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2007-03-15 |

European patent on stem cells may be a possibility

As long as the research meets the usual requirements for a patent, isolated embryonic stem cells should be considered for both method and product patents. This conclusion, which runs counter to the views of the European Group on Ethics under the European Commission, was reached by an interdisciplinary group at the Center for Bioethics at the Karolinska Institute and Uppsala University in an academic article in the international journal Stem Cells.

2007-03-15 |

Organization for Competitive Markets opposes Monsanto acquisition of Delta & Pine

The Organization for Competitive Markets filed its opposition to Monsanto’s proposed acquisition of the Delta & Pine Land Company. The acquisition would, if allowed, tremendously concentrate the transgenic cotton trait and cotton seed markets in Monsanto’s hands. ”Monsanto’s past history of consolidation and charging excessive technology fees in other seed markets shows this deal would harm cotton farmers across the United States,” said Keith Mudd, OCM President.

2007-03-15 |

Group urges recall of ’toxic’ biotech corn

A multisectoral group opposing the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the country today called for the immediate recall from the market of a corn strain produced by biotechnology company Monsanto that allegedly contain toxic elements.Eliezer Billanes, chair of the Socsksargends Agenda, said a study released today by environmental group Greenpeace showed that Monsanto’s (MON) 863 YieldGard Rootworm was affirmed by scientists to contain elements that may potentially cause liver and kidney toxicity.

2007-03-15 |

Indian Genetic Engineering Approval Committee stops Bt cotton approvals for 2007

The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) which met on Wednesday withheld any fresh approval of bt cotton for commercial cultivation in the ensuing summer season. About 11 BT cotton hybrids with CRY 1 AC gene expression, 5 BT cotton hybrids expressing stacked genes and one bt cotton hybrid expressing CRY1 AC event 1 was on the agenda for approval for commercial cultivation. All these hybrids have gone through the requisite processes of field trials. ”We did not approve any new BT cotton hybrids for commercial cultivation as the matter is subjudiced in the Supreme Court,” said a senior GEAC official.

2007-03-15 |

Indian Genetic Engineering Approval Committee stops Bt cotton approvals for 2007

The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) which met on Wednesday withheld any fresh approval of bt cotton for commercial cultivation in the ensuing summer season. About 11 BT cotton hybrids with CRY 1 AC gene expression, 5 BT cotton hybrids expressing stacked genes and one bt cotton hybrid expressing CRY1 AC event 1 was on the agenda for approval for commercial cultivation. All these hybrids have gone through the requisite processes of field trials. ”We did not approve any new BT cotton hybrids for commercial cultivation as the matter is subjudiced in the Supreme Court,” said a senior GEAC official.

2007-03-15 |

Mexico testing US rice for GMO strain: official

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico is conducting tests on U.S. rice imports to ensure it is free of genetic material not approved for human consumption, a government official said on Wednesday. Marco Antonio Meraz, who heads a federal biosecurity and GMO commission, said the government was testing for the LL Rice 601 strain, which contaminated the U.S. commercial supply last year. The USA Rice Federation said on Wednesday Mexican officials had stopped rice shipments at the border and were asking for certification that the grain is free of the genetically modified material.

2007-03-15 |

Greenpeace petition drive demands GE food labelling in Canada

Greenpeace today launched a petition calling on the BC government to legislate mandatory labelling before the next election. The petition drive comes as a study is released in Europe showing that biotech giant Monsanto used incomplete data to obtain approval of its genetically modified corn and that laboratory rats, fed with a genetically engineered (GE) maize produced by Monsanto, have shown kidney and liver toxicity, according to a new study.

2007-03-14 |

Court halt on GMO alfalfa shows USDA failure: critics

A court decision overturning U.S. government approval for a biotech alfalfa underscores complaints made for years that the USDA is failing to adequately oversee genetically altered crops, biotech crop critics said on Tuesday. And the critics believe it sets a precedent that should prompt more stringent oversight of these controversial crops. ”It is a big deal for the court to do that. It is the first time it has happened in the U.S.,” said Margaret Mellon, director of the Union of Concerned Scientists Food and Environment Program, which is not a party to the case. There have been concerns for years about the USDA’s lack of proper oversight. Indeed, other recent court rulings have leveled criticism against U.S. government oversight of biotech crops.

2007-03-14 |

DuPont does the DNA dance

Although referred to as an industry, in reality biotechnology is better described as a set of techniques to alter the genetic programs of living organisms. Biotechnology provides the opportunity for controlling biosystems to do things now done only by physics or chemistry or perhaps not at all. The result is technology that is encroaching on many conventional industries doing things the old ways.

2007-03-14 |

New study reveals signs of toxicity of GE maize approved for human consumption

Laboratory rats, fed with a genetically engineered (GE) maize produced by Monsanto, have shown signs of toxicity in kidney and liver, according to a new study. This is the first time that a GE product which has been cleared for use as food for humans and animals has shown signs of toxic effects on internal organs.
The study, published today in the journal ”Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology”, analysed results of safety tests submitted by Monsanto to the European Commission when the company was seeking authorisation to market its GE Maize variety MON863 in the EU.

2007-03-14 |

New setback for biotech crops in Europe

The battle over biotech crops erupted again yesterday after members of the European parliament blocked a resolution calling for greater use of the technology. MEPs voted to delay the draft motion to allow more time for the agriculture committee to scrutinise it. The Socialist group, the second-biggest in parliament, said: ”It needs more debate to be better balanced and flexible.” The cross-party vote deals a blow to efforts by the European Commission to boost biotechnology at a ministerial meeting in June that will set new targets for its use.

2007-03-14 |

GM spuds have had their chips as Irish trials stopped

CHEMICAL giant BASF has abandoned its plans to grow genetically modified potatoes in Ireland. It is now opting to grow them in Britain where there are fewer restrictions. A company spokesperson confirmed that the company would not be going ahead with field trials in Co Meath which received approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last year. BASF delayed starting the trial last year citing the onerous monitoring requirements imposed by the EPA. The firm said at the time that it would assess whether it could find a way to proceed in 2007.

2007-03-14 |

Biotech industry leaders publish Green Biotech Manifesto and set out policy challenges

The Green Biotechnology Manifesto is a European perspective on green biotech and advocates five main policies to support agricultural biotech in Europe. The industry calls on decision makers to
- Fully implement the biotech crop authorization process
- Enable a European single market in seeds
- Respect other countries’ freedom to trade in commodities
- Promote coherence of policies and public information on green biotech
- Promote policies that respect developing countries

2007-03-13 |

Genetically modified crops add new layer to Indian farming

The arrival of genetically modified crops has added another level of complexity to farming in the developing world. [...] ”The bottom line is that the spread of Bt cotton doesn’t so much reflect that it works for the farmers or that the farmers have tested it and found it to be a good technology,” Stone said. ”The spread more reflects the complete breakdown in the cotton cultivation system.”

2007-03-13 |

U.S. rice industry troubled by genetic contamination

When Fred Zaunbrecher heard in August that the popular variety of long-grain rice he was planning to grow had become contaminated with snippets of experimental, unapproved DNA, the Louisiana rice farmer took it in stride and ordered a different variety of seed for his spring planting.

2007-03-13 |

EU Ag chief sees increased Indian non-GM rice imports

The European Union"s rice imports from Asian countries such as India may increase after consignments from the U.S. were found to have traces of unauthorized genetic modification last year, European Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said Tuesday.
"We have asked the U.S. to provide us with evidence that rice consignments to E.U. doesn"t contain the unapproved genetic modification," Boel told Dow Jones Newswires in an interview. "(Such U.S. consignments) become more expensive and therefore the E.U. is also looking eastwards at other markets (to buy rice)."

2007-03-13 |

GM crops get a subsidy boost in India

To promote genetically modified (GM) crops in the country, the government has announced a special subsidy package. The National Horticulture Board in its recent document has announced backed-ended capital investment subsidy for projects developing genetic modified organisms (GMOs) and bio-technology.

2007-03-13 |

U.S. judge halts sales of Monsanto GMO alfalfa

A federal judge on Monday issued a preliminary injunction banning the sale of Monsanto Co.’s genetically modified alfalfa and any planting of the seed after March 30. U.S. District Court Judge Charles Breyer of the Northern District of California granted the injunction at the request of a group of farmers, environmentalists and consumer activists who have alleged the biotech alfalfa could be destructive to both the economy and the environment.

2007-03-13 |

Genetically modified food set to be labelled before imported into India

The health ministry is set to amend the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules, 1955 to introduce the provision of mandatory labelling of genetically modified (GM) foods, likely to be imported or produced in the country. An expert committee set up by the ministry under the chairmanship of the additional director-general of the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, Shiv Lal has recommended mandatory labelling of GM food and food ingredients, without any threshold limit. The committee has defined GM food as those composed of or containing genetically organisms obtained through modern biotechnology. Even the GM processed food would be labelled. The expert panel included representatives from the industry, Indian Council for Medical Research and farmer leader Yudhvir Singh.

2007-03-12 |

Protein to be produced from GE barley in Iceland

Biotech company ORF Líftaekni and Skagafjördur community, north Iceland, signed an agreement this week regarding production of protein from genetically modified barley. [...] “It is necessary to create variety in the economic life here and this technology offers a lot of exciting possibilities. […] Protein could for example be used for bleaching paper in a much more environmentally friendly way than with traditional methods,” Örvar added.

2007-03-12 |

Study: Modified crops help reduce greenhouse gases

The global use of genetically modified crops, which allows farmers to plant using less herbicide and without tilling the soil, is significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new study. In 2005, the impact in reduced carbon dioxide emissions was the equivalent of removing nearly 4 million average family cars from the road, said the study by Graham Brookes and Peter Barfoot of PG Economics Ltd., a British consulting firm. The study was commissioned by Monsanto Co. of Creve Coeur, the world"s leading provider of biotech crops, and published in the peer-reviewed journal AgBioForum.

2007-03-12 |

GM crops fail EU Lisbon Agenda goals

Environmentally-friendly farming will create more jobs and make the EU more competitive than if it grows genetically modified (GM) crops, shows new research published today by Friends of the Earth Europe. The research coincides with the expected withdrawal later today of a European Parliament Resolution that promotes GM crops. MEPs are requesting that the text be rewritten because it attacks the precautionary principle and ignores research showing that GM food and farming has not lived up to expectations.

2007-03-12 |

German minister Seehofer announces new rules on genetically modified crops

Germany"s consumer minister Horst Seehofer announced stricter regulation of where farmers can plant genetically modified crops in the country, Die Welt reported. Genetically modified crops must be at least 150 meters away from conventional crops, the newspaper cited Seehofer as saying.

2007-03-12 |

Dutch Council of State ordered destruction of BASF GE potato field trials

Last Wednesday, March 7th, The Council of State in The Netherlands
judged in a appeal by Greenpeace that the field trials of BASF had been
illegally permitted by the Ministry of Housing, Spacial Planning, and
Environment (VROM) and destroyed the permits immediately.

2007-03-12 |

Grow GM crops or face strife: Anderson

AUSTRALIA is falling behind in the rapid world growth of more productive biotech crops, such as drought-tolerant and pest resistant strains, the former deputy prime minister says. ”Food versus fuel” fights over the diversion of crops to biofuels threaten to hit Australia unless this country dramatically upgrades crop development, John Anderson believes. The Nationals MP has called for a rethink on the states’ bans against genetically-modified food crops. ”If we are going to avoid an ugly stand-off over food versus fuel, we are going to have to spend a lot more on plant research … because it is very likely that a large part of the answer on renewable energy will be biofuels,” Mr Anderson told the Herald.

2007-03-09 |

CL 131 rice banned in Arkansas (USA) in 2007

In a continuing effort to purge GM traits from the rice industry, the Arkansas State Plant Board has banned the rice variety Clearfield 131. The measure passed on a 6-5 vote at a March 2 emergency meeting and came after lengthy board deliberation and often emotional testimony from farmers, seedsmen and millers. Bred to harness a natural mutation to tolerate the Newpath herbicide, Clearfield varieties have provided growers new tools to fight yield-sapping red rice. Many farmers facing red rice infestations consider the Clearfield technology a godsend and have set up farms around it.

2007-03-09 |

Folate-rich ’Super Tomato’ could cut birth defects

You say tomato, scientists say ”fewer birth defects.” U.S. researchers say they’ve created a folic acid-enriched ”super tomato” that could cut the rate of birth defects, anemia and other folate deficiency-linked problems in the developing world. ”We used the tomato, because it is a very good model to work with,” explained study co-author Andrew D. Hanson, professor of plant biochemistry at the University of Florida at Gainesville. ”Now we want to move the strategy we have developed into cereal and tuber crops such as sweet potatoes.”

2007-03-09 |

Straus Organic Creamery (USA) takes bold step to prevent GMO contamination

Straus Family Creamery, the first certified organic dairy and creamery west of the Mississippi River, will be the first certified organic manufacturer in the United States to verify that all of Straus’ products are not contaminated by previously undetected genetically modified organisms (GMO). “Certified organic crops are at risk of contamination by genetically modified crops,” said Albert Straus, President of Straus Family Creamery. “We have rejected organic feeds for our animals because of GMO contamination. We need better controls over our feeds and ingredients, so we have established this relationship with The Non-GMO Project to ensure that all of our products are verified as non-GMO.”

2007-03-09 |

Chinese research offers non-GM solution for sea food allergy

Chinese researchers have taken a step towards removing a protein from prawns that cause an allergic response, without resorting to genetic manipulation.
Li Zhenxing led the research at the Ocean University of China. The team revealed that treating prawns with a combination of heat and irradiation significantly reduced the level of reactive proteins called allergens. They took blood from patients with shrimp allergies, added samples of treated and untreated prawn, and measured how antibodies in the blood reacted.

2007-03-09 |

Colombia approves GM corn

Colombia has allowed genetically modified (GM) corn to enter its borders for the first time, and will authorise plantations of other GM products later in the year.
The Colombian Institute of Agriculture (ICA) approved one hundred kilograms of GM corn for import last month, half of which is resistant to a herbicide and the other half to insects. Andrés F. Arias, from the Ministry of Agriculture, says growers from four regions of Colombia — Córdoba, Huila, Sucre and Tolima — will be allowed to buy the seeds.

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