Agricultural Biotechnology

From risk assessment to in-context trajectory evaluation - GMOs and their social implications

by Vincenzo Pavone

co-authored with JOanna Goven, University of Canterbury (NZ), and Riccardo Guarino, University of Palermo

Background

Over the past 20 years, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have raised enormous expectations,... more Background

Over the past 20 years, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have raised enormous expectations, passionate political controversies and an ongoing debate on how these technologies should be assessed. Current risk assessment procedures generally assess GMOs in terms of their potential risk of negatively affecting human health and the environment. Can this risk-benefit approach deliver a robust assessment of GMOs? In this paper, we question the validity of current risk assessment from both a social and an ecological perspective, and we elaborate an alternative approach, namely in-context trajectory evaluation. This paper combines frame analysis, context analysis and ecosocial analysis to three different case studies.
Results

Applying frame analysis to Syngenta's recent campaign 'Bring plant potential to life', we first de-construct the technosocial imaginaries driving GMOs innovation, showing how the latter endorses the technological fix of socioeconomic problems whilst reinforcing the neoliberal sociopolitical paradigm. Applying context analysis to biopharming in New Zealand, we then explore local practices and knowledge, showing that particularities of context typically omitted from risk assessment processes play a key role in determining both the risks and the potential benefits of a technology. Finally, drawing from the Italian case, we outline through ecosocial analysis how the lack of long-term studies, further aggravated by current methodological deficiencies, prevent risk assessment from considering not only how GMOs affect the environmental context but also, and most importantly, the way people live in, and interact with, this context.
Conclusion

Incorporating frame analysis, context analysis and ecosocial analysis, in the form of in-context trajectory evaluation, into the assessment of GMOs can improve the social compatibility, political accountability and ecological sustainability of its outcomes.

The Apoplastic Oxidative Burst Peroxidase in Arabidopsis Is a Major Component of Pattern-Triggered Immunity

by Arsalan Daudi

Plant Cell, 2012

Daudi A, Cheng Z, O’Brien JA, Mammarella N, Khan S, Ausubel F, and Bolwell GP (2012) The apoplastic oxidative burst peroxidase in Arabidopsis is a major component of pattern-triggered immunity. Plant Cell (published online January 24th 2012)

Sowing the Seeds of Progress: The Agricultural Biotechnology Debate in Africa

by Noah Zerbe

A Stakeholder Approach to Investigating Public Perception and Attitudes Towards Agricultural Biotechnology In Ghana

by Robert M. Yawson

Robert Yawson, Wilhemina Quaye, Irene Entsi Williams, Ivy (Johnson-Kanda) Yawson

Tailoring Biotechnologies, Vol. 4, Nos. 1-2, pp. 55-70, 2008 | September 9, 2008

A stakeholder survey was conducted in Ghana to assess the level of public perceptions and acceptance of agricultural... more A stakeholder survey was conducted in Ghana to assess the level of public perceptions and acceptance of agricultural biotechnologies. A total of 100 respondents drawn from academia, Non-governmental organizations, business community, government and other stakeholders were interviewed on their views on self-protection attitudes, health and economic benefits, skeptism and optimism about agricultural biotechnologies as well as the level of confidence in existing government regulatory systems to protect society against any negative effects of biotechnological issues. Although half of the sample interviewed did not accept biotechnologies in general and GM foods in particular, there was rather high approval of some specific health and economic benefits. About 80 percent of the sample interviewed lack confidence in existing government regulatory systems probably due to inadequate capacity. Upgrading of the existing regulatory system with adequate capacity to regulate the ethical and moral issues associated with biotechnologies and GM foods was recommended

Solid state fermentation of Jatropha curcas kernel cake: Proximate composition and antinutritional components

by YINKA BELEWU

Available online http://www.academicjournals.org/JYFR

Five fungi (Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum, Rhizopus oligosporus, Rhizopus nigricans and
Trichoderma... more Five fungi (Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum, Rhizopus oligosporus, Rhizopus nigricans and
Trichoderma longibrachitum) were used in the fermentation of Jatropha curcas kernel cake for a 7 days
period in a completely randomized design model. The results revealed significant increase in the crude
protein content of all the fungi treated samples with Aspergillus niger and T. longbrachitum treated
cake recorded higher value compared to other treated samples. There was no significant difference in
the crude fiber content among all the samples. With the exception of ether extract content of sample
treated with Rhizopus nigricans which was similar to that of the control (untreated sample) other
samples showed lower significant values than the untreated (control) sample. Contrarily, the ash
content was significantly lower in the control sample compared to other fungi treated samples. The
content of the trypsin inhibitor was highest (18.6 mg/kg) in the control but reduced significantly in the
fungi treated samples (6.50 - 8.23). The lectin, saponins, phytate and phorbolester contents followed
similar trend. It could be concluded from this study that solid state fermentation of Jatropha kernel cake
detoxified and inactivate almost 100% of the antinutrient contents expect phorbolester to a tolerable
level in the A. niger treated sample.
Key words: Jatropha curcas kernel cake, proximate composition, trypsin inhibitor, lectin, phytic acid, saponins,
phorbolester.
INTRODUCTION
Jatropha curcas L. Linnaeus 1753 is a small shrub plant
which grows wildly in the tropics and sub-tropics but it is
used as fencing in Nigeria. Apart from the University of
Ilorin that has the plantation of Jatropha, its economic
importance is still at the infancy stage in Nigeria
(www.unilorin.edu.ng). The plant could adapt to marginal
areas with poor soils and low rainfall (480 mm per annum
and 28.5°C) where growth is not in competition with
annual food crops. The cake which is obtained after the
extraction of the oil contains a crude protein content of
between 58 and 64 percent. Hence, it has high potential
to complement and substitute soybean meal as a protein
source in livestock diets (Makkar and Becher, 1997b).
*Corresponding author. E-mail: milkyinka@yahoo.com,
mabel@unilori.edu.ng. Tel: 234-8035817941, 234-8020594079.
The percentage of essential amino acids and mineral

Haematological and serum indices of goat fed fungi treated Jatropha curcas kernel cake in a mixed ration

by YINKA BELEWU

Available online http://www.academicjournals.org/JABSD

The study evaluates the efficacy of fungi (Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma longibrachitum) treated
Jatropha... more The study evaluates the efficacy of fungi (Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma longibrachitum) treated
Jatropha curcas kernel cake in a mixed ration on percentage packed cell volume, red blood cell, white
blood cell, haemoglobin, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, basophil, neutrophil, urea, creatinine,
aspertate amino transferase, alanine phosphateses and alanine transference of goat. The West African
dwarf goat (n = 15) were randomized against the experimental diets {(Diet A, control; B (50% soybean
cake +50% A. niger treated Jatropha kernel cake); C (100% A. niger treated J. curcas kernel cake); D
(50% soybean cake + 50% T. longibrachiyum treated J. curcas kernel cake) and E (100% T.
longibrachiyum treated J. curcas kernel cake)} in a completely randomized design model for a 70 day
period. Feeding and watering were given freely throughout the study. Blood was collected from the
goats every fortnightly at the jugular vein. The results revealed an increase in the creatinine content of
the animals fed diets B and E compared to other diets. The urea content of the blood followed similar
trend. Contrarily, the red blood cell was higher in control diet A and diet D. The packed cell volume
ranged between 20 and 29%. Neutrophyl was significantly higher in diets B, C and D compared to diets
A and E which are similar (p > 0.05). The positive presentations show that the fungi treated J. curcas
kernel cake could have reduced most of the anti-nutrients, revealing that the biological processing of
the cake is very promising.

Weighted Correlation Network Analysis (WGCNA) Applied to the Tomato Fruit Metabolome

by Gary Strahan

M.V. DiLeo, G.D. Strahan, M. den Bakker, O.A. Hoekenga
PLoS ONE 6(10), pp.  e26683  (2011)
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0026683

Response of Goat to Fungi (Rhizopus oligosporus, Rhizopus nigrican ) treated Jatropha curcas kernel cake

by YINKA BELEWU

"Belewu, M.A., **Eniolorunda , O.O. and Ilori, G.I."
Published in Archives of Applied Science Research, 2010, 2 (4): 255-261
(http://scholarsresearchlibrary.com/archive.html)

A study was conducted to compare the effect of fungi (Rhizopus oligosporus and Rhizopus
nigrican) based diet on... more A study was conducted to compare the effect of fungi (Rhizopus oligosporus and Rhizopus
nigrican) based diet on the performance characteristics of West African dwarf goat (n=15). The
goats (n= 15) were randomized against the experimental diets in a completely randomized
design model for a 56 day period. The diets consisted of soybean cake based diet A (control),
diet B (50% Rhizopus oligosporus treated Jatropha curcas kernel cake + 50% Soybean cake),
diet C (50% Rhizopus nigricans treated Jatropha curcas kernel cake + 50% Soybean cake), D
(100% Rhizopus oligosporus treated Jatropha curcas kernel cake) and E (100% Rhizopus
nigricans treated Jatropha curcas kernel cake). The animals were fed and watered ad-libitum.
The results showed a numerical increase in the crude protein and ether extract contents of the
fungi treated (50%) Jatropha curcas kernel cake. There were improvement in the consumption of
crude protein, ether extract, ash and nitrogen free extract in diet B compared to other diets. The
digestibility coefficient of most nutrients (crude protein, crude fiber, nitrogen free extract) in diet
B was significantly higher than other diets. Diet B proved promising as there was no mortality
recorded for animals on this diet and diet A (control). Additionally, the packed cell volume, red
blood cell, haemoglobin and neutrophil contents of the blood of animals on diet B was similar to
that of diet A. It was concluded that growing goats can be fed a diet consisting of 50% Soybean
cake + 50% Rhizopus oligosporus treated Jatropha curcas kernel cake under confinement and
obtained adequate dry matter and other nutrients.

Cultivation of mushroom (Volvariella volvacea) on banana leaves

by YINKA BELEWU

Attitudes, perceptions, and trust. Insights from a consumer survey regarding genetically modified banana in Uganda

by Justus Wesseler

Kikulwe, Enoch, Justus Wesseler, José Falck-Zepeda: Attitudes, Perceptions, and Trust: Insights from a Consumer Survey Regarding Genetically Modified Banana in Uganda. Appetite 57(2):401-413.

Genetically modified (GM) crops and food are still controversial. This paper analyzes consumers’ perceptions and... more Genetically modified (GM) crops and food are still controversial. This paper analyzes consumers’ perceptions and institutional awareness and trust toward GM banana regulation in Uganda. Results are based on a study conducted among 421 banana-consuming households between July and August 2007. Results show a high willingness to purchase GM banana among consumers. An explanatory factor analysis is conducted to identify the perceptions toward genetic modification. The identified factors are used in a cluster analysis that grouped consumers into segments of GM skepticism, government trust, health safety concern, and food and environmental safety concern. Socioeconomic characteristics differed significantly across segments. Consumer characteristics and perception factors influence consumers’ willingness to purchase GM banana. The institutional awareness and trust varied significantly across segments as well. The findings would be essential to policy makers when designing risk-communication strategies targeting different consumer segments to ensure proper discussion and addressing potential concerns about GM technology.

Plant virus identification based on neural networks with evolutionary preprocessing

by Theodore Tsiligiridis

Computers and Electronics in Agriculture (COMPAG), Vol. 70, Issue 2, pp.263-275, March 2010.
co-authored with T. Glezakos, G. Moschopoulou, S. Kintzios, C.P. Yialouris

Print media reportage of agricultural biotechnology in the Philippines: a decade’s (2000-2009) analysis of news coverage and framing

by Noel Amano

Agricultural biotechnology in China (Book review)

by Reji K Joseph

La mirada genetica: el secuenciamiento del arroz en China

by David Schleifer

Spanish translation of “Seeing in Genes: Mapping the Rice Genome in China.” in La Revista Iberoamericana de Ciencia, Tecnologia y Sociedad 1(3): 131–156.