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2009-05-26 |

Brazil regulator OKs Monsanto GMO cotton seed

Brazil's biosafety regulator CTNBio has approved the use of Monsanto's Bollgard 2 genetically modified cotton seed, the company said on Thursday. The pest-resistant cotton variety must still be approved by Brazil's Agriculture Ministry before it can be planted in the country. U.S.-based Monsanto has a total of six genetically modified varieties of cotton, soybeans and corn already approved for commercial planting in Brazil.

2009-05-26 |

Bt cotton is not in trouble in India, it’s in demand

Genetic engineering is a tough cover for even a well-worn agricultural journalist like me. But for a non-agricultural journalist to spend just four days researching the impact of GE seeds on cotton farmer suicides in India is a bit of a stretch. It’s like me being qualified to safely land a Boeing 747 after reading ”The Life and Times of Orville and Wilbur Wright.”

2009-05-26 |

German Nobel Laureate Nüsslein-Volhard: ”The ban on cultivating Bt maize sends an alarming signal”

In a joint memorandum, the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG) and German Agricultural Society (Deutsche Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft, DLG) are demanding reliable conditions for research and development in the area of genetically modified plants. At a press conference in Berlin the presidents of the two organisations complained of a hostile climate to plant biotechnology and argued emphatically in favour of freedom of research and field trials.

2009-05-26 |

Victoria (Australia) forges global alliance with Dow AgroSciences for crop innovation

Victoria has forged a global alliance with Dow AgroSciences for crop innovation, Minister for Innovation of Victoria Gavin Jennings announced today at BIO2009 in Atlanta. The research partnership will see Victoria strengthen its position as a leader in agricultural biotechnology as scientists in Australia and the USA work together to develop new plant traits and plant varieties for Victorian and international farmers.

2009-05-26 |

Chinese Bt Cotton will be grown on 800 acres in Pakistan

A two Member Chinese follow up mission headed by Qiquan Zhang, Director General, Agri. Division, Xinjiang Production and Corporation, reached here Islamabad and called on the Chairman, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Dr Zafar Altaf and discussed contents of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to be implemented in Punjab and Sindh for growing Bt Cotton.

2009-05-25 |

Multinationals and GE soy imports dominate Chinese soy market

In 2001 before entry WTO, China had already absolutely opened up the soybean market. The four largest multinational grain giants, including ADM, Bungay, Cargill and Louis Dreyfus, began to enter China gradually, which gradually occupy the domestic soybean market through the genetically modified soybeans. The multinational enterprises have controlled 80% of the soybean sources of the imported soybeans and 70% of the actual soybean processing capacity. According to the statistics in 2008, there were about 100 large oil processing enterprises in China, and over 60 enterprises were merged or held by the foreign funded enterprises. The multinational grain dealers have permeated into various soybean fields, such as planting, trade and circulation etc.

2009-05-25 |

Western Australian fasting protest a show of anti-GM sentiment

WILLIAMS, WA, canola farmers Jo Fowler, Janette Liddelow, Margie Haddrick and Catherine Higham staged a protest against the growing of Genetically Modified (GM) canola in WA on the steps of Parliament House last week. The protest involved a two day fasting vigil, with the ladies urging Agriculture Minister Terry Redman to abort the GM canola trials that will be grown across about 850 hectares this year, on three research stations and 17 WA farms.

2009-05-25 |

New Zealand largest stockfood manufacturer accused of false GE-free claims

Inghams advertisements are misleading the public by claiming that their chicken products have no genetically modified ingredients, according to the Soil & Health Association of NZ. ”Inghams are taking huge advantage of consumer resistance to GE foods by making GM free claims in television and print advertising, yet hidden well away on their website in their GM Policy(1), they argue for their use of GE soy in chicken feed,” said Soil & Health spokesperson Steffan Browning.

2009-05-25 |

Pig and Poultry Live: UK GM debate begins

The GM or ’biotechnology’ debate needs to start with consumers, according to NFU deputy president Meurig Raymond, following remarks made by a shopper at the conference, who said they would not buy anything with GMs although admitting feeling ”ignorant about so-called Frankenstein foods.” Sparking debate among the audience, pig producer James Black believed misrepresentation of facts had occurred around the whole GM debate.

2009-05-25 |

Livestock raisers in Negros Occidental (Philippines) calls for lifting GMO ban

Livestock raisers in Negros Occidental yesterday appealed to the provincial government to hasten the release of the recommendations on the ordinance banning Genetically Modified Organisms in Negros Occidental. Albert Lim Jr., president of the Negros Occidental Hog Raisers Association, said they are appealing for the ad hoc committee discussing the GMO issue to release the results of its discussions on the matter. He noted that the ordinance continues to put a halt to their use of GMO corn to feed their hogs and chickens as they wait for the recommendations.

2009-05-22 |

GMO ban bill passed in Tasmania (Australia)

Tasmania's ban on the release of genetically modified organisms to the environment will continue for at least another five years under a Bill passed by Parliament today. The Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn, said today that the State's GMO-free status is a key factor in the Tasmanian Brand. ”Tasmania's GMO-free status is a vital factor for our primary producers, helping them realise their full potential in international and interstate markets,” Mr Llewellyn said.

2009-05-20 |

GMO companies sprinkle cash at the Hawai’i Capitol (USA)

For the second year in a row, proponents and opponents of genetically modified crops have fought their way to no action in the Hawaii State Legislature. [...] Both bills generated anti-GMO pressure from the environmentalists, organic farmers and Native Hawaiians and pro-GMO pressure mainly from the University of Hawaii and agribusiness companies and organizations. There may have been some pressure generated from another source. During the last election, at least 18 candidates for the legislature–all incumbents–received campaign contributions from companies that had major investments in GM crops.

2009-05-20 |

The American Academy Of Environmental Medicine calls for immediate moratorium on genetically modified foods

The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) today released its position paper on Genetically Modified foods stating that ”GM foods pose a serious health risk” and calling for a moratorium on GM foods. Citing several animal studies, the AAEM concludes ”there is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects” and that ”GM foods pose a serious health risk in the areas of toxicology, allergy and immune function, reproductive health, and metabolic, physiologic and genetic health.”

2009-05-20 |

Tell Congress not to force GE crops on other countries

An effort to fight global poverty and hunger may become a Trojan horse to force genetically engineered crops on countries and farmers that do not want them. In the Senate, Senators Bob Casey (D-Penn.) and Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) introduced the Global Food Security Act, which increases funding for agricultural research in the developing world, and a companion bill in the House of Representatives is expected to be introduced soon.

2009-05-20 |

GE crops holds seeds of hope for Africa

there are new technologies on the horizon that can help farmers lessen the impact of drought. Through biotechnology, researchers at Monsanto are developing a drought-tolerant corn to reduce lost yields caused by drought. [...] The technology has been submitted for regulatory review in the United States and we expect it to be a valuable tool in the Western corn belt in a few years. But as with the latest medications, it is inconceivable that African farmers should have to wait longer for the technology.

2009-05-20 |

GE crops making important contributions to sustainable farming

”Since 1996, biotech crop adoption has contributed to reducing the release of greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, decreased pesticide spraying and significantly boosted farmers' incomes,” said Graham Brookes, director of PG Economics, co-author of the report. ”The technology has also made important contributions to increasing the yields of many farmers, reducing production risks, improving productivity and raising global production of key crops.

2009-05-20 |

GE crop debate rages on in Uganda

Amid concerns on the safety of genetically-modified cro ps and the cost of acquiring GM seeds by the largely peasant African farmers, the debate over the acceptability of biotechnology continues to rage in Uganda, just it does in most parts of Africa. Supporters of biotechnology said it offered Africa the best chance of guarding against food insecurity because it enhances agricultural productions. Opponents countered by questioning the safety of the relatively new technology as well as its affordability.

2009-05-19 |

DuPont alleges anti-competitive conduct by Monsanto in response to lawsuit over stacked traits

Monsanto is trying to deny farmers access to alternative technologies at a time when farmers are struggling with weeds that are increasingly resistant to current Monsanto products, said James C. Borel, DuPont group vice president.
”The litigation filed today by Monsanto is more of what we have come to expect from them,” said Borel, in response to the filing of a lawsuit by Monsanto in federal court in St. Louis, Mo. ”Monsanto has a long history of using litigation and aggressive tactics to preserve their monopoly and attempt to intimidate customers, seed partners and competitors.

2009-05-19 |

Farmers reveal: The truth about GM corn in the Philippines

A forum on the case study on the socio-economic impact of Genetically Modified (GM) Corn or RR Corn in Capiz was held last April 30, 2009 [...] Ms. Eloisa Bosito, MASIPAG-National Secretariat presented & discussed the results of the socio-economic study which shows that almost all of the farmers in both municipalities are dependent with the local financiers in the area, with 57% of the corn farmers in Dumarao are paying an interest of 7% per month. In Maayon, most of the farmers are paying as high as 10% per month.

2009-05-19 |

Vatican science academy pushes GMOs as safe way of feeding the hungry

Sandwiched amid Pope Benedict XVI’s trip to the Middle East and President Barack Obama’s commencement address at Notre Dame, a behind-closed-doors ”study week” in Rome sponsored by the Pontifical Academy for Sciences on genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, has so far flown largely below radar. Yet the May 15-19 event could help drive the Vatican toward a pro-GMO stance, disappointing some social justice activists, as well as a cross-section of Catholic bishops and theologians, who see genetically altered crops as risks to the environment and human health as well as a boondoggle for giant agribusiness corporations.

2009-05-19 |

Biotech portion of U.S. foreign aid bill draws criticism

Congress has largely stayed out of the battles over genetically engineered crops, but that could change with a foreign aid bill that could target research money to agricultural biotechnology. [...] The legislation appears to be in line with the Obama administration’s priorities. […..] But critics of biotechnology are angry that the increased U.S. aid could be used to promote the use of genetically engineered seeds, and they’re pushing lawmakers to strip the provision from the bill.

2009-05-19 |

Cancer patients challenge the patenting of a gene

Ms. Girard took a genetic test to see if her genes also put her at increased risk for ovarian cancer, which might require the removal of her ovaries. The test came back positive, so she wanted a second opinion from another test. But there can be no second opinion. A decision by the government more than 10 years ago allowed a single company, Myriad Genetics, to own the patent on two genes that are closely associated with increased risk for breast cancer and ovarian cancer, and on the testing that measures that risk.

2009-05-19 |

U.S. Federal Circuit limits patentability of genetic sequences

The Federal Circuit’s decision in Kubin generally means that to the extent a protein has been previously identified, its nucleotide sequence is no longer patentable. The broader application of Kubin will include attempts to reject or invalidate claims directed to biotech inventions which claim an outcome of experimentation from among a range of expected results, even though not expressly predictable. There will undoubtedly be an increase in invalidity challenges to existing gene patents by those seeking to market generic and follow-on biologics prior to patent expiration, in view of the likelihood that pending regulatory legislation also passes. Clearly, the patentability standard for gene sequences and the commercial exclusivity available for such biotech inventions have been dramatically altered by the Federal Circuit’s In re Kubin decision.

2009-05-18 |

Canadian Wheat Board and others cautious about GM wheat

The Canadian Wheat Board won’t support genetically modified wheat until key conditions are in place, including assurances that its overseas markets would accept the crop. [...] The Wheat Board, which opposed Monsanto Co’s application for a herbicide-tolerant GM wheat in 2004, would also want to see a greater benefit, such as resistance to fusarium disease or improved yield and quality, [spokeswoman for the Wheat Board] Fitzhenry said. At present, there’s no way to effectively segregate GM wheat from non-GM wheat, which would be another condition the board would want satisfied, she said.

2009-05-18 |

Growers in U.S., Canada, Australia back GMO wheat

Farm groups from the world’s top wheat-exporting nations on Thursday said they had reached an agreement to support a ”synchronized” commercialization of biotech traits in wheat. Though any market roll-out of a genetically altered wheat would be years away, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) said Thursday it had signed up grain growers in Canada and Australia in a deal that would align the nations against any international backlash if and when a biotech wheat was introduced.

2009-05-18 |

Aquinnah (Massachusetts, USA) votes for GE food ban

The final article calling for a ban on genetically modified foods (GMO) from Aquinnah garnered the most resounding support of the night. It was approved unanimously and inspired several comments condemning the methods of big argibusiness and expressions of support for the petition. [...] As part of the measure voters also endorsed a petition to the federal government to introduce labels on all GMO produce.

2009-05-18 |

Agrolink Director Svetla Nikolova: We hope for GM Free Bulgaria

Interview with Svetla Nikolova, Director of AGROLINK (www.agrolink.org). AGROLINK brings together specialists, experts and farmers in a network of partnership with the aim to influence encourage and assist farmers and rural societies in Bulgaria to develop and support organic farming as the most sustainable agriculture system.

2009-05-18 |

New report undermines Vatican meeting on GE crops

On the eve of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences’ ”Study Week” on genetically modified food, a new report from GM Freeze shows why GM won’t, and can’t, deliver on its promises. [...] The biotech industry now hopes to boost their market with ”nutritionally enhanced” GM crops, which it claims will alleviate malnutrition and improve health. Yet after over a decade of such promises, no nutritionally enhanced crops are commercially available, while better approaches to health and nutrition are cheaper and ready to use.

2009-05-18 |

Few signs of concern as GM crops advance in Ghana

Ghanaians are daily consuming genetically modified (GM) products imported by various traders without much care. However, as the government prepares to allow the planting of GM crops locally in a bid to boost food production, one non-governmental organisation, Friends of the Earth (FoE) Ghana is sounding the alarm.
Field trials of GM crops in Ghana began in May 2008, regulated by existing legislation coverying the conduct of research in general. A Biosafety Bill that will establish a framework for the commercial growing of genetically-modified crops in the country is presently before parliament.

2009-05-14 |

Bayer CropScience and Evogene enter a multi-year collaboration for rice yield improvement

Bayer CropScience AG and Evogene Ltd. today announced a three-year collaboration focused on increasing rice productivity and yield. Pursuant to the collaboration agreement, key candidate genes discovered by Evogene for yield enhancement will be introduced into Bayer CropScience’s rice R&D pipeline for the development of high yielding hybrid rice. The agreement strengthens and expands the companies’ existing research and development collaboration for rice, established in 2007.

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