Feed world news
GM rice could protect
poultry from AI‚ say
Chinese scientists
Scientists from the Chinese University
of Hong Kong say they have created
genetically modified rice that can protect
poultry against bird flu.
According to a report in SeedQuest,
the rice is modified using a gene from the
Chinese plant Yuzhu, which is used in traditional medicine. The Chinese scientists have
already shown that a protein found in Yuzhu is
a strong inhibitor of the bird flu virus H5N1.
In January, Samuel Sun Sai-ming, a
plant scientist and leader of the team, announced that his group had successfully
introduced the gene into the rice — and
that the modified rice also inhibits H5N1.
To test the effect further, they plan to
compare the antiviral powers of the GM
rice that has produced the protein with
protein isolated directly from Yuzhu.
After that, the next step will be to conduct animal testing to see whether the
protein can provide resistance to H5N1
infection, said the scientists. Ultimately, the
teams said they hope that birds fed the rice
could be protected from the virus without
the need for vaccination. “If the level of the
introduced anti-H5N1 Yuzhu protein present
in the transgenic rice is high enough, the
antiviral effects of the ‘modified rice’ may be
expected to be significant,” said Sun.
However, the research faces several obstacles, one of which is safety. The toxicity of
both the bird flu virus and the newly created
rice need to be considered, Sun said.
“We do not have safety data for this
genetically modified rice,” said Paul Chan, a
microbiologist and member of the team.
Global biotechnology company Chr
Hansen acquired technology to fight E. coli,
Salmonella and Campylobacter in cattle and
poultry from GangaGen.
The technology meets an increasing demand for maximum food and human safety
from consumers worldwide.
“The bacteriophage technology we acquired aims at reducing the presence of E. coli,
Salmonella and Campylobacter contamination by 85-95%. We see this as a gigantic step
towards major improvements in the global food safety,” said Jan Kuhlmann, vice-president
of animal health & nutrition, Chr Hansen.
Products treating Salmonella and Campylobacter are in the development stage and will
be launched globally upon development and regulatory approval.
Initially, Chr Hansen plans to launch a product against E. coli in North America. Following
success, the product would be released in Australia, China and Europe.
Chr Hansen acquires GangaGen technology to fight E. coli
Novus appoints
sustainability officer
San Miguel announces
expansion plans
Novus International has
appointed Dr Joyce Cacho
as chief sustainability officer.
Her primary responsibility
will be managing, planning
and implementing Novus’
global corporate social re-
sponsibility programme and Dr Joyce
initiatives. Cacho
Prior to joining Novus, Dr
Cacho directed the Agribusiness Initiatives
Program of the Corporate Council in Africa.
“Joyce will work closely with Novus’ business managers to align corporate strategies and business unit actions with our
sustainability programmes,” said Thad
Simons, Novus president and CEO.
Walls Animal Nutrition to distribute
Scanbio marine proteins
Walls Animal Nutrition has been named the exclusive distribution coordinator in the United
States for Scanbio marine proteins and oils.
“With the addition of the Scanbio products to our rapidly growing product line, we are
able to provide a cost-effective alternative regarding proteins to the feed industry and our
customers around the world,” said Jess Walls, president of Walls Animal Nutrition.
San Miguel Corp (SMC), Southeast
Asia’s largest food and beverage group,
plans to spend nearly P10 billion (over $211
million) to boost its food and feeds facilities, and enter businesses like broadband
service and water supply.
San Miguel president Ramon Ang said
P4.89 billion of the P10 billion will be channelled to the expansion of Monterey’s hog
farms and another P3.37 billion to raise the
capacity of Magnolia Corp’s poultry farm.
The firm is allotting P840 million for the
expansion of its animal feeds business to
produce an additional 3. 8 million bags.
Ang said San Miguel is setting aside
P231 million to increase Purefoods-Hormel
Corp’s chicken nuggets line. Another P215
million will be spent for the construction of
a Magnolia ice cream plant.
Additionally, the company will soon
provide broadband and high-speed internet service using Meralco Broadband
over Power Lines (BPL), said Ang.
Ang said the company, through wholly
owned unit San Miguel Bulk Water Co, has
also submitted a $1.2 billion proposal to the
Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage
System (MWSS) for the development of
the Laiban Dam in Tanay, Rizal.
