Thursday, December 31, 2015

30th December 2015 Daily Global Rice E-Newsletter by Riceplus Magazine-Latest Rice News Updates

Today Rice News Headlines...
·         RiceBran Technologies and Kentucky Equine Research Sign Exclusive Supply and Cooperation Agreement for North American Equine Market
·         Hyderabad scientist develops iron rich rice
·         Govt’s rice procurement increases 31% to 18 MT
·         S. Korea seeks rice supply-demand balance in 2018: gov't
·         Shipments of organic rice picking up steam
·         Government announces measures to sell tonnes of stored paddy
·         Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report
·         Ukraine decreases imports of rice in 2015/16 season
·         Select grains remain up on rising demand
·         Farmers benefit from duty hike on rice imports
·         Thai Cabinet gives green light to increased compensation for rice traders
·         Rice exports down in first 11 months
·         APEDA Rice Commodity News
·         Transcriptional profiling of the leaves of near-isogenic rice lines
·         SC ruling against Bt Talong cripples food security, hurts farmers - science students


RiceBran Technologies and Kentucky Equine Research Sign Exclusive Supply and Cooperation Agreement for North American Equine Market

World Leader in Equine Nutrition Partners with Technology Leader in Rice Bran Stabilization and Processing


SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, December 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --
RiceBran Technologies (NASDAQ: RIBT and RIBTW) (the "Company" or "RBT"), a global leader in the production and marketing of value added products derived from rice bran, today announced that the Company has entered into a 10 year Exclusive Supply and Cooperation Agreement covering the North American equine market with Kentucky Equine Research ("KER"), an international equine nutrition, research, and consultation company serving horse owners and the feed industry.Under the terms of the agreement, RBT will be the exclusive supplier of stabilized rice bran ("SRB") endorsed by KER for use as a feed and supplement ingredient in equine products sold in North America. RBT will provide manufacturing, distribution, sales and marketing expertise and KER will contribute sales and marketing expertise, technical support and research and development to the partnership.

Dr. Joe Pagan, President and Founder of KER, commented: "We are excited to enter into this agreement with RiceBran Technologies. In addition to RBT being the technology leader in rice bran stabilization, their patented processes produce a range of unique rice bran derivatives that we will jointly develop with the aim of producing high value equine supplements with targeted nutritional applications."W. John Short, CEO & President of RBT, commented: "Dr. Pagan has built KER into the leading equine nutrition company in the world.  It is a pleasure and an honor to have the opportunity to cooperate with Joe and KER to increase market penetration for both of our companies as we work to bring new, high value equine feeds and supplements to the North American equine market."
About Kentucky Equine Research 
Kentucky Equine Research (KER) is an international equine nutrition, research, and consultation company serving horse owners and the feed industry.  KER's goals are to advance the industry's knowledge of equine nutrition and exercise physiology, apply that knowledge to produce healthier, more athletic horses, and support the nutritional care of all horses throughout their lives.  For more information about KER, please visit https://ker.com .
About RiceBran Technologies  
RiceBran Technologies is a human food ingredient and animal nutrition company focused on the procurement, bio-refining and marketing of numerous products derived from rice bran. RiceBran Technologies has proprietary and patented intellectual property that allows us to convert rice bran, one of the world's most underutilized food sources, into a number of highly nutritious human food ingredient and animal nutrition products.  Our target markets are human food ingredients and animal nutrition manufacturers and retailers, as well as natural food, functional food and nutritional supplement manufacturers and retailers, both domestically and internationally. More information can be found in the Company's filings with the SEC and by visiting our website athttp://www.ricebrantech.com .
Forward-Looking Statements 
This release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements about RiceBran Technologies' expectations regarding recovery of funds from an escrow account related to the 2008 purchase of Irgovel. These statements are made based upon current expectations that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties.  RiceBran Technologies does not undertake to update forward-looking statements in this news release to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting such forward-looking information.  Assumptions and other information that could cause results to differ from those set forth in the forward-looking information can be found in this press release and in RiceBran Technologies' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its most recent periodic reports.
Investor Contact:

Ascendant Partners, LLC
Fred Sommer
SOURCE RiceBran Technologies
Hyderabad scientist develops iron rich rice
 December 31,2015, 01.42 AM  IST | THE HANS INDIA
Study shows college students had improved levels of haemoglobin after consuming the new variety
Hyderabad: The health-conscious lots who have been constantly worrying about the lack of iron content in polished rice, consumed by most of us as a staple food, have good tidings.A Hyderabad-based scientist from the Indian Institute of Rice Research (IIRR) has developed a new variety of ‘iron-rich rice’ to address iron deficiency among rice eaters.It may be mentioned here that the deficiency in iron is largely responsible for anaemia, especially among women.“Like the polished rice available in the market, there is no significant difference in the appearance, odour, tenderness and taste of the iron-rich rice,” said Dr M Mohibbe Azam, Principal Scientist in the Crop Improvement Section, who developed the new variety of rice at the IIRR.
According to the National Family Health Survey 2005-06, prevalence of anaemia in India is 70 per cent among children (6-59 months), 55 per cent among women (15-49 years) and 24 per cent among men (15- 40 years).In general, the iron content in polished rice is between four and five parts-per-million (PPM). However as per the recommendations of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), an adult should consume around 21 milligrams to 28 milligrams of iron per day.“We had started our research with an aim to providing fortified iron to lower income groups, who are mostly anaemic,” he says. Although many countries have worked on iron fortified rice, Dr Azam said, “The problem with coated rice is that the iron gets lost when it is rinsed.”
“Then we thought why not fortify the rice in such a way that the iron gets inside the grain, and there would be no problem with milling and washing,” he explained. As a result, parboiling method has been adopted to ensure that the iron content is secured inside the grain. In parboiling, the mineral present on the surface would be retained inside and iron would be distributed uniformly all over the grain. Thus, there would be no considerable loss of iron when rinsed or cooked in excess water, he said.

A kilogram of the new variety of rice contains 35 milligram of iron. Upon conducting a study among anaemic students, it was revealed that the haemoglobin levels of the students have gone up significantly from 6.77 to 10.36 gm/dl (grams per decilitre). “We fed anaemic college students with 100 gram of iron fortified rice thrice a week for two months. We have seen this significant improvement in their haemoglobin levels,” Dr Azam said.Another interesting feature is that normal rice, which has a thin coat of oil, is vulnerable to oxidation process leading to generation of free radicals, which have a harmful effect on consumers. Unlike this, the new variety with the iron infused inside the grain, there is no possibility of the formation of free radicals making is a healthy proposition.“Fortification of rice can be carried out at the existing rice mills with an extra cost of Rs 1 per kg which includes the iron to be infused with the rice,” Dr Azam said.

http://www.thehansindia.com/posts/index/2015-12-31/Hyderabad-scientist-develops-iron-rich-rice-196808

 

Govt’s rice procurement increases 31% to 18 MT

 

Higher figures due to fall in prices of common variety in mandis

By: Sandip Das | December 30, 2015 12:08 AM
Despite a prospect of a lower output this year because of a deficient monsoon, the rice procurement by Food Corporation of India (FCI) and state government-owned agencies in the kharif marketing season (2015-16) has seen a sharp increase of more than 31% so far in comparison to last year.The government agencies have purchased more than 18 million tonne (MT) of rice equivalent of paddy since October 1 (when new procurement season began) till Tuesday, compared to 13.76 MT rice purchased from  farmers during same period last year. Food ministry sources told FE that the higher procurement of rice is also attributed to fall in prices of common variety of rice in various mandis across the country.

“The farmers sold grain to government agencies rather than giving it the private traders in Punjab and Haryana, where procurement operations have completed,” an official said. Even basmati paddy prices is selling in the range of Rs 2,200 to Rs 2,800 per quintal in the mandis across Punjab and Haryana, while two years back the prices were around Rs 4,000 per quintal.

According to the latest data, of the total rice equivalent of paddy procurement in Punjab, the agencies have purchased 9.3 MT of rice from the farmers till now, thus surpassing even the target of 8.8 MT for the 2015–16 marketing season. In Punjab, which contributes the highest volume of rice and wheat to the central pool, 7.7 MT of rice was purchased during same period last year. In Haryana, state government agencies have purchased more than 2.8 MT of rice equivalent of paddy by now, thus surpassing the target of 2.3 MT set for the year. Other states which have commenced rice procurement include Uttar Pradesh (7.6 lakh tonne), Telangana (8.3 lakh tonne), Kerala (1.08 lakh tonne), among others. Even in Chhattisgarh, where the state government carries out the purchase of paddy from farmers, state agencies have purchased 1.7 MT of rice while in Odisha, more than 4 lakh tonne has been purchased till now.
Food ministry officials say that if the current trend continues, the overall rice procurement during the 2015–16 period would surpass the target of 30 MT. The agencies had purchased 32 MT of rice till in this period in the 2014-15 marketing year (October-September). Agencies buy paddy from the farmers, then the grain is given to millers for conversion into rice.  The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in June had increased the minimum support price (MSP) of the common variety of paddy by R50 to R1,410 per quintal for the 2015-16 kharif season. The hike in MSP was in line with the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP).Meanwhile, the food ministry has asked agencies in the decentralised procurement states Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha, and other non-traditional states Bihar and Jharkhand to maximise the procurement of rice and coarse grains during next marketing season.
First Published on December 30, 2015 12:08 am

S. Korea seeks rice supply-demand balance in 2018: gov't

2015/12/30 13:34
SEJONG, Dec. 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea is seeking a balance between the supply and demand of rice by 2018 through a gradual reduction in the size of paddies and expanding consumption, the government said Wednesday.The Ministry of Agriculture said it wants to reduce the amount of arable land set aside to grow rice from 799,000 hectares this year to 711,000 hectares in 2018. This is significantly smaller than the expected 749,000 hectares of paddies that would be in service even if no action is taken.

It said that in the next three years the government wants to increase annual per capita rice consumption to 58.1 kilograms. This is smaller than the 65.1 kg estimated for 2015, but higher than the 57.4 kg projected if no measures are taken.In addition to reducing the size of arable land and fueling consumption, the government will reduce the size of rice held in reserve from 1.63 million tons as of November 2015 to just 800,000 tons in October 2018. Smaller reserves translate into lower costs for the government that has to maintain them."There is a need to deal with imbalance in supply and demand," said Deputy Agriculture Minister Oh Kyung-tae. He pointed out that in the last 10 years, Asia's fourth largest economy on average produced 280,000 tons of rice per year more than it consumed.

"If no measures are taken it will still produce 240,000 tons of rice per year more than it needs," the official said.As part of this effort, the ministry said it will encourage farmers to raise non-rice produce on their lands, ask them to produce more high-quality, lower-yield grains, and get private-sector rice-producing plants to nudge farmers to follow state policy.To increase demand, the government will move to use more rice to make livestock feed and alcoholic beverages.In the past, when South Korea did not produce enough rice, such practices were not allowed.

To further increase demand, the government will support the export of processed food that uses rice as a base ingredient.In the move to lower rice reserves the government plans to release more grain for animal feed and lower prices of rice given to the socially disadvantaged.The agriculture ministry said that by taking such action, the government can save upwards of 300 billion won (US$256 million) on expenses and help stabilize the prices of the staple grain, which can help farmers.

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2015/12/30/0501000000AEN20151230004600320.html

Shipments of organic rice picking up steam

Wed, 30 December 2015
Cambodian rice millers and exporters are increasingly eyeing the export of organic rice to the European Union and the United States, after shipments of this niche product increased this year.Hean Vanhan, deputy general director of the general department of agriculture, said that organic rice exports were considerably small compared to export of other varieties of rice, with the Kingdom exporting only 2,800 tonnes for the first 11 months of the year. Exports for the more popular varieties of rice was close to 457,000 tonnes this year.“We cannot put much focus on organic rice because the yield of organic paddy is lower than normal rice,” he said. “And only farming organic rice will not give farmers much income.

”Vanhan said that given the higher cost of organic rice, there were only a few markets that could afford this rice, including the US and some EU members. He added that while it was assumed that organic rice was safe and healthy, other varieties sold by the Kingdom were equally safe.Amru Rice, one of the major rice exporters in Cambodia, started exporting organic rice this year and has so far shipped 1,100 tonnes to the EU and US. It sees potential in this new market, according to the firm’s CEO Song Saran.
A farmer harvests rice at a farm in Battambang province earlier this year. Heng Chivoan

“Cambodia has land and labour resources to grow organic rice,” he said, adding that his firm would look to increase shipments to 3,000 tonnes next year.He added that given the price of such rice was higher, almost $700 to $1,300 per tonne, farmers could see higher margins on these sales, around 20 to 30 per cent.Amru Rice is currently sourcing its rice from the Preah Vihear district, after signing a deal with eight farmer cooperatives in the province to purchase 2,500 tonnes of organic fragrant paddy rice.

As consumer and buyer confidence in Cambodia’s organic rice grew, Yang Phirom, a business adviser with the Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture, said exports had increased by 270 tonnes this year to 746 tonnes.“Consumers now trust the quality of our organic rice, which means that demand is increasing,” he said. “Not only in the international market, but also in the domestic market too.”While the domestic market accounted for 26 per cent of CEDAC’s rice sales so far this year, 34 per cent went to the US, 15 per cent to the Netherlands and 11 per cent to France.
Contact author: Cheng Sokhorng

Government announces measures to sell tonnes of stored paddy

The Paddy Marketing Board says that the measures are being taken to sell paddy stocks in state storage facilities.The measures come amidst plans to purchase paddy which is harvested in the Maha season.Board chairman M.B Dissanayake said that the Nadu in storage facilities will be sold off following advice provided. He noted that 250,000 metric tonnes of paddy are currently in storage facilities

Arkansas Farm Bureau Daily Commodity Report
Rice
High
Low
Long Grain Cash Bids
Long Grain New Crop


Futures:
High
Low
Last
Change
Jan '16
1175.5
1101.0
1166.5
+60.5
Mar '16
1203.0
1123.5
1193.5
+61.0
May '16
1215.0
1159.0
1222.0
+60.5
Jul '16
1237.0
1237.0
1249.5
+61.0
Sep '16
1222.5
1200.0
1237.5
+51.5
Nov '16
1240.0
+52.0
Jan '17
1240.0
+52.0

Rice Comment

Rice prices surged higher as prices broke though resistance near $11.50, and are poised to test resistance near $12. Today's technical rally will need some some fundamental support for prices to continue this rally.

Ukraine decreases imports of rice in 2015/16 season

KIEV: Since the beginning of the current season Ukraine has imported 21.7 KMT of rice. This is 19% less than during the same time period last year (26.8 KMT).This trend was triggered by increasing rice production in Ukraine in the 2015/16 season due to expansion of the planted area. In 2015 gross crop of rice was 34% higher than last year (58.9 KMT compared with 43.9 KMT in 2014).India and Pakistan still remain the major suppliers of rice to Ukraine. In July-November of the 2015/16 season their share in the total imports of rice to Ukraine equaled 72.5%.

http://www.customstoday.com.pk/ukraine-decreases-imports-of-rice-in-201516-season/

Select grains remain up on rising demand

 

Press Trust of India  |  New Delhi December 30, 2015 Last Updated at 14:57 IST
Amid rising demand from consuming industries and restricted supplies from producing regions, prices of select grains strengthened up to Rs 50 per quintal at the wholesale grains market today. 
However, non-basmati rice ended lower due to sluggish demand. Marketmen said increased demand from consuming industries in the face of restricted supplies from producing regions mainly kept select grains prices higher. They said, however, muted demand from retailers dragged down non-basmati rice prices. 

In the national capital, bajra and maize advanced by Rs 10 and Rs 30 to Rs 1,430-1,435 and Rs 1,720-1,740 per quintal, respectively. Jowar yellow and white also gained another Rs 50 each to Rs 1,650-1,750 and Rs 3,150-3,250 per quintal, respectively. Barley too edged up by Rs 10 to Rs 1,460-1,470 per quintal. 

On the other hand, non-basmati rice permal raw, wand and sela settled lower at Rs 1,925-1,975, Rs 2,150-2,200 and Rs 2,500-2,600 against last close of Rs 1,950-2,000, Rs 2,200-2,275 and Rs 2,750-2,850 per quintal respectively. 

Following are today's quotations (in Rs per quintal): 

Wheat MP (desi) Rs 2,000-2,600, Wheat dara (for mills) Rs 1,675-1,705, Chakki atta (delivery) Rs 1,705-1,720, Atta Rajdhani (10 kg) Rs 230, Shakti Bhog (10 kg) Rs 230, Roller flour mill Rs 880-885 (50 kg), Maida Rs 935-940 (50 kg) and Sooji Rs 1,040-1,045 (50 kg). 

Basmati rice (Lal Quila) Rs 10,700, Shri Lal Mahal Rs 11,300, Super Basmati Rice Rs 9,700, Basmati common new Rs 5,400-5,500, Rice Pusa (1121) Rs 4,100-4,800, Permal raw Rs 1,925-1.975, Permal wand Rs 2,150-2,200, Sela Rs 2,500-2,600 and Rice IR-8 Rs 1,700-1,720, Bajra Rs 1,430-1,435, Jowar yellow Rs 1,650-1,750, white Rs 3,150-3,250, Maize Rs 1,720-1,740, Barley Rs 1,460-1,470.
http://news.thaivisa.com/thailand/thai-cabinet-gives-green-light-to-increased-compensation-for-rice

Farmers benefit from duty hike on rice imports

 

Paddy prices have increased at the growers' end as rice imports slumped owing to a duty hike earlier this month."Both demand and prices rose in recent weeks. It allowed me to earn more than what I used to get a month ago," said Mohammad Mokhlesur, a farmer at Adamdighi in Bogra.He sold 50 maunds of swarna paddy, a relatively slimmer or medium variety of rice compared to the hybrid or coarse ones, at Tk 625 a maund, up from around Tk 600 a month ago. Prices of the thinner quality of paddy also rose, said millers and traders."The duty hike has benefitted me though the current prices will not bring me profits," the farmer said.
On December 8, the National Board of Revenue issued a notification, doubling the import duty on rice to 20 percent, in a bid to curb rice imports and protect the interest of the farmers.Rice imports plunged 65 percent to 2.04 lakh tonnes year-on-year in July-December of fiscal 2015-16. It was 14.9 lakh tonnes in fiscal 2014-15.The recent duty spike as well as good stocks at the government warehouses has had a negative impact on imports, said Nurul Islam, a rice miller and importer in Naogaon. On December 27, the stock of cereals at public storages stood at 15.08 lakh tonnes, which is 17 percent higher year-on-year, according to food ministry data. Rice accounted for 75 percent of total food grain stocks.
"Farmers are getting better prices for paddy than before, following the duty hike," Islam said.Md Layek Ali, general secretary of Bangladesh Auto, Major and Husking Mills Association, said purchases by millers to supply rice to the public godowns have also contributed to the recent paddy price hike.The government earlier announced to buy two lakh tonnes of aman rice this season at Tk 31 a kilogram from December 15 to March 16.The price is Tk 1 lower than the purchase price set last year, despite the fact that aman production costs increased from Tk 28 a kilogram last year to Tk 28.50 this year.
Nirod Boron Saha, a rice and paddy wholesaler and commission agent in Naogaon, said farmers would have got better prices had the government bought a higher quantity of rice.Aman accounts for 38 percent of the annual rice output. The Department of Agricultural Extension targeted to ensure a production of 1.35 crore tonnes of rice during the current aman season, up from an actual production of 1.31 crore tonnes last year.The government expects to meet the target for conducive weather, despite some early setbacks due to floods in the northern districts, according to a report by food planning and monitoring unit under the food ministry.
http://www.thedailystar.net/business/farmers-benefit-duty-hike-rice-imports-194245

Thai Cabinet gives green light to increased compensation for rice traders

 

By editor on 2015-12-30 Thailand
Cabinet gives green light to increased compensation for rice traders
BANGKOK, 30 December 2015 (NNT) – The Cabinet on Tuesday approved an increase in compensation for rice traders in 2016 by 204 million baht. It also decided to extend the Village Fund program to 3 March next year or until the program’s budget is depleted.
Government Spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha instructed all ministries to follow up on their projects and set periodic targets. They were also told to try to make the public see the results of their works clearly.The PM asked national security units to ensure the public’s confidence in transportation, travel, economy and safety during the New Year holiday.As for the drought situation, Gen.

Prayut acknowledged the country’s water information compiled by units in the district level. According to them, Thailand now has 21 billion cubic meters of water, of which 18 – 19 billion cubic meters are expected to be used by August – September next year. The 21 billion cubic meters are therefore considered as sufficient for the next dry season.The Cabinet stressed that a water use plan was necessary after the number of farmers who planted second-season rice did not decrease as expected.The Cabinet gave nods to the 204-million-baht increase in compensation for rice traders due to the speculation that next year’s rice price will be lower than 8,000 baht/ton.The Village Fund program will be extended to 31 March 2016 or until the 60-billion-baht budget is all used up so that potential villages will receive funding from the program.

National News Bureau of Thailand

 

Rice exports down in first 11 months

Thai rice exports were down about 10% by volume and value year-on-year in the first 11 months of 2015. (Photo by Pattanapong Hirunard)

Thai rice exports to the end of November this year were down 9.6% year-on-year to 8.6 million tonnes and the value down by 10.2% to US$4.1 billion, the Thai Rice Exporters Association said.The association expected Thailand would export about 1 million tonnes of rice in December, lifting the total for the year to about 9.6 million tonnes, Thai media reported.The association said foreign customers continued to order new and old rice, with continued demand for new rice for the Chinese New Year festival.Exporters were delivering rice to China, Indonesia and the Philippines under government-to-government  deals.The association also said Thai rice should become more competitive because the huge supply had cut prices and the baht was weaker.

APEDA Rice Commodity News

International Benchmark Price
Price on: 29-12-2015
Product
Benchmark Indicators Name
Price
Apricots
1
Turkish No. 2 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
4875
2
Turkish No. 4 whole pitted, CIF UK (USD/t)
4375
3
Turkish size 8, CIF UK (USD/t)
3625
Sultanas
1
Australian 5 Crown, CIF UK (USD/t)
2867
2
South African Orange River, CIF UK (USD/t)
2559
3
Turkish No 9 standard, FOB Izmir (USD/t)
1900
White Sugar
1
CZCE White Sugar Futures (USD/t)
843
2
Kenya Mumias white sugar, EXW (USD/t)
691
3
Pakistani refined sugar, EXW Akbari Mandi (USD/t)
506
Source:agra-net
For more info
Market Watch
Commodity-wise, Market-wise Daily Price on 29-12-2015
Domestic Prices
Unit Price : Rs per Qty
Product
Market Center
Variety
Min Price
Max Price
Rice
1
Manjeri (Kerala)
Other
2800
3800
2
Solapur (Maharashtra)
Other
2125
5150
3
Samsi (West Bengal)
Fine 
2790
2820
Wheat
1
Bangalore (Karnataka)
Local
2600
3200
2
Dahod (Gujarat)
Lokwan
1700
1860
3
Sainthia (West Bengal)
Other
1650
1670
Papaya
1
Aroor (Kerala)
Other
2400
2600
2
Barnala (Punjab)
Other
700
1000
3
Una (Himachal Pradesh)
Other
2000
2500
Onion
1
Barnala (Punjab)
Other
1100
1300
2
Jatni(Orissa)
Other
1400
1800
3
Vasai (Maharashtra)
Other
1000
1800
For more info
Egg
Rs per 100 No
Price on 28-12-2015
Product
Market Center
Price
1
Ahmedabad
444
2
Chittoor
421
3
Nagapur
400
Source: e2necc.com
Other International Prices
Unit Price : US$ per package
Price on 28-12-2015
Product
Market Center
Origin
Variety
Low
High
Onions Dry
Package: 40 lb cartons
1
Atlanta
Peru   
Yellow
24
26
2
Chicago
Washington  
Yellow
25
25
3
Dallas
California
Yellow
20
20
Cucumbers
Package: cartons film wrapped
1
Atlanta
Mexico
Long Seedless
14.50
14.50
2
Chicago
Canada
Long Seedless
19.50
19.50
3
Dallas
California
Long Seedless
14.50
15.50
Grapefruit
Package: 4/5 bushel cartons
1
Atlanta
Florida
Red
21
23.50
2
Chicago
Florida
Red
19.50
23
3
Miami
Florida
Red
25
56
Source:USDA

 

Transcriptional profiling of the leaves of near-isogenic rice lines with contrasting drought tolerance at the reproductive stage in response to water deficit.


BMC Genomics. 2015 Dec 29;16(1):1110. doi: 10.1186/s12864-015-2335-1.Moumeni A1, Satoh K2, Venuprasad R3,4, Serraj R5,6, Kumar A7, Leung H8, Kikuchi S9.

Author information

Abstract

 

BACKGROUND:

Drought tolerance is a complex quantitative trait that involves the coordination of a vast array of genes belonging to different pathways. To identify genes related to the drought-tolerance pathway in rice, we carried out gene-expression profiling of the leaves of near-isogenic lines (NILs) with similar genetic backgrounds and different set of QTLs but contrasting drought tolerance levels in response to long-term drought-stress treatments. This work will help differentiate mechanisms of tolerance in contrasting NILs and accelerate molecular breeding programs to improve drought tolerance in this crop.

 

RESULTS:


The two pairs of rice NILs, developed at the International Rice Research Institute, along with the drought-susceptible parent, IR64, showed distinct gene-expression profiles in leaves under different water-deficit (WD) treatments. Drought tolerance in the highly drought-tolerant NIL (DTN), IR77298-14-1-2-B-10, could be attributed to the up-regulation of genes with calcium ion binding, transferase, hydrolase and transcription factor activities, whereas in the moderate DTN, IR77298-5-6-B-18, genes with transporter, catalytic and structural molecule activities were up-regulated under WD. In IR77298-14-1-2-B-10, the induced genes were characterized by the presence of regulatory motifs in their promoters, including TGGTTAGTACC and ([CT]AAC[GT]G){2}, which are specific to the TFIIIA and Myb transcription factors, respectively. In IR77298-5-6-B-18, promoters containing a GCAC[AG][ACGT][AT]TCCC[AG]A[ACGT]G[CT] motif, common to MADS(AP1), HD-ZIP, AP2 and YABBY, were induced, suggesting that these factors may play key roles in the regulation of drought tolerance in these two DTNs under severe WD.

CONCLUSIONS:

We report here that the two pairs of NILs with different levels of drought tolerance may elucidate potential mechanisms and pathways through transcriptome data from leaf tissue. The present study serves as a resource for marker discovery and provides detailed insight into the gene-expression profiles of rice leaves, including the main functional categories of drought-responsive genes and the genes that are involved in drought-tolerance mechanisms, to help breeders identify candidate genes (both up- and down-regulated) associated with drought tolerance and suitable targets for manipulating the drought-tolerance trait in rice.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26715311

SC ruling against Bt Talong cripples food security, hurts farmers - science students

 
InterAksyon.com means BUSINESS
LOS BANOS, Laguna - The Supreme Court decision mandating the scrapping of field testing ofBacillus thuringiensis (Bt) eggplant is a blow for superstition and seriously undermines food security, industry and the livelihood of nearly half a million farmers, thousands of science students said in a statement.The same SC verdict also threw out Administrative Order No. 08, series of 2002 of the Department of Agriculture (DA) that spelled out the biosafety policy of the Philippine government on genetically-modified (GM) plants, according to the biotechnology, biology and medical students.

In a six-page statement, the University of the Philippines League of Agricultural Biotechnology Students (UPLabs) - supported by students from UP Diliman, UP Manila, the Rizal Technological University (RTU) and the Our Lady of Fatima University Quezon Campus (OLFUQC) - expressed dismay over the ruling on a petition for reconsideration on the issuance of a writ of kalikasan against the field testing of Bt eggplant.

They claimed the decision will punish farmers who have been losing up to 90 percent of their eggplants due to persistent attacks by fruit borers. The ruling will force them to apply pesticides at least 12 times on their vegetables to protect them.
Eggplant is the most popular vegetable in the country; its production volume is second only to tomatoes, which are actually fruits rather than vegetables.By applying the rule retroactively in contravention of  judicial practice, UP Labs warned that the corn industry is also taking a hit because at least 750,000 hectares of farms now produce Bt corn, which was commercialized in 2002.Once the importation of banned Bt corn seeds is imposed, the P90-billion corn industry will be in peril. The incomes of 415,000 farmers would be cut and the livestock and poultry industry will then have rely on imported feed.

Research by the Biotechnology Information Center of the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (Searca) shows practically 100 percent of the soyabean used for poultry feed is now GM.Earlier, several other leading entities expressed dismay over the SC decision, notably, the UP Los Banos Foundaiton, Inc. (UPLBFI), Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA), the Envirnmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA.)

UP Labs said the SC dcision favoring Greenpeace and Masipag, a group of scientists and farmers promoting traditional rice varieties and other crops through organic agriculture, “turns back the wheel of time” and sets back the goal of attaining food security.UP Labs noted also that while the Philippines stopped the field tests -  actually completed before Greenpeace attacked the field testing site in Laguna several years ago - “Bangladesh, a developing country, not only approved Bt eggplant testing but also permitted its commercialization. Bengallis have been consuming Bt eggplant since 2014. Since its market release, not a single case of harmful effects on humans and the environment has been reported.”
Today, Bengali farmers have cut the use of pesticides for their Bt eggplants anywhere from 70 percent to 90 percent and their incomes soared, a consequence attributed to their cultivation of  the GM eggplant, the UP Labs said.It noted as well that the Biosafety Regulatory Framework of Bangladesh was influenced by the Philippine Biosafety Guidelines of 1991, which called for approvals of biotech crops only if they are safe both as food and animal feed. This feature is not included in the US guidelines for the approval of biotech crops.UP Labs pointed out as well that there has not been a single case of toxicity or mortality traced to Bt corn cultivation anywhere in the Philippines the last 13 years. UP Labs expressed dismay over “the SC’s nullification of DA AO 08, series of  2002, the Biosafety Policy on GM Crops in the country.
 The expanded decision of the SC will be a major setback for the stakeholders in Philippine agriculture and industry,” UP Labs stressed.With the administrative order gone on the basis of the SC’s finding that it antedated Executive Order No. 514¸which was issued by President Arroyo to cover biotech products, UP Labs said the BPI would now be barred from issuing permits for the importation of plants and plant products derived from biotechnology, thus crippling the work of plant breeders  in both the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), as well as in academic institutions like UP Diliman and UPLB.

“We believe that the biosafety regulatory policy through DA AO 08-2002 is a workable, yet highly monitored protocol for processing products of modern biotechnology,” the students said.“In its 13 years of implementation parallel to the approval of Bt corn, no environmental and health problems from the production and consumption of the crop was reported. This was because before the approval, strict food and environmental safety tersts were conducted. Also, the safe use of Bt can be traced back to the 1920s. This product has also neen accepted by organic farmers for more than 50 years,” UP Labs stressed.

Its campaign to reverse the ruling against Bt Talong is supported by: Biology Majors Alliance of the Philippines (BMAP); UP College of Agriculture Student Council (UP CASC); UP College of Science Student Council (UP CSSC) in UP Diliman; UP School of Statistics Student Council, (UP Stat SC) in UP Diliman; Rizal Technological University College of Arts and Sciences Student Council (RTU CASSC); UP Agricultural Society (UP AgriSoc);  UP Los Baños Chemical Society (UPLB ChemSoc); UPLB Genetics Society (UPLB GeneSoc); UP Pabvlvm Scientia Sodalitas (UP PSS); UPLB DOST Scholars’ Society (UPLB DOST SS); UP Beta Kappa Fraternity (UP BK); UP Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Society (UP MBBS); UP Physician-Scientists Association (UP PSA)

Of UP Manila; RTU Organization of Biotechnology Students (RTU ORBITS); Our Lady of Fatima University-Quezon Campus League of Biology Enthusiasts (OLFU-QC LOBE), and; RTU Interactive Psychology Students Association (RTU IPSA.)
http://www.interaksyon.com/business/122072/sc-ruling-against-bt-talong-cripples-food-security-hurt
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