|
China's wealth gap widens
The gap between rich and poor in China is expected to widen
in the coming decade. Newly released official predictions show continued growth for all sectors,
but they suggest the difference in average income between cities and rural areas will treble. The
official Business Weekly newspaper said pressure on the availability and quality of agricultural
land would hold back rural growth. This could mean more problems for a government struggling to
reform state enterprises and to stem the flood of rural migrants into China's cities. Plans are
already underway to stop peasants going further than their local towns, but the latest predictions
suggest the lure of the big cities is likely to remain undimmed.
Back to Headlines
Seeds of change
The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture has
delivered some 13.6 tonnes (12,400kg) of improved maize and soyabean seed to the Democratic
Republic of Congo in co-operation with World Vision International Seeds of Change programme. The
seed will be multiplied by the national agricultural sector and distributed to farmers who lost
their seed stock during the civil war. The maize and soyabean deliveries will be followed by cowpea
and all seeds are from plants bred by IITA to withstand diseases, insect pests , weed infestations
and drought.
Back to Headlines
 Vegetable oil the new weapon
against pollution
Vegetable oil has been given a new role - helping fight
pollution on the beaches. Researchers at the University of Wales have been working on chemical
modification of the fatty acids in vegetable oils to create methyl esters. The solvent is able to
turn into disposable liquids the tar-like residues which wash up on beaches after oil spills at sea
- and is said to be more effective and less toxic than detergent based methods. Early experiments
have used rapeseed oil, but further tests are planned to confirm a belief that soyabean, sunflower
and possibly linseed oils would be equally effective.
Back to Headlines
Search for new cocoa 'super-breed'
A programme to find and develop high-yielding and
disease-resistant strains of cocoa is to be launched by the International Cocoa Organization.
Research in 10 cocoa producing countries will work on the $16 and a half million dollar project
which hopes to conserve and expand cocoa germplasm stocks in order to develop better strains of
cocoa plant. Genetic banks in Trinidad and Tobago and France are said to hold over 10,000 samples
of cocoa plants and new strains will be sought, principally in the Amazon and Orinoco rainforests
of South America, where cocoa originated. Mr Geoffrey Hawtin of the International Plant Genetic
Resources Institute (IPGRI) and the scientist in charge of the project said the research is urgent
because rapid deforestation in the Amazon could lead to some strains being lost forever.
Back to Headlines
GMO's - top of the agenda
Genetically modified crops look likely to be top of the
agenda at the next round of talks at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1999. There is already a
heated debate between the US and the European Union. While the United States has moved quickly to
approve cultivation and sale of GM crops such as soya and maize, the European Union has been
reluctant and opinion is split among the 15 member States. France has set out it's own policy on GM
maize and soya and announced approval for Novartis' GM maize. Meanwhile a coalition of Danish grain
farmers and consumer organizations have launched a national petition calling on Brussels to
maintain a strict ban on all GM crops and their use in consumer food products.
See Update on . . .
Back to Headlines
Fungus helps fill gap in UK food exports to Europe
British beef may still be off the European menu, but a
low-fat meat substitute, made from a tiny mushroom like plant, is helping fill the export gap. The
product is Quorn and it won Marlow Foods this year's export innovation award from Food from
Britain, the export marketing agency. Marlow was picked for doubling overseas sales of Quorn in the
past 3 years to nearly £9m.
Back to Headlines
 Malnutrition - still the biggest killer
Malnutrition kills more children in the world than any
infectious disease, war or natural disaster according to the United Nations Children's Fund
(UNICEF) annual report. Malnutrition is implicated in more than 6 million deaths of children under
5 each year and leaves millions of survivors stunted physically and intellectually. The main causes
are dietary deficiencies including the lack of essential micronutrients such as iodine, iron and
vitamin A. As a consequence malnutrition is largely invisible. "The persistence of
malnutrition has profound and frightening implications for children, society and the future of
humankind." Carol Bellamy, UNICEF executive director.
See Perspective
Back to Headlines
Grain puts strain on US transport
Agriculture's push for niche markets will place strains on
the US transport system over the next decade. It is predicted that the transport system will face
burdens as farmers move from producing generic field-grade crops to multiple varieties of each
grain for specific markets. Bill Northey, past president of the National Corn Growers Association
said the US infrastructure has eroded and would face greater tests as production and exports
increased.
Back to Headlines
 New gene
bank for Coconuts
Gene banks are to be set up in the Asia/Pacific region to
help protect future trade in coconuts. Natural catastrophes, the uniformity of agriculture, crop
shift, urbanization and other pressures are said to be threatening the rich genetic diversity of
the fruit. The Asian and Pacific Coconut community, an intergovernmental body consisting of 14
countries accounting for more than 85% of world coconut production, have endorsed the seed bank
plan.
Back to Headlines
CAB International
January 1 1998 marks the beginning of a new era for
bioscience activities at CAB International. A new Division - CABI BIOSCIENCE
- has been formed through the amalgamation and integration of its four discipline-oriented
scientific institutes - the International Institutes of Biological Control (IIBC), Entomology (IIE)
and Parasitology (IIP) and the International Mycological Institute (IMI). The research, training
and service activities will now be focused under three sectors: Biodiversity & Biosystematics;
Biological Pest Management; and Environment and the new, stream-lined structure should prove to be
more cost-effective and yet retain the scientific capability for which CAB International is
renowned.
Back to Headlines
Biological control of locusts
Two commercial companies are in discussions with scientists
on the LUBILOSA (Biological Control of Locusts and Grasshoppers) programme based at CABI BIOSCIENCE. They are discussing licencing agreements for the production, marketing
and sale of Green Muscle (the fungal-based insecticide product). Production trials on an industrial
scale are being undertaken and relevant registration authorities have been approached. Subject to
registration approval, it is expected that the environmentally friendly mycoinsecticide will be
available for use in West and Southern Africa by the end of 1998.
Back to Headlines
|
Joint effort
threatens Tsetse
