The Genetic Improvement of Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) Project launched in 1988 has created a massive impact. The keys to success are the right selection of specie, investment in R&D, successful dissemination and partnership strategy. Although challenges still lie ahead, the GIFT project undoubtedly opened up a path to fight the global hunger and poverty through aquaculture.
Background
Since the Green Revolution took place in the 1970s, genetic improvement of plants and livestock has played an important role in eradicating global poverty and hunger. As fish accounts for 20 percent of animal protein intake in the poor countries, scientists started to apply these techniques on aquaculture at the same time. A series of research results showed the high potential of the genetic improvement of tilapia. In 1988, the WorldFish Center (at that time ICLARM) cooperated with the Norwegian Institute of Aquaculture Research (AKVAFORSK), the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Philippines and two Universities in the Philippines, and launched the GIFT project. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) provided funding and technical assistance since the beginning, followed by other participant institutions.
Outcomes
The project conducted an extensive research on the genetic characters of the existing farming tilapia strains in the Philippines. By using selective and breeding and other genetic improvement technologies, the project bred a new strain and named it the GIFT fish.
By the end of donor support in 1997, GIFT project had selectively bred nine generations of fish. Each new generation is better in size, yield per year, surviving rates and other performance than the former one. The final...
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...ew technology without adequate intervention might lead to a wider technical gap between the smallholders and industrialized aquaculture companies. After the GIFT project ended, it was transferred to a private company, which continued the development of GIFT and GIFT related strains. The commercialization of the techniques might further limit the access of fish seeds for the smallholders.
Besides, the evaluation for the socio-economic impact of the GIFT project is limited. Most research focus on the technological achievement and cost-benefit analysis. Few discussions address the project’s effect on the smallholders and the poor.
Conclusion
To conclude, the GIFT project plays an important role in aquaculture. It’s breakthrough in genetic improvement and dissemination through international and multidisciplinary partnership have created a role model for the world.
In this entertaining, search into global fish hatcheries, New York Times writer Paul Greenberg investigates our historical connection with the ever changing ocean and the wild fish within it. In the beginning of the book Paul is telling his childhood fishing stories to his friends, that night Paul discovers that that four fish dominate the world’s seafood markets in which are salmon, tuna, cod, and bass. He tries to figure out why this is and the only logical answer he could come up with is that four epochal shifts caused theses wild fish population to diminish. History shows that four epochal shifts happen within fifteen years causing certain fish species populations to diminish. He discovers for each of the four fish why this happened to
After rigorous evaluations of the extensive data submitted by AquaBounty Technologies by the scientists at FDA. FDA says that the genetic engineering is safe for the fish and for consumption as the inserted genes will remain stable over several generations of fish.
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Shark slaughter has led to shark populations being rapidly decimated all around the globe. Fishermen report that sharks are also getting smaller because they are not being given enough time to fully mature. Although there are other fish that are targeted more than sharks, they are not exactly affected by the kind of endangerment that sharks are currently experiencin...
U.S. Food And Drug Administration (2013, July 23). An overview of Atlantic salmon, its natural history, aquaculture, and genetic engineering. Retrieved May 1, 2014, from http://www.fda.gov/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/VeterinaryMedicineAdvisoryCommittee/ucm222635.htm
In the 1950s’ the Nile perch was introduced into Lake Victoria. The introduction of this fish caused nearly 200 endemic species in Africa to go extinct (Cite). 25 years later the population of this fish boomed. The Nile perch feeds off of fishes, insects, crustacea, and
The rainbow trout are found to be remarkable species. Evidence of their ability to adapt and to use their traits have been evidently advantageous, increasing their ability to survive during development and migration. It is evident they are not able to reproduce without spawning, and without migration they cannot spawn. This concludes that as a result of evolution, their environmental instincts and physical maturation, they have been able to adapt. Regardless of natural selection and predators, it is evident that because of their traits that have been able to survive the longest.
been constrained (Watanabe et al. 2005). The primary purpose of current red snapper culture is
When lower members of the tribe receive wealth from the rich gift givers, the separation of class among the tribes become more even out and equally disbursed. In a political sense, the gift giving of the potlaches can become competitive. While gaining prestige, gift givers are also gaining political
Most of the foods that we consume from grocery stores are products of artificial selection in which humans breed select animals or plants together because of their desirable traits that we see as useful and beneficial. However, genetically modifying a food is a process that is completely different. For GM salmon, scientists are inserting the growth gene from the Pacific Chinook salmon and a switch-on gene from the Ocean Pout into the fertilized eggs of Atlantic salmon ("Clarified: What does," 2010). The Pacific Chinooks growth genes will allow the genetically altered salmon to grow to its full adult size in half the time, while the Ocean Pout switch-on gene will allow it to grow during the winter and summer months ("Clarified: What does," 2010). Ultimately, instead of waiting approximately 36 months to reach their eight-pound market ready weight, we would only be waiting 18 months, allowing the GM salmo...
...ed. Thus, the problem of food shortages in third world countries can be solved by modifying plant genes that positively affect the quality of life of many people.
As the number of people who are starving increases each day, many leaders and organizations throughout the world are looking for a solution to this global crisis. According to John Robbins, the founder of Earth Save and co-founder/president of the Food Revolution Network, “Nearly a million children die every year because they are weakened by vitamin A deficiency and an additional 350,000 go blind. Golden rice … will be a godsend for the half of humanity…” (Robbins). Genetic engineering could be the fix for this issue. Genetic engineering would allow for rice to be produced in mass quantities for a less expensive price than regular rice. Moreover, if genetic engineering of beef cows were to be pursued, it would allow for more beef to be produced per cow; this would allow people who are hunger stricken to get a well-rounded diet. Although critics of genetically modified crops argue that this might not be the healthiest solution to ending world hunger, these crops have been approved as safe by the Food and Drug Administration. Also, these crops would be a great supplement for people who need food immediately and do not have the resources to go and find a healthier source of
Overfishing is the most major problem related to oceans, but it is also the most overlooked. Fishing has been going on for thousands of years, and fish have always been seen as a renewable resource, that would replenish itself forever for our benefit. But around the world there is evidence that fish are not recove...
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When I come to America, I think the most important and meaningful gift is that my mother send it to me. The reason my mother send it to me as a birthday gift because she thinks this scarf bring the luck for me. When I was 18 years old, my mother sent it to me and at that time, when I was really surprised of all the decoration in my birthday party, then my mother showed this gift to me. I was deeply moved at that moment. Everyone knows that 18 years old is the beginning of a new life. Therefore, my mother told me she hoped me could feel happy everyday and live delighted everyday. I suppose this birthday means a lot in my life. Not only because this scarf is so fashionable and unique, but also this is my 18 birthday’s gift which I received from my mother. When winter comes, I always wear this scarf everywhere. Every time when I feel down or depressed, my mother words and this scarf will remind me feel brief and confidence. This is why I think this scarf is so meaningful to me.