Published by AG-WEST BIOTECH INC.

Current Issues in Intellectual Property Rights

Changes in the way new crop innovations and varieties are being generated have transformed the agricultural sector's understanding of intellectual property rights (IPR).

Traditionally, most new innovations and varieties have come from the public sector which, in the main, has been financed through public tax dollars. Understandably, these innovations have largely been viewed as public property. Today, however, cost cutting by government has reduced tax dollars available for crop development, while the private sector has become much more involved in introducing crop innovations, particularly for oilseeds and legumes.

A great deal of money is required to carry out crop innovations. Although biotechnology offers a wide area of new opportunities to develop crops with desirable agronomic and quality characteristics, it adds additional costs to the process. Innovation is also time consuming: new introductions take an average of six years from inception to commercialization.

Ongoing research investment is needed to ensure a flow of crop innovations. In the current economic climate, research money for either public or private research must come from the marketplace. The marketplace increasingly generates this money through the recognition that intellectual costs involved in research and development impart intellectual property rights to innovators. Intellectual property rights in agriculture are recognized through such mechanisms as patents or Plant Breeders Rights (PBR), with research money coming increasingly form royalties on the use of intellectual property included in the price for the new crop seed carrying the innovations.

Farmers and Intellectual Property Rights

The growing importance of IPR will have considerable impact on the way seed is distributed within the farm sector, according to Robert Morgan, President of the Canadian Seed Trade Association and Manager of Research and Development with the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. To understand this impact, one must know how seed "ownership" has traditionally been viewed by farmers.

"Traditionally, as new varieties come into the marketplace some farmers will buy certified seed from their local seed grower or farm supply outlet. From the subsequent harvest, some seed will be held back for next year's planting. While this is legitimate, some growers will also sell some of this bin seed to their neighbours who may have seen the crop in the field and would like to try this new variety themselves without paying the additional cost of certified seed. In the trade this practice is known as brown bagging which is illegal under the Canadian Seeds Act, if the seed is sold by variety name. Only certified seed can be sold by variety name."

Morgan says estimates indicate that over 90 per cent of the cereal seed and 20 per cent of the canola seed planted in Western Canada is bin run seed. The seed industry knows a good portion of this comes through brown bag sales.

Over the years, the seed industry (which includes seed growers, seed companies, Agriculture Canada, and universities) have used various communication/education programs to outline the benefits of certified seed. At the same time, Agriculture Canada's regulatory personnel have monitored advertised seed sales to insure that violations under the Seeds Act are corrected. Most of these violations have been dealt with in an "informative rather than prosecutive fashion," says Morgan.

"There also has been the perception that once certified seed was purchased, the growers had ownership and could do with it what they pleased, including replanting from harvest and selling to neighbors."

While seed certification has also provided a form of property rights in the seed industry, the new realities of market driven crop research and development have broadened the scope of IPR in the seed trade. There is new attention to the importance of informing farmers about intellectual property and of enforcing property rights.

IPR and Plants: A Special Case

IPR are rights in law provided in recognition of a contribution that has monetary value directly or indirectly in the marketplace. To be eligible for such rights (which provide exclusive ownership for up to 21 years), an invention must meet specified criteria that clearly differentiate it from previous inventions. In addition, it must come "by the human hand". A well-recognized form of intellectual protection is the patent.

"Much of the success and standard of living we enjoy in the industrial world is predicated on innovation," says Morgan. "To insure that there is a continued flow of such innovation, there has to be an incentive (normally monetary) and some assurance that there is recognition of the rights to the innovator to collect this incentive. In essence, the patent system was set up to do this. Legal protection from copying of the innovation is provided for a period of time (now about 20 years) in exchange for a disclosure of the details of the innovation. Disclosure facilitates further enhancements of the innovation through the work of others."

The monetary incentive often comes through a royalty contained within the price of the product. Therefore every time a new product is sold, the innovator receives a royalty. If anyone else wants to develop such a product, they must either negotiate a licensing arrangement with the innovator or develop a totally new product/process which is not in violation of the original patent.

This process works well for material goods where only the first sale of a product involves a royalty. Living organisms, on the other hand, replicate themselves, and this presents a challenge for innovators in the area of seed development. Over the past few years, farmers have been exposed to a number of forms of "innovation protection".

Plant Breeders' Rights were put in place by the Federal Government over five years ago. This legislation recognizes the ownership of a variety by the developer. In essence, it provides 17 years of protection for a variety which exhibits distinctiveness, uniformity, and stability. The breeder negotiates a royalty with the marketer of the seed, who is designated by the breeder. Protected seed cannot be legally sold outside of this system.

Canada is part of a worldwide system which recognizes in law and through reciprocity these rights. For instance, an American variety protected under the US version of PBR is protected in Canada by the collection of royalties on certified seed sold in Canada. The US provides protection for Canadian varieties covered by PBR and sold in the US.

Under this enhanced IPR regime, "brown bagging" now has the implication of violation of the Seeds Act and Plant Breeders' Rights. There is an exemption in these rights for a farmer to save seed for his own plant back, but not for resale.

Plant Breeders' Rights protect the whole plant and the rights are granted to the breeder. If the breeder includes via biotech some genetic material which imparts some desirable property and which does not naturally occur in the plant type, then the protection of that material may also be carried out separately through a patent. (To date, however, whole plants can not be patented in Canada as is the case in the USA and Japan.) A patent is much more restrictive than other forms of IPR in that every time a seed containing a patented gene(s) is to be used for planting, a royalty has to be paid to the developer because its properties provide a benefit to the user and the properties are no different than the original seed.

Genetic transformation requires significant effort and resources in itself. Also, the genetic material has to be incorporated into an agronomically satisfactory variety which also has market acceptance. In addition, all this has to meet additional regulatory approval beyond the variety registration process. Currently, the worldwide seed industry is working to develop a method to protect these investments so that they can continue to bring new products to market. This is not only a concern for privately-funded organizations such as the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. Declining funding for public research institutions also means that royalty income is more critical and protection of the seed innovation in the marketplace with subsequent royalty return is a higher priority.

Enforcing Intellectual Property Rights

Prosecutions of violators of Plant Breeders' Rights and plant patents have only taken place to a limited extent since no one really likes taking a customer to court.

Companies which have a significant technological investment at stake have been exploring various means in the development and marketing of their seed to restrict use of its progeny for plant back or illegal sale. Hybrid seed is the answer for a number of crops, but even there, "gene theft" can occur unless vigilant action is taken. Another means of protection is a licensing/contractual arrangement whereby the grower agrees to deliver all seed and not hold any back for planting. In essence, the grower is licensed to grow the seed and reap the rewards of the harvest, but does not own or have any rights as to further use other than planting in the season of sale.

"Over the next few years we will see more activity by seed developers in the public and private sectors in trying to find ways to protect their rights," says Robert Morgan. "They will use a number of avenues and combinations of approaches. I expect that most will refrain from using "hard" tactics unless their requests for compliance are repeatedly ignored, in which case, ultimately, litigation could be used."

Morgan says that some of the tools that have been tried include: information/education programs on what IPR are; monitoring of potential violations; follow-up on violations; requests for compliance; and following up more strongly for repeat violation.

The application of IPR to seed (and seed components) is a global phenomenon and is being led by private seed developers large and small. Farmers must be prepared to recognize the investment made by the developer by recognizing the monetary obligation that they have in supporting further research. "Farmers receive the value of this development every time they plant the seed," says Morgan. "The developer should also be recognized and appreciated."

This feature is adapted from an article for Production Perspectives by Robert Morgan. Contact: Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, 103 - 111 Research Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3R2. Phone 306/668-6630; fax 306/668-6654.

News

Seed Oil Modification Results in Quantity Increase

Experiments at the NRC Plant Biotechnology Institute in Saskatoon which were designed to modify oil composition in canola produced some "remarkable and unexpected" results when they unintentionally increased the oil content of the canola seeds by up 25 per cent.

The experiments were intended to increase the seed oil erucic acid content by expressing a yeast transfer gene in Brassica cultivars. While this occurred, the amount of seed oil in the transformed plants also increased substantially.

While oil composition has been previously altered by genetic engineering, this is the first time that oil content has been increased in transgenic plants. The researchers involved in the experiments now believe that there is a high possibility that oil content can also be increased in other commercial oilseed crops, such as corn, flax, sunflower and soybean.

This item adapted from the NRC's PBI Bulletin. Contact: Sam MacKenzie, Group Leader, Seed Oil Modification Group, NRC- PBI at smackenzie@pbi.nrc.ca or David Taylor at dtaylor@pbi.nrc.ca

Science and Technology Week October 18-27

Science and Technology Week is Canada's annual celebration of achievement in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. This year, from October 18-27, thousands of events and activities will help to promote a science and innovation culture by showcasing Canadian innovations and enhancing public awareness of the benefits gained through scientific research and development.

In Saskatchewan, the week will kick off with a rocket launch organized by the Western Space Education network on Saturday, October 19th. Participants have built their own rockets and a mass launch is planned. Other events include television and radio science trivia contests, a number of Beaver Creek family programs, and many school events.

In recognition of the special week, Ag-West Biotech sponsored an Agbiotech Essay Contest, inviting Saskatchewan's twelfth grade students to submit essays on the topic of "Biotechnology, Agriculture, and Our Future." Three scholarships of $1000 each will be awarded to the contest winners during Science and Technology Week.

Contact: National Science and Technology Week, Science Promotion and Academic Affairs Branch, Industry Canada, 8th Floor, West Tower, 235 Queen Street, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H5. Phone 800/268-6604; fax 613/998-0943; e-mail NSTW.SNST@ic.gc.ca; web site http://schoolnet.carleton.ca/NSTW/ or in Saskatchewan contact Maurice Robert at Maurice.Robert@innovplace.saskatoon.ca or http://www.stpaulrcsd.saskatoon.sk.ca/NatSciTech

Plant Disease Forecast Based on GIS

A plant disease risk forecasting service which can provide a regional indication of weather conditions and disease progression has been developed by Manitoba Agriculture and several corporate and public partners. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software, the service analyzes crop stage, weather, and soil moisture conditions from 50 Environment Canada weather stations to produce maps indicating conditions favorable to the outbreak of plant diseases.

Barley Biotech in Brandon

The Ag Canada Research Centre in Brandon, Manitoba has initiated a project to take advantage of the new tools afforded by biotechnology in barley breeding. The first major goal of the project is to determine the utility of molecular marker assisted selection for disease resistance and quality traits in barley-breeding programs with a view to establishing a routine screening lab at Brandon.

The second goal is to optimize tissue culture techniques for regenerating barley from microspores or other tissues in support of the doubled haploid project in Brandon and genetic transformation research at Brandon and Winnipeg. This reduces the breeding cycle by two to three years.

The project is supported with funds from the Western Grains Research Foundation Barley Check-off and the Ag Canada Matching Investments Initiative.

Contact: Bill Legge or Mario Therrien. Phone 204/726-7650; fax 204/ 728-3858; web site http://res.agr.ca/brandon/brc/welcome.htm

Pest Management Agency Moves

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency is on the move. Their new address is: Pest Management Regulatory Agency, Health Canada, A.L. 6605E1, 2250 Riverside Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9. The web site is http://www.hwc.ca/pmra

Enhancing Gene Expression

Researchers at the University of Guelph have cloned and sequenced several repetitive DNA sequences from alfalfa, according to the Green Gene Gazette. The objective of the project was to discover DNA sequences that would enhance transgene integration. The process involved the identification of an alfalfa sequence with homologies to the transformation booster sequence of petunia which increased petunia transformation rates up to 20-fold.

Contact: University of Guelph Crop Science Department lab web site at http://www.uoguelph.ca

Achieving High Gene Expression

Although recombinant technology in plants is becoming commonplace, achieving a high expression of introduced genetic material in target plants remains a challenge, particularly when the goal of the project is a plant "biofactory" for the production of products such as pharmaceuticals. Levels of gene expression are partly a function of the promoter to which the coding region of the gene is fused. According to an item in ISB News Report, Purdue University scientist Stan Gelvin has developed what is being hailed as a "super- promoter" from Agrobacterium which results in substantially improved gene expression over the most popular promoter currently in use, the 35S promoter from cauliflower mosaic virus.

Plastid Transformation Technology

Calgene Inc. of Davis, California has announced that it has been granted two US patents involving plastid transformation technology. Plastid transformation allows expression of a foreign protein in the plastids of plant cells. A plant cell contains one nucleus and multiple plastids. Typically, genetically engineered plants contain a low number of gene copies inserted into the nuclear genome. Insertion of a foreign gene into the plastid genome via plastid transformation, on the other hand, can produce up to 10,000 copies of the foreign gene per cell. Thus, there is a great potential for amplifying gene expression using this technology. Furthermore, plastid transformed traits are inherited exclusively from the maternal parent in most plant species and, consequently, there is no possibility for pollen- mediated outcrossing of a genetically engineered plant.

Increased Functional Chlorophyll

The Green Gene Gazette reports the development of a gene construct which increases the amount of the functional chlorophyll a/b binding protein (Cab) involved in photosynthesis. Transgenic tobacco plants containing the construct have up to 50 per cent more active chlorophyll and a 50 per cent increase in photosynthesis. The plants also have 200 to 300 per cent more biomass, faster growth, earlier germination, sturdier stalks, 200 per cent more carbohydrate content and increased shade tolerance.

New Flour Properties from Transgenic Wheat

Researchers at the USDA Agricultural Research Service Lab in Albany, California have genetically-engineered a wheat cultivar to accumulate high levels of glutenin, a seed storage protein that affects the elasticity of bread dough. Ann Blechl and Olin Anderson are currently assessing the transgenic lines. After four generations, eight lines were found to exhibit transgene expression, and researchers hope to have enough flour to test dough qualities within a year.

Pesticidal Sugar Esters

Orestes Chortyk and fellow researchers at the USDA's Natural Products Utilization Research Unit in Athens, Georgia have succeeded in producing synthetic sugar esters which can be used as an environmentally-friendly pesticide. The esters are similar in structure to the natural sugars found in plants of the Nicotiana family which offer a natural protection against whiteflies and other pests. The synthesized sugars have proven to be equally toxic to whiteflies.

Pig Genome Updates

- Dr. Gary Rohrer and his colleagues at the USDA-ARS MARC facility have published the largest single porcine genetic linkage map, including 1116 genes and markers, tying together many markers from previous maps. Contact: The map can be seen on the USDA homepage at http://sol.marc.usda.gov.8400/pigbase/manager/html

- An additional 33 pairs brings the number of fluorescent primers available from the US Pig Genome coordinator to 96. Each primer pair is composed of one fluorescently labeled and one unlabeled primer. Contact: Max F. Rothschild, US Pig Genome Coordinator by phone at 515/294-6202 or by e-mail at mfrothsc@iastate.edu

- Two French researchers are looking for collaborators in their search for the RN gene associated with an undesirable cooking quality in ham. Contact: Anyone interested in collaborating on the search can contact Dennis Milan at milan@toulouse.inra.fr or Pascale LeRoy at leroy@dga.jouy.inra.fr

- The Salt Lake City, Utah firm Linkage Genetics has launched a joint venture with the Franklin, Kentucky-based company PIC USA to use Linkage's genomic analysis technology in the swine sector.

Regulatory

Transgenic Crops Receive Japanese Clearance

Two canola biotechnologies have received important regulatory approvals from the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW).

Japan's MHW has granted safety clearance for food products of canola seed grown from AgrEvo's Liberty Link canola. This clearance follows environmental approval early in June. It applies to Liberty-resistant transgenic varieties from Regina, Saskatchewan-based AgrEvo Canada and from PGS, the plant genetics company recently acquired by AgrEvo. The Liberty Link production system was registered in Canada in 1995.

Margaret Gadsby, regulatory and scientific affairs director of AgrEvo, says this food safety approval represents the Ministry's scientific assessment that Liberty Link canola seed represents no significant risk in terms of food safety in Japan. "The final step for complete Japanese approval is safety of animal feed," says Gadsby. "That decision is expected shortly."

Japanese regulatory clearance is a major step toward allowing Liberty Link canola to move freely through conventional marketing channels, and trade freely on world markets.

Final safety approval has also been given to Monsanto's Roundup Ready canola. Two other Monsanto products, as well as a third product that features Monsanto technology, were also approved. These are NewLeaf potatoes, protected from the Colorado potato beetle; Roundup Ready soybeans; and Northrup King's corn, which is protected from the European corn borer by Monsanto's YieldGard technology.

Roundup Ready canola has full regulatory approval in Canada where it is currently being grown on some 50,000 acres.

Proposed Biotech Amendments Published

Document containing proposed amendments to various federal regulations affecting the agricultural biotechnology sector were published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on August 17, 1996. These documents include:

- Regulations for Environmental Safety Assessments of Releases of Plants With Novel Traits Under the Seeds Act;

- Regulations for Environmental Safety Assessments of Veterinary Biologics

Under the Health of Animals Act;

- Regulations for Environmental Safety Assessments of Releases of Novel Feeds Under the Feeds Act; and

- Regulations for Environmental Safety Assessments of Releases of Supplements Under the Fertilizers Act.

All of these documents can be accessed on the Internet at http://aceis.agr.ca/fpi/agbiotec/english.html.

Interested parties are invited to review and comment on these regulatory amendments and to distribute them to colleagues or to any others who they believe may have an interest in this area. Recommendations and comments would be appreciated, particularly on the appropriate level of detail of information requirements in this proposed regulatory amendment compared to the level of detail in existing guidelines on plants with novel traits. Comments should be submitted within 60 days of the date of this document to bsco@em.agr.ca or to the Associate Director, Biotechnology Strategies and Coordination Office, Food Production and Inspection Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 59 Camelot Drive, Nepean, Ontario K1A 0Y9

Contact: Biotechnology Strategies and Coordination Office, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Nepean, Ontario K1A 0Y9. Phone: 613/952-8000; fax 613/ 941-9421.

US EPA Approves Sandoz Bt Corn

The US Environmental Protection Agency has approved the Swiss company Sandoz's application to market its corn hybrids containing Bt genes for resistance to the European corn borer. Northrup King, the seed division of Sandoz, will market the seed. It is anticipated that enough seed will be available to plant several hundred thousand acres by next spring.

Ag Canada Approves 113 Field Trials

Approvals for 113 field trials of plants with novel traits have been granted by the Food and Inspection Branch of Agriculture and Agri-food Canada as of June 18, 1996. The trials, which are taking place over 747 sites, are being carried out for 14 genetically modified crops by 20 companies and organizations.

Canola is the most widely tested crop, with 483 trial sites, followed by corn (107), potato (93) , and alfalfa (30). The largest number of trials are taking place in Saskatchewan (224), followed by Alberta (186), Ontario (152), and Manitoba (95). A number of new species are being tested for the first time this year, including Ethiopian mustard, cherry, and grape vine.

The majority of trials are evaluating herbicide resistance in crops (569), although these trials involve multiple testing sites for just 52 submissions. Other trials are evaluating insect and viral resistance, stress tolerance and nutritional changes. The trials involve plants altered through three different biotech processes, although Agrobacterium transformation is the most commonly used method. A number of trials involve backcrossing to transgenics, which reflects decisions to advance modified lines into varietal development.

Contact: Simon Barber, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Plant Protection Division, Nepean, Ontario K1A 0Y9. Phone 613/952-8000 ext 4390.

Events

Biotech Networking Session - Saskatoon

A "Biotech Networking Session" will be held Wednesday, October 16, 1996 from 7:00 - 8:45 a.m. at the Picasso Room of the Radisson Hotel in Saskatoon. Dr. Brian Morrissey, Assistant Deputy Minister, Research Branch, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, will speak on the topic "Future Direction of Agricultural Biotechnology Research Within the Research Branch of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada". Tickets are $12.00 per person and include a breakfast buffet. Seating is limited.

Contact; To order tickets, call Anne Broda, Saskatoon Regional Economic Development Authority at 306/664-0724.

AgBiotech Market Research Seminar

An educational seminar on market research for agbiotechnology companies will be presented on November 5, 1996 at Innovation Place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The seminar will cover the fundamentals of market research - tools and techniques, when research should be done, and how to do research so that the results will enable companies to develop a strategic marketing plan.

This full-day seminar is sponsored by Ag-West Biotech Inc., the AdCulture Group Inc., the Canadian Institute of Biotechnology and Innovation Place. Registration is $70.

Contact: Susan Wychara, AdCulture Group Inc. Phone 306/652-2986; fax 306/653-1782, or Shannon Schneider, Ag-West Biotech Inc., Phone 306/975-1939; fax 306/975-1966; e-mail: agwest@innovplace.saskatoon.sk.ca

Animal and Plant Cell Meeting

An Animal and Plant Cell Working Party meeting under the auspices of the European Federation of Biotechnology will be held in Brussels, Belgium on October 21 and 22, 1996. The theme of the informal meeting will be high-density cultures.

Contact: Dr. Kees de Gooijer, Wageningen Agricultural University, Food and Bioprocess Engineering Group, P.O.Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen, The Netherlands. Phone 31-317- 483975; fax 31-317-482237; e-mail kees.degooijer@algemeen.pk.wau.nl

Fall Seminar Series at Saskatoon's Innovation Place

Innovation Place is hosting a series of noon hour business seminars this fall in conjunction with Canadian Profit Systems and Trimension Group. The topics and dates follow:

- Work Place Training - October 29

- Benchmarks for Corporate Success - November 5

- Financing Options - November 12

- How to Use the Internet to Achieve Your Marketing Goals - November 19

- Success Through Database - November 26

The cost of each seminar is $25.00 ($100 for full series). Lunch is included.

Contact: Lori at Innovation Place, phone 306/933- 6295.

Conference on Biotechnology of Bt

The Second Pacific Rim Conference on Biotechnology of Bacillus thuringiensis and Its Impact to the Environment will be held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, November 4-8, 1996.

Contact: The Secretariat, The 2nd PacRim Conference on Bt, P.O. Box 1087, Kasetsart, Bangkok, Thailand. Phone 66-2- 5795583 or 5793704; fax 66-2-5795583.

Biotech Opportunities in Singapore and China

Agriculture and Food Biotechnology in Asia Recent Advances and Commercial Opportunities in Singapore and China is the title and theme of a conference to be held December 10-11, 1996 at the Concorde Hotel in Singapore.

Contact: A/Professor Soong Tai-Sen, Institute of Molecular Agrobiology, 59A The Fleming, 1 Science Park Drive, Singapore 118240. Phone 65/771-9815; fax 65/773-4988.

Trends

New Market Opportunities Identified at NABC 8 Workshop

Several new areas of market opportunities were identified by participants at the Food Industry Workshop held at the National Agricultural Biotechnology Council's Conference (NABC 8). A report on the workshop in NABC News (available from NABC, 419 Boyce Thompson Institute, Tower Road, Ithaca, NY USA 14953) lists a number of these opportunities, including:

- increased food quality and safety including improved nutritional, taste, and safety features (such as packaging indicators), as well as nutraceutical products and processes that remove detrimental elements from foods;

- vaccine production and delivery via crop plant "biofactories";

- increased producer productivity, through higher yield, expanded growing range, and "pharming";

- processing for increased efficiency, such as better methods of using processing by-products; and

- environmentally benign/beneficial foods, such as more environmentally friendly crops or packaging.

After discussing barriers to the development of products in these new market areas (including public acceptance), and methods of overcoming barriers, the group recommended that measures be taken to:

- increase public awareness and input regarding novel foods and processes;

- ensure that industry takes clear responsibility for risk;

- establish competitive research consortia to share and leverage knowledge and expertise; and

- allocate monies to examine social. ethical, and legal issues surrounding food innovation.

The workshop also considered that new food products and processes will cause economic and structural changes in the industry. Impacts could involve

- increased horizontal integration, including linkages with other sectors such as pharmaceuticals, energy and environment;

- more vertical integration in the industry;

- more dependable, improved food sources;

- increased resistance to controls in insect pests and diseases; and

- "quick fix" approaches that neglect longer term social and ethical solutions to food security, such as more equitable trade or distribution of resources.

The next NABC Conference (NABC 9) is scheduled for June 1-2, 1997 in Saskatoon. The theme will be Resource Management in Challenged Environments.

Contact: Dr. George Lee, 306/966-4057 for details.

Pests Genetically Engineered for Self-destruction

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside and the USDA-ARS in Wapato, Washington are developing a technique called Autocidal Biological Control (ABC). The technique involves the mass release of insect pests genetically engineered to be unable to overwinter. When the mutant insects mate with the normal pest population, the offspring cannot survive cold weather conditions, causing the pest population to crash. The researchers are studying the efficacy of a mutant Notch gene, a gene involved in normal embryonic development. ABC research is currently underway for the pink bollworm and the codling moth.

ABC could be cheaper and less labour intensive than the currently used Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) which involves the release of insects sterilized by irradiation. The genetically-engineered insects would have only one mutation and be hardier and more capable of mating than insects with multiple mutations from the SIT approach. The ABC would also result in reduced pesticide use.

Biotechnology in India

With 900 million people to feed, the India agriculture sector is increasing its interest and activity in biotechnology. The most significant area of investment so far has been in the use of tissue-cultures to develop disease free plants for the quickly expanding ornamental export market. Nearly 10 million micropropagated plants were exported from India last year, and a capacity for 100 million plants is predicted. Researchers have now developed micropropagation techniques for eucalyptus, bamboo, sandalwood, pomegranate, mango, neem, and tamarind.

While basic research in molecular biology is limited to a few institutions in India, applied research is going on at many agricultural universities where transgenic crops, diagnostic systems, and improved vaccines are being studied. Courses in biotechnology are also being offered at many universities.

Partnerships between Indian companies and major international biotech firms have resulted in the production of transgenic cow pea, mung bean, and other crops, some of which have been field tested. Biotechnologies for corn, brassicas, silkworms and other plants and animals are also being developed with funding assistance from the national government and several foundations.

Problems faced by Indian researchers include everything from power outages and the high cost of research journals, to the lack of intellectual property rights for plants and patent enforcements (which result in extreme secrecy within the scientific community.)

Contact: C.S.Prkash, Centre for Plant Biotechnology Research, Tuskegee University. E-mail at prakash@acd.tusk.edu

Alliances

Collaborations: Bringing a Research Idea to Fruition

(The following is reprinted from the NRC's PBI Bulletin.)

Scientists could be forgiven for being overwhelmed by the avalanche of challenges they face at each and every stage of their research. In the early days, it seemed clear what their role was. Today, they collide with the realities of debt and equity financing, while at the same time deciding on the research viability of their project.

Some of the practical questions researchers must ask themselves at the outset of a project are:

- Is this research viable?

- Is the expertise available?

- Do I have an effective business as well as a research plan?

- How long will this project take?

- Where can I obtain adequate and timely financing?

- Who are potential partners for this research?

- What are the risks? What are the benefits?

- What regulatory bodies must I work with?

- What are the responsibilities and with whom do they lie?

- Who owns the rights?

- Will the consumer accept the final product?

Scientists are further frustrated by the need to produce practical results while realizing that only through basic science can applied research be achieved. However, with new biotech products now on the market, scientists and industry have obviously found successful ways to work in harmony, and we have begun a history of collaboration.

Contact: For more information contact Rosemarie Gallays at 306/975-5571.

Mycogen

San Diego, California-based Mycogen Corp. will consolidate its research operations as a result of its purchase of Indianapolis, Indiana-based DowElanco's seed business. Mycogen will close its research sites at Madison, Wisconsin and San Diego. Research will now be consolidated in DowElanco's Indianapolis facilities. Some Mycogen biopesticide research projects will be phased out as part of this consolidation.

Contact: Mycogen Web site at http://www.mycogen.com

Annual Meeting

Ag-West Biotech Inc. invites you to their 6th Annual Meeting to be held October 17, 1996 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Da Vinci Room, Radisson Hotel, 405 20th Street East, Saskatoon.

The new president, Dr. William Riley, will be introduced.

For more information and a personal invitation, contact:

Ag-West Biotech Inc. at (306) 975-1939 or e-mail agwest@innovplace.saskatoon.sk.ca

Tech Transfer

Pharmaceutical Potential of Flax

A flax extract with medicinal value has been identified by researchers at the AAFC Saskatoon Research Centre, the University of Saskatchewan, and the Victoria Hospital in London, Ontario. Industry partners are being sought for commercial development of the patented extraction process.

The technology can extract secoisolariciresinal diglucoside (SDG) from flaxmeal, which can then be used as an animal feed. The extract has potential in the treatment of diseases including atherosclerosis, lupus nephritis, and diabetes,. It also has antioxidant properties and is useful in the lowering of blood cholesterol.

Contact: Sandy Bresciani, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon. Phone 306/975-6420; fax 306/ 975-6419.

MIT Technologies Licensed to Metabolix

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology has granted two exclusive licenses to its patents for the production of naturally occurring biodegradable plastics to the Cambridge, Massachusetts company Metabolix Inc. The patents cover the production of polyhydroxalkonoates (PHAs) using recombinant techniques.

Finance

Saskatchewan Trade to Take Another Step Forward

Saskatchewan's industrial sector and the Provincial Government have jointly established the Saskatchewan Trade and Export Partnership Inc. (STEP). Fully 60 per cent of Saskatchewan's GDP comes from exported products and services; STEP has been designed to further enhance export opportunities by assisting Saskatchewan companies to initiate sales, contracts, projects, and alliances.

STEP services will include: match-making for partnerships and joint ventures; information about new and existing export markets, opportunities and trends; advice about promoting products or services; competitive analysis; networking; access to export training and education; advice about export financing; opportunities to participate in trade missions and meet foreign buyers in Saskatchewan; and referrals to export contacts.

Established or emerging Saskatchewan exporters can become members of STEP, while persons, companies, and organizations with an interest in trade or who provide trade services can become associate members.

Contact: STEP Inc., Box 1787, 2nd floor, 1919 Saskatchewan Drive, Regina, Saskatchewan Canada S4P 3C6. Phone 306/787- 9210; fax 306/787-6666; e-mail at inquire@sasktrade.sk.ca; website at http://www.sasktrade.sk.ca

Ecogen Financial Picture Improves

US biopesticide company Ecogen has announced increased third quarter total revenue sales of 40 per cent to over $5.5 million. Product sales increased by 36% while operating expenses decreased by 32 per cent. Nonetheless, a quarterly loss of $710,000 was still reported.

Ecogen, which has formed a partnership with Monsanto to develop Bt technologies, was the first US company to receive approval for sale of a genetically altered biopesticide. New products soon to be introduced by Ecogen include Aspire, a biofungicide for post-harvest rot, and a bioinsecticide for fruits and vegetables called CRYMAX.

Mogen Announces Possible Sale

The Dutch plant biotech company Mogen has announced that unidentified industrial parties have expressed interest in a take-over, leading the company to investigate the potential to shareholders of the sale of the company. The sale of Mogen would ensure the sustainability of its research and development program. In August, Mogen announced improved sales results in the first six months of 1996, although a loss was reported for the period.

Issues

"Bugs" in Transgenic Cotton Technology

Some farmers in Texas are less than satisfied with the pest resistance claims made for Bollgard transgenic cotton. The cotton, which was genetically engineered by Monsanto to incorporate Bt genes toxic to the cotton bollworm, tobacco budworm, and pink bollworm, is sold by Delta and Pine Land Co. It has been planted extensively across the US south.

Farmers in the region are facing extremely high infestations of cotton bollworm this year. While many report good results from the new transgenic cotton, some farmers in the Brazos River Valley of Texas say that Bollgard cotton is not working out as expected. Possible causes for high level of pest infestation are favorable weather conditions and increased planting of corn, the favorite host plant of the bollworm.

The development has resulted in a request from the Union of Concerned Scientists to the US EPA to suspend registration of Bollgard cotton. The Union has stated in the past that the use of Bt genes in cotton could result in insects developing resistance to Bt, which is used as a bioinsecticide. The Union states that EPA registration was based on the condition that a resistance management strategy would be developed. The possible failure of the cotton to kill the bollworm, at least in some areas, could mean that large numbers of insects survive feeding on the transgenic plants, giving succeeding generations an opportunity to build resistance. Monsanto has said that it will study the situation in detail.

Meanwhile, the Australian National Registration Authority has granted registration for Monsanto's Ingard transgenic Bt- containing cotton. The registration allows Ingard cotton to be planted over 30,000 hectares. The move sparked immediate calls for the withdrawal of the approval pending further testing.

Resources

Canadian Technology Network Office in Saskatoon

The Canadian Technology Network (CTN) has opened a Saskatoon office at Innovation Place. CTN links federal and provincial government labs and agencies, universities, community colleges, industry associations, technology centres and economic development agencies. Together these organizations provide innovative Canadian companies with quick and personal access to expertise, advice and information about how to meet technology and related business challenges.

CTN a joint initiative of the Industrial Research Assistance Program (IRAP) of the National Research Council of Canada and Industry Canada provides a wide variety of information which makes it easy for small and medium-sized businesses to link up with other technology related organizations. This information includes:

1. Profiles of organizations that are doing ground breaking work in the technology sector.

2. Profiles of organizations that offer business-related services such as financial, management, marketing and training.

3. The names and address of experts in a wide variety of technological fields.

4. Offers of technology and service profiles from more than 30 technology-related business sectors.

5. Access to testing services, capability and equipment available.

6. Research and development interests within universities, and published papers by researchers.

7. Sources for relevant documents.

CTN's new coordinator in Saskatchewan is Rob Greer. Greer was previously with the Department of Western Economic Diversification where he has spent the past 8 years in a number of roles in the Saskatoon office.

The University of Saskatchewan is also a host to an on-campus CTN Representative. Renette Kurz will be gathering information about facilities, services, courses, and other technology related resources available at the university.

Contact: Rob Greer, Regional Coordinator - Saskatchewan, Canadian Technology Network, National Research Council of Canada, Atrium Building, 320 - 111 Research Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3R2. Phone 306/975-6741; fax: 306/975-6743, e-mail Rob.Greer@irap.nrc.ca or Renette Kurz, University of Saskatchewan, Kirk Hall, Room 220, 117 Science Place, Saskatoon SK S7N 5C8. Phone 306/966-8723; e-mail renette.kurz@usask.ca

Free Lab Help in May

If you are considering hiring a laboratory technician, how about trying one for free first! The Biological Sciences Technology Program at Kelsey Institute is just a name change away from becoming the Biotechnology Program and its students are anxious to showcase their skills. To that end, the program has moved its laboratory practicum experience from January to May, which is at the end of the two year study period. They have had extensive training in microbiological procedures; biochemical and analytical chemical analyses and instrumentation; plant physiology and pathology; plant and animal tissue culture; immunological procedures include ELISA and SRID techniques; enumerations of cell populations and antibody titres; and their new molecular biology course including bacteriological transformations; DNA isolation, methylation, restriction analysis, ligations and sequencing; PCR; electrophoresis; DNA mini-preps; Southern blots and hybridization.

Students will be actively seeking practicum positions from now through January. As before, this is a continuing program, so if you can't use a student this year, please keep the program in mind for future consideration.

Contact: Dr. Joanne Post, Kelsey Institute, Saskatoon. Phone 306/933-6454; fax 306/933-6490.

Food Development Centre - Manitoba

The National Agri-Food Development Centre in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba has changed its name to the Food Development Centre. Working as a special operating agency of Manitoba Rural Development, the Centre will concentrate on assisting the agri-food sector with its economic growth. The new management of the Centre will focus on helping the food industry in food product and process development, as well as in food safety and food quality testing.

Contact: Gerald Offet, General Manager/CEO, Food Development Centre, Box 1240, 810 Phillips Street, Portage La Prairie, Manitoba R1N 3J9. Phone 204/239-3167; fax 204/239- 3180.

Agri-Food Entrepreneurship Certificate Program

The Food Development Centre and the Assiniboine Community College are offering a 16 week Agri-Food Entrepreneurship Certificate Program in Portage La Prairie. The program is described as an outcome-based, practical program that provides the prospective entrepreneur with the knowledge and skills necessary to create a value-added food business.

Contact: Jyoti Sahasrabudhe, Food Development Centre, Box 1240, 810 Phillips Street, Portage La Prairie, Manitoba R1N 3J9. Phone 204/239-3167; fax 204/239-3180; e-mail sahasra@eitc.mb.ca.

UK Biotechnology Directory

The 1996 edition of the UK Biotechnology Handbook lists over 880 British organizations involved in biotech and contains over 3500 senior contact names. This 11th edition includes more non-medical contacts and 11 new review articles. Other information from BioCommerce Data includes an extensive worldwide directory on the biotechnology industry, updated twice monthly; targeted mailing lists of up to 11,000 senior executives in the industry; and a new quarterly information service on CD-ROM summarizing over 300,000 biotech business news articles.

Contact: BioCommerce Data Ltd., Prudential Buildings, 95 High Street, Slough, Berks SL1 1DH, UK. Phone 01753 511777; fax 01753 512239; e-mail at biocom@dial.pipex.com

Proceedings from Beltsville Animal Symposia

Beltsville Symposia in Agricultural Research XX: Biotechnology's Role in the Genetic Improvement of Farm Animals has been published by the American Society of Animal Science, Savoy, Illinois. The ISBN number is 1-887458- 01-8.

We Welcome Your Input

The AgBiotech Bulletin welcomes submissions of news, ideas and articles from subscribers. Information about new developments at your company or institution, notices about new products or resources, or observations about events and opportunities affecting the agbiotech industry will be considered for publication. Please put us on your mailing list for press releases and/or contact us directly regarding story ideas or submissions.

Contact: Debbie Lepage, Ag-West Biotech Inc., 230-111 Research Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Canada S7N 3R2; phone 306/975-1939; fax 306/975-1966; e-mail: agwest@innovplace.saskatoon.sk.ca

Credits:

The Agbiotech Bulletin is published 12 times per year on behalf of Ag-West Biotech Inc. by Westcross House Publications, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7K OR1, e-mail: signatur@eagle.wbm.ca

Ag-West Biotech can be reached at 230-111 Research Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 3R2, e-mail: agwest@innovplace.saskatoon.sk.ca World Wide Web: http://www.lights.com/agwest/

The Agbiotech Bulletin is published 12 times per year on behalf of Ag-West Biotech Inc. by Westcross House Publications,