chilies help ease the pain -...
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www.avrdc.org P.O. Box 42, Shanhua, Tainan 74199, Taiwan Phone: (+886) 6 583-7801 Fax: (+886) 6 583-0009
7 May 2010
Madagascar progress on seed
systems: Benjamin Rakotoarisoa,
AVRDC Liaison Officer in
Madagascar, explains to reporters
how a thriving agricultural sector is
based on the ability of farmers to
access good quality seed.
Page 9
Is there anything else vegetables
can do? Add this to the list: Guide
researchers in developing new
treatments to block human pain at
its source, unlike opioid narcotics
that travel to the brain and affect
the central nervous system.
ScienceDaily reports in its 27 April
2010 edition that a substance
similar to capsaicin, the compound
that gives chili peppers their heat,
is generated at the site of pain in
the human body. Scientists at the
University of Texas Health Science
Center at San Antonio USA have
discovered how to block these
capsaicin-like molecules and create
a new class of non-addictive
painkillers.
"Capsaicin is an ingredient in hot
chili peppers and causes pain by
activating a receptor called
transient potential vanilloid 1
(TRPV1),” said Kenneth
Hargreaves, the senior investigator.
“We started out seeking the answer
to the question ‘Why is TRPV1
consistently activated in the body
upon injury or painful heat?’ What
we found was a family of capsaicin-
like molecules that are naturally
released during injury.”
A proven success --
again: A book
highlighting the work of
AVRDC and other
research and
development
institutions receives
award.
Page 2
Chilies help ease the pain
Vegetables: The best source
of micronutrients to combat
the “hidden hunger” of
malnutrition...a major
source of cash income and
a way out of poverty for
smallholder farmers
worldwide...a means to
provide jobs and promote
small businesses in rural
communities...
At the molecular level, humans and chili peppers share a similar trait, which may lead to a new class of non-addictive painkillers.
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TRPV1 resides on the membranes
of pain- and heat-sensing neurons.
When you eat a hot chili pepper,
you immediately feel a burning
sensation because the capsaicin, the
primary ingredient in the chili
pepper, has activated the TRPV1
protein in the pain neurons. In high
concentrations, capsaicin can cause
a burning effect on other sensitive
areas of the skin.
Sensory neurons were cultured
from two sets of laboratory mice,
including one set of animals in
which a gene was deleted or
"knocked out." Neurons from the
wild type (non-altered) mice were
sensitive to capsaicin. The neurons
of the knockout mice,
in which the TRPV1
gene was deleted,
were not sensitive to
capsaicin and were
used as the control.
The researchers
found that the non-
altered mice
neurons, in response
to 43° C heat in a
water bath, began to
create their own
natural capsaicins, which were later
identified as fatty acids called
oxidized linoleic acid metabolites
(OLAMs).
Linoleic acid is one of the most
abundant fatty acids in the human
body. Under conditions such as
inflammation or low blood
pressure, linoleic acid is rapidly
oxidized to form biologically active
metabolites. Hargreaves said the
data demonstrate that OLAMs
constitute a new family of naturally
occurring capsaicin-like agents, and
may explain the role of these
substances in many pain
conditions. This hypothesis
suggests that agents blocking either
the production or action of these
substances could lead to new
therapies and pharmacological
interventions for inflammatory
diseases, arthritis, and pain
associated with cancer.
ScienceDaily: http://www.sciencedaily.com/
releases/2010/04/100426181706.htm
Journal of Clinical Investigation: http://www.jci.org/articles/view/41678 (open access)
A proven success -- again
Millions Fed: Proven Successes in Agricultural Development has been
selected to receive the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association’s
prestigious Quality of Communication Award. The book, published by the
International Food Policy Research Institute, features “Counting on
Beans”—a chapter about AVRDC’s effort to improve mungbean and diversify
crop rotations and diets in Asia—written by Sundar
Shanmugasundaram, former AVRDC Deputy Director General –
Research, DG Dyno Keatinge, and current DDG-R Jackie Hughes. The
award will be presented at the 2010 AAEA Annual Meeting in Denver,
Colorado USA from 25-27 July 2010.
http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/millionsfedbooklet.pdf
Millions Fed presents 20 success stories illustrating how policies, programs, and investments in pro-poor agricultural development have helped to substantially reduce hunger across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
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The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity
(ACB) and its partners are
launching ASEAN Champions of
Biodiversity – a recognition
program for outstanding
achievements in biodiversity
conservation and advocacy in the
Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) region (Brunei
Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,
Philippines, Singapore, Thailand,
and Vietnam).
The program aims to generate
greater leadership, public, and
media awareness of the problems
facing the region’s rich but highly
threatened biodiversity by
recognizing outstanding
achievements of the private/
corporate sector, media, and youth
in biodiversity conservation and
advocacy; promoting corporate
social responsibility (CSR); and
enhancing linkages among
institutions.
Three awards will be given:
Business/Corporations –
Most Outstanding
Biodiversity Conservation
and/or Advocacy Project by a
Private Business/Corporation
Youth – Most Outstanding
Biodiversity Conservation
and/or Advocacy Project by a
Youth Organization
Media – Most Outstanding
Biodiversity Reportage by a
Media Organization
The program is co-sponsored
by the ASEAN Foundation
through the Japan-ASEAN
Solidarity Fund and the
European Union.
More information:
http://www.aseanbiodiversity.org
Champions of Biodiversity in Southeast Asia
3 CORNUCOPIA
Condolences
The management and staff of
AVRDC and our Asian Regional
Center in particular are deeply
saddened and shocked by the
tragic death of Tawrat Jamil, a
participant of the 27th Regional
Training Course in 2008. Tawrat
and two companions were shot
on 22 April 2010 by rebels while they were on the
way to attend a wedding ceremony in Chaparhar,
Eastern Afghanistan.
Tawrat Jamil earned his B.Sc. degree in Agronomy
from Nangarhar University, Nangarhar, Afghanistan,
in 2006 and worked as Vegetable Production and
Marketing Coordinator for USAID DAI/IDEA-NEW
Annual Horticulture Program, Afghanistan.
Our thoughts and prayers are with Tawrat’s family,
friends, and colleagues.
Tawrat Jamil assisted farmers in vegetable production and marketing. (top) A customer purchases high-quality cauliflower seeds at the Laghraan Farm Store. (center) Wholesalers supported with improved packaging. (bottom) A plug-seedling enterprise in Nangarhar.
Photos: USAID
Promoting
horticulture in
Afghanistan
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4 CORNUCOPIA
Bei-ju Lin (林倍如),
research intern from
Evergrow Seed Co., Ltd.,
Shanhua, Taiwan arrived at
AVRDC headquarters on 26
April 2010 for one month of
training. Bei-ju will study
methods for plant virus
detection and identification
using ELISA and PCR
(begomoviruses), seed disinfection (tobamoviruses), and
screening for virus resistance in Virology under the
supervision of Lawrence Kenyon, and screening for
resistance to bacterial wilt and bacterial spot (pathogen
maintenance, inoculation technique, disease rating) in
Bacteriology under the supervision of Jaw-Fen Wang.
Contact Bei-ju at ext. 452, e-mail: [email protected]
Welcome
Duc Hung Tang, research
intern from Southern Seed
Joint Stock Company,
Vietnam arrived at AVRDC
headquarters on 2 May 2010
for two months of training.
Hung Duc will work on
breeding tomato resistant to
TYLCVD and bacterial wilt
and evaluation of tomato for
important fruit qualities and horticultural traits under
the supervision of Peter Hanson in Tomato Breeding.
Contact Duc Hung at ext. 375, e-mail:
Sujin Lee Mi Kyung Han
Mi Kyung Han and Sujin Lee, research interns from
Korea’s Han Kyung University and Seoul National
University, respectively, arrived at AVRDC on 3 May
2010 for six months of training. Both are sponsored by
the Rural Development Administration (RDA), Korea
under the RDA 2010 Oversea Agricultural Intern
Program.
Mi Kyung will work on development of environmental
friendly substances to control bacterial wilt and late
blight of tomato under the supervision of Jaw-fen Wang
in Bacteriology, while Sujin will work on establishing
screening protocols for cucurbit downy mildew and
powdery mildew resistance under the supervision of
Jung-Sup Lee in Mycology.
Contact Mi Kyung at ext. 452,
e-mail: [email protected] and
Sujin at ext. 343,
e-mail: [email protected]
Lydia Wu Global Technology Dissemination
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5 NEWS FROM THE REGIONS
Big splash at Asian Regional Center
Kasetsart University’s
Tropical Vegetable Research
Center (TVRC) and AVRDC’s
Asian Regional Center soaked
up the atmosphere during the
Songkran Festival on 2 April 2010
in Kamphaeng Saen.
Songkran, Thailand’s traditional
New Year's celebration (from 13 to
15 April this year), comes at the end
of the dry season during the hottest
time of the year in Thailand. People
douse each other with water to
celebrate—and cool off.
The practice of throwing water
originated as a way to pay respect
to others. People collected water
that had been poured over statues
of Buddha for cleansing, and then
using this "blessed" water to give
good fortune to elders and family
members by gently pouring it on
their shoulders.
The activity at Kamphaeng Saen
started with Buddhist monks
chanting for the happiness of all,
followed by lunch for the monks
served by the senior staff of KU and
AVRDC, including Tanu
Pinyopummintr, Assistant to the
President for Education and
International Affairs, Kasetsart
University. KU and ARC staff
sprinkled water on the hands and
shoulders of Sirukul Wasee and
Krung Sitadthani (Director and
Plant Breeder of TVRC,
respectively) and Robert Holmer
(Regional Director, AVRDC Asian
Regional Center).
After the official ceremony, more
water was sprinkled and poured on
and over everyone to emphasize
good wishes for the new year. “I’ll
bring a second set of clothes for
Songkran 2011!” said one very wet
Robert Holmer.
Top: The well-soaked ARC team.
Bottom left: Offering gifts to monks.
Center left: Preparing food for monks.
Center right: Pouring water on Buddha statue. Center bottom: Robert Holmer receives good wishes from a member of the field staff. Right: A very wet Robert turns the hose on Sirikul Wasee.
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6 NEWS FROM THE REGIONS
Time for reflection at Regional Center for South Asia
Since 2008, AVRDC and NARS
partners have found success in
drawing the attention and interest
of farmers in adopting vegetable
production technologies in Punjab
and Jharkhand, India. The Sir
Ratan Tata Trust-funded project,
“Improving vegetable
production and consumption
for sustainable rural
livelihoods in Jharkhand and
Punjab, India” has brought
farmers together during visits to
on-station and on-farm
demonstrations.
Annual review and planning
meetings play an important role in
successful project implementation.
At Punjab Agricultural
University (PAU), Ludhiana, 65
participants, including PAU and
SRTT staff, met on 26-27 April to
evaluate progress and map out
future activities for Punjab, where
nethouse technology is gaining in
popularity. At Birsa Agricultural
University (BAU), Ranchi in
Jharkhand, 25 participants
including BAU and SRTT staff,
convened on 29-30 April. M.L.
Chadha, Director, AVRDC
Regional Center for South Asia,
Jaw–fen Wang, AVRDC
Participants of annual review and planning meeting held at PAU, Ludhiana, Punjab.
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7 NEWS FROM THE REGIONS
M.L. Chadha Director, Regional Center for South Asia [email protected]
Pathologist and Global Theme
Leader – Production, and RCSA
and project staff based at both sites
participated in the meetings.
Partners highlighted the milestones
achieved against the set targets,
discussed problems encountered,
and planned next steps to achieve
and exceed targets set for year 3. In
Jharkhand, three new NGOs have
joined the project to help scale up
activities and reach more farmers.
Participants of annual review and planning meeting held at BAU, Ranchi, Jharkhand.
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8 NEWS FROM THE REGIONS
New initiative for food security and nutrition in Africa
Australia recently launched a
Global Food Security Initiative
to support agricultural research for
development to improve food
security and human nutrition in
Africa. To that end, grants were
awarded to BecA (Biosciences
Eastern and Central Africa) and
CORAF/WECARD (West and
Central Africa Council for
Agricultural Research &
Development) to support
biosciences research and
development and related capacity
building activities in their
respective regions. A consultative
workshop to design the research
program was organized by BecA on
26-27 April 2010 at the
International Livestock Research
Institute (ILRI) in Nairobi. The
workshop brought together 23
scientists and experts from nine
African and Australian institutions
to identify key priorities and issues
within the research theme of food
security and human nutrition.
Christophe Kouamé, AVRDC
Liaison Officer in Cameroon, gave a
presentation on the importance of
indigenous vegetables for human
nutrition in Africa. Participating
institutions were: AusAid, Australia
Commonwealth Scientific and
Industrial Research Organisation
(CSIRO), NARES Kenya,
International Potato Center (CIP),
Association for Strengthening
Agricultural Research in Eastern
and Central Africa (ASARECA),
ILRI, BecA, CORAF/WECARD, and
AVRDC – The World Vegetable
Center.
Christophe Kouamé, AVRDC Liaison Officer in Cameroon [email protected]
Participants of the consultative workshop, “Partnership on Food Security and Human Nutrition in
Africa.”
Where the undernourished live
This map shows countries resized
relative to their undernourished
population. Addressing the needs of
small-scale farmers can help bring
better nutrition to their families and
communities.
Source: Worldmapper, 2009
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9 NEWS FROM THE REGIONS
Seeds of progress in Madagascar
Reporters interview Eddy Randrianatsimbazafy, the chairman of AMPROSEM. Developing a strong seed sector in Madagascar will lay the foundation for a thriving agricultural sector in the island nation of 20 million people.
AVRDC’s Liaison Office in
Madagascar, in collaboration with
the Malagasy Association of Seed
Production (AMPROSEM), hosted a
workshop on implementing a
national seed strategy on 21 April
2010. Fifty-eight participants met to
assess the current situation in
Madagascar’s vegetable seed system,
set priorities for seed production,
marketing and distribution, and
identify areas for action for
remainder of 2010. They
represented 15 public institutions,
20 private-sector businesses
(including producers and resellers),
14 associations and NGOs, and 9
farmer groups. AMPROSEM Chair
Eddy Randrianatsimbazafy
welcomed the group and the
workshop was officially opened by
Mina Tsiriarijao Randrianarisoa,
representing the Ministry of
Agriculture.
AVRDC vBSS Liaison Officer
Benjamin Rakotoarisoa gave a
presentation, as did the
AMPROSEM Chair, the Head of
Seed Regulatory Service (SOC), a
representative of the Food and
Agriculture Organization (FAO),
members of the private sector
including Vegetable Seed
(SEMANA), Ambodifasina Seed
(SEEDFAS), Agriculture and
Equipment (MATAGRI), Dominique
Seed (DOM), and a representative
from a farmer’s organization.
Presentations focused on the actual
situation of seed production by
sector; the seed market, which is still
dominated by the informal system;
and the current seed regulatory
environment. An achievable action
plan was drafted and participants
agreed to take up their
responsibilities and report regularly
to assess progress.
Benjamin Rakotoarisoa, vBSS Project NBU Liaison Officer for Madagascar [email protected]
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