Brazilian biosafety law and the new breeding technologies

Globally, the area of land cultivated with genetically modified (GM) crops has increased a thousand-fold over the last two decades. Although this technology has become important for food production, the regulatory frameworks that underpin these outcomes are based on a list of requirements for a risk assessment that differ from country to country. In recent years, policymakers have had the opportunity to learn from the controversies over transgenics to create effective regulatory milestones for emerging technologies, allowing them to reach their potential for a more sustainable agriculture, ensuring food security. In Brazil, Law No. 11.105 of 24 March 2005 established a framework with four main organizations responsible for risk assessment and management. However, most of new breeding technologies did not exist at that time and were not considered in this law. In 2016, Normative Resolution No. 16 of the National Biosafety Technical Commission (CTNBio) was established to address this gap based on the evaluation of the products obtained through these techniques (termed Innovative Precision Improvement Techniques in the resolution), in a case-by-case consultation system. Briefly, if the product is designated to be a GM, the developer will have to go through the biosafety requirements and will be approved only after CTNBio risk assessment. If the product is designated not to be GM (for the purposes of the legislation), then it can be registered using the existing procedures. Currently, 152 GM products are commercially approved in Brazil. In 2018, CTNBio assessed the first consultation on commercial release of plants generated using the new breeding technologies and has subsequently approved six products. It is expected that many institutions would be able to participate in Brazilian and world markets, developing and introducing new biotechnological solutions and products through a more sustainable approach and without facing public disapproval, a common issue for GM crops.     

Monitoring the pollution risk and water use in orchard terraces with mango and cherimoya trees by drainage lysimeters

Agricultural nonpoint-source pollution is the leading cause of water-quality degeneration of rivers and groundwater. In this context, the coast of Granada province (SE Spain) is economically an important area for the subtropical fruit cultivation. This intensively irrigated agriculture often uses excessive fertilizers, resulting to water pollution. Therefore, a 2-year experiment was conducted using drainage lysimeters to determine the potential risk of nutrient pollution in mango (Mangifera indica L. cv. Osteen) and cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill. cv. Fino de Jete) orchards. These lysimeters were used to estimate the nutrient budgeting for each crop. NO₃-N, NH₄-N, PO₄-P and K losses according to lysimeters were, respectively, 55.1, 12.4, 3.7, and 0.6 for mango and 61.8, 17.8, 4.9, and 0.5 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, for cherimoya. NO₃, concentrations in the leachates ranged from 1.8 to 44.3 mg L⁻¹, and from 23.0 to 51.0 mg L⁻¹, for mango and cherimoya, respectively, in some cases exceeding the limits for safe drinking water. PO₄ also exceeded the permitted concentrations related to eutrophication of water, ranging from 0.07 to 0.5 mg L⁻¹ and from 0.12 to 0.68 mg L⁻¹ from mango and cherimoya lysimeters, respectively. With respect to the nutrient balance, N, P, and K removed by cherimoya fruits was 76.4, 5.5, and 22.6 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, and for mango fruits 30.2, 3.3 and 27.8 kg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹, respectively. Nutrient losses in the leachates were surprisingly low, considering total N, P, and K applied during the year, in mango lysimeters 3.8, 0.11, and 12.6%, and in cherimoya lysimeters 7.7, 0.23 and 16.0%, respectively, indicating a potential soil accumulation and eventual loss risk, especially during torrential rains. Crop coefficient (Kc) values of mango trees varied within ranges of 0.35–0.67, 0.55–0.89, and 0.39–0.80 at flowering, fruit set, and fruit growth, respectively. Kc values for cherimoya trees had ranges of 0.58–0.67, 0.61–0.68, and 0.43–0.62 at flowering, fruit set and fruit growth, respectively. In this study, the Kc values of mango and cherimoya were significantly correlated to julian days. Therefore, the estimated WUE in the mango and cherimoya orchards reached 21.2 and 14.0 kg ha⁻¹ mm⁻¹, respectively. Thus, this study highlights the urgency to establish the optimal use of fertilizers and irrigation water with respect to crop requirements, to preserve surface-water and groundwater quality, thereby achieving more sustainable agriculture in orchard terraces.     

Determination of selection criteria for seed yield and seed oil content in Vernonia (Vernonia galamensis variety ethiopica)

The magnitude of relationships among different traits is important in plant breeding programs to identify the best selection criteria and improve the efficiency of selection. This study was conducted to determine relationships between seed yield and seed oil content with other important agronomic traits among 36 diverse accessions of Vernonia (Vernonia galamensis variety ethiopica), a potentially novel industrial oilseed crop. Field evaluations were conducted during 2005, 2006 and 2007 at the Limpopo Province in South Africa using a partially balanced lattice design. Simple correlation and path analysis were performed to identify the best selection criteria for increased seed yield and seed oil content. Simple correlation and path analyses revealed that the formation of productive primary heads strongly associated with increased seed yield (r_g = 0.81, p < 0.001). Furthermore, path analysis indicated selection for increased number of primary heads would bring about simultaneous and favorable change towards reduced days to maturity and shorter plant height. Further associational study of traits with seed oil content showed a significant (p < 0.05) correlation between oil content with 1000 seed weight (r_g = 0.4). The path analysis, however, exposed seed yield followed by 1000 seed weight with significant direct effect on seed oil content. The study demonstrated that selection for increased number of productive primary heads is the principal selection criterion to improve seed yield. Whereas selection for 1000 seed weight and increased seed yield serve as major selection criteria to achieve increased oil content in V. galemanesis.     

CASE REPORT: Amelanotic uveal cyst in a Yorkshire terrier dog

The diagnostic challenge presented by an amelanotic uveal cyst with an atypical appearance in a 9‐year‐old Yorkshire terrier dog is reported. The dog was presented with a peculiar cystic neoformation adherent to the edge of the pupil of the right eye. The cyst wall was attached to the pupillary margin and it was bean‐shaped, measuring approximately 4.5 × 2.5 mm. It was white in colour with several red striations and a small brown spot in the middle, which conferred on it a peculiar appearance. The cyst could not be transilluminated and partially impaired vision. Apart from that, the ophthalmic exam revealed no other abnormalities and the eye showed no signs of inflammation. Ocular ultrasound revealed the cystic nature of the neoformation. During paracentesis of the anterior chamber, the cyst was deflated and both the cyst wall and fluid were aspirated. The tissue obtained was sent for a histological examination and was considered as corresponding to a uveal cyst. The dog improved from the post‐operative uveitis without any complication and after 24 months of follow‐up showed no recurrences.     

Participatory evaluation of integrated pest and soil fertility management options using ordered categorical data analysis

Maize is becoming the major food crop around Lake Victoria. Major constraints to its production are Striga, stem borer, and declining soil fertility. Innovative integrated technologies have been developed: the ‘push-pull’ system (intercropping with Desmodium and surrounded by Napier grass), soybean and Crotalaria rotations, and imidazolinone-resistant (IR) maize seed.In 12 demonstration trials in four villages in Siaya and Vihiga districts (Kenya) and two villages in Busia (Uganda) in 2003 and 2004, 504 farmers evaluated all cropping systems and a mono-cropped continuous maize, each cropped with IR or local maize, and supplemented or not with fertilizer, totaling 16 treatments. Farmers evaluated all treatments for yield, resistance to Striga and stem borer, improvement of soil fertility, and provided an overall evaluation score, using an ordered scale of 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good). Data were analyzed using ordinal regression, estimating log odds ratios.The results show significant preferences for all treatments over the control. Push-pull with IR and fertilizer had the highest log odds ratio (2.93), so the odds of farmers preferring this treatment are 18.7 times the odds that farmers prefer the control. The odds ratios for the other push-pull combinations were generally highest (9-15), followed by the rotation systems with Crotalaria (3.5-7.0), and soybeans, especially with IR maize and fertilizer (odds ratio of 5.7). In mono-cropping systems, IR maize was only appreciated in combination with fertilizer, and then only in 2004. Push-pull and Crotalaria were more appreciated in 2004 than in 2003. Farmers in Vihiga had a stronger preference for push-pull, and those in Busia for soybean rotations.Significant differences among farmers were observed, but the effects were small. Women appreciated push-pull more than men, while other technologies were gender-neutral. Older farmers were more likely to prefer push-pull and Crotalaria with fertilizer. Livestock ownership was not found to have an effect on technology preferences. Measured yield, stem borer and Striga infestation all had significant but small effects, although their inclusion did not eliminate the treatment effects, indicating that other factors are still important. OLS of the scores for different criteria on the overall score shows yield to be the most important criterion (coefficient of 0.40), followed by soil fertility enhancement (0.25) and Striga resistance (0.13). Labor saving (0.09) and stem borer resistance (0.03) are relatively minor criteria.This research shows that scoring and analysis with ordinal regression is a convenient way to solicit and analyze farmers’ preferences for new technologies, with wide applicability in farming systems and participatory research. Its application here shows that farmers like the new technologies, especially push-pull, but that there are substantial differences between years, sites and farmers. The use of this method can be very helpful to define and focus further research and formulate specific and targeted recommendations for agricultural extension.     

The CGIAR Virtual Library: A Vital Tool to Enhance Access to Agricultural Research

Literature searching instruments are available via the Internet, but one has to conduct several individual searches to retrieve relevant scholarly materials for research. This scenario led information experts from the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) to find ways to make life easier for scientists. The collaboration among Information and IT managers resulted in the launch of the CGIAR Virtual Library (CGVLibrary) in 2006. CGIAR supports 15 diverse international centers, located worldwide, which generate scholarly research results that are considered as public goods and must be shared freely with the international community. The CGVLibrary enables federated searching of catalogs and databases and carries hyperlinks to full-text CGIAR documents. This article provides an analysis of the content of the CGVLibrary, of the various information avenues it opens for improving access to agricultural research, and of how the tool is being improved and marketed to promote awareness and worldwide use.     

Application of systems-simulation in the Venezuelan cattle industry

This paper shows how systems-simulation can be applied to answer agricultural development type questions. A computer simulation model of the Venezuelan cattle industry is presented, some of the validation efforts are discussed, and results from a number of computer runs are shown in order to illustrate how alternative programmes might affect the transition of the traditional cattle population to a more modern and productive population. Different programmes are shown to accomplish some objectives better than others. No optimisation over all possible development objectives was attempted, as this would depend upon the relative weights attached to the objectives by the decision-makers.It has been the authors' experience that modelling of biological and economic processes provides an important link between observations about the real world (raw data) and decision-makers in an information system designed to provide useful information. The building and operation of the computer model of the Venezuelan cattle population illustrates how a systems-simulation approach can be used in policy formulation.     

Effect of Amendment on Nitrogen Conservation in Wastewater Biosolids Composting

? A study was conducted on a full scale in-vessel agitated bed process to determine the influence of two common amendments on nitrogen management. Sawdust and mulch were tested for their ability as amendments to conserve nitrogen and thus lower the amount of ammonia volatilization. Neither of the amendments showed a major advantage in conserving nitrogen, although the mulch amended mix had a slight advantage, most likely due to the more readily available nature of the carbon which would lead to greater nitrogen assimilation.     

Nutrient Losses by Runoff and Sediment from the Taluses of Orchard Terraces

The nutrient fluxes of nitrate, ammonium, phosphorus and potassium in runoff and sediments were evaluated over a two-year period (1999–2000) on the taluses of terraces, in a zone of intense subtropical orchard cultivation (SE Spain). The erosion plots were located on a terrace of 214% (65°) slope, at 180 m in altitude and with 16 m² (4 × 4 m) in area. Shrubby covers were tested for effectiveness in controlling the nutrient fluxes caused by runoff and sediments. Covers of Thymusserpylloides Bory sbsp. Gadorensis and Salvia officinalis L. reduced the NO₃ ^- runoff losses by 53 and 48%, with respect to the bare soil without natural vegetation, the NH_-4 ⁺ 61 and 56%; the PO₄ ^-3 65 and 56%; and K⁺ 58 and 46%, respectively. A greater proportion of NO₃ ^-, NH_-4 ⁺ and K⁺ were transported in runoff than in sediments. Thyme and sage with respect to the control reduced NO₃ ^- loss in sediments by 74 and 65%, NH_-4 ⁺ by 71 and 62%, P by 72 and 67%, and K by 69 and 61%, respectively. The total loss (runoff and sediments) in the bare-soil plot for NPK was 260, 39 and 888 mg m^-2 yr^-1, in the sage plot 119, 15 and 460 mg m^-2 yr^-1, and in the thyme plot 105, 12 and 360 mg m^-2 yr^-1, respectively. The results show the importance of the plant covers in soil conservation and in the recycling of nutrients on terrace slopes. This has far-reaching implications in the sense that the control of pollution from erosion is vital in reducing the eutrophication of both surface waters and groundwater located in lowlands.