GENET-news

 Below you find the postings of the last seven days.

 

2013-02-19 |

U.S. Supreme Court seems to support strong patents on GE seeds

A freewheeling and almost entirely one-sided argument at the Supreme Court on Tuesday indicated that the justices would not allow Monsanto‘s patents for genetically altered soybeans to be threatened by an Indiana farmer who used them without paying the company a fee. The question in the case, Bowman v. Monsanto Company, No. 11-796, was whether patent rights to seeds and other things that can replicate themselves extend beyond the first generation. The justices appeared alert to the consequences of their eventual ruling not only for Monsanto’s very lucrative soybean patents but also for modern agriculture generally and for areas as varied as vaccines, cell lines and software. A lawyer for Monsanto, Seth P. Waxman, a former United States solicitor general, was allowed to talk uninterrupted for long stretches, which is usually a sign of impending victory.

2013-02-18 |

GM coton oil on the milkbar menu in Australia

The next time you head into town for the family treat of fish and chips, ask your fryer what oil they’re using. Chances are it’s cottonseed oil. My local milkbar has just switched to it. It’s cheaper than what they were using and has a higher burning point which means less smell. If it’s cottonseed oil produced in Australia, it’s more than likely to be genetically modified because most cotton seed produced in Australia is genetically modified. Genetically modified cotton has been a boon for farmers: it contains genes from a bacteria that produces a protein that kills caterpillars when they eat it. Some cotton varieties now also contain genes that make the cotton tolerant to herbicides such as glyphosate.

2013-02-18 |

Genetically modified apples raise concerns in Washington (USA)

Carter is founder and president of Okanagan Specialty Fruits, which is seeking federal approval to market two of the modified varieties, Arctic Golden and Arctic Granny apples. [...] The apple industry is not so sure. In fact, industry groups submitted testimony opposing the application to deregulate the genetically modified apple. Industry heavyweights are raising the concern: the U.S. Apple Association, the Washington State Horticultural Association, the Washington Apple Commission and the Northwest Horticultural Council.

2013-02-18 |

Washington (USA) Senate action on GMO initiative said unlikely

A hearing before the Agriculture, Water and Rural Economic Development Committee is likely as far as the GMO labeling initiative will get in the state Senate. “I don’t think there’s four votes,” the number that would be needed to get the initiative out of committee, chairman Brian Hatfield, D-Raymond, said. mandate labeling most foods that have genetically modified ingredients, will also be heard in the House ag committee. The tentative date is March 6.

2013-02-18 |

Do GMO crops really have higher yields?

According to the biotech industry, genetically modified crops are a boon to humanity because they allow farmers to “generate higher crop yields with fewer inputs,” as the trade group Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) puts it on its web page. in a new paper funded by the US Department of Agriculture, University of Wisconsin researchers have essentially negated the “more food” argument as well. [...] While some GM varieties delivered small yield gains, others did not. Several even showed lower yields than non-GM counterparts. With the exception of one commonly used trait—a Bt type designed to kill the European corn borer—the authors conclude, “we were surprised not to find strongly positive transgenic yield effects.”

2013-02-18 |

U.S. Supreme Court to hear Monsanto seed patent case

Yet the 75-year-old farmer from southwestern Indiana will face off Tuesday against the world’s largest seed company, Monsanto, in a Supreme Court case that could have a huge impact on the future of genetically modified crops, and also affect other fields from medical research to software. At stake in Mr. Bowman’s case is whether patents on seeds — or other things that can self-replicate — extend beyond the first generation of the products. It is one of two cases before the Supreme Court related to the patenting of living organisms, a practice that has helped give rise to the biotechnology industry but which critics have long considered immoral. The other case, involving a breast cancer risk test from Myriad Genetics, will determine whether human genes can be patented. It is scheduled to be heard April 15.

2013-02-18 |

Everything on the table in US-EU free trade deal including GM crops and food

Everything will be on the table when US and EU negotiators restart talks on an ambitious transatlantic free trade deal with a new wind in their sails, Washington’s top trade negotiator said Wednesday. [...] The proposed pact would [...] remove or reduce things like a government’s support for its state enterprises and preferences for locally produced goods and services [...] tie health issues linked to trade -- like biotechnology, sanitation and genetically modified organisms -- to accepted, science-based standards. [...] The biggest challenge would be finding the political will to surmount challenges like the European public’s rejection of genetically modified foods and seed that the United States wants to export, [former US trade negotiator Jeffrey] Schott said.

2013-02-15 |

Leading TB GE vaccine candidate fails to protect babies

The most promising candidate vaccine for one of the top killer diseases, tuberculosis, suffered a setback yesterday when researchers reported in The Lancet that it did not induce enough immune protection in infants. The three-year trial on the most advanced new TB vaccine candidate, MVA85A, was carried out in South Africa among nearly 2,800 babies.
While the phase IIB trial — designed to assess how well a vaccine works — showed the vaccine to be safe, it also did little to protect infants from TB. The hope now is that further research may find that the vaccine is of benefit to adults. MVA85A was designed by researchers at the University of Oxford, United Kingdom, to boost the body’s immune response to BCG, the only vaccine licensed for TB.

2013-02-15 |

Monsanto introduces new hybrid maize variety in Malawi

Hybrid seed producer, Monsanto Malawi Limited, has introduced another seed variety DKC 9053 which is yet to hit the market. [...] The company’s Sales and Marketing Officer for the South Denis Kachikho said [...] “Involvement of farmers is always our priority and hence we had to distribute the new variety to over 400 farmers to use in their demonstration plots. What we want is their response as to how the variety is doing in the garden”

2013-02-15 |

Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology tasks journalists to improve public negative perceptions towards GE crops

“The media should therefore act as agents of change by working closely with scientists and policy makers to define an African agenda for biotechnology,” [Mr. Daniel Otunge, Coordinator of Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology, a programme of the African Agricultural Technology Foundation] said and pointed out that if that was not done, the continent would forever be dependent on food aid from countries that had adopted innovative agricultural technologies to improve food production. Mr. Otunge tasked the Ghanaian media to frame the biotechnology debate in a manner that would improve public negative perceptions toward the technology, citing genetically modified crops as an example.

2013-02-15 |

Gujarat (India) farmers use illegal RR cotton

Farmers in Gujarat, and also in Punjab, continue to use ‘roundup ready’ variety of Bacillus Thuringiensis Cotton, which is yet to receive approval for usage from Government of India. “Someone would’ve got the seed from USA or any other country where it is used,” opines an expert, on condition of anonymity. “If you are a major seed developer, it’s not difficult to develop the seed variety as the gene is already with you. The use is illegal but farmers are using it,” he added.

2013-02-15 |

As Indian Bt cotton acreage stagnates, seed firms eye food crops in big way

Stagnating acreage is prompting Bt cotton seed makers to diversify into food crops such as hybrid rice, corn and vegetables, where they see a big market potential. Companies such as Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd and Rasi Seeds (Pvt) Ltd, which currently earn a major share of their revenues from Bt cotton seeds, are aggressively charting plans to scale up exposure to food crops. The Rs 500-crore firm [...] plans to scale up its breeding programme to introduce more hybrids. Rasi Seeds has partnered with Israeli firm, Evogene Ltd, to develop yield-enhancing and drought-tolerant rice varieties.

2013-02-15 |

Mexican Fundación Carlos Slim funds CIMMYT to lead innovation in agricultural development for the world

This week, CIMMYT will be celebrating the completion of new agricultural research and training facilities made possible through the financial support of Fundación Carlos Slim. These state-of-the-art labs and greenhouses will ensure CIMMYT’s continued leadership developing high-yielding maize and wheat varieties equipped to tolerate the stresses of climate change. Expanded training facilities will enhance CIMMYT’s ability to develop and deliver resource-conserving farming practices and advance digital technologies that enable poor farming families to increase their productivity and income.

2013-02-14 |

U.S. risk scientist Anne Kapuscinski comments on AquAdvantage salmon

Anne Kapuscinski is a professor of sustainability science at Dartmouth College, who recently led a team of 53 scientists in writing a book on the subject of risk assessment science as applied to genetically modified fish. I spoke with professor Kapuscinski about AquAdvantage salmon, a fast-growing genetically modified fish poised to become the first GM animal approved for human consumption. Under the proposal being considered by FDA, AquAdvantage eggs would be produced on Prince Edward Island, Canada, and grown to market size at a small, inland facility in Panama. None of the production steps would take place in the U.S. All told, this approval process has dragged on for nearly two decades.

2013-02-14 |

U.S. FDA extends frankenfish comment period

The United States Food and Drug Administration announced on Wednesday that they would extend the public comment period for the AquaAdvantage Salmon application a further 60 days after receiving an inordinate amount of comments as the comment period was on its last days before closure. The FDA reports at 30,000 comments have been received by the agency since they had announced that they had found that the altered Atlantic Salmon hybrid affectionately called the “Frankenfish” posed no significant environmental impact.

2013-02-14 |

Anti-frankenfish measure advances in Alaska (USA) House

the House Fisheries Committee approved House Joint Resolution 5, a resolution sponsored by Representatives Geran Tarr and Scott Kawasaki opposing the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the sale of genetically modified salmon in the United States. [...] HJR 5 enjoys bi-partisan support and is co-sponsored by ten other legislators. The Governor and Alaska’s Congressional Delegation have also weighed in to oppose FDA approval. This action brings the 28th Alaska State Legislature one step closer to joining the Alaska Congressional Delegation and the governor in standing with Alaska’s fishermen against “Frankenfish.”

2013-02-14 |

As challenge over seed rights approaches Supreme Court, new report exposes devastating impact of Monsanto practices on U.S. farmers

Today, one week before the Supreme Court hears arguments in Bowman v. Monsanto Co., the Center for Food Safety and Save our Seeds – two legal and policy organizations dedicated to promoting safe, sustainable food and farming systems – will launch their new report, Seed Giants vs. U.S. Farmers. The new report investigates how the current seed patent regime has led to a radical shift to consolidation and control of global seed supply and how these patents have abetted corporations, such as Monsanto, to sue U.S. farmers for alleged seed patent infringement.

2013-02-14 |

Maryland (USA) legislator introduces bill that would mandate labeling GE foods

Last week Maryland State Delegate Glen Glass introduced a bill that would require food manufacturers to include labels on products that have genetically engineered ingredients in them. Under the provisions of the bill, any food product that was genetically engineered would have to be labeled as such, either bearing a warning notifying that the product is “Genetically Engineered” or “Partially Produced with Genetic Engineering.” Additionally, it would be unlawful for such products to advertise themselves as “natural,” “naturally grown” or “all natural.”

2013-02-14 |

Santa Fe City Council (New Mexico, USA) should consider GM food labeling

State legislators rejected a proposal from a Santa Fe lawmaker earlier in the session that called for labeling of genetically modified food, but Santa Fe City Councilor Patti Bushee said she’s ready to push the issue at the local level. While the food-labeling bill introduced by Sen. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, died at the committee level, Bushee said she believes Santa Fe is supportive of such laws. Bushee said she plans to introduce a resolution at Wednesday night’s City Council meeting, asking state and federal officials to consider broad regulations of genetically engineered products.

2013-02-13 |

Mutant mosquitoes: British expert to talk genetically engineered bloodsuckers in Bay City

In Hollywood movies, stories such as these typically don’t go well for humans. But, in real life, a genetically altered species of mosquito could be the key to curbing out-of-control populations of the warm weather-loving bloodsuckers, some experts say. One of those experts, Derric Nimmo, is the scheduled speaker at the Michigan Mosquito Control Association 27th Annual Conference keynote address [...] Nimmo is the spokesperson of Oxitec, Ltd., a British-based biotech company specializing in insect control.

2013-02-13 |

Lactoferrin obtained from transgenic goats perfect for babies and athletes

The lactoferrin produced as part of the Belarus-Russia joint project will be prescribed not only to babies who need breast milk substitutes, but also to athletes, head of the biochemistry sub-department of the Belarusian State University Igor Semak told a press conference on 5 February, BelTA has learnt. [...] this lactoferrin (the substance is obtained from the milk of transgenic goats) can be used in pharmaceutics, cosmetology, food industry and even sports,” Igor Semak said. However, the biggest value of lactoferrin is its ability to be a breast milk substitute for babies.

2013-02-13 |

Cell fusion considered as organic by U.S. Department of Agriculture

Imagine a guy in a lab coat hovering over a test tube. His petri dish contains two different strains of organic corn, one more pest resistant, one more disease resistant. He hooks the test tube up to some electricity, zaps the cells, and they combine into a new type of cell. Straight out of Frankenstein, right? Now it’s time to test the new cell and see if the characteristics that were being looked for have materialized. This is called cell fusion and the USDA just approved its use for organic farming this past Friday.

2013-02-13 |

Protesters destroying GM potatoes in Belgium charged with forming a criminal gang

Today the court of Dendermonde convicted 11 activists of gang formation. In doing so, the judge has criminalised their participation in the non violent direct action and debate on May 29th, 2011, which brought attention to the need for a sustainable agriculture system. This is an extremely dangerous precedent which will have an impact on all kinds of civil action. With this verdict, the Belgian court has fundamentally undermined the right of citizens to freedom of speech. For example, one of the participants has been given a six month custodial sentence for talking to the press.

2013-02-13 |

European Commission amending honey law to hide GM pollen

Tomorrow EU Member States will discuss the Commission’s proposal to amend the Honey Directive in what is widely believed to be an attempt to circumvent the European Court of Justice and hide the presence of GM pollen from consumers. The discussion, which will take place at the Council of Europe’s Working Party on Foodstuffs, is the latest development in the long story of GM pollen in honey. In September 2011 the ECJ ruled that pollen is an ingredient of honey and that honey containing GM pollen must follow GM regulations, meaning it cannot be sold without full food authorisation and GM labels.

2013-02-13 |

UK favours renationalisation of GM crop approval to enter competition with Argentina and Brazil

Individual EU member states should be allowed to make the decision on whether to adopt GM, according to DEFRA secretary Owen Paterson. [...] “I’m on this case now. We can’t hang around for two years before the election. Every year we delay, Argentina, Brazil and Canada are getting further ahead of us,” he said. “We are mad not to seriously look at this technology.”

2013-02-12 |

About 150 Indian scientists raise concerns about GM crops in a letter to the environment minister

More than 150 scientists have written a letter to the environment minister, Jayanthi Natarajan on Saturday raising concerns about genetically modified crops. Their primary concern is that Ministry of Agriculture is allegedly making a case for GM crops by stating that the technology is ‘absolutely needed’ for India’s food security. They referred to a recent affidavit filed by the ministry of agriculture in the Supreme Court claiming that nation’s food security will be jeopardized without GM crops. “It also argues that open-air field trials of GMOs are absolutely essential for this.” The scientists in their letter said that there are “many serious scientific and policy fallacies” in the argument made by the Ministry of Agriculture.

2013-02-12 |

Benefits of Bt corn go beyond rootworm resistance

The study, published today in Crop Science, showed just that – Bt corn had higher yields and used nitrogen more efficiently than non-resistant corn. With its resistance to corn rootworm, Below explains, Bt corn has healthier and more active roots than corn without the resistance trait. And a better root system can lead to improved function for the plant as a whole. “If you can protect the investment the plants made in the root system,” explains Below, “you can realize everything that roots do like take up nutrients and water and provide anchorage.”

2013-02-12 |

Indian Bt cotton is failing; blame the farmers

Of all the GMO controversies around the world, the saga of Bt cotton in India continues to be one of the most interesting and important. In the latest chapter, reported by the Business Standard, cotton yields have dropped to a 5-year low, setting off a fascinating round of finger pointing. [...] as I have pointed out, most of the rise in productivity had nothing to do with Bt cotton; in fact it happened before Bt cotton became popular.

2013-02-12 |

Ghana’s Minister for Food and Agriculture decries cost of GM plants

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Clement Kofi Humado has lamented the cost of producing Genetically Modified Organisms in the country. [...] “If you take a GMO maize, the chances are that the quantities of fertilizer you are going to use to get the optimum yield from the GMO seed is much much higher than the local varieties or the varieties produced by the CSIR and Crop Research Institute”, Mr. Humado told Members of Parliament at his vetting. He said despite the several advantages associated with GMOs such as resistance to pests and diseases, the application of the full technology cannot be surmounted by the small scale Ghanaian farmer.

2013-02-12 |

GMO Bill tabled in Parliament of Uganda

A Bill whose object includes providing for development and general release of Genetically Modified Organisms in Uganda has been tabled in Parliament. The National Biotechnology and Biosafety Bill, 2012, which also provides for a regulatory framework to facilitate safe development and application of biotechnology, was tabled by the chairperson of the committee on science and technology, Denis Hamson Obua. [...] The Authority will also ensure necessary measures to avoid adverse effects on the environment, biological diversity, human health and on socio-economic conditions arising from GMOs.

Go to: ← ... 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ... →

Overview

News

Go to: ← ... 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ... →

Go to: ← ... 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 ... →

Home: GENET

GENET-news & GENET-forum

GENET-news is providing a daily news service on a range of topics regarding genetic engineering. We are screening the worldwide English news, press releases and other publications to provide you with a strategic selection of information. GENET-news enables you to stay informed about all aspects of the global controversy around GE technologies and GE organisms. You can subscribe by  email.

The GENET-forum list provides you with additional background information and more voluminous reports. It is only open for GENET members. Please contact the  coordinator for membership and subscription.