b"A look at seed industry developments around the globe.the government can do moreany royalty payment. Customs Service, Nationalflower, rapeseed, and peanut, by educating farmers on howAdditional funding forAgricultural Seed Council,already have a high percent-to use the sticker labels. breeding programs from roy- Nigeria Agriculturalage of oil in their seeds.In addition, there is aalties would help incentivizeQuarantine Service, NationalThis innovation can help need to review the Seeds andthe development of new andBiotechnology Developmentthe world in its quest for sus-Plants Act of 2012 to make theimproved pasture and arableAgency, Open Forum ontainability, helping to reduce fines for offenders more puni- genetics for farmers and cropAgricultural Biotechnology,the amount of arable land tive, the report stated. end users. African Union Developmentneeded for oil-yielding crops Source: The Star Kenya Chin observed thatAgency-NEPAD(AUDA- while increasing the yield to breeding new varieties withNEPAD), Program formeet the worlds growing improved traits such asBiosafety Systems, Universitydemand for vegetable oil, STATUS NEW ZEALAND increased yield, more nutri- of Abuja, Federal Competition,especially when facing effects New Zealands industry bodytional quality, or better resist- Consumer Protectionof climate change. for plant breeders has wel- ance to disease and pestsCommission, amongst others. Lead scientists Associate comed the passage of therequires substantial invest- According to the DirectorProfessor Gao Yonggui and Plant Variety Rights Bill. Thement of financial resources,General-CEO of the NBMA,Assistant Professor Ma Wei PVR Bill, replaces legislationadding that it can take up toRufus Ebegba, the newlysaid their method can also first designed in 1987, was10 years to develop a newadopted document will guideaid the agri-food industry in passed by the Parliament onvariety for commercial release. the NBMA in the evaluationaddressing United Nations Nov. 16. Source: New Zealandof biosafety applications forsustainable development After many years of lob- Plant Breeding & Researchgenetically modified cropsgoals, since vegetable oil is an bying our domestic plant lawsAssociation with multiple genes, to ensureessential part of the human have been finally broughtthat the products from thisdiet and used extensively in into line with the Internationaltechnology are safe for humanfood processing.Union for the ProtectionSTATUS NIGERIA consumption and the envi- The global market for plant of New Varieties of PlantsNigerias biotechnology andronment. He stated that theoils is estimated to be worth conventionalso known asbiosafety stakeholders vali- guidelines are to ensure that$241.4 billion in 2021 and is UPOV 91, said Thomas Chin,dated and adopted nationalthe genes that are insertedexpected to increase to $324.1 Plant Breeding & Researchguidelines on the regula- into these GM products conferbillion by 2027, according to Association general manager. tion of genetically modifiedthe expected benefits with noindustry estimates. The team Plant breeders are lookingplants with stacked genes,increase in risk compared toexpects that their method to take up the benefits underon 25 July 2022 in Abuja. Thetheir conventional counter- will have economic impact if UPOV 91 as soon as possi- objective of these guidelinesparts. adopted by industry players.ble as it gives rights holdersis to provide guidance andSource: African UnionFood and Agriculture strengthen protections toinformation on the risk assess- Development Agency Organization of the United safeguard their intellectualment and risk managementNations (FAO) Expert property. For New Zealandrequirements and proceduresConsultant on novel foods, growers' access is opened to afor plants with geneticallySTATUS SINGAPORE NTU Michael Fam Chair greater range of new varie- modified (GM) stacked eventsScientists from NTUProfessor William Chen, gave ties which may assist theirthrough traditional breedingSingapore have successfullyhis independent views, saying competitive position in worldor molecular techniques. Genebioengineered an importantthat more advanced technolo-agricultural markets. Stacking refers to the combi- protein in plants to increasegies to grow more food with One significant reformnation of two or more genesthe yield of oil from their fruitshigher nutrition value such as area sees the law clarify theof interest in the genome of aand seedsa holy grail forthis, is required to increase practice of farm saved seedsingle plantthe global agri-food industry. food security and tackle world and for regulations to enableThe guidelines wereTheir patent-pendinghunger.breeders to obtain royaltiesadopted during a deliberationmethod can increase oil con- Source: Nanyang from farmers who save andmeeting that brought togethertent in seeds by 15-18%, whichTechnological University SWreplant seed of protectedofficials of the Nationalis a significant improvement varieties. The use of non-pro- Biosafety Managementsince major oil-producing prietary varieties will not incurAgency (NBMA), Nigeriacrops such as soybean, sun-82/ SEEDWORLD.COMJANUARY 2023"