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70 SEEDWORLD.COM OCTOBER 2015 STATUS ARGENTINA For the first time in 20 years the Argentine government will allow citizens to voice their opinion on its plan to allow the introduction of new genetically modified GM seeds into the country. The first GM crop under citizens supervision a kind of soy is supplied by the Argentine affiliate of the multi- national Monsanto agrochemi- cal and agricultural biotech corporation and is resistant to dicamba and glyphosate. In its report on the second phase of evaluation Conabia a national advisory com- mission on agricultural biotechnology that works under the auspices of the Agriculture Livestock and Fishery Ministry stated the risks of that particular genetically modified soy to the agricultural ecosystem in large-scale crops do not differ significantly from those inherent in crops of non-GMO soybeans. However environmental organizations do not agree with that evaluation and warn about the toxic effects of using both herbicides about which the World Health Organization reported last March that glyphosate could possibly be a cause of cancer. According to Martin Lema Conabia head of biotechnol- ogy citizens can send their opinions about the new GMO by email or present them in person to the Agriculture world STATUS A look at seed industry developments around the globe. Be it securing germplasm or securing financing both are essential to furthering the global goal of increasing food production by more than 50 percent by 2050. Take a look at the efforts being made in Zambia and Syria and the partnerships and cooperation that are necessary to achieve this success. Ministry until Sept. 30 2016. At that time experts will judge whether its worth Conabia reviewing the report. The decision to accept com- ments on products of this kind has already been applied in places like the United States the European Union and Uruguay and forms part of the democratization of the Agriculture Ministry Lema says noting that Argentina has approved 30 different genetically modified food crops. Source Fox News. STATUS BELGIUM Researchers from Ghent University in Belgium have succeeded in stabilizing folates an essential nutrient in biofortified rice. In addition to certain forms of anemia folate deficiency in pregnant women can result in impaired development of the neural tube of the embryo. Folate deficiency is also associated with Alzheimers disease cardio-vascular diseases and the development of a range of cancers. Due to the mar- ginal levels of folate in rice consumed by about half the worlds population as a sole energy source folate defi- ciency is prevalent in develop- ing countries. The research team developed a new rice prototype and applied two strategies for the folate to remain stable for long storage. The first strategy involved binding folates with a protein which is well studied in mammals but unknown in plants. The protein occurs in milk and protects folate from degradation. Based on a folate binding protein from cow milk the folate content of rice remained stable in the long- term storage. The second strategy con- sisted of the stimulation of the last step in folate produc- tion which extends the tail of the folate molecule. This promotes cellular retention and binding to folate depend- ent proteins. Aside from enhancing folate stability the new gene combinations also increased folate levels by up to 150 times that found in regular rice. All genes used in the study were placed next to each other on a single piece of DNA so the genetic material can easily be transferred to edible rice varieties. It is also easier to make combinations with other interesting traits such as enhancement of other vitamins or minerals such as iron. This technology can also be used in other crops both cereals wheat sorghum and non-cereals potato banana. Sources International Service for the Acquisition of Agri- Biotech Applications and Ghent University. STATUS PHILIPPINES The Philippine Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Policy Planning Research and Development and Regulations Segfredo Serrano received the declara- tions of support for the com- mercial planting of the fruit and shoot borer resistant Bt