>FYI. Apologizes for any cross postings.
>
>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>PR 00/17e
>>FAO STRESSES POTENTIAL OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
>>BUT CALLS FOR CAUTION
>>
>>Rome, 15 March - Biotechnology provides powerful tools for the sustainable
>>development of agriculture, fisheries and forestry and can be of significant
>>help in meeting the food needs of a growing and increasingly urbanized
>>population, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said in its first
>>statement on biotechnology, published today. In the case of Genetically
>>Modified Organisms (GMOs), however, FAO called for "a cautious case-by-case
>>approach to determine the benefits and risks of each individual GMO" and to
>>address the "legitimate concerns for the biosafety of each product and
>>process
>>prior to its release."
>>
>>The statement was published on the occasion of the 'Codex Alimentarius Ad Hoc
>>Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology', meeting in
>>Chiba/Japan (14-17 March). The objectives of the Task Force are to develop
>>standards, guidelines or recommendations, as appropriate, for foods derived
>>from biotechnologies or traits introduced into foods by biotechnological
>>methods.
>>
>>Together with the World Health Organization, FAO provides the secretariat to
>>the Codex Alimentarius Commission, which is an intergovernmental body
>>with 165
>>member countries. It protects the health of consumers, ensures fair practices
>>in food trade and promotes the coordination of food standards.
>>
>>FAO recognized that genetic engineering has the potential to help increase
>>production and productivity in agriculture, forestry and fisheries. It could
>>lead to higher yields on marginal lands in countries that today cannot grow
>>enough food to feed their people, the agency said. FAO also pointed out that
>>"there are already examples where genetic engineering is helping to
>>reduce the
>>transmission of human and animal diseases through new vaccines. Rice has been
>>genetically engineered to contain pro-vitamin A (beta carotene) and iron,
>>which
>>could improve the health of many low-income communities."
>>
>>Other biotechnological methods have led to organisms that improve food
>>quality
>>and consistency, or that clean up oil spills and heavy metals in fragile
>>ecosystems.
>>
>>Tissue culture has produced plants that are increasing crop yields by
>>providing
>>farmers with healthier planting material. Marker-assisted selection and DNA
>>fingerprinting allow a faster and much more targeted development of improved
>>genotypes for all living species. They also provide new research methods
>>which
>>can assist in the conservation and characterization of biodiversity.
>>
>>However, FAO said, it is aware of the concern about the potential risks posed
>>by certain aspects of biotechnology that could have effects on human and
>>animal
>>health and the environment.
>>
>>"Caution must be exercised in order to reduce the risks of transferring
>>toxins
>>from one life form to another, of creating new toxins or of transferring
>>allergenic compounds from one species to another, which could result in
>>unexpected allergic reactions. Risks to the environment include the
>>possibility
>>of outcrossing, which could lead, for example, to the development of more
>>aggressive weeds or wild relatives with increased resistance to diseases or
>>environmental stresses, upsetting the ecosystem balance. Biodiversity may
>>also
>>be lost, as a result of the displacement of traditional cultivars by a small
>>number of genetically modified cultivars, for example."
>>
>>FAO called for a science-based evaluation that would objectively
>>determine the
>>benefits and risks of each individual GMO. "The possible effects on
>>biodiversity, the environment and food safety need to be evaluated, and the
>>extent to which the benefits of the product or process outweigh its risks
>>assessed. The evaluation process should also take into consideration
>>experience
>>gained by national regulatory authorities in clearing such products. Careful
>>monitoring of the post-release effects of these products and processes is
>>also
>>essential to ensure their continued safety to human beings, animals and the
>>environment."
>>
>>Investment in biotechnological research tends to be concentrated in the
>>private
>>sector and oriented towards agriculture in higher-income countries where
>>there
>>is purchasing power for its products, FAO said. "In view of the potential
>>contribution of biotechnologies for increasing food supply and overcoming
>>food
>>insecurity and vulnerability, efforts should be made to ensure that
>>developing
>>countries, in general, and resource-poor farmers, in particular, benefit more
>>from biotechnological research, while continuing to have access to a
>>diversity
>>of sources of genetic material. FAO proposes that this need be addressed
>>through increased public funding and dialogue between the public and private
>>sectors."
>>
>>FAO assists its member countries, particularly developing countries, to reap
>>the benefits derived from the application of biotechnologies through, for
>>example, the network on plant biotechnology for Latin America and the
>>Caribbean
>>(REDBIO), which involves 33 countries. The Organization also assists
>>developing
>>countries to participate more effectively and equitably in international
>>commodities and food trade. FAO provides technical information and
>>assistance,
>>as well as socio-economic and environmental analyses, on major global issues
>>related to new technological developments.
>>
>>The FAO Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, a permanent
>>intergovernmental forum, is developing a Code of Conduct on Biotechnology
>>aimed
>>at maximizing the benefits of modern biotechnologies and minimizing the
>>risks.
>>The Code will be based on scientific considerations and will take into
>>account
>>the environmental, socio-economic and ethical implications of biotechnology.
>>FAO is also working towards the establishment of an international expert
>>committee on ethics in food and agriculture.
>>
>>FAO emphasized, however, that the responsibility for formulating policies
>>towards biotechnologies rests with the member governments themselves.
>>
>>The statement is available on the Internet at:
>>http://www.fao.org/biotech/state.htm
>>
>>For more information please contact: Erwin Northoff, 0039-06-5705 3105,
>>e-mail:
>>Erwin.Northoff@FAO.Org
>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
>
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