After planting Bt cotton for two years she says, “Finally, cotton cultivation has actually turned profitable.”
“It’s these types of benefits that will make crop biotechnology a vital tool in achieving the U.N. Millennium Development Goals of cutting hunger and poverty in half and ensuring a more sustainable agriculture in the future,” James said. “To reach these goals, a continued broadening and deepening of biotech crop use is crucial to meeting food, feed, fiber and fuel needs in the future.”
In 2007, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India and China continued to be the principal adopters of biotech crops globally. While the United States continues to be the largest user of the technology, its biotech crop area represents a declining share of the global area due to a broadening adoption. [Editor’s note: see ISAAA Country Fact Sheet for additional detail on specific countries.">
“With a dozen years of accumulated knowledge and significant economic, environmental and socio-economic benefits, biotech crops are poised for even greater growth in the coming years, particularly in developing countries that have the greatest need for this technology,” James said.
According to the report, Burkina Faso, Egypt and possibly Vietnam are the next mostly likely countries to approve biotech crops in the near term. Australia is field-testing drought-tolerant wheat and two states recently lifted a four-year ban on biotech canola.
The story of Bt cotton in India is remarkable. In 6 years from 2002 to 2007, the productivity of cotton almost doubled, insecticides use cut in half and the country was transformed from a cotton importer to a significant exporter. India has recognized the importance of using biotechnology to make the country self-sufficient in food grains with the first biotech food crop, biotech eggplant, expected to be approved in the near-term. The Indian Finance Minister recently articulated the strong political will in India for biotech crops. Dr. P. Chidambaram said, “It is important to apply biotechnology in agriculture. What has been done with cotton must be done with food grains.”
Future prospects for biotech crops globally look very promising. “I predict the number of biotech countries, crops, traits, area and farmers will all grow substantially in the second decade of adoption,” James said. “More developing countries are likely to approve the technology as it’s now possible to design regulatory systems that are rigorous without being onerous given their limited resources. The current delay in timely approvals of biotech crops like golden rice with benefits for millions is a moral dilemma where the demands of regulatory systems have often become the end and not the means.”
The report is entirely funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, a U.S.-based philanthropic organization associated with the Green Revolution; Ibercaja, one of the largest Spanish banks headquartered in the maize growing region of Spain; and the Bussolera-Branca Foundation from Italy, which supports the open-sharing of knowledge on biotech crops to aid decision-making by global society. For more information or the executive summary you may contact ISAAA South Asia office at b.choudhary@isaaa.org or log on to www.isaaa.org.
The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) is a not-for-profit organization with an international network of centers designed to contribute to the alleviation of hunger and poverty by sharing knowledge and crop biotechnology applications. Clive James, chairman and founder of ISAAA, has lived and/or worked for the past 25 years in the developing countries of Asia, Latin America and Africa, devoting his efforts to agricultural research and development issues with a focus on crop biotechnology and global food security.
ISAAA Country Fact Sheet
• India: For the third consecutive year, India experienced the highest proportional increase in 2007 of any country in the world with a 63 percent gain to total 6.2 million hectares of Bt cotton, grown by 3.8 million resource-poor farmers – this is an increase from 3.8 million hectare of Bt cotton area grown by 2.3 million farmers in 2006. These gains have taken India from having one of the lowest cotton yields in the world to being a net cotton exporter, potentially 5 million bales in 2007/2008. At a national level, Bt cotton is a major factor contributing to higher production which is increased from 15.8 million bales in 2001-02 to 31.0 million bales in 2007-08, almost a doubling in a short period of 6 years. In addition, India overtook the USA to become the second biggest cotton producing country in the world, after China. Subsistence farmer Mrs. Aakkapalli who grows 1.3 hectares of cotton in Andhra Pradesh said that before the advent of insect-resistant cotton, “We were badly off and unable to afford anything properly. Finally cotton cultivation has actually turned profitable.”
• China increased Bt cotton production by 0.3 million hectares to total 3.8 million hectares, 69 percent of the country’s cotton area. A total of 7.1 million resource-poor farmers planted the biotech crop. Further, China has 3,500 hectares of virus-resistant papaya and 250,000 Bt poplar trees which can contribute to reforestation.
• Brazil experienced the greatest absolute growth at 3.5 million hectares to total 15 million hectares of herbicide-tolerant soybeans and Bt cotton. These numbers are predicted to climb with the expected final approval and planting of biotech maize in 2008/2009. Brazil is fast emerging as a global leader in biotech crops with significant potential of applying the technology to sugarcane for ethanol production. Brazil has the largest area sugarcane globally at 6.2 million hectares.
• South Africa, the only country in Africa planting biotech crops, increased plantings 30 percent in 2007 to total 1.8 million hectares. Notably, nearly all growth came from white maize for food. Chief Mdutshane of Ixopos calls Bt white maize “iyasihluthisa” meaning “it fills our stomachs.” “For the first time the Ixopos have produced enough to feed themselves.”
• Europe surpassed 100,000 hectares of biotech crops for the first time in 2007 with 77 percent growth. In EU, 8 of the 27 countries planted biotech crops in 2007, up from 6 in 2006. Spain led the way with 70,000 hectares of Bt maize, up 40 percent over 2006 to reach 21 percent of the country’s total maize area. The collective Bt maize area in the 7 other countries – France, Czech Republic, Portugal, Germany, Slovakia, Romania and Poland – increased four-fold from 8,700 hectares in 2006 to 35,700 hectares in 2007, albeit on modest areas.
• Poland planted biotech crops for the first time and Chile joined the list to total 23 countries enjoying the benefits of these crops in 2007.
Biotech Crops’ Contribution to U.N. Millennium Development Goal
and a More Sustainable Agriculture
As the U.N. Millennium Development Goal nears, it is useful to look at biotechnology’s contribution toward the goal of reducing poverty and hunger by 50 percent by 2015, and to a more sustainable agriculture in the future.
o Increasing global crop productivity to improve food, feed and fiber security and sustainability: In the first 11 years of biotech crops, yield gains in the key commodities were valued at $34 billion. Production increases will continue with the introduction of the very important drought-tolerant crops in the next decade, as well as more nutritious crops like soybeans enhanced with omega-3 oils and rice with enriched vitamin A content.
o Contributing to the alleviation of poverty and hunger: 50 percent of the world’s poorest are small farmers and another 20 percent of the rural landless are dependent on agriculture. Already biotech cotton and biotech white maize are contributing modest socio-economic benefits to these groups. The expected near-term approval of Bt eggplant in India and potential for biotech rice in China would substantially further these efforts.
o Reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture: Already biotech crops have cut pesticide use, decreased carbon dioxide emissions and saved fossil fuel use due to less tillage and spraying. In 2006, biotech crops saved 14.8 billion kg of carbon dioxide, equivalent to removing 6.5 million cars from the road. In the next decade, crops with increased drought tolerance will help limit water use and greater nitrogen efficiency will help improve use of this important nutrient.
o Mitigating climate change and reducing greenhouse gases: Biotech crops already contribute to reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Biotech crops that can be developed faster to meet more rapid changes in climate are in development. Further, use of biotech poplar trees, already planted in China, and faster growing trees that are in development can make a substantial contribution in the world’s need for quick re-forestation to help mitigate the effects of global warming.
o Contributing to the cost-effective production of biofuels: Biotech crops help optimize the crop and biomass production per hectare to help supply the world’s demands for more affordable food, feed fiber and biofuel products.
In addition to planting more biotech hectares, farmers are quickly adopting varieties with more than one biotech trait. These “trait hectares” grew at a swift 22 percent, or 26 million hectares, to reach 143.7 million hectares – more than double the area increase of 12.3 million hectares. New crops were also added to the list as China reported the plantation of 250,000 biotech poplar trees. The insect-resistant poplar trees can contribute to reforestation efforts.
Further, 2 million more farmers planted biotech crops last year to total 12 million farmers globally enjoying the advantages from the improved technology. Notably, 9 out of 10, or 11 million of the benefiting farmers, were resource-poor farmers, exceeding the 10-million milestone for developing countries for the first time. In fact, the number of developing countries (12) planting biotech crops surpassed the number of industrialized countries (11), and the growth rate in the developing world was more than three times that of industrialized nations (21 percent compared to 6 percent.)
“With increasing food prices globally, the benefits of biotech crops have never been more important,” said Clive James, chairman and founder of ISAAA and the report’s author. “Already those farmers who began adopting biotech crops a few years ago are beginning to see socio-economic advantages compared to their peers who haven’t adopted the crops. If we are to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of cutting hunger and poverty in half by 2015, biotech crops must play an even bigger role in the next decade.”
According to the report, biotech crops have delivered unprecedented benefits that contribute toward the MDGs, particularly in countries like China, India and South Africa. The potential in the second decade of biotech crop commercialization (2006-2015) is enormous.
Studies in India and China show Bt cotton has increased yields by up to 50 percent and 10 percent, respectively, and reduced insecticide use in both countries up to 50 percent or more. In India, growers increased income by up to $250 (Rs 10,000) or more per hectare, increasing farmer income nationally from $840 million to $1.7 billion last year. It is noteworthy that for the six year period 2002-2007, there was a 125 fold increase in Bt cotton in India – this is four times the 67 fold increase for global biotech crops during the 12 year period 1996-2007. Chinese farmers saw similar gains with incomes growing an average of $220 per hectare, or more than $800 million nationally. Importantly, these studies showed strong farmer confidence in the crops with 9 of 10 Indian farmers replanting biotech cotton year on year, and 100 percent of Chinese farmers choosing to continue utilizing the technology.
While these types of economic benefits are well substantiated, the welfare benefits associated with biotech crops are starting to emerge. A study of 9,300 Bt cotton and non-Bt cotton-growing households in India indicated that women and children in Bt cotton households have slightly more access to welfare benefits than non-Bt cotton growers. These include slight increases in pre-natal visits, assistance with at-home births, higher school enrollment for children and a higher proportion of children vaccinated.
Mrs. Aakkapalli Ramadevi, is a woman subsistence farmer from Andhra Pradesh, who laboriously tills 3 acres (1.3 hectares), and is typical of a small and resource-poor farmer in India who has benefited from Bt cotton. Before the advent of Bt cotton she said “The yields were very low and we used to incur losses, so we were perpetually losing money – my entire family had to stay in the farm and we had to spend 50% of the yield on pesticide alone”. After planting Bt cotton for two years she says, “Finally, cotton cultivation has actually turned profitable.”
“It’s these types of benefits that will make crop biotechnology a vital tool in achieving the U.N. Millennium Development Goals of cutting hunger and poverty in half and ensuring a more sustainable agriculture in the future,” James said. “To reach these goals, a continued broadening and deepening of biotech crop use is crucial to meeting food, feed, fiber and fuel needs in the future.”
In 2007, the United States, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India and China continued to be the principal adopters of biotech crops globally. While the United States continues to be the largest user of the technology, its biotech crop area represents a declining share of the global area due to a broadening adoption. [Editor’s note: see ISAAA Country Fact Sheet for additional detail on specific countries.">
“With a dozen years of accumulated knowledge and significant economic, environmental and socio-economic benefits, biotech crops are poised for even greater growth in the coming years, particularly in developing countries that have the greatest need for this technology,” James said.
According to the report, Burkina Faso, Egypt and possibly Vietnam are the next mostly likely countries to approve biotech crops in the near term. Australia is field-testing drought-tolerant wheat and two states recently lifted a four-year ban on biotech canola.
The story of Bt cotton in India is remarkable. In 6 years from 2002 to 2007, the productivity of cotton almost doubled, insecticides use cut in half and the country was transformed from a cotton importer to a significant exporter. India has recognized the importance of using biotechnology to make the country self-sufficient in food grains with the first biotech food crop, biotech eggplant, expected to be approved in the near-term. The Indian Finance Minister recently articulated the strong political will in India for biotech crops. Dr. P. Chidambaram said, “It is important to apply biotechnology in agriculture. What has been done with cotton must be done with food grains.”
Future prospects for biotech crops globally look very promising. “I predict the number of biotech countries, crops, traits, area and farmers will all grow substantially in the second decade of adoption,” James said. “More developing countries are likely to approve the technology as it’s now possible to design regulatory systems that are rigorous without being onerous given their limited resources. The current delay in timely approvals of biotech crops like golden rice with benefits for millions is a moral dilemma where the demands of regulatory systems have often become the end and not the means.”
The report is entirely funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, a U.S.-based philanthropic organization associated with the Green Revolution; Ibercaja, one of the largest Spanish banks headquartered in the maize growing region of Spain; and the Bussolera-Branca Foundation from Italy, which supports the open-sharing of knowledge on biotech crops to aid decision-making by global society. For more information or the executive summary you may contact ISAAA South Asia office at b.choudhary@isaaa.org or log on to www.isaaa.org.
The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) is a not-for-profit organization with an international network of centers designed to contribute to the alleviation of hunger and poverty by sharing knowledge and crop biotechnology applications. Clive James, chairman and founder of ISAAA, has lived and/or worked for the past 25 years in the developing countries of Asia, Latin America and Africa, devoting his efforts to agricultural research and development issues with a focus on crop biotechnology and global food security.
ISAAA Country Fact Sheet
• India: For the third consecutive year, India experienced the highest proportional increase in 2007 of any country in the world with a 63 percent gain to total 6.2 million hectares of Bt cotton, grown by 3.8 million resource-poor farmers – this is an increase from 3.8 million hectare of Bt cotton area grown by 2.3 million farmers in 2006. These gains have taken India from having one of the lowest cotton yields in the world to being a net cotton exporter, potentially 5 million bales in 2007/2008. At a national level, Bt cotton is a major factor contributing to higher production which is increased from 15.8 million bales in 2001-02 to 31.0 million bales in 2007-08, almost a doubling in a short period of 6 years. In addition, India overtook the USA to become the second biggest cotton producing country in the world, after China. Subsistence farmer Mrs. Aakkapalli who grows 1.3 hectares of cotton in Andhra Pradesh said that before the advent of insect-resistant cotton, “We were badly off and unable to afford anything properly. Finally cotton cultivation has actually turned profitable.”
• China increased Bt cotton production by 0.3 million hectares to total 3.8 million hectares, 69 percent of the country’s cotton area. A total of 7.1 million resource-poor farmers planted the biotech crop. Further, China has 3,500 hectares of virus-resistant papaya and 250,000 Bt poplar trees which can contribute to reforestation.
• Brazil experienced the greatest absolute growth at 3.5 million hectares to total 15 million hectares of herbicide-tolerant soybeans and Bt cotton. These numbers are predicted to climb with the expected final approval and planting of biotech maize in 2008/2009. Brazil is fast emerging as a global leader in biotech crops with significant potential of applying the technology to sugarcane for ethanol production. Brazil has the largest area sugarcane globally at 6.2 million hectares.
• South Africa, the only country in Africa planting biotech crops, increased plantings 30 percent in 2007 to total 1.8 million hectares. Notably, nearly all growth came from white maize for food. Chief Mdutshane of Ixopos calls Bt white maize “iyasihluthisa” meaning “it fills our stomachs.” “For the first time the Ixopos have produced enough to feed themselves.”
• Europe surpassed 100,000 hectares of biotech crops for the first time in 2007 with 77 percent growth. In EU, 8 of the 27 countries planted biotech crops in 2007, up from 6 in 2006. Spain led the way with 70,000 hectares of Bt maize, up 40 percent over 2006 to reach 21 percent of the country’s total maize area. The collective Bt maize area in the 7 other countries – France, Czech Republic, Portugal, Germany, Slovakia, Romania and Poland – increased four-fold from 8,700 hectares in 2006 to 35,700 hectares in 2007, albeit on modest areas.
• Poland planted biotech crops for the first time and Chile joined the list to total 23 countries enjoying the benefits of these crops in 2007.
Biotech Crops’ Contribution to U.N. Millennium Development Goal
and a More Sustainable Agriculture
As the U.N. Millennium Development Goal nears, it is useful to look at biotechnology’s contribution toward the goal of reducing poverty and hunger by 50 percent by 2015, and to a more sustainable agriculture in the future.
o Increasing global crop productivity to improve food, feed and fiber security and sustainability: In the first 11 years of biotech crops, yield gains in the key commodities were valued at $34 billion. Production increases will continue with the introduction of the very important drought-tolerant crops in the next decade, as well as more nutritious crops like soybeans enhanced with omega-3 oils and rice with enriched vitamin A content.
o Contributing to the alleviation of poverty and hunger: 50 percent of the world’s poorest are small farmers and another 20 percent of the rural landless are dependent on agriculture. Already biotech cotton and biotech white maize are contributing modest socio-economic benefits to these groups. The expected near-term approval of Bt eggplant in India and potential for biotech rice in China would substantially further these efforts.
o Reducing the environmental footprint of agriculture: Already biotech crops have cut pesticide use, decreased carbon dioxide emissions and saved fossil fuel use due to less tillage and spraying. In 2006, biotech crops saved 14.8 billion kg of carbon dioxide, equivalent to removing 6.5 million cars from the road. In the next decade, crops with increased drought tolerance will help limit water use and greater nitrogen efficiency will help improve use of this important nutrient.
o Mitigating climate change and reducing greenhouse gases: Biotech crops already contribute to reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Biotech crops that can be developed faster to meet more rapid changes in climate are in development. Further, use of biotech poplar trees, already planted in China, and faster growing trees that are in development can make a substantial contribution in the world’s need for quick re-forestation to help mitigate the effects of global warming.
o Contributing to the cost-effective production of biofuels: Biotech crops help optimize the crop and biomass production per hectare to help supply the world’s demands for more affordable food, feed fiber and biofuel products.
Monday, July 28, 2008
BASF Plant Science takes Amflora case to EU Court
BASF filed action against the EU Commission for failure to act
Approval for Amflora still not granted despite positive safety assessments and a 12-year approval process
Amflora is a safe and environmentally friendly product that brings a yearly added value of more than €100 million to Europe’s farmers and potato starch industry
Limburgerhof, Germany – July 24, 2008 – BASF Plant Science today filed an action with the European Court of First Instance in Luxembourg against the EU Commission for failure to act. According to the company, the approval process of the cultivation of Amflora, its genetically improved potato, has been unjustifiably delayed by the EU Commission on several occasions. In particular, this includes the period between July 2007 and May 2008 during which Commissioner Stavros Dimas did not adopt the approval for the cultivation of Amflora
following the completion of all other procedural steps.
“EU Commissioners have postponed Amflora’s approval despite repeated positive safety assessments by EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority. Although we welcome some positive signs by the Commission and President Barroso, such as their commitment to base
decisions regarding genetically modified products purely on science, we are not prepared to accept any further delays,” said Dr. Stefan Marcinowski, Member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF
“We are filing this case in order to ensure that European farmers and starch producers get access to an innovative product that offers them a potential added value of more than €100 million annually. In addition, we estimate that failure to approve Amflora is depriving BASF Plant Science of peak license income of €20 to 30 million per lost cultivation season,” said Dr. Hans Kast, CEO and President of BASF Plant Science GmbH.
The process to date:
• The Amflora approval process was initiated 12 years ago with the request for authorization submitted in August 1996.
• During the moratorium on genetically modified products between 1998 and 2004, no approvals for genetically modified plants where granted in the EU.
• BASF Plant Science resubmitted a dossier for cultivation and a dossier for food and feed use in 2003 and 2005, respectively, due to modified EU regulations.
• In 2006, EFSA concluded for both dossiers that Amflora is as safe for humans, animals and the environment as any conventional potato.
• In November 2006, Commissioner Dimas forwarded his proposal for authorization of cultivation of Amflora to the EU Member States.
• After two inconclusive votes in the Regulatory Committee in December 2006 and the Council of Agricultural Ministers in July 2007, Commissioner Dimas failed to adhere to the defined approval procedure defined by the EU and to adopt the proposal for cultivation.
• BASF addressed the issue through an open letter to Commissioner Dimas on April 17, 2008.
• The dossier for food and feed use was voted upon in the Standing Committee in October 2007 and Council of Agricultural Ministers in February 2008. According to the defined EU approval procedure, the responsible Directorate-General Health and Consumers has been responsible for adopting the proposal since February 2008.
• In its “orientation debate” on genetically modified plants on May 7, 2008, the Commission decided to request EFSA to prepare a new consolidated scientific opinion on the use of antibiotic resistance marker genes in genetically modified plants by September 30, 2008. Such a marker gene is also used in Amflora.
• In a press release following the debate, Commission President Barroso stated that Amflora will be approved “if and when” EFSA confirms the safety of antibiotic resistance marker genes.
• EFSA responded recently that an opinion can be finalized not earlier than by December 15, 2008.
• On May 19, 2008, BASF Plant Science formally requested access to any documents in the possession of the EU Commission in connection with the authorization procedure for Amflora. These documents did not reveal any new scientific evidence regarding the safety of Amflora.
• Today, one year after the vote in the Agricultural Council, the last formal step prior to adoption of a decision, BASF Plant Science filed an action with the European Court of First Instance against the EU Commission for failure to act.
About Amflora
Amflora is a genetically optimized potato that produces pure amylopectin starch and
is ideal for technical applications. Conventional potatoes produce a mixture of
amylopectin and amylose starch. For many technical applications, such as in the
paper, textile and adhesives industries, only amylopectin is needed; separating the
two starch components is uneconomical. Amflora produces pure amylopectin starch
and thus helps to safe resources, energy and costs. Moreover, paper produced with
amylopectin starch has a higher gloss. Concrete and adhesives can be processed for
Approval for Amflora still not granted despite positive safety assessments and a 12-year approval process
Amflora is a safe and environmentally friendly product that brings a yearly added value of more than €100 million to Europe’s farmers and potato starch industry
Limburgerhof, Germany – July 24, 2008 – BASF Plant Science today filed an action with the European Court of First Instance in Luxembourg against the EU Commission for failure to act. According to the company, the approval process of the cultivation of Amflora, its genetically improved potato, has been unjustifiably delayed by the EU Commission on several occasions. In particular, this includes the period between July 2007 and May 2008 during which Commissioner Stavros Dimas did not adopt the approval for the cultivation of Amflora
following the completion of all other procedural steps.
“EU Commissioners have postponed Amflora’s approval despite repeated positive safety assessments by EFSA, the European Food Safety Authority. Although we welcome some positive signs by the Commission and President Barroso, such as their commitment to base
decisions regarding genetically modified products purely on science, we are not prepared to accept any further delays,” said Dr. Stefan Marcinowski, Member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF
“We are filing this case in order to ensure that European farmers and starch producers get access to an innovative product that offers them a potential added value of more than €100 million annually. In addition, we estimate that failure to approve Amflora is depriving BASF Plant Science of peak license income of €20 to 30 million per lost cultivation season,” said Dr. Hans Kast, CEO and President of BASF Plant Science GmbH.
The process to date:
• The Amflora approval process was initiated 12 years ago with the request for authorization submitted in August 1996.
• During the moratorium on genetically modified products between 1998 and 2004, no approvals for genetically modified plants where granted in the EU.
• BASF Plant Science resubmitted a dossier for cultivation and a dossier for food and feed use in 2003 and 2005, respectively, due to modified EU regulations.
• In 2006, EFSA concluded for both dossiers that Amflora is as safe for humans, animals and the environment as any conventional potato.
• In November 2006, Commissioner Dimas forwarded his proposal for authorization of cultivation of Amflora to the EU Member States.
• After two inconclusive votes in the Regulatory Committee in December 2006 and the Council of Agricultural Ministers in July 2007, Commissioner Dimas failed to adhere to the defined approval procedure defined by the EU and to adopt the proposal for cultivation.
• BASF addressed the issue through an open letter to Commissioner Dimas on April 17, 2008.
• The dossier for food and feed use was voted upon in the Standing Committee in October 2007 and Council of Agricultural Ministers in February 2008. According to the defined EU approval procedure, the responsible Directorate-General Health and Consumers has been responsible for adopting the proposal since February 2008.
• In its “orientation debate” on genetically modified plants on May 7, 2008, the Commission decided to request EFSA to prepare a new consolidated scientific opinion on the use of antibiotic resistance marker genes in genetically modified plants by September 30, 2008. Such a marker gene is also used in Amflora.
• In a press release following the debate, Commission President Barroso stated that Amflora will be approved “if and when” EFSA confirms the safety of antibiotic resistance marker genes.
• EFSA responded recently that an opinion can be finalized not earlier than by December 15, 2008.
• On May 19, 2008, BASF Plant Science formally requested access to any documents in the possession of the EU Commission in connection with the authorization procedure for Amflora. These documents did not reveal any new scientific evidence regarding the safety of Amflora.
• Today, one year after the vote in the Agricultural Council, the last formal step prior to adoption of a decision, BASF Plant Science filed an action with the European Court of First Instance against the EU Commission for failure to act.
About Amflora
Amflora is a genetically optimized potato that produces pure amylopectin starch and
is ideal for technical applications. Conventional potatoes produce a mixture of
amylopectin and amylose starch. For many technical applications, such as in the
paper, textile and adhesives industries, only amylopectin is needed; separating the
two starch components is uneconomical. Amflora produces pure amylopectin starch
and thus helps to safe resources, energy and costs. Moreover, paper produced with
amylopectin starch has a higher gloss. Concrete and adhesives can be processed for
a longer period of time.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
ResearchGATE
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Sunday, July 20, 2008
BASF at forefront of agricultural innovation
Innovation is the basis for success at BASF today and in the future, according to the presenters at the BASF Media Summit held in Washington, D.C., May 12-14, 2008. From the introduction of breakthrough new products, such as Kixor™ herbicide, to the expansion of the BASF Plant Health portfolio and development of new formulation technologies, to new traits for yield and stress from BASF’s plant biotechnology company, all are pivotal not only to the company’s
profitable growth but also to the advancement of U.S. agriculture in the years ahead.
Dr. Stefan Marcinowski, member of the board of executive directors at BASF, said that global megatrends related to health and nutrition, housing and construction, energy and resources, mobility and communication, underpin the need for innovation and provide the impetus for BASF’s strategy. “Accordingly, our agricultural business received the largest allocation of global R&D expenditures of €1.45 billion, of all BASF businesses in 2008,” said Marcinowski.
On the subject of plant biotechnology, Dr. Hans Kast, President and Chief Executive Officer of BASF Plant Science, indicated that the research and development focus for BASF Plant Science is concentrated in three areas
– more efficient agriculture, renewable raw materials and healthier nutrition for humans and animals. “BASF Plant Science has a unique technology platform to support our gene discovery work in these areas,” said Kast. “It combines phenotypic screening with high throughput metabolic profiling to determine gene function, which has led to a broad and diversified early
stage pipeline of lead genes.”
“Today, growers seek to maximize productivity on limited land and to minimize their risk in light of rising input costs,” said Michael Heinz, President of BASF’s Crop Protection division. “For both, they need innovative solutions. As the division’s business results last year and in the first-quarter of 2008 have shown, our long-term strategy of investing in innovative solutions is
paying off,” he added. Heinz pointed out that innovation at BASF comes from all facets of the business – from research and development, to new business approaches and value-adding services.
Dr. Peter Eckes, Senior Vice President Global Research and Development for Crop Protection at BASF, stressed that new active ingredients are key to future success and points to Kixor herbicide as a good example. “Such breakthroughs are providing our customers with the tools they need to improve productivity.” According to Eckes, BASF Crop Protection research
and development is fueled by the company’s extensive corporate research platform. As an example, he highlights new product innovations based on BASF’s best-in-class polymer research. “With new polymer technology we can give existing active ingredients, such as Prowl H2O® herbicide, for example, better performance. The new encapsulated formulation provides
targeted release and better efficacy. We are also translating these advances in formulation technologies into new product concepts that will provide new benefits to our customers.”
BASF is also building on the leadership and success of its Plant Health platform with Headline® fungicide. “Headline has clearly established a solid track record in field crops over the last four years with its Plant Health benefits. So much so, that more than 10 million acres of corn and soybeans were treated with an application of Headline in 2007,” said Markus Heldt,
Group Vice President, North America, BASF Crop Protection. Now, Heldt said, BASF is leveraging the expertise developed with Headline in field crops for the benefit of other sectors such as turf and ornamentals and fruit. He pointed to the Plant Health work currently underway in the organization’s turf and ornamental business and the potential for Plant Health to play a
significant role in addressing issues, such as product shelf life and water restrictions for the ornamental plant production and golf course industries respectively.
Also presenting at the BASF Media Summit were Adam Burnhams, BASF Marketing Manager, U.S. Crop Protection, who highlighted innovations such Page 3 P 262/08e as BASF’s work with Rockford Map Publishers to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of aerial application of products such as Headline through the digitization of plat maps. Paul Rea, Director of Specialty Products at BASF, spoke of new products, including Clearcast™ herbicide and flexible product
packaging for the pest control, vegetation management and turf and ornamentals markets. Jonathan Bryant, Director of North American Business at BASF Plant Science, showcased NutriDense® nutritionally enhanced corn, which provides better rations and improved animal performance in dairy and swine operations.
Source: http://www.agro.basf.com
profitable growth but also to the advancement of U.S. agriculture in the years ahead.
Dr. Stefan Marcinowski, member of the board of executive directors at BASF, said that global megatrends related to health and nutrition, housing and construction, energy and resources, mobility and communication, underpin the need for innovation and provide the impetus for BASF’s strategy. “Accordingly, our agricultural business received the largest allocation of global R&D expenditures of €1.45 billion, of all BASF businesses in 2008,” said Marcinowski.
On the subject of plant biotechnology, Dr. Hans Kast, President and Chief Executive Officer of BASF Plant Science, indicated that the research and development focus for BASF Plant Science is concentrated in three areas
– more efficient agriculture, renewable raw materials and healthier nutrition for humans and animals. “BASF Plant Science has a unique technology platform to support our gene discovery work in these areas,” said Kast. “It combines phenotypic screening with high throughput metabolic profiling to determine gene function, which has led to a broad and diversified early
stage pipeline of lead genes.”
“Today, growers seek to maximize productivity on limited land and to minimize their risk in light of rising input costs,” said Michael Heinz, President of BASF’s Crop Protection division. “For both, they need innovative solutions. As the division’s business results last year and in the first-quarter of 2008 have shown, our long-term strategy of investing in innovative solutions is
paying off,” he added. Heinz pointed out that innovation at BASF comes from all facets of the business – from research and development, to new business approaches and value-adding services.
Dr. Peter Eckes, Senior Vice President Global Research and Development for Crop Protection at BASF, stressed that new active ingredients are key to future success and points to Kixor herbicide as a good example. “Such breakthroughs are providing our customers with the tools they need to improve productivity.” According to Eckes, BASF Crop Protection research
and development is fueled by the company’s extensive corporate research platform. As an example, he highlights new product innovations based on BASF’s best-in-class polymer research. “With new polymer technology we can give existing active ingredients, such as Prowl H2O® herbicide, for example, better performance. The new encapsulated formulation provides
targeted release and better efficacy. We are also translating these advances in formulation technologies into new product concepts that will provide new benefits to our customers.”
BASF is also building on the leadership and success of its Plant Health platform with Headline® fungicide. “Headline has clearly established a solid track record in field crops over the last four years with its Plant Health benefits. So much so, that more than 10 million acres of corn and soybeans were treated with an application of Headline in 2007,” said Markus Heldt,
Group Vice President, North America, BASF Crop Protection. Now, Heldt said, BASF is leveraging the expertise developed with Headline in field crops for the benefit of other sectors such as turf and ornamentals and fruit. He pointed to the Plant Health work currently underway in the organization’s turf and ornamental business and the potential for Plant Health to play a
significant role in addressing issues, such as product shelf life and water restrictions for the ornamental plant production and golf course industries respectively.
Also presenting at the BASF Media Summit were Adam Burnhams, BASF Marketing Manager, U.S. Crop Protection, who highlighted innovations such Page 3 P 262/08e as BASF’s work with Rockford Map Publishers to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of aerial application of products such as Headline through the digitization of plat maps. Paul Rea, Director of Specialty Products at BASF, spoke of new products, including Clearcast™ herbicide and flexible product
packaging for the pest control, vegetation management and turf and ornamentals markets. Jonathan Bryant, Director of North American Business at BASF Plant Science, showcased NutriDense® nutritionally enhanced corn, which provides better rations and improved animal performance in dairy and swine operations.
Source: http://www.agro.basf.com
BASF AND MONSANTO ENTER INTO AGREEMENT FOR NEW
BASF SE (DAX: BAS) and Monsanto Company (NYSE: MON) have signed an exclusive agreement for a new fungicide seed treatment solution for soybeans in the United States. The new product contains BASF’s top-selling fungicide F 500®, the same active ingredient found in Headline® fungicide with its disease control and plant health benefits. The treatment, which is expected to be commercialized in conjunction with the launch of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready 2
Yield™ soybean seed offering, will provide soybean farmers with early-season disease protection which results in improved stand and extra vitality.
“We’re pleased to be partnering with BASF to deliver new seed-based technology to soybean farmers,” said Carl Casale, executive vice president for Monsanto. “We feel the product will be the best seed treatment fungicide available to complement our new Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean offering. In today’s demand-driven agriculture landscape, seed treatments are a natural fit in maximizing the realizable yield from seed and traits that are so important to
farmers.”
“We’re happy that U.S. soybean growers will have access to this exciting new product from our SeedSolutions pipeline in the 2009 growing season,” said Markus Heldt, head of BASF’s Crop Protection business in North America. “This fungicide seed treatment is the first in this new generation of BASF seed treatment products that the company plans to launch globally over the next couple of years, and it is the perfect complement to Headline® fungicide to get seedlings off to a strong start,” he added.
Under the agreement, Monsanto will have exclusive rights to commercialize the new fungicide seed treatment in soybeans. Additional details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Since building up its seed treatment research facilities four years ago, BASF scientists have focused on bringing new active ingredients with proven disease control and other early-growth plant health benefits to seed partners and ultimately to the grower.
Earlier this year, Monsanto announced that it was establishing a global seed treatment platform focused on identifying new proprietary seed-based technologies that can be launched in parallel with its higher-yielding soybean, corn and cotton seed and traits offerings. In 2009, Monsanto plans a controlled commercial release of Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans that will be treated with a proprietary treatment containing F 500.
Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans are the second generation of Monsanto Roundup Ready soybean technology that will deliver top-end yield potential, helping farmers meet the growing global food and fuel demands.
Yield™ soybean seed offering, will provide soybean farmers with early-season disease protection which results in improved stand and extra vitality.
“We’re pleased to be partnering with BASF to deliver new seed-based technology to soybean farmers,” said Carl Casale, executive vice president for Monsanto. “We feel the product will be the best seed treatment fungicide available to complement our new Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean offering. In today’s demand-driven agriculture landscape, seed treatments are a natural fit in maximizing the realizable yield from seed and traits that are so important to
farmers.”
“We’re happy that U.S. soybean growers will have access to this exciting new product from our SeedSolutions pipeline in the 2009 growing season,” said Markus Heldt, head of BASF’s Crop Protection business in North America. “This fungicide seed treatment is the first in this new generation of BASF seed treatment products that the company plans to launch globally over the next couple of years, and it is the perfect complement to Headline® fungicide to get seedlings off to a strong start,” he added.
Under the agreement, Monsanto will have exclusive rights to commercialize the new fungicide seed treatment in soybeans. Additional details of the agreement were not disclosed.
Since building up its seed treatment research facilities four years ago, BASF scientists have focused on bringing new active ingredients with proven disease control and other early-growth plant health benefits to seed partners and ultimately to the grower.
Earlier this year, Monsanto announced that it was establishing a global seed treatment platform focused on identifying new proprietary seed-based technologies that can be launched in parallel with its higher-yielding soybean, corn and cotton seed and traits offerings. In 2009, Monsanto plans a controlled commercial release of Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans that will be treated with a proprietary treatment containing F 500.
Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans are the second generation of Monsanto Roundup Ready soybean technology that will deliver top-end yield potential, helping farmers meet the growing global food and fuel demands.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
NEW! RioLife Pure Dried Acai, Australia
"Açaí is one of my favourite things to eat in the world!" claims Kelly Slater, world champion surfer. From sports stars to specialists, many celebrities are now recognizing the positive effects of RioLife açaí. The açaí berry, pronounced AH-SIGH-EE has been heralded as "Natures Perfect Food" by the U.S Health Sciences Institute. Açaí is certainly a healthy option; the berries are grown in the Amazon rainforest and are packed with antioxidants. The people living in the Amazon region in Northern Brazil have consumed Açaí for thousands of years, and its healing and sustaining powers are legendary. In Belém, the colonial port at the mouth of the Amazon, about 200,000 litres are drunk every day — more than milk. All the juice bars that line the blocks near Ipanema and Copacabana do a roaring trade. In fact, açaí is more of a lifestyle option than a foodstuff. It is the magic potion that fuelled the hedonistic energy of Brazilian beach culture.
In Australia açaí has become readily available through RioLife (http://www.riolife.com.au), a Sydney based business founded by three young guys who have been friends since school days. The young entrepreneurs were travelling and working in Rio de Janeiro, California, and Singapore in 2005 when friends introduced them to what the young men call a Rio Bowl - liquefied açaí pulp and guarana syrup blended with banana and topped with granola and sliced bananas. They were instantly hooked and after seeing the amazing success of the product in both Rio and California, the trio decided to start their own company ‘RioLife’ and bring the açaí sensation to Australia.
RioLife Managing Director Jeremy Liddle said they first launched açaí at various juice bars and cafes on the Northern Beaches. “The main products were the famous Rio Bowl and Rio Juice, which were based on authentic Brazilian recipes. Now we’re very excited about this new pure dried açaí product,” said Jeremy Liddle. "This is the first 100% dried açaí product available in Australia, and we’re expecting it to appeal to a much broader market, and be available to more people as we can post out rather than worrying about frozen distribution" says Jeremy.
“RioLife has already launched our Pure Dried açaí in New Zealand, and nn 2008/2009 we are focusing on launching a whole range of açaí based products into health food stores across both NZ and Australia” stated Jeremy.
“It's RioLife’s goal to make açaí an essential lifestyle fruit for healthy living and sustainability, as every unit sold is contributing to the sustainability of the Brazilian rainforest. 1% of all retail sales of RioLife açaí products carrying the ‘Amazon Friendly’ logo will be sent back to the Amazon to pay for ‘Fruits of the Amazon’s’ social projects like the construction of a school. You will also see other products being released in both NZ and Australia carrying the ‘Amazon Friendly’ logo. The sustainably-managed açaí berry is now a perfect model of Triple Bottom Line success; economic, environmental, and social.” said Liddle.
RioLife’s Pure Dried açaí is now available online at http://www.riolife.com.au, through health food stores, and available for distribution.
For more information contact Jeremy Liddle on
0406 660 626
or email jeremy@riolife.com.au
http://www.riolife.com.au
Source: SanePR
In Australia açaí has become readily available through RioLife (http://www.riolife.com.au), a Sydney based business founded by three young guys who have been friends since school days. The young entrepreneurs were travelling and working in Rio de Janeiro, California, and Singapore in 2005 when friends introduced them to what the young men call a Rio Bowl - liquefied açaí pulp and guarana syrup blended with banana and topped with granola and sliced bananas. They were instantly hooked and after seeing the amazing success of the product in both Rio and California, the trio decided to start their own company ‘RioLife’ and bring the açaí sensation to Australia.
RioLife Managing Director Jeremy Liddle said they first launched açaí at various juice bars and cafes on the Northern Beaches. “The main products were the famous Rio Bowl and Rio Juice, which were based on authentic Brazilian recipes. Now we’re very excited about this new pure dried açaí product,” said Jeremy Liddle. "This is the first 100% dried açaí product available in Australia, and we’re expecting it to appeal to a much broader market, and be available to more people as we can post out rather than worrying about frozen distribution" says Jeremy.
“RioLife has already launched our Pure Dried açaí in New Zealand, and nn 2008/2009 we are focusing on launching a whole range of açaí based products into health food stores across both NZ and Australia” stated Jeremy.
“It's RioLife’s goal to make açaí an essential lifestyle fruit for healthy living and sustainability, as every unit sold is contributing to the sustainability of the Brazilian rainforest. 1% of all retail sales of RioLife açaí products carrying the ‘Amazon Friendly’ logo will be sent back to the Amazon to pay for ‘Fruits of the Amazon’s’ social projects like the construction of a school. You will also see other products being released in both NZ and Australia carrying the ‘Amazon Friendly’ logo. The sustainably-managed açaí berry is now a perfect model of Triple Bottom Line success; economic, environmental, and social.” said Liddle.
RioLife’s Pure Dried açaí is now available online at http://www.riolife.com.au, through health food stores, and available for distribution.
For more information contact Jeremy Liddle on
0406 660 626 or email jeremy@riolife.com.auhttp://www.riolife.com.au
Source: SanePR
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Chilean Marine Megabacteria Could be the Solution to some type of Cancer. Says Victor A Gallardo
Even though they've been living millions of years on the Chilean coasts, no one had studied them well enough. Until now, where biologists at the University of Concepcion (Chile), allied with Craig Venter, are researching their potential, ranging from the production of ammonia and hydrogen to creating explosives and drugs.
The Chilean seafloor continues to exhibit its great potential. Marine Biologist PhD. Victor Ariel Gallardo study the genome of macrobacteria (Beggiatoa spp.) and megabacteria (Thioploca spp.) that live from the northern coasts of Chile down to Arauco in southern Chile, between 20 and 200 meters (60 to 600ft.) deep in the clay sediments, with lots of organic matter but little or no oxygen.
Microorganisms discovered measure between 10 and 90 micrometers in diameter in the case of megabacteria (a bacterium normally does not reach 10 micrometers) and up to 7 centimeters long! The macrobacteria reach a few micrometers in diameter and are up to 3 centimeters long! These organisms, analyzed at a US laboratory, could be used in the mining, pharmaceutical or medical industries.
The megabacteria were discovered in 1962 during the Expedition Mar Chile II, they are visible to the naked eye and are abundant, in the oxygen depleted waters of the continental shelf. The macrobacteria in the same geographical location, were seen in 2004. "All live in environments previously considered to be devoid of life. Apart from the classical microbial life (or tiny organisms) that is everywhere, these large bacteria had gone unnoticed," says Victor Gallardo. The macrobacteria "probably are descendants of the first bacteria that settled in sediments on the planet, some three or four billion years ago," says the biologist, "and were very well known by micropaleontologists since the middle of the last century that found them as fossils in ancient rocks. Megabacteria would have appeared between 850 and 1,200 million years ago, when there already was more oxygen in the seas", explains Victor Gallardo.
The bacteria reach large sizes since they use the water's nitrate content instead of oxygen to survive and obtain their energy from hydrogen sulphide, a toxic gas that is found in marine sediments, with which they feed. According to the biologist, these micro-organisms invented some "nitrate diving bottles." "Each cell has a bag in its interior, which is almost 90% of its volume, within which it accumulates nitrate, just like divers have their tanks filled with oxygen. They stick out into the water and fill their nitrate tanks and they use them to breathe, they then return back into the sediment and absorb hydrogen sulphide, their food. In their tanks nitrate is concentrated 20 thousand times, they can survive with it almost two years without having to go out for more", says Victor Gallardo.
Potential
At this point in time, the scientist is studying the genome of these bacteria to exploit their potential. Previous research on similar organisms have shown promise for future use, especially in energy production.
"If we find in Chile bacteria that can produce hydrogen, for example, they could be used as the gasoline we use now and it would be a very important contribution, when you consider hydrogen combustion with oxygen forms water, not carbon dioxide, so it doesn't contribute to global warming either", says Victor Gallardo.
As these bacteria feed on a toxic gas - hydrogen sulphide - that though found in the seabed, it is also produced by some industries such as the fisheries. "It would be interesting to make a detergent that would prevent poisoning, for example, with the gasses rotten fish produces," says Gallardo. Similar bacteria studied in international laboratories are capable of producing ammonia as waste, which is then used as plant fertilizer and even in sewage treatment plants. Others may be used in the explosives industry and in the pharmaceutical industry, for example a compound of Salinispora (one of these bacteria) was discovered that can kill cancer cells in the blood.
For the time being, the potential of the bacteria found in Chile is unknown, and are currently being tested in the United States. Gallardo has worked with Craig Venter (known worldwide for the Human Genome Project), and thanks to his own contacts, supported by the University of Concepcion and Fondecyt (Chilean National Science and Technology Fund), he has made progress in this research. "There are many laboratories currently working on them in the rest of the world and we are trying to stimulate and deepen the local studies. We believe it is important to have access to these living marine resources, which are not fish nor shellfish, which as you know, obtain more attention. I think this is going to change or may be actually changing as these new resources could contain genes, proteins and enzymes that could biotechnologically help solve several problems that beset mankind and our country specifically", emphasizes the biologist.
The relationship with Craig Venter
Victor A. Gallardo met J. Craig Venter five years ago, when the American visited Chile for a series of conferences, but began working together in 2004 when Venter invited him to participate in the Sorcerer II Expedition, an expedition that circumnavigated the oceans seeking information about the marine microscopic life. Gallardo joined the team that explored the American seas following the route Darwin took to the Galapagos Islands, but placing emphasis on micro-organisms that were not included in that prior expedition. The Chilean biologist even participated in a series of documentaries broadcast on the Discovery Channel regarding this voyage. During this expedition, Gallardo had the idea to deepen the knowledge of the giant bacteria that exist in the Chilean seas, which were then sampled and are currently analysed in the laboratories of a U.S. foundation to which Venter helped them enter through a grant. At the year's end they expect to have the first data that'll let them analyse each part of the bacterial genome. "If we seize this opportunity, we will be well footed to meet the challenge of learning more about our biodiversity. The study of these giant bacteria is a field that is starting to be rediscovered, we are creating a new discipline to study them", says Victor Gallardo.
Financing
The economic resources available to the researcher are currently miniscule, as he says, so he trusts there'll be tangible benefits from California-Chile Agreement, signed last month by President Michelle Bachelet and Arnold Schwarzenegger. "We need equipment and personnel that we do not have. The agreement will give us the opportunity to collaborate with advanced centers, making sure that there is an equitable sharing of the benefits of discoveries that are made," he says.
Chilean scientists are currently studying an agreement with the institutes led by Dr. Venter, they seek to speed the research in marine sediment bacteria and in time, cover the full range of the biological tree. "We will aim at creating a genomic exploration institute. The contacts in Europe and the U.S. exist, what we miss is more funding. The task s to start now so we can obtain results soon. All supports are welcome", says Gallardo.
PhD Victor A Gallardo G.
Master of Marine Affairs, University of Rhode Island, Kingston
Ph. D. Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Phone: (56) (51) 223-4730
CellPhone: (56)(9) 962-08-245
Related Information:
Copas
http://copas.udec.cl/eng/copas/personnel/cv_resear...
Scientia Marina
http://www.icm.csic.es/scimar/index.php/secId/9/au...
Oceans (European Network of Excellence for Ocean Ecosystem Analysis
http://www.eur-oceans.eu/contact_members/index.php...
Census of Marine Life
http://www.coreocean.org/dev2go.web?id=259312
ISME International Society for Microbial Ecology
http://www.isme-microbes.org/about/ambassadors
The Chilean seafloor continues to exhibit its great potential. Marine Biologist PhD. Victor Ariel Gallardo study the genome of macrobacteria (Beggiatoa spp.) and megabacteria (Thioploca spp.) that live from the northern coasts of Chile down to Arauco in southern Chile, between 20 and 200 meters (60 to 600ft.) deep in the clay sediments, with lots of organic matter but little or no oxygen.
Microorganisms discovered measure between 10 and 90 micrometers in diameter in the case of megabacteria (a bacterium normally does not reach 10 micrometers) and up to 7 centimeters long! The macrobacteria reach a few micrometers in diameter and are up to 3 centimeters long! These organisms, analyzed at a US laboratory, could be used in the mining, pharmaceutical or medical industries.
The megabacteria were discovered in 1962 during the Expedition Mar Chile II, they are visible to the naked eye and are abundant, in the oxygen depleted waters of the continental shelf. The macrobacteria in the same geographical location, were seen in 2004. "All live in environments previously considered to be devoid of life. Apart from the classical microbial life (or tiny organisms) that is everywhere, these large bacteria had gone unnoticed," says Victor Gallardo. The macrobacteria "probably are descendants of the first bacteria that settled in sediments on the planet, some three or four billion years ago," says the biologist, "and were very well known by micropaleontologists since the middle of the last century that found them as fossils in ancient rocks. Megabacteria would have appeared between 850 and 1,200 million years ago, when there already was more oxygen in the seas", explains Victor Gallardo.
The bacteria reach large sizes since they use the water's nitrate content instead of oxygen to survive and obtain their energy from hydrogen sulphide, a toxic gas that is found in marine sediments, with which they feed. According to the biologist, these micro-organisms invented some "nitrate diving bottles." "Each cell has a bag in its interior, which is almost 90% of its volume, within which it accumulates nitrate, just like divers have their tanks filled with oxygen. They stick out into the water and fill their nitrate tanks and they use them to breathe, they then return back into the sediment and absorb hydrogen sulphide, their food. In their tanks nitrate is concentrated 20 thousand times, they can survive with it almost two years without having to go out for more", says Victor Gallardo.
Potential
At this point in time, the scientist is studying the genome of these bacteria to exploit their potential. Previous research on similar organisms have shown promise for future use, especially in energy production.
"If we find in Chile bacteria that can produce hydrogen, for example, they could be used as the gasoline we use now and it would be a very important contribution, when you consider hydrogen combustion with oxygen forms water, not carbon dioxide, so it doesn't contribute to global warming either", says Victor Gallardo.
As these bacteria feed on a toxic gas - hydrogen sulphide - that though found in the seabed, it is also produced by some industries such as the fisheries. "It would be interesting to make a detergent that would prevent poisoning, for example, with the gasses rotten fish produces," says Gallardo. Similar bacteria studied in international laboratories are capable of producing ammonia as waste, which is then used as plant fertilizer and even in sewage treatment plants. Others may be used in the explosives industry and in the pharmaceutical industry, for example a compound of Salinispora (one of these bacteria) was discovered that can kill cancer cells in the blood.
For the time being, the potential of the bacteria found in Chile is unknown, and are currently being tested in the United States. Gallardo has worked with Craig Venter (known worldwide for the Human Genome Project), and thanks to his own contacts, supported by the University of Concepcion and Fondecyt (Chilean National Science and Technology Fund), he has made progress in this research. "There are many laboratories currently working on them in the rest of the world and we are trying to stimulate and deepen the local studies. We believe it is important to have access to these living marine resources, which are not fish nor shellfish, which as you know, obtain more attention. I think this is going to change or may be actually changing as these new resources could contain genes, proteins and enzymes that could biotechnologically help solve several problems that beset mankind and our country specifically", emphasizes the biologist.
The relationship with Craig Venter
Victor A. Gallardo met J. Craig Venter five years ago, when the American visited Chile for a series of conferences, but began working together in 2004 when Venter invited him to participate in the Sorcerer II Expedition, an expedition that circumnavigated the oceans seeking information about the marine microscopic life. Gallardo joined the team that explored the American seas following the route Darwin took to the Galapagos Islands, but placing emphasis on micro-organisms that were not included in that prior expedition. The Chilean biologist even participated in a series of documentaries broadcast on the Discovery Channel regarding this voyage. During this expedition, Gallardo had the idea to deepen the knowledge of the giant bacteria that exist in the Chilean seas, which were then sampled and are currently analysed in the laboratories of a U.S. foundation to which Venter helped them enter through a grant. At the year's end they expect to have the first data that'll let them analyse each part of the bacterial genome. "If we seize this opportunity, we will be well footed to meet the challenge of learning more about our biodiversity. The study of these giant bacteria is a field that is starting to be rediscovered, we are creating a new discipline to study them", says Victor Gallardo.
Financing
The economic resources available to the researcher are currently miniscule, as he says, so he trusts there'll be tangible benefits from California-Chile Agreement, signed last month by President Michelle Bachelet and Arnold Schwarzenegger. "We need equipment and personnel that we do not have. The agreement will give us the opportunity to collaborate with advanced centers, making sure that there is an equitable sharing of the benefits of discoveries that are made," he says.
Chilean scientists are currently studying an agreement with the institutes led by Dr. Venter, they seek to speed the research in marine sediment bacteria and in time, cover the full range of the biological tree. "We will aim at creating a genomic exploration institute. The contacts in Europe and the U.S. exist, what we miss is more funding. The task s to start now so we can obtain results soon. All supports are welcome", says Gallardo.
PhD Victor A Gallardo G.
Master of Marine Affairs, University of Rhode Island, Kingston
Ph. D. Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
Phone: (56) (51) 223-4730
CellPhone: (56)(9) 962-08-245
Related Information:
Copas
http://copas.udec.cl/eng/copas/personnel/cv_resear...
Scientia Marina
http://www.icm.csic.es/scimar/index.php/secId/9/au...
Oceans (European Network of Excellence for Ocean Ecosystem Analysis
http://www.eur-oceans.eu/contact_members/index.php...
Census of Marine Life
http://www.coreocean.org/dev2go.web?id=259312
ISME International Society for Microbial Ecology
http://www.isme-microbes.org/about/ambassadors
BASF and Transinsight agree to collaborate in exploring alternatives to animal testing
For over 20 years, BASF has been committed to establishing alternative and supplementary methods. Since 2004, the company has been developing and validating alternatives to animal testing in its own alternatives laboratory with a research budget of 2 million euros per year. Even now alternative methods are employed in 25 percent of all the company’s tests. “We are striving to increase this proportion. Transinsight’s semantic search supports us in this endeavour. With the help of this highly promising technology, we – just like any other potential user – can browse the internet, internal sources, patents and specialized databases much more efficiently than before when searching for information on meaningful approaches to new alternative methods”, explains Dr Robert Landsiedel, Head of the Short Term Toxicology Department at BASF.
Transinsight’s semantic search engine also finds related terms and web pages that are relevant for the respective search term and thus provides considerably more accurate and comprehensive search results than conventional full text search engines. “Go3R will make a tremendous contribution to improving the process of searching for information on alternative methods”, states Dr Michael R. Alvers, CEO of Transinsight. “To achieve this, we are transferring the Wikipedia concept – the largest internet encyclopaedia compiled by the community – to semantic networks of terms. Currently, this is the most efficient way to achieve a large knowledge base within a short period of time and thus to significantly reduce the amount of animal testing in the long term”, Alvers continues. The www.Go3R.org platform is already available online. The service is free of charge.
About Transinsight
Transinsight develops knowledge-based semantic solutions in the Life Sciences. Their flagship products www.Go3R.org and www.GoPubMed.com, renowned biomedical search engines, are the first knowledge-based search systems of the next generation for the Life Sciences on the internet. In acknowledgement of the technologies developed by the company, Transinsight has repeatedly been honoured with international awards. The firm works in close collaboration with the Dresden University of Technology. Selected customers are: Unilever, BASF, BfR, StatoilHydro, Wintershall, AbCam and EMBL. For further information on Transinsight on the internet, see www.transinsight.com
Transinsight’s semantic search engine also finds related terms and web pages that are relevant for the respective search term and thus provides considerably more accurate and comprehensive search results than conventional full text search engines. “Go3R will make a tremendous contribution to improving the process of searching for information on alternative methods”, states Dr Michael R. Alvers, CEO of Transinsight. “To achieve this, we are transferring the Wikipedia concept – the largest internet encyclopaedia compiled by the community – to semantic networks of terms. Currently, this is the most efficient way to achieve a large knowledge base within a short period of time and thus to significantly reduce the amount of animal testing in the long term”, Alvers continues. The www.Go3R.org platform is already available online. The service is free of charge.
About Transinsight
Transinsight develops knowledge-based semantic solutions in the Life Sciences. Their flagship products www.Go3R.org and www.GoPubMed.com, renowned biomedical search engines, are the first knowledge-based search systems of the next generation for the Life Sciences on the internet. In acknowledgement of the technologies developed by the company, Transinsight has repeatedly been honoured with international awards. The firm works in close collaboration with the Dresden University of Technology. Selected customers are: Unilever, BASF, BfR, StatoilHydro, Wintershall, AbCam and EMBL. For further information on Transinsight on the internet, see www.transinsight.com
Growing Hydroponics Strawberries
The hydroponics system is a soil-less farming system. This system is
presently used to produce enormous amounts of produce, for commercial and individual consumption. This article will look at the production of strawberries with a hydroponics system.
For a long time farmers applied methyl bromide in order to kill the soil diseases that is inherent with soil agriculture. But with hydroponics production the need for methyl bromide may soon become a thing of the past.However, in order to set up this system, initial financial commitment is necessary, but that initial investment is usually recovered and more. Strawberries are quite popular with consumers. More so,when the product is better and tastier. Strawberries are recognized as a high value produce.
That essentially means that the product does well in financial conversion. With year round production, this produce is certain to make reasonable amount, and the farmer could recover financially since he could price his product a little higher than usual without losing his customer base. Strawberries have been shown to do well under the hydroponics system. The farmer will also do well because with that initial set up, he can reuse the nutrient solution, thereby reduce the entire cost of production. Very little is wasted, the water in hydroponics could be reused and the labor is not as intensive as it is with soil farming. The farmer would also need to monitor the temperature for the plant.
Strawberries have been found to do much better when the day time temperature is around 68 degrees, and the night time temperature is around 57, or 58. Again it is well known that strawberries respond well to NFT, or nutrient film technique.
As long as the farmer is able to apply such technique he can be sure he will come out ahead financially. So coupled with minimal labor, the potential for higher income from selling a superior product, there is very little doubt that the farmer will do well financially. . Also it is a big advantage when the farmer could minimize the cost of doing business, because he can reuse the nutrient base solution. At 57 or 68 degrees, lighting is not as intense as could be in other hydroponics farming produce. The system is not labor intensive, so with little attention to the growing plants a farmer could make much more than he could in soil farming.
Article Directory: http://www.articlecube.com
About the author
Brian Sandifer is CEO, artist, self-made internet author. Why not save all that money on maintenance? Using a fuzzlight Please visit fuzzlight for more information!!!.
presently used to produce enormous amounts of produce, for commercial and individual consumption. This article will look at the production of strawberries with a hydroponics system.
For a long time farmers applied methyl bromide in order to kill the soil diseases that is inherent with soil agriculture. But with hydroponics production the need for methyl bromide may soon become a thing of the past.However, in order to set up this system, initial financial commitment is necessary, but that initial investment is usually recovered and more. Strawberries are quite popular with consumers. More so,when the product is better and tastier. Strawberries are recognized as a high value produce.
That essentially means that the product does well in financial conversion. With year round production, this produce is certain to make reasonable amount, and the farmer could recover financially since he could price his product a little higher than usual without losing his customer base. Strawberries have been shown to do well under the hydroponics system. The farmer will also do well because with that initial set up, he can reuse the nutrient solution, thereby reduce the entire cost of production. Very little is wasted, the water in hydroponics could be reused and the labor is not as intensive as it is with soil farming. The farmer would also need to monitor the temperature for the plant.
Strawberries have been found to do much better when the day time temperature is around 68 degrees, and the night time temperature is around 57, or 58. Again it is well known that strawberries respond well to NFT, or nutrient film technique.
As long as the farmer is able to apply such technique he can be sure he will come out ahead financially. So coupled with minimal labor, the potential for higher income from selling a superior product, there is very little doubt that the farmer will do well financially. . Also it is a big advantage when the farmer could minimize the cost of doing business, because he can reuse the nutrient base solution. At 57 or 68 degrees, lighting is not as intense as could be in other hydroponics farming produce. The system is not labor intensive, so with little attention to the growing plants a farmer could make much more than he could in soil farming.
Article Directory: http://www.articlecube.com
About the author
Brian Sandifer is CEO, artist, self-made internet author. Why not save all that money on maintenance? Using a fuzzlight Please visit fuzzlight for more information!!!.
What makes food organic and why it is expensive
Many consumers hear about organic farming, but they aren't sure what that means and sometimes question what makes food organic and why it is more expensive than other options. They may be amazed of the typically higher cost of organic foods and may conclude that their perceived benefits are not worth the extra expense. When you truly consider the benefits of organic food, you will look past the rice cakes and organic vegetables, and realize that it is an actual change in your way of thinking (about health and the environment) and lifestyle.
Essentially, organic food can be determined as any food product that is grown in organically-certified land without any chemical treatments, either in the form of fertilizers or pesticides. All substances put on the ground or the plants must come from a natural source and there can be no chemical additives, even accidental ones. Even though the yield of a field may be reduced due to a lack of chemical fertilizer use, or that the crop has a higher price due to a low supply, it is important that we are assured that what is grown is truly organic food.
For many years, growers have used chemically enhanced fertilizers and pesticides because they were cheap and greatly improved their crop growth. Pesticides were used to keep many insect intruders at bay without regard for what is organic food and how these chemicals leached into the ground and surrounding water supplies.
Keep Mother Nature on The Side of Good Health
Before the chemical products were developed the farmers used natural resources to provide the world with food supplies, and they had no notion of what is organic food and why is it good for them. It is only after using chemically treated fertilizers for many years that people are realizing they should be utilizing less and less of these, because natural is not only good for them but for the planet as well.
Think of how leaves fall to the forest floor and, as they deteriorate, they create a natural fertilizer for the for the new saplings. Without undue interference, natural predators control destructive insect pests on these fresh plants as they continue their growth. For showing what is organic food, how to get healthier food, and achieving a healthier planet, this picture is perfect.
Did you find this article useful? For more useful tips & hints, Points to ponder and keep in mind, techniques & insights pertaining to Dishes, Do please browse for more information at our website :-
http://www.dishadvice.com
http://www.dish.reprintarticlesite.com
Source: SanePR
Essentially, organic food can be determined as any food product that is grown in organically-certified land without any chemical treatments, either in the form of fertilizers or pesticides. All substances put on the ground or the plants must come from a natural source and there can be no chemical additives, even accidental ones. Even though the yield of a field may be reduced due to a lack of chemical fertilizer use, or that the crop has a higher price due to a low supply, it is important that we are assured that what is grown is truly organic food.
For many years, growers have used chemically enhanced fertilizers and pesticides because they were cheap and greatly improved their crop growth. Pesticides were used to keep many insect intruders at bay without regard for what is organic food and how these chemicals leached into the ground and surrounding water supplies.
Keep Mother Nature on The Side of Good Health
Before the chemical products were developed the farmers used natural resources to provide the world with food supplies, and they had no notion of what is organic food and why is it good for them. It is only after using chemically treated fertilizers for many years that people are realizing they should be utilizing less and less of these, because natural is not only good for them but for the planet as well.
Think of how leaves fall to the forest floor and, as they deteriorate, they create a natural fertilizer for the for the new saplings. Without undue interference, natural predators control destructive insect pests on these fresh plants as they continue their growth. For showing what is organic food, how to get healthier food, and achieving a healthier planet, this picture is perfect.
Did you find this article useful? For more useful tips & hints, Points to ponder and keep in mind, techniques & insights pertaining to Dishes, Do please browse for more information at our website :-
http://www.dishadvice.com
http://www.dish.reprintarticlesite.com
Source: SanePR
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Smart Agriculture to tackle food crises
There is no doubt at the moment that the world is facing an enormous problem in terms of food supply and pricing of basic food stuffs.
Agriculture as a whole seems to have been left behind while commercial food operations / factories have become slicker and able to churn out greater and greater volumes of product.
Yet great advances have been made in terms of genetically modified foods and "smart agriculture" type operations such as hydroponics farms yet we don't seem to spend much time trying to promote these initiatives.
South Africa for instance has an entire AIDS community that has been sustained by a small hydroponics operation. Limited skills are required to maintain the farm now that it has been setup and the farm can grow assist in growing basic foodstuffs to assist this community.
Genetically modified food products are always going to be a touchy subject. But let's be honest - great strides have been made in the biotechnology sector to improve the quality of the finished product. Imagine being able to grow basic foods like potatoes, tomatoes or mealies in any climate (Be it jungle or desert).
What about being able to boost the nutritional value of these products to uplift communities, simply by developing improved strains of the product?
These are simple examples of the types of "smart agriculture" that are being developed
and are becoming readily available to communities around the globe. The intention with this blog is to try and emphasise and promote smart agriculture.
At the end of the day 'Smart Agriculture' will play a vital role in tackling food shortages and high food prices....
Agriculture as a whole seems to have been left behind while commercial food operations / factories have become slicker and able to churn out greater and greater volumes of product.
Yet great advances have been made in terms of genetically modified foods and "smart agriculture" type operations such as hydroponics farms yet we don't seem to spend much time trying to promote these initiatives.
South Africa for instance has an entire AIDS community that has been sustained by a small hydroponics operation. Limited skills are required to maintain the farm now that it has been setup and the farm can grow assist in growing basic foodstuffs to assist this community.
Genetically modified food products are always going to be a touchy subject. But let's be honest - great strides have been made in the biotechnology sector to improve the quality of the finished product. Imagine being able to grow basic foods like potatoes, tomatoes or mealies in any climate (Be it jungle or desert).
What about being able to boost the nutritional value of these products to uplift communities, simply by developing improved strains of the product?
These are simple examples of the types of "smart agriculture" that are being developed
and are becoming readily available to communities around the globe. The intention with this blog is to try and emphasise and promote smart agriculture.
At the end of the day 'Smart Agriculture' will play a vital role in tackling food shortages and high food prices....
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