No description available.

<p>Due to the political, economic, and technological changes brought on by the processes of globalization, since the mid-1990s, civil society groups have increasingly chosen to target corporate actors. This thesis focuses on the circumstances under which civil society groups have chosen to target corporate actors in addition to and instead of states. How corporate actors respond to activist demands and the factors that shape how they approach corporate social responsibility and the environment are also examined. This thesis uses a political economic opportunity structure approach to understand the relationship between civil society groups and corporate actors. While activist networks are increasingly targeting corporate actors, they also continue to target the state to achieve their objectives. This two prong strategy has been effective for activist networks because it allows them to take advantage of weaknesses found in both political and industry opportunity structures. However, while the impact of activist networks is shaped by the structural environment in which they operate, activist networks also create new opportunities through the strategic use of frames and tactics to draw attention to and create support for the issues with which they are concerned. Two case studies involving the global environmental movement and corporate actors are examined in this thesis. The first case study focuses on a global network of activists opposed to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and the network’s interactions with states and a variety of corporations in their campaign to prevent the introduction of GMOs into the environment. The second case study examines the activities of a network of activists concerned about the environmental impacts of electronic waste (the e-waste network). The e-waste network sought to ensure the proper disposal of electronic waste and increase the sustainability of the electronics industry through the targeting of states and corporations.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Biotechnologies potentially have significant benefits for developing countries but many countries lack complete regulatory processes to allow their release. In evaluating the potential benefits of genetically modified crops, one must be able to measure the true cost of regulations in addition to the other costs associated with bringing the crop to market. The objectives of this paper are to (1) identify the direct costs of the regulation of Bt eggplant, Bt rice, ringspot virus resistant (PRSV) papaya and virus resistant tomatoes in the Philippines, and (2) estimate the opportunity cost of time lost in the regulatory process. The study compares the cost of regulations as they differ by factors such as the existence of previous studies on the product or the intention for export or domestic use. It is hypothesized that the costs are greater for products that are intended for export or human consumption or are produced by the private sector. It is also hypothesized that these factors increase the time to complete the regulatory process, therefore increasing the opportunity cost of time. This study evaluates the economic impact of the GMO regulatory process on the change in producer surplus, the net present value and the internal rate return using an economic surplus model. Scientists and other experts in the field of GMOs and regulation were interviewed to obtain the necessary data on the regulatory process. The evaluation was carried out for four different commodities in the Philippines, Bt Rice, Bt Eggplant, PRSV Papaya and MVR Tomato. The results for the open economy model revealed a change in producer surplus, as a result of the GMO research, of $418.3 million for Bt Rice and $353.7 million for PRSV Papaya. The closed economy model of Bt Eggplant has a change in producer surplus of $25.1 million and a change in total surplus of $40.8 million while the result for the change in producer surplus for MVR Tomato is $19.3 million and the change in total surplus is $51.6 million. A sensitivity analysis of the results was then carried out in which the elasticity of supply, the cost of regulation, and the release date were each varied in order to show the welfare impact of such changes. The sensitivity analysis revealed limited changes in surplus when elasticity and regulatory costs were changed. However, changing the date of release or commercialization resulted in monumental changes in surplus. / Master of Science

Beef cattle are continuously selected for different traits and the success in improving these traits has been remarkable. However, for certain traits, it is essential not only to improve the average performance, but also to control the variation around the mean. There is evidence that residual variance may be under genetic control, which opens the possibility of selecting for uniformity. In this sense, the objectives of the present dissertation were: 1) to investigate the extent of genetic heterogeneity of residual variance at the pedigree level in birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW), yearling weight (YW), foot angle (FA), and claw set (CS) in American Angus cattle; 2) to compare the results of different genetic heterogeneity models; 3) to evaluate the effectiveness of Box-Cox transformation in continuous traits; and 4) to address limitations and explore alternative solutions for implementing genetic parameters for residual variance in genetic evaluations. The first study investigated the genetic heterogeneity of residual variances for BW, WW, and YW. Three models were compared: a homoscedastic residual variance model (M1), a double hierarchical generalized linear model (DHGLM, M2), and a genetically structured environmental variance model (MCMC, M3). The results showed significant genetic heterogeneity of residual variances in growth traits, suggesting the possibility of selection for uniformity. The genetic coefficient of variation for residual variance ranged from 0.90 to 0.92 in M2 and 0.31 to 0.38 in M3 for BW, 0.64 in M2 and 0.01 to 0.29 in M3 for WW, and 0.67 to 0.63 in M2 and 0.25 to 0.31 in M3 for YW. Low heritability estimates for residual variance were found, particularly in M2 (0.08 for BW, 0.06 for WW, and 0.09 for YW). The study identified both negative and positive genetic correlations between mean and residual variance, depending on the trait and data transformation. Negative correlations suggest the potential to increase trait means while decreasing residual variance. However, positive correlations indicate that the genetic response to selection for uniformity may be limited unless a selection index is used. Data transformation reduced skewness but did not eliminate genetic heterogeneity of residual variances. The Bayesian approach provided higher estimates of additive genetic variance for residual variance compared to DHGLM. Overall, the findings indicate the potential to reduce variability through selection and lay the groundwork for incorporating uniformity of growth traits into breeding goals. The second study focused on the genetic heterogeneity of residual variance for two foot conformation traits, FA and CS. Using 45,667 phenotypic records collected between 2009 and 2021, three models were compared: a traditional homoscedastic residual variance model (M1), a DHGLM (M2), and a genetically structured environmental variance model (M3). Results showed that heritability estimates for FA and CS means were within expected ranges, although lower in M2. Despite low heritability estimates for residual variance (0.07 for FA and 0.05 for CS in M2), significant genetic coefficients of variation were found, suggesting that selection on trait mean would also influence residual variance. Positive genetic correlations between mean and residual variance in M2 and M3 indicate that selection for uniformity is feasible, but may require additional strategies such as selection indices. The study highlights the potential of FA and CS as indicators for breeding programs aimed at improving production uniformity in beef cattle. Our findings suggest that selection for uniformity in growth and foot score traits in beef cattle may be limited by low heritability of residual variance and moderate to high positive genetic correlations between mean and residual variance. This was observed for most of the traits studied. To overcome these challenges, further research is needed, particularly to explore genomic information to improve the prediction accuracy of estimated breeding values (EBV) for residual variance. Although studies of uniformity using genomic data are limited, they have shown improved EBV accuracy for residual variance. Additionally, alternative methods for measuring uniformity, such as different uniformity or resilience indicators, should be considered, especially with advances in digital phenotyping. Precision livestock farming technologies that allow for extensive data collection on various production traits should be integrated into the development of new uniformity indicators. This dissertation provides valuable insights into the genetic heterogeneity of residual variance in American Angus cattle and highlights the complexity of selecting for uniformity while improving mean traits. Continued research with larger data sets, genomic information, and further methodological refinement will be critical to advance these findings to improve uniformity and productivity in beef cattle breeding. / Doctor of Philosophy / Uniformity in livestock breeding refers to the goal of reducing variability in certain traits within a livestock population to achieve more consistent and predictable outcomes. This is particularly important for traits that affect productivity, economic efficiency, animal welfare, and product quality. By achieving greater uniformity, producers can optimize management practices, improve marketability, and enhance the overall efficiency of animal production systems. Residual variance refers to the variation in traits that is not explained by known genetic or environmental factors. Recent research suggests that residual variance may be under genetic control, meaning that it is possible to select animals that not only have desirable traits, but also have less variability in those traits. Therefore, this dissertation investigates the genetic control of residual variance that may allow selection for uniformity in traits. The research focused on American Angus cattle and aimed to 1) investigate genetic heterogeneity of residual variance in traits, such as birth weight, weaning weight, yearling weight, foot angle, and claw set; 2) compare different genetic models; 3) evaluate the effectiveness of data transformations; and 4) address limitations in genetic evaluations. The first study examined genetic heterogeneity in growth traits using three models. It revealed significant genetic variability, suggesting the potential for selection for uniformity. The study found both positive and negative genetic correlations between trait means and residual variance, indicating varying potential for reducing variance while improving trait means. Data transformations reduced skewness but did not eliminate genetic heterogeneity. A Bayesian approach provided higher estimates of genetic variance than other methods. The second study focused on foot conformation traits with over 45,000 records. The study showed that despite low heritability for residual variance, there was significant genetic variation, indicating the possibility of altering residual variance through selection. Positive genetic correlations suggested that additional strategies, such as selection indices, may be needed to achieve uniformity in practice. Overall, the findings highlight the complexity of selecting for uniformity while improving average traits and underscore the need for further research, particularly using genomic data, to improve prediction accuracy. Integrating precision livestock farming technologies could help develop new indicators of uniformity, improving productivity and uniformity in beef cattle breeding.

Malaria wird durch den einzelligen Parasiten Plasmodium verursacht. Hierbei handelt es sich um einen obligat intrazellulären, eukaryotischen Erreger, der zum Phylum der Apicomplexa gehört. Apicomplexa zeichnen sich durch das einzigartige Vorhandensein eines ungewöhnlichen Plastids, genannt Apicoplast, aus. Die Exklusivität dieser Organelle und ihre metabolische Notwendigkeit für das Parasitenwachstum haben sie als attraktives pharmakologisches Ziel bestätigt. In dieser Arbeit wurden, unter Anwendung des Nagetier-Malariaerregers Plasmodium berghei, zwei verschiedene Aspekte von Apicoplast Proteinfunktionen untersucht. Zum Ersten wurde ein bislang unbeschriebenes Plasmodium Apicoplast Protein, Plasmodium-specific Apicoplast protein important for Liver Merozoite formation (PALM), charakterisiert. Drei voneinander unabhängige palm— Parasitenlinien, wurden durch zielgerichtete Gendeletion generiert. Die PALM Knockout-Mutanten entwickelten sich während eines Großteils des Lebenszyklus normal, jedoch war die Abgabe von Merozoiten in den Blutstrom und die Fähigkeit eine Blutstadien-Infektion zu etablieren signifikant beeinträchtigt. Experimentelle Immunisierung von Mäusen mit palm— Sporozoiten bewirkte einen starken und langanhaltenden Schutz gegen Reinfektion mit Malaria. Diese Ergebnisse lassen darauf schließen, dass Parasiten mit einem Arrest in den finalen Schritten der Bildung von Leberstadien-Merozoiten einen Vorteil gegenüber genetisch attenuierten Parasiten der ersten Generation haben, die in der frühen Leberstadienentwicklung arretiert sind. Zum Zweiten wurden die sechs Nucleus-kodierten Komponenten der [Fe-S] Cluster Biosynthese im Apicoplast systematisch durch experimentelle Genetik analysiert. Insgesamt zeigen meine Studien, dass bisher unbekannte Ziele im Plasmodium Apicoplast für Interventionsstrategien gegen Malaria geeignet sind. / Malaria is caused by Plasmodium, an obligate intracellular eukaryotic pathogen that belongs to the phylum Apicomplexa. Apicomplexan parasites harbor an unusual plastid organelle, termed apicoplast. Because this unique organelle is indispensable for parasite growth it is a validated and attractive drug target. Using the rodent malaria parasite Plasmodium berghei, two different aspects of apicoplast protein functions were analyzed in this study. Firstly, a previously uncharacterized Plasmodium apicoplast protein, Plasmodium-specific Apicoplast protein important for Liver Merozoite formation (PALM), was investigated. Three independent palm— knockout parasite lines were generated by targeted gene deletion. While the resulting knockout mutants developed normally for most of the life cycle, merozoite release into the blood stream and the ability to establish an infection was severely impaired. Experimental immunization of mice with palm— sporozoites elicited unprecedented potent and long-lasting protection against malaria re-infection. The results indicate that a tailor-made arrest in the final steps of hepatic merozoite formation could be an improvement over first-generation early liver-stage genetically arrested parasites (GAPs). Secondly, the six nuclear-encoded components of the apicoplast [Fe-S] cluster biosynthesis pathway were systematically targeted by experimental genetics. Together, my studies show that the Plasmodium apicoplast harbors previously unrecognized targets for anti-malaria intervention strategies.

No description available.

Abstracts in English, Xhosa and Zulu / This quantitative study explores procedural knowledge, perception of GM food products and factors that influence the purchasing decision of 326 respondents by means of a questionnaire. Recruitment of the respondents was done by approaching various businesses and Schools in Mooi River to which the questionnaire was distributed to their respective personnel. The respondents’ showed that they were not very knowledgeable of GM food products, but were not particularly ignorant either. The results also showed that they did not look for any GM-related information from various sources and believed that scientists were the most credible source of GM-related information. In general, the respondents did not perceive GM food products as having any nutritional benefits; did not perceive GM food products to provide an economic benefit, except to increase food supplies by boosting the economy through the implementation of biotechnology; and perceived longer shelf life as a beneficial GM food product quality. The respondents also feared the susceptibility to cancer, toxicity, allergic reactions, alterations in kidney functions, immune malfunction and especially infertility problems after consumption of GM food products. The respondents did not show particular fear towards the ethical aspects of GM food products, except in that GM food products are produced in an unethical manner. Fear was also not shown towards the consumption aspects of GM food products including scepticism towards the safety GM food products and possible threats to living things. The respondents indicated that increased food supplies through the production of GM food products, possible cancer development after consumption, allergenicity, reduced usage of pesticides and harmful effect on the environment were GM-related factors that would influence their purchasing decision of GM food products. The general GM-related barriers that influenced the respondents purchasing decision of GM food products included not looking out for GM food products in particular, knowing too little about GM food products, not having a particular interest in GM food products and never knowing if a product contains a GM component or not. / Esi sifundo, nesiqhutywa ngokuqwalasela amanani ezenzeko, saphanda ngolwazi lwendlela ebonwa ngayo inkqubo yeemveliso zokutya zeGM (iimveliso ezinyangwe ngobuchule obaziwa ngelesiNgesi elithi genetically modified) kwakunye neemeko eziphembelela izigqibo zokuthenga ezi mveliso, zigqibo ezo zathathwa ngabathathi nxaxheba abangama-326 nabathi baphendula uluhlu lwemibuzo. Ukuloba/ukurhwebesha abathathi nxaxheba kwenziwa ngokucela uncedo kumashishini nezikolo eziseMooi River. Abathathi nxaxheba baveza ukuba abanalwazi kakuhle ngeemveliso zokutya zeGM, kodwa banalo ufifana. Iziphumo zadiza ukuba azange baphande ulwazi olumalunga nonyango lweemveliso kwaye babekholelwa ukuba iingcali zenzululwazi zizo ezaziyimithombo yolwazi ethembekileyo malunga nalo mbandela. Ngokuthe gabalala, abathathi nxaxheba babengaziboni ziluncedo kwisondlo okanye kuqoqosho ezi mveliso zokutya zeGM, kwaye babelindele ukuba ezi mveliso zandise ukutya okuveliswayo ngokukhuthaza ezoqoqosho ngokusebenzisa ubuchwepheshe bezendalo, (ibiotechnology). Babecinga ukuba uphawu oluluncedo lokutya okuveliswe ngeendlela zeGM kukuba kuhlala ixesha elide, akonakali msinya. Abathathi nxaxheba babesoyika ukuba bangasifumana lula isifo somhlaza, bangafumana ukutyhefeka kokutya, ukusoleka (iallergy), ukuchaphazeleka kokusebenza kwezintso, ubuthathaka bamajoni omzimba, okanye ubuthathaka benzala emva kokutya iimveliso zokutya zeGM. Abazange babonakalise uloyiko olumandla malunga nombandela weenqobo zesimilo ezayanyaniswa neemveliso zokutya zeGM, ngaphandle kokuba ezi mveliso ziveliswa ngendlela engenasimilo sisulungekileyo. Kwakhona, abazange babonakalise loyiko malunga nokutya iimveliso zokutya zeGM, bengazange bakrokrele ukungakhuseleki kwezi mveliso okanye ukuba yingozi kwazo kwezinye izidalwa. Abathathi nxaxheba baxela ukuba izigqibo zabo zokuthenga iimveliso zokutya zeGM zingaphenjelelwa kukucinga ngokwanda kokutya okuveliswayo, ukuvela komhlaza emva kokuzitya, ukusolwa, ukucutha ukusebenzisa izibulali zinambuzane kunye neziphumo ezinobungozi kwindalo esingqongileyo. Imiqobo jikelele engqamene nonyango lweGM neyaphembelela izigqibo zabathathi nxaxheba malunga nokuthenga iimveliso zokutya zeGM ziquka ukwazi kancinci ngeemveliso zokutya zeGM, kukungabi namdla kwiimveliso zokutya zeGM nokuba ubani angabi nalwazi lokuba imveliso ethile inalo na unyango lweGM okanye ayinalo. / Lolu cwaningo olugxile kwinani luye lwaphenya ulwazi olumayelana nolwazi lwengqubo, umqondo omayelana nenhlobo yokudla okuguquliwe (GM food) kanye nezinto ezinomthelela phezu kwesinqumo sokuthenga sabaphenduli bemibuzo abanga-326, lokhu kwenziwe ngokusebenzisa umbhalo oqukethe imibuzo. Abaphenduli bemibuzo batholwe ngokunxenxa amabhizinisi kanye nezikole ezihlukahlukene endaweni yaseMooi River. Abaphenduli bemibuzo bakhombisile ukuthi babenganalwazi ngemikhiqizo yokudla eguquliwe (GM), kanti laba baphenduli abazange bakhombise ukungabambisani nalolu cwaningo. Imiphumela iyakhombisa ukuthi abaphenduli abazange bafune ukuthola noma yiluphi ulwazi olumayelana Nokudla kwe-GM kwimithombo eyahlukahlukene kanti baye bakholwa ukuthi ososayensi bayimithombo yolwazi ethembekayo. Empeleni, abaphenduli abazange baqonde imikhiqizo yokudla kwe-GM njengokudla okunenzuzo yomsoco noma inzuzo yezomnotho kanti bebelidele le mikhiqizo ukuba yongeze inani lokudla elithunyelwayo ngokuxhasa umnotho ngokusebenzisa uhlelo lwe--biotechnology. Bakholelwa ekutheni umkhiqizo uhlale isikhathi eside emasheluvini, lokho okuyinzuzo kwikhwalithi yemikhiqizo yokudla kwe-GM. Abaphenduli baye besaba ukungenwa yisifo somdlavuza, ushevu, ukuguliswa yinhlobo yokudla okuthile, ukushintshana kokusebenza kwezinso, ukungasebenzi kahle kwamasosha omzimba kanti ikakhulu izinkinga zokwehluleka ukuzala ngemuva kokudla imikhiqizo yokudla kwe-GM. Abaphenduli abazange bakhombise ukwesaba mayelana nokuziphatha kwimikhiqizo yokudla kwe-GM, ngaphandle kokuthi nje le mikhiqizo ikhiqizwa ngendlela ephambene nomthetho. Abaphenduli abazange futhi bakhombise ukwesaba mayelana nodaba lokudliwa komkhiqizo wokudla kwe-GM,kuxutshwa phakathi ukuthandabuza mayelana nokuphepha kwale mikhiqizo kanye nalokho okungahle kuphazamise izinto eziphilayo. Abaphenduli baye bakhombisa ukuthi imizamo yokuthi kube nokudla okuningi ngokukhiqiza imikhiqizo yokudla kwe-GM, amathuba wokuphathwa yisifo somdlavuza ngemuva kokudla lokho kudla, ukungathandwa wukudla okuthize, ukunciphiswa kwezinga lokusebenziswa kwezibulalizinambuzane kanye nomphumela oyingozi phezu kwemvelo bekuyizinto ezihlobene nokudla kwe-GM lokho okuzoshintsha indlea yabo yokuthenga imikhiqizo yokudla kwe-GM. Izihibhe ezejwayelekile ezihlobene ne-GM eziye zashintsha isinqumo sabaphenduli sokuthenga imikhiqizo yokudla kwe-GM bekuxuba phakathi ukuphuma bayofuna ikakhulu imikhiqizo yokudla kwe-GM, luncane kakhulu ulwazi abanalo ngemikhiqizo yokudla kwe-GM, kuxuba ukungathandi imikhiqizo yokudla kwe-GM kanye nokungazi ukuba ngabe umkhiqizo wequkethe umkhakha we-GM noma akunjalo. / Life and Consumer Sciences / M.A. (Consumer Science)

The purpose of this thesis is to analyse Sweden’s first GMO-legislation which was implemented in 1994. The legislation was created because of Swedens commitment to the EES-agreement, but also because of the necessity for GMO-legislation. The analysis is based on Ulrich Beck’s theory which stipulates that highly developed societies are no longer industrial societies but instead have become risk societies, which also has a connection to and is strongly influenced by the precautionary principle. In a risk society the logic of risk production dominates the logic of wealth production and the regulations and actions of governments correlate to this perspective. The questions the analysis seeks to answer are how the actors involved in the making of Sweden’s first comprehensive GMO-legislation has considered, judged and finally chosen to handle the potential risks associated with gene technology. The results show that Sweden had a distinctive focus on risk, which also had a strong connection to ethics, which in the end was about how big of a risk could be accepted based on the moral resonsibility for the environment. In some parts Sweden took the restrictions further than required for by the EES-agreement based on the risk approach. The legislation can be characterized as being surrounded by an epistemological problem, due the lack of definitive knowledge about GMOs at the time. These results also support the view found by earlier research, when it comes to how Sweden has handled the issues surrounding GMOs during an early stage. / Uppsatsens syfte är att utifrån ett riskperspektiv analysera Sveriges första heltäckande GMO-lagstiftning vilken antogs 1994. Lagstiftningen skapades som ett resultat av Sveriges åtaganden via EES-avtalet, men också utifrån nödvändigheten av att skapa en heltäckande GMO-lag. Undersökningen bygger på Ulrich Becks teori om att välutvecklade samhällen har gått från att vara industrisamhällen till att bli risksamhällen. I risksamhället dominerar riskproduktionens logik över rikedomsproduktionens logik där regeringars och myndigheters agerande styrs utifrån detta perspektiv. Frågor som undersökningen söker svar på är hur de aktörer som var inblandade i skapandet av Sveriges första heltäckande GMO-lag resonerat kring, bedömt och slutligen hanterat de risker som ansågs finnas med gentekniken. Resultatet visar att Sverige hade ett uttalat fokus på risker som i förlängningen går tillbaka till etiska frågor, där vilka risker som kunde accepteras utifrån det moraliska ansvaret för miljön stod i centrum. I vissa delar så införde Sverige en striktare lagstiftning än vad EES-avtalet krävde utifrån ett riskperspektiv. Lagstiftningen kan sägas ha karaktäriserats av ett epistemologiskt problem, vilket var en följd av den okunskap som förelåg vid tidpunkten. Detta stödjer också den tidigare forskningens uppfattningar kring hur Sverige hanterat frågan med GMO på ett tidigt stadium.

En Argentine, la biotechnologie agricole, spécialement le soya transgénique, a été adoptée de façon fulgurante et elle a provoqué un fort choc dans l’économie nationale et dans la société. Actuellement, dû à la gravité des conséquences de ce phénomène, les médias, et la presse en particulier, ont fait écho du débat. Le but général de cette étude est d’analyser le débat de société sur ce phénomène dans la presse écrite argentine. Pour ce faire, trois objectifs spécifiques ont été retenus : dresser un portrait général du discours; comprendre le contexte politique et économique qui a permis l’insertion de la biotechnologie agricole en Argentine; et analyser les enjeux socioéthiques subjacents au problème des biotechnologies. Pour répondre à ces objectifs, on a effectué une analyse de contenu du discours social circonscrit à la presse écrite argentine entre les années 1999- 2006. La démarche privilégiée inclut la classification des articles de journaux par l’utilisation de mots-clés et l’assignation à des catégories thématiques avec l’assistance des techniques d’analyse de texte par ordinateur. Les résultats de cette étude signalent pour la période étudiée une importante couverture journalistique des biotechnologies agricoles, couverture qui, en général, a été favorable. La quantité d’articles augmente avec les années et montre un virage important des sujets commerciaux à des questions politiques. Le débat autour des conséquences environnementales et sociales de l’application du nouveau modèle agricole sont pauvrement représentées et montrent une apparition plus tardive dans les journaux argentins. Cependant, cela pourrait s’expliquer par un déplacement dans l’axe de la discussion des biotechnologies vers la sojisation qui devient l’enjeu central du débat autour du phénomène agricole. / In Argentina, agricultural biotechnology – especially transgenic soya – has been widely adopted causing a strong impact on the national economy and society. Today, because of its important impact, the media and the written press in particular have published substantial material on this phenomenon of agricultural biotechnology. The overall objective of this study is to analyze the social debate on this phenomenon in the Argentinean written press. To this end, three specific objectives were retained: to provide an overview of the discourse; to understand the political and economic context that permitted the inclusion of agricultural biotechnology in Argentina; and to analyze the socio-ethical issues underlying the integration of biotechnology into Argentinean agriculture. To meet these objectives, I conducted a content analysis of social discourse in the Argentinean press during the years 1999-2006. I classified articles using keywords and constructed thematic categories using computer-assisted text analysis techniques. The results of this study show a wide coverage of agricultural biotechnology with a generally positive presentation. The number of articles increases over time and shows a major shift from a discussion of economic to political issues. The debate over the environmental, social and ethical consequences of the implementation of this new agricultural model is poorly represented and has a late appearance in the press. However, this could be explained by a change in the focus of discussion from biotechnology to sojisation, which includes many of these issues and which has become the focus of debate about agriculture.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a qualidade, a quantidade e a capacidade de amplificação por PCR de DNA extraído de grãos de soja e milho, seus derivados e produtos acabados contendo como ingredientes obtidos desses grãos, com vistas à detecção de resíduos de organismos geneticamente modificados em alimentos. Para a amplificação de DNA pela PCR convencional, não houve melhor adequação de um protocolo de extração. Ambos métodos, CTAB e coluna de sílica tiveram desempenho comparável para as 32 matrizes avaliadas. A técnica de PCR em tempo real se mostrou mais sensível à qualidade do DNA testado e nesse contexto, o método CTAB se mostrou mais eficiente do que o método de coluna de sílica. Independentemente do método de extração utilizado não foi possível detectar DNA em óleos de soja e milho e em alguns derivados de amido, sugerindo que a aplicabilidade da lei de rotulagem pode esbarrar num entrave técnico no caso de algumas matrizes alimentares altamente processadas. / The aim of the study was to evaluate the quality, the quantity and the amplifiability by PCR of DNA isolated from soybean and maize grains and their by-products targeting the detection of genetically modified organisms in food. PCR amplification of DNA samples isolated either from CTAB and silica-column extraction methods achieved comparable performances. Both extraction methods showed similar results for the 32 tested matrices. The DNA amplification by real time PCR appeared to be affected by the quality of the isolated DNA. In this context, the CTAB extraction method showed to be more suitable when compared to the silica-column method. No DNA was amplified from soy and maize oils, as well as from some starch by-products, regardless the DNA extraction method used. It suggests that, the labeling requirement may rely on technical issues considering some high processed foodstuffs.