Quote of the Week: Today's market is "totally manipulated" by the major economic and political powers, "is blind to the poor, who have needs but do not represent demand, blind to the future generations who are not present, and blind to creation, to life" - Jos' Lutzenberger, former environment minister of Brazil
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QOD: "the benefits of biotechnology are innumerable and clearly visible... The benefits of biotechnology percolate to every section and institution of the society ó it is sheer bliss for all." ó India's business paper 'The Economic Times'

1. gene bonanza from UK's corporate take over
2. Bio-hype in the south
3. Great bio-treasure hunt in Australia's barrier reef
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1. gene bonanza from UK's corporate take over

There's little public mandate for any of this but with Lord Sainsbury, with his biotech interests and commitment, as Science Minister, and the former excutive director of Zeneca, Peter Doyle, heading the BBSRC, it is only to be expected that more public monies will be poured down the biotech plug hole. Lord S had already previously secured the BBSRC 50m. extra over 3 years. For about 3-4 million quid (from Lord S) into New Labour's coffers, the biotech industry has had a pretty exceptional deal.
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PUSH FOR GENE RESEARCH
John von Radowitz, Science Correspondent, PA News
Press Association Newsfile February 1, 2001

British scientists and companies were today offered 33 million to help them exploit the benefits of gene discoveries. The award forms the biggest single research initiative from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). Scientists are being invited to apply for a share of the funding to investigate how new information about genes can improve human health and develop new industrial products. The initiative, called "Exploiting Genomics", is expected to run for three to five years. It was made possible by the BBSRC's increased allocation from the Government's science budget, announced last November.

Professor David White, director of science and technology at the BBSRC, said: "We are looking for research proposals that not only bring together the latest technologies in genetics, engineering, and information science, but which also address pressing industrial and policy needs, for example, in the areas of improving food safety, in overcoming bacterial resistance to antibiotics, and in developing new cell and gene-based treatments for disease."

As part of the package, the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs Department will be supporting research at its sponsored research institutes. Applications are expected broadly to fall within three areas: healthcare and pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food and the environment, and manufacturing and new technologies.
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2. Bio-hype in the south

We have looked before at the way biotech is hyped in the south eg as a "panacea for hunger and poverty problemsî. Here's another  classic example, from the Indian business press, of the bio-fever that grips many in the political, business and science elites -- north and south
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Benefits of biotech
The Economic Times
Tuesday -- January 30, 2001
http://www.agbios.com/_NewsItem.asp?parm=neIDXCode&data=1490

THE BIOTECHNOLOGY revolution is strongly gaining momentum all over the globe. India is no exception, and the `biotech bug` has bitten it hard. This has been an undisguised blessing for the country ó the benefits of biotechnology are innumerable and clearly visible.

Be it agriculture, animal husbandry or medicine, biotechnology is all pervasive. The benefits of biotechnology percolate to every section and institution of the society ó it is sheer bliss for all.

However, biotechnology is as volatile as other technologies - a product gets outdated even before it is popularly accepted. India is still away from a stage when manufacturing of biotech products becomes rampant.

Thus, import of biotechnology has become imperative so that we can also make use of the latest biotech products in tandem with the global community.

The role of the government in encouraging growth of biotechnology cannot be ignored. Though it has revamped the regulatory procedures and clearance mechanisms for medical biotechnology products, one shall still have to see the extent to which they are implemented.

Import tariffs shall have to be slashed in a big way. That biotechnology is going to be the next `New Economyí is a known fact. Thus, the benefits of `biotech` are two-fold ó for the nationís health and for individuals` health.

Sanjay Khanna, New Delhi
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3. Great bio-treasure hunt in Australia's barrier reef
AUSTRALIA: February 1, 2001 [Reuters - shortened]

BRISBANE, Australia - Scientists, hunting cures for cancer and AIDS or ways  of harnessing nature to make sunscreen or pesticide, have turned their  attention to one of Australia's national treasures - the Great Barrier Reef.

The scientists from Australia's fledgling marine biotechnology industry are  trawling through the world's largest living structure in the hope of  unlocking a treasure chest of micro-organisms, venoms and naturally produced  chemicals.

For Joe Baker and others, the sea, where life began, is likely to contain  millions of undiscovered micro-organisms and ocean species with untold  medical and commercial potential.

"About 80 percent of all living things are in the sea, so whatever we have  found on land, you could say four times that is going to be in the sea, or  even more," Baker, chief scientist of the north-eastern state of Queensland,  told Reuters.

"In potential terms, the value is as great as the whole pharmaceutical industry is today - you are talking billions of dollars."