NEWSLETTER. About ABSPII. Message from Dr. Frank Shotkoski, Director, ABSPII. September 2005 Volume 1 No 1

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1 For Private Circulation A Quarterly Publication NEWSLETTER About ABSPII The developing world can benefit from advances in biotechnology, but much needs to be done to make bioengineered products available in forms that farmers can use. Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII) believes that farmers and consumers worldwide should have the opportunity to make informed choices about using bio-engineered products. The ABSPII focuses on the safe and effective development and commercialization of bio-engineered crops as a complement to traditional and organic agricultural approaches in developing countries. The project helps boost food security, economic growth, nutrition and environmental quality in East and West Africa, Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Philippines. Funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and led by Cornell University, ABSPII is a consortium of public and private sector institutions. The consortium develops innovative, pragmatic solutions, building on the successes of the Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project (ABSP) that was led for over a decade by Michigan State University. In South Asia (India and Bangladesh), ABSPII supports development of expertise in the areas of research, policy development, licensing and outreach to help reduce poverty and hunger through agricultural biotechnology. Current initiatives relate to development of Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) Chickpea, Tobacco Streak Virus Resistant (TSVR) Sunflower and Groundnut, Late Blight Resistant (LBR) Potato, Fruit and Shoot Borer Resistant (FSBR) Eggplant and Drought & Salinity Tolerant (DST) Rice. Message from Dr. Frank Shotkoski, Director, ABSPII The Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II (ABSPII) is a Cornell-led consortium that helps scientists, policy makers, farmers and consumers in partnering developing countries make informed choices about using agricultural bioengineered products. September 2005 Volume 1 No 1 Funded by USAID, ABSPII works to bring the benefits of agriculture biotechnology to small-scale and resourcepoor farmers and consumers in Africa and Asia. We do this by supporting agricultural research, policy formulation and regulatory systems in India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, the Philippines, Mali, Uganda and Kenya. We assist decision-makers in these partner countries to identify biotechnology solutions to production constraints for important domestic crops. We facilitate partnerships between scientists in the developed world (mainly USA) and scientists in our partner countries to encourage the transfer of leading-edge biotechnology. Scientists in our partner countries are then able to use this technology to improve the productivity of local plant varieties. Because we are a not-for-profit organization, our consortium is able to focus on crops which are extremely important to subsistence and resource-poor farmers but which, because they have limited markets or commercial value, are often overlooked by the multi-national biotechnology companies. When applicable, ABSPII partners with local seed companies, agricultural universities, and state seed agencies to conduct product development activities necessary to bring the highest quality seed to farmers. ABSPII also works in cooperation with public seed distribution networks to prepare for the delivery of open-pollinated varieties at more affordable prices. ABSPII takes a product-driven approach to developing capacity in every step of product development and regulation. We use actual cropsbanana, cassava, chickpea, eggplant, groundnut, papaya, potato and sweet potato, rice, sunflower, and tomatoto give all players in the product development and regulation process hands-on and real-time experience with addressing all issues related the to commercialization of agricultural bioengineered crops. By working in these areas, ABSPII expects to secure long-term outcomes such as an overall increase in the availability and security of food sources and expand rural economies.

2 About Messages ABSPII Message from Dr. Ronnie Coffman, Director, International Programs, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University Biotechnology in today's world faces a number of challenges, the most serious of which is public opinion. People are asking a p p r o p r i a t e q u e s t i o n s : W h y i s biotechnology necessary? What are the risks? Who will benefit? In the absence of socially relevant objectives, people tend to have reservations. If the public were convinced that biotechnology would help alleviate hunger and help small-scale farmers, acceptance would be much greater than it is today. A few large companies dominate the application of plant biotechnology to agriculture. In wealthy countries, access to information balances the interests of the companies and the public and farmers are able to make informed decisions. Opposition in the wealthy countries has led companies to claim that they are developing these technologies for the benefit of poor farmers and mal-nourished people. In fact, the efforts of the major companies are necessarily aimed at enhancing shareholder investment. But like all of us, they would welcome the opportunity to see their technologies benefit the world's people. Cornell agreed to lead the USAID funded consortium known as the Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project (ABSPII) because we believe in the benefits of biotechnology in the developing economies of the world. The benefits as we see them are: Benefits to small-scale farmers from resistance to biotic and abiotic stress; Improved nutrition of poor people through lower prices for food combined with nutritional enhancement; Herbicide tolerance that reduces the need for labor; Biotic stress resistance that reduces the use of insecticides and fungicides; Knowledge derived from genomics and biotechnology will help to preserve genetic diversity; We understand that not all people have the same choices and that all people will not express the same preferences if given the same choices. Careful consideration of the risks and benefits that different approaches to food production and distribution present to different people will be essential as we face the challenges ahead. We are dedicated to working with local partners through ABSPII to help bring the benefits of biotechnology to the people of South Asia. Message from Dr. M Nurul Alam, Executive Chairman, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC) The economy of Bangladesh is mainly agrarian and rural based. The contribution of the agriculture sector to the GDP is still significant. In view of the growth in other sectors the share of agriculture GDP in the overall economy is declining. However, the role of agriculture has not declined, on the contrary this sector still provides about 70% of the employment and livelihood of our rural population Food security is also a growing concern in Bangladesh. Land available for cultivation decreases by 1% annually, in contrast to 1.48 annual population growth. The population of Bangladesh is projected to grow to 173 million by 2020, requiring farmers to produce an additional five to six million tons of food grains per year from an ever decreasing area of cultivatable land in order to meet the country's consumption needs. The challenges of increased food production can be met by adopting modern and improved technologies in agriculture aiming at intensifying crop production in marginal lands. Biotechnology can be adopted for solving the problems confronting agriculture. Bangladesh needs to adopt technology that could enhance productivity and add value to agricultural products, as conventional technologies alone cannot meet the future challenges of food security of the country. We have no choice but to pursue the new frontier technologies to address the future challenges. What Europe can afford, we cannot. In Bangladesh, it is a choice between hunger and food security. BARC and Bangladesh National Agriculture Research System (NARS) partnership with ABSPII in the last three years has helped to improve the research capability and policy environment for the use, management and commercialization of agricultural biotechnology in Bangladesh. We are keenly engaged in successful partnership with ABSPII and its partner institutions as it results in a variety of benefits to our country not only to ensure food security but also safer environment. ABSPII has also helped to enhance the significance of Intellectual Property Rights and our understanding of the intricacies of licensing technologies. I appreciate the foresight of USAID in supporting such an initiative. ABSPII Catalyzes Public-Private Partnership K. V. Raman K. Vijayaraghavan Associate Director South Asia Regional Coordinator Development and commercialization of transgenic crops requires access to multiple biological materials, research tools and appropriate lab and green house facilities. Research conducted in-house, without access to appropriate biological materials, restricts the development and commercialization of appropriate transgenic technologies at the farm level. 2

3 About Activities ABSPII and Programs Public-Private Partnership: Exchange of technology transfer agreement with BARI and East West seeds for the development of Fruit and Shoot Borer resistant eggplant in Bangladesh. Dr. M.A. Satter of BARI, Ronnie Coffman of Cornell and K. Vijayarahgavan of Sathguru. Abdul Awal Mintoo, Chairman of East West Seeds, Bangladesh, Ronnie Coffman from Cornell University and K. Vijayaraghavan of Sathguru To mitigate these limitations, development and delivery of genetically engineered crops in a Public-Private partnership mode is being successfully adopted by ABSPII. The Cornell University-led consortium and Sathguru have created successful public - private partnerships in the past in the South Asia region for agricultural research and academic development. Partnerships created under ABSPII address the need to mitigate yield losses due to biotic and abiotic stresses (drought and salinity). The project involves private sector seed companies (such as Mahyco, East West Seeds (Bangladesh), and public institutions such as Cornell University, UPLB - Los Banos, Wisconsin University, CGIAR (Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research) centers such as ICRISAT, (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics) BARI (Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute), BRRI (Bangladesh Rice Research Institute), TNAU (Tamilnadu Agricultural University), Dharwad University, Indian Institute of Vegetable Research, Directorate of Rice Research and a host of other public institutions based in India, Bangladesh, Philippines and Indonesia. ABSPII carefully identified the areas of focus after a participatory priority setting process carried out in During , ABSPII in South Asia constituted four global consortiums to develop transgenic products in a public - private partnership mode where in, the technologies have been shared/developed among the public and private partners for successful product development. Sharing of regulatory dossiers and engagement of scientists from public and private sector in a team approach has significantly shortened the product development and delivery time. Generally the public sectors have engaged in developing publicly released varieties and hybrids where as the private sector have preferred to develop commercial hybrids. ABSPII has facilitated a synergic pooling of resources by all the partners, so that investments are channeled to develop one successful "transgenic event" and all the partners benefit from such an event by backcrossing their materials into their locally adapted varieties. This has shorted the development time span for all the products. Given the importance of these projects, the national governments in India, Bangladesh and Philippines have lent support to these projects through their research funding agencies. Working towards a unified goal, ensuring milestone-based activity, close interaction among partners through frequent partner-level meetings, scientist-level interactions and detailed analysis of intellectual property issues with a view to ensuring compliance to freedom to operate restrictions have helped ABSPII partners to accelerate progress and significantly shorten time required for product development. These projects have demonstrated that when it comes to mitigating farmers' problems, public - private partnership provides lasting solutions. Workshop on the Socio-Economic Impact of Biotechnology ABSPII's partners have made significant progress toward product development since the project began in It is estimated that some products will be ready for delivery to the market within the next one or two years, barring regulatory authority constraints. Therefore, at this point in time, it is appropriate for policy planners, economists and scientists in Bangladesh to discuss the anticipated socio-economic benefits and related implications. The roundtable had a two-fold effect of presenting the impact of the technology and assessing the socio-economic studies being performed on the products under the ABSPII project by in-country economists from Bangladesh, Minister for Agriculture, People's Republic of Bangladesh M K Anwar, along with BARC executive chairman, Dr. M Nurul Alam and ABSPII director, Dr. Frank Shotkoski address the gathering at the two-day workshop on 'Intellectual Property Rights, Technology Transfer and Socio-Economic Impact Assessment of Genetically Modified Crops' held on August 10 and 11, 2005 in Dhaka. India, Indonesia and Philippines working under the leadership of Dr. George Norton. Inaugurating the workshop, Bangladesh Agricultural Secretary, Kazi Abdul Kashem stressed the need for increased food production within Bangladesh and the need to make Bangladesh self-sufficient to serve its growing population. He recognized that Biotechnological products 3

4 About Activities ABSPII and Programs will be instrumental in achieving the objective of food security. He also encouraged research and development of biotechnology within Bangladesh and measured the benefits of biotechnology in terms of increased income in the hands of the people. Dr. George Norton, who chaired the proceedings, discussed the approaches of impact assessment on products under ABSPII. He has adopted a comprehensive model which measures the impact at different levels farm, regional, national etc., benefits to the various stakeholders of the technology farmers, consumers, women, seed companies etc., and also an analysis of ex-ante and ex-post data. The ABSPII team made it clear that all tests would be conducted during the product development stage and made available in a regulatory package to the authorities before the product is introduced - thereby minimizing the risk of any negative impacts of the technology. Workshop on IPR and Technology Transfer in Dhaka BARC Executive Chairman, Dr. M. Nurul Alam, ABSPII Director, Dr. Frank Shotkoski, Minister for Agriculture, People s Republic of Bangladesh M K Anwar and Ms. Anne Williams at the two-day in Bangladesh. With an aim to mobilizing ideas, discussing alternatives and understanding the tech-transfer policies in some of the renowned scientific laboratories, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Council (BARC), Cornell University and ABSPII jointly organized a workshop on 'Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer' on August 10, 2005 at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka. This is the second such workshop to be held after the first meeting on the issue was conducted at Mussourie, India in April Approximately fifty biotechnology practitioners, researchers, and policy makers from across the globe participated in the workshop and delved extensively into the issue of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). All the participants agreed that IP is now one of the most valuable assets in commercial transactions, whether licensing agreements, manufacturing, purchase or distribution agreements or mergers and acquisitions. Inaugurating the workshop, Bangladesh Agricultural Minster M K Anwar emphasized the urgent need to develop an efficient institutional technology transfer mechanism and IPR policies on the basis of our own needs and policies as IPR is not yet easily understood by many people in the country. Prof. Lutfur Rahman, a key member of the committee that helped draft the guidelines of Plant Variety Protection and Farmers' Rights Act, said their country has already finalized the draft and is waiting for Parliament to enact it into Law. The aim is to protect farmer's rights while framing national policies. This will also provide protection to breeders and establish farmers' rights on protected varieties. Among others, Dr. Frank A. Shotkoski, Director of ABSPII, D. Abdur Razzaque, member Director (Crops), BARC, and K. Vijayaraghavan, Regional Coordinator (South Asia) of ABSPII, also deliberated on the issue. The workshop helped raise awareness among policy makers, helped participants understand the international technology transfer process and environment, helped to extend ABSPII's efforts in facilitating the project partner countries to prepare to become Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) compliant by Global Tech Transfer Experts Congregate to Discuss IPR Issues at Mussoorie, India Scientists, tech transfer managers and policy planners - from public and private institutions across India and seven other nations including Ghana, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Philippines, Uganda, USA and South Africa congregated to discuss IPR issues at the workshop on Intellectual Property Rights, Technology Transfer, Licensing and Commercialization organized at Mussoorie, India, from April 17 to 22. The workshop was structured to provide an overview of the use of available tools for creating, identifying, protecting, using and leveraging intellectual property assets both from an Indian and international perspective. This will subsequently help the 80-odd participants to shape and improve their institutional policy for technology development and transfer. Support for the event came from Sathguru Management Consultants, Cornell University, ABSPII and USAID. Ms. June Blalock (USDA) delivers keynote address Larry Paulson (USAID) delivers valedictory address Distinguished faculty members from reputed research institutes and universities delivered lectures during the six-day practicum on wide ranging issues on IPR. Senior Agricultural Specialist from World Bank, Dr. William Janssen delivering a lecture on the Role of property rights in agricultural innovation', contended that innovation often entails partnerships and scientists should understand the real life situation of tech transfer. Dr. Mark Crowell, president of Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), USA, felt that universities have a major role to 4

5 About Activities ABSPII and Programs play in tech transfer. More than 200 US universities are involved in tech transfer and there has been an eight-fold increase since 1980, he expressed. Executive Director for Technology, Enterprise and Commercialization and President of the Cornell Research Foundation Inc. Dr. Richard Cahoon said that the public research institutions ought to have technology transfer offices for effecting sustainable tech transfer programs. Mr. K. Vijayaraghavan, South Asia Coordinator for ABSPII and Director, Sathguru Management Consultants, discussed the need for understanding the market and marketing technologies/inventions. Mr. K. Ragunathan, Director, Sathguru Management Consultants, brought an economic perspective in his presentation on `Valuation of technology- understanding the factors in determining value models of valuation'. Other distinguished speakers included Biotechnology Advisor from USAID (EGAT/ESP/IRB), Washington, Dr. Bhavani Pathak; Coordinator for Technology Licensing Program, USAID's Office of Technology Transfer, Dr. June Blalock; Director of ABSPII Dr. Frank Shotkoski; Associate Director of ABSPII Dr. K.V. Raman; USAID, India Mission, Mr. Larry Paulson; Dr Tony Heher, Director, UCT Innovation, University of Cape Town, South Africa; and Professor from the Indian School of Business and Chair of K-Hub Incubator, Dr. K. Ramachandran, etc. India Launches Society for Technology Management (STEM) Taking advantage of the workshop, a group of professionals working in technology management, intellectual property management and technology transfer launched the Society for Technology Management (STEM) on April 17, STEM will operate as a catalyst in facilitating the professional development of technology managers so that innovations can be commercialized in an accelerated manner. The forum will allow Indian researchers and technology experts to network with global technology managers. At the launch, Dr. Mark Crowell, the President of the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), USA, indicated that India and other countries in Asia are poised to become significant technology providers to the world and will no longer simply be recipients of technology. Dr. Mark Crowell, President of AUTM, along with Mr. K. Vijayaraghavan, South Asia Coordinator of ABSPII launches the Society for Technology Management during the workshop on IPR & Technology Transfer, Licensing and Commercialization Strategies on April 17, 2005 at Mussoorie. STEM's membership will include institutions and private individuals. STEM has the support of research funding bodies, academic institutions and private research enterprises. The initial governing council will consist of members from academia, research funding organizations, private enterprises and government. STEM has received encouragement from several stakeholders within India and from other similar bodies internationally, such as the International Federation of Technology Transfer Organizations (IFFTO). STEM elected Mr.K.Vijayaraghavan, an eminent technology management professional to be its first President. Mr. K.Vijayaraghavan has over 20 years of experience in facilitating technology transfer between industry and academia. He is a member of the IFFTO. Rice Partners Meeting Held at Rice Hall, Ithaca, New York The members of the consortium, who gathered at Ithaca to review the project pose for a photograph in front of the famous Rice Hall at Cornell University, Ithaca in the first week of August Rice-based systems are essential for food security, poverty alleviation and improved livelihoods, especially in Asia, where more than 2 billion people obtain 60 to 70 percent of their food energy intake from rice. Rice is also the most rapidly growing food source in Africa. Small-scale farmers in low-income countries grow about four-fifths of the world's rice and rice-based production systems and their associated post-harvest operations employ nearly 1 billion people in rural areas of developing countries. Efficient and productive rice-based systems are essential to economic development and improved quality of life, particularly in India, Bangladesh and Southeast Asia. Rice production has been affected by biotic and abiotic stress factors over the years. Loss of food production due to abiotic stress has increased significantly. The ABSPII-led consortium has been engaged in addressing improving yields in drought and salinity prone regions. The consortium, with members from USA, India, Bangladesh and Indonesia has developed a strategy that would provide region specific drought and salt tolerant rice varieties and hybrids. Trailbreaking technologies have earlier been perfected by Cornell University in this regard. The consortium will engage in collaborative product development and carry out field validation of the product in different regions. High level of motivation, commitment to perfection and timely product delivery are the factors that have gained the consortium 5

6 About Activities ABSPII and Programs support from national funding agencies, complementing the support provided by ABSPII. Dr. Roger Beachy Alerts Scientists in India to Be Smarter than the Pest and Pathogen Dr. Roger Beachy, who pioneered the development of virus resistance in plants through the use of transgenic technology, alerted scientists to be smarter than the pest and pathogen. He made the remark while delivering a lecture on `Coat protein mediated resistance to control plant viruses', organized by ABSPII South Asia in Hyderabad on March 10, Citing the example of the Bt gene, which did not provide disease resistance in cotton and had to be re-engineered, he said that the viruses are evolutionary and there is a need to understand their nature. He felt Indian scientists have greater challenges to face due to the biodiversity and varied nature of viruses in India. Dr. Beachy, the president of Donald Danforth Plant Science Centre, USA, also spoke about the cloned Tobacco Streak Virus (TSV) coat protein, transgenic tobacco plants and the TSV coat protein produced in E Coli. He was optimistic that the regulatory bodies in India would view biotechnology in a favorable light. Dr. Beachy and his co-workers discovered that insertion of the gene coding for viral coat protein (the outer layer of the virus which protects its genetic material) conferred upon plants resistance against virus attacks. Using this technology, he developed world's first transgenic food crop, a tomato resistant to infection by Tobacco Mosaic Virus and related viruses. Popularly known as coat protein (CP) technology, this was applied extensively by research scientists at Cornell University, the United States Agricultural Development Agency and private seed companies to develop virus-resistant papaya and cucurbits. The CP protects the viral genetic information from degradation and is otherwise an inert protein. This way groundnut crops can be protected from the deadly virus by the application of this valuable CP technology. Researchers found while collecting tissue samples around India that the virus strains affecting groundnut and sunflower were similar all over the country. Using recombinant DNA technology, the gene for coat protein was isolated and, when introduced into the plant, it produced a virus protein. Thus, the plant is resistant to infection when exposed to the virus. Dr. Beachy's indication that the CP technology saved crops in millions of acres in the American region generated a great deal of interest ian among the Indian scientists who are seriously concerned about TSV. The constant threat of TSV causes Indian farmers to suffer both financial and food insecurity. Since 1996, sunflower production has been massively hit by TSV, causing a reduction in the cultivated area from 2.7 million hectares in 1993 to 2.1 million hectares. In 2000, the TSV epidemic in groundnut crops resulted in losses of more than US$65 million. A similar epidemic surfaced again in Ananthapur district of Andhra Pradesh in The combined losses to sunflower and groundnut crops are estimated to exceed US$90 million per annum. Now, the virus is found to be spreading in other crops all over the country. Scientists and researchers from well known institutions, such as Mahyco Research Foundation, Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Co., ICRISAT, Acharya N G Ranga Agricultural University, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Hyderabad Central University, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources, Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture, Osmania University, etc., took part and had oneto-one interactions with Dr. Beachy. TNAU and UAS, Dharwad, Give Hope to Resource-Constrained Farmers in India Dr.Ramangouda Patil, Dr. Fakruddin, Aleen Mukherjee, Dr. Usha B Zehr, Dr. S A Patil,, A Gopala Krishna and Dr. MS Kuruvinashetti. Resource-limited farmers, burdened by yield losses in eggplant crops due to Fruit and Shoot Borer (FSB), now have a ray of hope. In a momentous occasion, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Vice Chancellor Dr Ramasami received the backcrossed seeds of FSBresistant eggplant from Dr. Usha B. Zehr, Joint Director (Research) of Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company (MAHYCO), one of the largest private hybrid seed companies in the country on July 7, 2005 at the IRM meeting organized at TNAU in Coimbatore. Subsequently, the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad Vice Chancellor Dr S.A.Patil received the backcrossed seeds of FSBresistant eggplant from Mahyco on July 26, 2005 at the University campus. Mr. Aleen Mukherjee of USAID and Mr. Gopalakrishna of Sathguru Management Consultants were in attendance. Mahyco, the technology-contributing partner in this consortium, received the representative seeds from TNAU and UAS, Dharwad, and backcrossed them into the transgenic product. The successfully backcrossed seeds were handed over to the UAS Dharwad Vice Chancellor Dr. S.A.Patil for further development and validation by UAS, Dharwad. 6

7 About Project ABSPII News Dr. Usha B. Zehr of Mahyco hands over backcrossed seeds of Fruit and Shoot Borer Resistant Eggplant to TNAU Vice Chancellor Dr. Ramasami in the presence of ABSPII officials. Vice Chancellor Dr. Ramasami remarked: TNAU is committed to its mission of mitigating the worries of the resource poor farmers. TNAU will deliver the transgenic FSB-resistant eggplant seeds to the farmers on low-profit basis. As a partner in the global consortium, TNAU identifies with the mission and vision of ABPSII. According to Professor and Head of the Department of Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Dr. P. Balasubramaniam, India and China account for nearly 84 per cent of the world's production of eggplant. However, this important vegetable crop is plagued by high infestation of the FSB, forcing extensive pesticide application to curb the pest and minimize damage to the crop. Estimates suggest that the crop loss due to pest and disease infestation ranged between 54 and 70 per cent in India. The FSB is also capable of 100% crop destruction on a per-field basis. The frequent and heavy spraying of chemical pesticides, scientists fear, would have adverse impact on the environment besides increasing the production cost. To provide a global solution on the problem of fruit and shoot borer in eggplant, the ABSPII consortium devised a strategy that brought together public and private institutions in India, Bangladesh and the Philippines. Partners in India, on the other hand, envisaged an opportunity to boost food security, economic growth and nutrition and environmental quality. Proven Technology to Build Late Blight Resistance in Indian Potato The ABSPII LBR Potato Partnership Team with Dr. John Helgeson and Dr. Sandra Austin Phillips of University of Wisconsin, Madison, US. Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI), India's nodal potato research institute, has received transgenic technology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, US under the aegis of ABSPII in July This technology will help CPRI in building Late Blight resistance in popular Indian potato varieties such as Kufri Bahar and Kufri Jyothi and for distribution to resource constrained potato farmers. Late Blight infestation damages around US $ 200 million worth of potato produce every year in India alone. The Department of Biotechnology and Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Government of India have partnered with ABSPII in this project to extend assistance to CPRI in this project. The scientists at CPRI are working towards carrying out limited field evaluations of the technology by October Indonesia and Bangladesh are also members of the ABSPII LBR partnership. ABSPII Develops an IRM Strategy for Fruit and Shoot Borer Resistant Eggplant The participants from Bangladesh, India, Philippines, and the United States pose for a photograph after the Insect Resistance Management (IRM) strategy workshop conducted by ABSPII from July 5 to 8, 2005 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India. About 35 participants from Bangladesh, India, Philippines, and the United States participated in an Insect Resistance Management (IRM) strategy workshop conducted by ABSPII from July 5 to 8, 2005 at the Residency Hotel and Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, India. After four-days of intense deliberations, scientific presentations, and field visits, the group developed an IRM strategy paper, which outlined follow up studies that need to be Implemented at the lab, greenhouse and field level. Earlier at a meeting in Varanasi, India during January 2005, ABSPII facilitated the creation of a scientific committee for an IRM Strategy led by Prof Tony Shelton from Cornell University, New York. The team constitutes Usha Barwale (MAHYCO), Balasubramanian (TNAU), Kurvanshetty (UAS-Dharwad), Al Amin (BARI) Zamman (East West Seeds) and Desiree Hautea (UPLB). One important recommendation to ABSPII by this committee was to organize a partners' meeting of the Bt eggplant project to develop IRM strategies. These strategies will be used by all partners in India, Bangladesh and the Philippines when deploying the product at the farm level. 7

8 Articles The workshop at Coimbatore took into consideration the following factors: * A concern was expressed that if a FSB IRM strategy is not developed then FSB may develop resistance, resulting in potential economic losses to the grower. The group considered the need to develop and implement an IRM strategy within a framework of Insect Pest Management Program. * Conduct baseline susceptibility studies of Cry 1Ac for FSB in several geographic areas where Bt eggplant will be deployed. In addition to baseline monitoring, continued monitoring for changes in susceptibility after Bt eggplants are grown should be conducted. * Develop a durable IPM strategy, which includes IRM. Components of the IPM strategy should include crop rotation, biological control, sex pheromone traps and complimentary options that would reduce the dependence on insecticides while ensuring economic and technological benefits. * Plan for development of new technologies that can be used to refine IRM strategies through successive product line development. National Biodiversity Authority puts India on World map The creation of the National Biodiversity Authority about two years ago helps protect the country's extensive biodiversity resources and ensure that any commercial e x p l o i t a t i o n a l s o b e n e f i t s l o c a l communities. The recognition for the protection of biodiversity gained momentum during the 1980s and culminated at the UN Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in The Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) was tabled at the conference, and came into force at the end of India became a party to it in Dr. S. Kannaiyan Chairman, National Biodiversity Authority Biodiversity is crucial to India and is among the top 12 'megabiodiversity' countries of the world. The others are Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Mexico, Madagascar, Zaire, Australia, China, Indonesia and Malaysia. Together these 12 countries constitute over 60% of the world's recorded biodiversity. The CBD states that a member country should facilitate access to its genetic resources by other parties on mutually agreed terms, but that access requires the prior informed consent of the country providing the resources. It also provides for an equitable sharing of any benefits arising from the commercial use of these resources, or any traditional knowledge about them. But countries must pass domestic legislation to bring these principles into their own laws. India's parliament passed the Biodiversity Act in February 2003 to address many of India's obligations under the CBD. The Act mainly deals with access to genetic resources by foreign companies, individuals or organizations. The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) was set up under the Act to deal with requests for access to genetic resources by foreigners, and to manage requests to transfer the results of any related research out of India. It will also decide how benefits of the research are to be shared with local communities. The Act provides for state-level boards. All Indian commercialization plans for bio-resources must be reviewed by a local government Biodiversity Management Committee. These committees are designed to help conserve and document biodiversity and traditional knowledge relating to it. Dr S Kannaiyan, who was the former vice-chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, chairs national Biodiversity Authority. Contact Us India Office: Sathguru Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd. Plot No. 15, Hindi Nagar, Punjagutta, Hyderabad, India Phone: +91(040) , , , , , Fax: +91(040) vijay@sathguru.com Website: US Office: Agricultural Biotechnology Support Project II International Programs, 213 Rice Hall Cornell University, Ithaca, New York USA Phone: Fax: alm62@cornell.edu Website: Bangladesh Office: Dr Gour Pada Das Country Coordinator, ABSPII House 18, Road 4, Sector 4, Uttara Dhaka, Bangladesh Phone: Fax: ext absp2bd@cimmytbd.org gpdas@agni.com