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2009-10-26 |

Why all the excitement about a ’blue’ GE rose?

When it comes to the hue of a rose, one person’s blue is another’s pallid purple. ”Applause”, the new rose unveiled by Japanese company Suntory this week is said to have ”a bluish tinge reminiscent of the sky just after dawn”. To my eye, it’s just a wishy-washy mauve. People have claimed the blue-rose title before, with boldly named varieties such as ”Blue Moon” or ”Rhapsody in Blue”.

2009-10-26 |

GM-free Europe: The debate continues

Although a number of member states, including
Greenpeace agriculture policy director Marco Contiero says the only reason the Dutch - one of the EU’s strongest supporters of GM - put forward the proposals was to break the political deadlock in Europe. ’It’s a fake solution. It means all the political debate member states currently show at council level in Europe is going to finish.

2009-10-26 |

Percy Schmeiser warns Romania and Bulgaria about GMO contamination

In Romania, the GMO contamination starts at the Ministry of Agriculture (MAFRD). Even if there are 3.8 million small family farms in Romania, MAFRD acts mostly as a ministry of the few agri-business multinationals. Ignoring the rights of farmers and consumers to have products without GMOs, this year the Minister has issued the Orders 185 and 186 which allow the contamination of seeds with GMOs, both approved and not approved for cultivation or human consumption in the EU.

2009-10-26 |

Canadian alfalfa farmers fear GE contamination

It’s tough operating in a zero-tolerance world. Just ask Canadian flax and canola exporters, who are suffering lost market access on several fronts, or alfalfa seed producers, who are worried the same thing might happen to them. [...] Against the Manitoba Forage Council’s wishes, field trials of genetically modified alfalfa are underway, which could lead to commercialization of that crop in Canada.

2009-10-23 |

Study shows GE contamination in Uruguay’s corn

The authors of the study maintained that the results demonstrate the failure of the government’s policy in promoting so-called ”regulated co-existence” between GM crops and their non-GM counterparts. According to this policy, a distance of 250 meters between GM and non-GM crops is sufficient to avoid GM pollen fertilization of non-GM crops. The study documents various cases of GM contamination in crops that were planted at a distance further than the government suggested 250 meters.

2009-10-23 |

US wheat industry reiterates support for GMO wheat

A coalition of U.S. wheat industry leaders said on Wednesday that they were pushing ahead to gain acceptance for genetically modified wheat, despite continued concerns and at least a decade of research and development work ahead. ”This is going to be a win-win for everybody,” said Daren Coppock, chief executive of the National Association of Wheat Growers. Coppock was one of a group of wheat industry participants meeting Wednesday in Kansas City to discuss key issues impacting the industry and how to press for acceptance of a genetically modified wheat.

2009-10-23 |

Greenpeace protests genetically modified corn in Mexico

Mexico saw the first public protests this weekend over the government’s decision to allow cultivation of the first genetically modified corn, which environmentalists and others say could ruin the nation’s native crop. [...] About 45 Greenpeace activists hung a black banner and protest signs Sunday at the Angel of Independence, a victory column in a busy traffic circle on one of Mexico City’s major thoroughfares. It is one of Mexico City’s most recognized monuments.

2009-10-23 |

Biotechnology scientists support Bt brinjal approval in India

The media in India have been abuzz with stories about the commercial release of the genetically modified (GM) crop Bt Brinjal. The press is always trying to present both sides of a story. However, what happens when one side of the argument is not based on sound science? Greenpeace has been very active in the Indian press on the Bt Brinjal debate. It seems every story about Bt Brinjal has at least one quote from a Greenpeace spokesperson or Greenpeace sponsored critic of GM crops.

2009-10-23 |

Indian farmer organisations, civil society groups and State governments oppose Bt brinjal

Several farmer leaders have sought the intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to reject the recommendation of the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) for commercial release of Bt brinjal. Speaking to journalists here Rakesh Tikait of the Bhartiya Kisan Union, Yudhvir Singh of the Coordination Committee of Indian Farmers’ Movements, Vijay Jawandhia of Shetkari Sanghatan, Vidarbha, Kodihalli Chandrasekhar of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, Kannaiyan of Tamizhaga Vyavasayigal Sangham and G.V. Ramanjaneyulu of the Centre for Sustainable Agriculture said they had jointly sought an appointment with the Prime Minister to impress upon him to reject Bt brinjal.

2009-10-23 |

Commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal may take a year

Bt brinjal, or the country’s first genetically modified food crop, is unlikely to be available for commercial cultivation before late next year, and still requires mandatory clearances from three government ministries, say key officials involved with the regulatory process. On Wednesday, the genetic engineering approval committee (GEAC), a biotechnology regulatory authority ruled that genetically modified, or GM, brinjal was safe for commercial cultivation. This was after a GEAC subcommittee, constituted on the Supreme Court’s directive, reviewed the scientific data from two-year-long field trials in farmers’ fields.

2009-10-21 |

EU Agriculture Commissioner: letting the voice of science speak

In fact, this event is very well timed, because certain issues related to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are of critical importance for our farm sector right now. [...] This afternoon we’re asking whether GMOs offer ”risks or opportunities”. For many people, this is not a theoretical question. It is biting – and biting hard. To illustrate this, I’m going to ask you to use your imagination for two minutes.

2009-10-21 |

EU farm ministers refuse to okay new GM maize strains

European Union farm ministers refused to give their seal of approval on Monday to plans to allow the import of genetically-modified maize from US growers, diplomats said. During a meeting of European Union agriculture ministers in Luxembourg dominated by crisis in the dairy sector, nations were unable to agree on proposals to greenlight the latest batch of so-called ’Frankenstein foods.’

2009-10-21 |

New regulations needed for risk assessment of genetically engineered plants

The experts at Testbiotech are for the first time going public with their new risk assessment concept for transgenic plants. Their report reveals a lack of safety testing in the risk assessment of genetically engineered plants. Safety testing needs to be updated to reflect current research standards. Testbiotech calls for the introduction of crash tests for genetically engineered plants. Today it is handed over to Corinne Lepage, 1st Vice Chairwoman of the Committee on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety of the European Parliament and former French Environment minister.

2009-10-21 |

Reactions on the UK Royal Society report

For now, at least, the hype is muted. Yesterday’s Royal Society report takes care not to repeat the claims, put forward by some proponents of the technology that genetic modification can itself end world hunger. Indeed it condemns such simplistic stances, noting that past debates ”have failed to acknowledge that there is no technological panacea”. That is welcome for, as Prof James Specht of the University of Nebraska has pointed out, the ”hype-to-reality ratio” has at times reached ”infinity”.

2009-10-21 |

UK Government scientist and Royal Society in double push to promote GM

A double push for Britain to grow more genetically modified (GM) crops is to be made today John Beddington, the Government’s chief scientific adviser, is to renew his call for GM crops to ensure global food security.
His support for the controversial technology coincides with a study from the Royal Society, Britain’s most prestigious scientific institution, out tomorrow, which will also endorse the need for Britain to conduct more GM crop trials. Scientists are determined to change public attitudes to GM crops, which have been condemned by critics as ”Frankenstein food”.

2009-10-21 |

Britain will starve without GM crops, says major report

A new row over genetically modified foods being introduced into our shops has broken out after a Royal Society report recommended GM crops should be grown in Britain. The study concluded that GM crops are needed to prevent a catastrophic food crisis by 2050. [...] Many in the Cabinet and Whitehall appear to be convinced that Britain can no longer resist its introduction into the UK market.

2009-10-19 |

GMOs: Killer genes battle pests & weeds - How helpful are they?

Big yielding, nutrient-packed crops that survive drought, salty water, even floods: the visionary dreams of genetic engineers. Back in today’s world, the vast majority of GMOs have one of two traits, herbicide tolerance or pest resistance. How helpful are they?

2009-10-19 |

Sri Lanka pressed by US on IP protection and GM food imports

The United States has asked Sri Lanka, ranked high for software piracy in Asia, to better enforce intellectual property rights and also lift restrictions on American imports like genetically modified food. [...] Agriculture development minister Hemakumara Nanayakkara said in July this year that Sri Lanka favours GM food imports, albeit with some restrictions, and that the government was consulting US experts on allowing GM food imports and cultivation of GM crops.

2009-10-19 |

Harris Ranch Beef Co. (USA, California) pressures school to cancel Michael Pollan lecture

”While I understand the need to expose students to alternative views, I find it unacceptable that the university would provide Michael Pollan an unchallenged forum to promote his stand against conventional agricultural practices,” David E. Wood, chairman of the Harris Ranch Beef Co., wrote in a scathing Sept. 23 letter to the Cal Poly president. Wood has pledged $150,000 toward a new meat processing plant on campus. In his letter, he said Pollan’s scheduled solo appearance had prompted him to ”rethink my continued financial support of the university.”

2009-10-19 |

Michigan State University (USA) receives $10.4M grant to promote biosafety in Africa

Millions of dollars could empower African agricultural officials to make decisions on biosafety issues to help farmers in the country, thanks to a partial grant received by MSU. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation awarded a $10.4 million grant last week to MSU and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, or NEPAD, to be used during a five-year period.

2009-10-19 |

Can the world’s richest man feed the planet?

Echoing luminaries before him—from Norman Borlaug to Kofi Annan—the world’s richest man Bill Gates called last night for a second Green Revolution focused on African farmers. [...] ”The charge is clear—we have to develop crops that can grow in a drought; that can survive in a flood; that can resist pests and disease,” Gates added. ”We need higher yields on the same land in harsher weather.” The answer, at least in part? Sustainability paired with genetic modification.

2009-10-19 |

Bill Gates says ideology threatens hunger fix thruogh GE crops

The fight to end hunger is being hurt by environmentalists who insist that genetically modified crops cannot be used in Africa, Bill Gates, the billionaire founder of software giant Microsoft, said on Thursday. Gates said GMO crops, fertilizer and chemicals are important tools -- although not the only tools -- to help small farms in Africa boost production.

2009-10-16 |

South African Government rejects GM potato due to biosafety, socio economic and agronomic concerns

In a damning and ground breaking ruling, South Africa’s GM body, the Executive Council (EC), has rejected attempts by the Agriculture Research Council (ARC) to bring GM potatoes to the South African market. The EC cited no less than 11 biosafety and socio economic and agronomic concerns for rejecting ARC’s commercial release application. These support the objections raised by the ACB that GM potatoes pose unacceptable risks to human health, the environment and the farming community.

2009-10-16 |

Blocking biotech feed harms farmers -EU farm chief

The European Union’s farm chief urged governments to stop blocking imports of animal feed if it contains only traces of banned genetically modified organisms (GMOs), saying such policies harmed the meat sector. EU Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel said EU countries should look at scientific evidence rather than emotions, as is now the case, when deciding on authorisations for new biotech products.

2009-10-16 |

Poland limits GMO cultivation

The Polish government adopted draft legislation to limit the cultivation and sale of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) by setting up GM-free zones. ”The new law on GMOs is to protect Poles against the flood of foods that are genetically modified,” said Prime Minister Donald Tusk, adding that, ”thanks to this law, if passed by parliament and signed by the President, the government will be provided with the tools to control and enforce strict regulations on food that could be detrimental to human health.”

2009-10-16 |

Mexico issues first permits to grow GM corn

Mexico, considered by many to be the cradle of corn, issued permits on Thursday to grow genetically modified corn for the first time in a bid to eventually boost production of the grain. Mexico’s agriculture ministry said the two permits will allow only experimental genetically modified (GM) corn crops, which will be restricted to states where no native varieties of corn are grown.

2009-10-16 |

EU and Greenpeace row over safety of GM food

The EU Commission stressed Thursday that health and environmental factors were foremost in approving genetically modified foodstuffs, while protesting farmers and environmentalists called for an outright ban. ”GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are one of the most sensitive dossiers on my desk,” EU Health Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou said during a meeting with farmers organised by Greenpeace in front of the Brussels headquarters of the commission.

2009-10-16 |

Peasants worldwide rise up against Monsanto and GMOs

Today, International World Food Day, as declared by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, La Via Campesina is mobilizing globally along with allies in an overwhelming expression of outright rejection of Monsanto and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), in the name of food sovereignty.

2009-10-15 |

Indian Bt cotton farmers use US tech to beat Americans

You have to give it to India’s farmers. They have used American seed technology to beat the US at cotton production. In just four years since 2002, when genetically modified Bt cotton was introduced in India by the US multinational, Monsanto Holdings, production more than doubled to 21.80 million bales, while the US output increased from 17.20 million to 21.58 million bales.

2009-10-15 |

GMOs and insurance: risks and rewards

In the U.S. for example, many people don’t seem to care too much about GMOs. This is to a large extent due to the regulatory concept of ’substantial equivalence’ which means that agricultural GMOs are generally recognized as safe and are therefore not subject to labeling in the U.S. [...] In Europe, the majority of consumers and many NGOs don’t want genetically modified crops. [...] You cannot see or feel the difference; you cannot taste it and, if it wasn’t labeled, no one would ever realize GMOs are there. [...] Consumers cannot easily recognize the benefits of genetically modified products, but they realize that there are potential risks.

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