www.checkbiotech.org ; www.raupp.info ; www.czu.cz

The once scary concept of genetic modification could turn out to be a
saviour for farmers struggling with the drought, January 2007.

Delegates from Asia Pacific nations, meeting in Canberra, are turning
their mind to improving the public perception and understanding of
agricultural biotechnology, known more commonly as genetic modification.

While the idea of GM foods or crops can strike fear into some, the nations
of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum see benefits from the
technology.

Ellen Terpstra, chair of APEC's high-level talks on agricultural
biotechnology, said the idea was of great interest to many farmers
worldwide.

Governments from poorer countries saw the potential for the technology to
help increase food supplies and ensure food security for their nations.

It also had the potential to produce healthier foods as nutrients were added
to crops to give them greater health benefits.

"It could also have benefits in terms of dealing with drought, heat, soil
salinity, issues relating to climate change," said Ms Terpstra, the U.S.
under-secretary for the Department of Agriculture.

Only two GM crops - cotton and carnations - are grown commercially in
Australia.

And a move to increase the use of GM crops in Australia would be tough.

All states and territories except Queensland and the Northern Territory have
bans on new GM crops, except for trials.

Those bans are due to be reviewed over the next few years.

Ian Thompson, the Agriculture Department's executive manager of rural policy
and innovation, said plant breeding research was looking at ways to make
crops better withstand the harsh climate conditions, which were being
worsened by climate change.

"It's always been a focus of Australian agricultural to have more efficient
plant production systems," Mr Thompson said. "Plant breeding using
biotechnology holds the promise of getting more water-efficient plants, more
salt-tolerant plants, which are better able to withstand the variability
which we now know is inherent in the Australian climate."

[www.agbios.com]