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Disappointing UN climate talks
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and contains 25–30% protein. The extraction process also yields biologically active simmondsins, possibly a new hunger satiation ingredient for humans. M2 Presswire, 6 November 2000 www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/dec00/ jojoba1200.html. TS
Waste not, want not A depressingly large proportion of agricultural production (US$30–50 billion per annum) is lost to plant pathogens. Although genetically engineered plants have been developed with anti-microbial properties, until now the spectrum of such protection has been relatively narrow. Milan Osusky and colleagues [Nat. Biotechnol. (2000) 18, 1162–1166] report the introduction of broad-spectrum antimicrobial resistance to both bacterial and fungal pathogens into potato, one of the world’s major food crops using genetic engineering. However, although this has promise for developing disease-resistant plants, the benefits might be potatocultivar-specific. NC
Redwood vandals strike Luna Vandals struck the redwood tree that environmental activist Julia Butterfly Hill lived in for two years (CA, USA). Dubbed Luna, the 66-m tall,1000-year-old tree made headlines as a symbol of California’s environmental movement. Hill lived high atop in the branches to protect the tree from the Pacific Lumber Company. The vandals left a gash across half of the tree’s massive base. The wound was 6 m across and nearly 1 m deep. Forestry experts said that the tree should survive, but they reinforced the tree with braces as a precaution to steady the tree. So far, police have no suspects. Reuters. TS
New wheat strain in China There is a new strain of wheat under development in China that boasts a two- to threefold increased output. The developers expect that the wheat will be put into production within five years. The new wheat will yield 9000 kg per ha, compared with the current 3000 to 45 000 kg average. China plans to plant 200 000 ha of the new wheat by 2005. North and northeastern provinces will serve as the initial experimental spots to test the new wheat strain. Worldsources, Inc. TS http://plants.trends.com
TRENDS in Plant Science Vol.6 No.2 February 2001
Seeds you can bank on Arguments over ‘preservation’ versus ‘conservation’ will no doubt be around for some time. However, while these discussions continue plants are becoming rarer in the wild. The recent opening of a botanical equivalent of Noah’s Ark at Wakehurst Place (part of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, UK) should play its part in both. Seeds from >24 000 plant species will be deep-frozen and preserved in the Millennium Seed Bank, providing an invaluable resource for plant conservation and research. New Sci. (2000) 168, 5. NC
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are the best way to reduce atmospheric carbon. The USA wants credit for new and existing forestry, although many think it will not force the USA to reduce domestic pollution levels. Developing nations want the wealthiest nations to pay for the reduction of greenhouse gases, yet China wants exemption. There was little unification among European countries. Staff (2000) The Houston Chronicle, 29 November, Section A, p. 38. TS
Canadian lawns: pesticide free?
The US Dept of Agriculture reports that the Australian farmers are experiencing costly crop losses. For example, the yield of wheat in 2000 is reported to be 22% lower than in 1999. The decrease is due to dry conditions in West Australia and Queensland and extensive flooding in northern New South Wales (NSW). The crop losses cost farmers an estimated A$500 million to 600 million. The NSW Minister of Agriculture reportedly said that the situation was one of the worst disasters in Australian agricultural history. The summer planting season began when the flooding started, causing concern from government and industry. Reuters; www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200011/ 60678946.pdf. TS
The Montreal suburb of Hudson might have set a precedent that will affect how Canadians treat their lawns. In 1991, Hudson became the first municipality in Canada to ban pesticides, exempting golf courses and large farms. Two lawn care companies took Hudson to court but lost twice and are now appealing their cases. The case has gone to the Supreme Court and hinges on the legal argument of whether a town has control over pesticides that are licensed at the federal and provincial levels. Regardless of the court’s outcome, the government has already begun to take steps against lawn pesticide use. The House of Commons Environment Committee released a report in May 2000 that suggested a gradual phase-out of all pesticides used for cosmetic purposes. Reuters. TS
Disappointing UN climate talks
Growing French acceptance of GM
The recent UN climate-change talks in The Hague resulted in no agreement and much acrimony in November 2000. Much of the dispute was over reducing carbon emissions by using trees as carbon sinks. The US government and big businesses favored planting trees whereas many environmentalists reject the idea that trees
Two-thirds of French consumers would not be against genetically modified foods if they were labeled clearly, according to a study carried out by INRS, the governmental agricultural research institute in France. The study shows that the hostility towards GM in French public opinion does not reflect the actions of individuals’ consumption. The researchers say that during the first GM wave, French consumers were forced into compliance, which created a backlash. The study also reported that French people are already consuming GMOs, often without knowing it. The other third of responders plans to boycott all GM products. Reuters. TS
Crop losses in Australia
Nigel Chaffey [email protected] Trevor Stokes [email protected]
and contains 25–30% protein. The extraction process also yields biologically active simmondsins, possibly a new hunger satiation ingredient for humans. M2 Presswire, 6 November 2000 www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/dec00/ jojoba1200.html. TS
Waste not, want not A depressingly large proportion of agricultural production (US$30–50 billion per annum) is lost to plant pathogens. Although genetically engineered plants have been developed with anti-microbial properties, until now the spectrum of such protection has been relatively narrow. Milan Osusky and colleagues [Nat. Biotechnol. (2000) 18, 1162–1166] report the introduction of broad-spectrum antimicrobial resistance to both bacterial and fungal pathogens into potato, one of the world’s major food crops using genetic engineering. However, although this has promise for developing disease-resistant plants, the benefits might be potatocultivar-specific. NC
Redwood vandals strike Luna Vandals struck the redwood tree that environmental activist Julia Butterfly Hill lived in for two years (CA, USA). Dubbed Luna, the 66-m tall,1000-year-old tree made headlines as a symbol of California’s environmental movement. Hill lived high atop in the branches to protect the tree from the Pacific Lumber Company. The vandals left a gash across half of the tree’s massive base. The wound was 6 m across and nearly 1 m deep. Forestry experts said that the tree should survive, but they reinforced the tree with braces as a precaution to steady the tree. So far, police have no suspects. Reuters. TS
New wheat strain in China There is a new strain of wheat under development in China that boasts a two- to threefold increased output. The developers expect that the wheat will be put into production within five years. The new wheat will yield 9000 kg per ha, compared with the current 3000 to 45 000 kg average. China plans to plant 200 000 ha of the new wheat by 2005. North and northeastern provinces will serve as the initial experimental spots to test the new wheat strain. Worldsources, Inc. TS http://plants.trends.com
TRENDS in Plant Science Vol.6 No.2 February 2001
Seeds you can bank on Arguments over ‘preservation’ versus ‘conservation’ will no doubt be around for some time. However, while these discussions continue plants are becoming rarer in the wild. The recent opening of a botanical equivalent of Noah’s Ark at Wakehurst Place (part of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, UK) should play its part in both. Seeds from >24 000 plant species will be deep-frozen and preserved in the Millennium Seed Bank, providing an invaluable resource for plant conservation and research. New Sci. (2000) 168, 5. NC
53
are the best way to reduce atmospheric carbon. The USA wants credit for new and existing forestry, although many think it will not force the USA to reduce domestic pollution levels. Developing nations want the wealthiest nations to pay for the reduction of greenhouse gases, yet China wants exemption. There was little unification among European countries. Staff (2000) The Houston Chronicle, 29 November, Section A, p. 38. TS
Canadian lawns: pesticide free?
The US Dept of Agriculture reports that the Australian farmers are experiencing costly crop losses. For example, the yield of wheat in 2000 is reported to be 22% lower than in 1999. The decrease is due to dry conditions in West Australia and Queensland and extensive flooding in northern New South Wales (NSW). The crop losses cost farmers an estimated A$500 million to 600 million. The NSW Minister of Agriculture reportedly said that the situation was one of the worst disasters in Australian agricultural history. The summer planting season began when the flooding started, causing concern from government and industry. Reuters; www.fas.usda.gov/gainfiles/200011/ 60678946.pdf. TS
The Montreal suburb of Hudson might have set a precedent that will affect how Canadians treat their lawns. In 1991, Hudson became the first municipality in Canada to ban pesticides, exempting golf courses and large farms. Two lawn care companies took Hudson to court but lost twice and are now appealing their cases. The case has gone to the Supreme Court and hinges on the legal argument of whether a town has control over pesticides that are licensed at the federal and provincial levels. Regardless of the court’s outcome, the government has already begun to take steps against lawn pesticide use. The House of Commons Environment Committee released a report in May 2000 that suggested a gradual phase-out of all pesticides used for cosmetic purposes. Reuters. TS
Disappointing UN climate talks
Growing French acceptance of GM
The recent UN climate-change talks in The Hague resulted in no agreement and much acrimony in November 2000. Much of the dispute was over reducing carbon emissions by using trees as carbon sinks. The US government and big businesses favored planting trees whereas many environmentalists reject the idea that trees
Two-thirds of French consumers would not be against genetically modified foods if they were labeled clearly, according to a study carried out by INRS, the governmental agricultural research institute in France. The study shows that the hostility towards GM in French public opinion does not reflect the actions of individuals’ consumption. The researchers say that during the first GM wave, French consumers were forced into compliance, which created a backlash. The study also reported that French people are already consuming GMOs, often without knowing it. The other third of responders plans to boycott all GM products. Reuters. TS
Crop losses in Australia
Nigel Chaffey [email protected] Trevor Stokes [email protected]