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2009-11-04 |

Pesticide-industry representaive picked for U.S. trade post draws fire

A coalition of advocacy groups launched a campaign today opposing President Obama’s choice of a pesticide industry official to represent U.S. interests in agricultural trade negotiations. The 85 groups -- including Earthjustice, the Sierra Club, the Organic Consumers Association, the National Family Farm Coalition and dozens of state farm worker groups -- sent a letter today to the Senate Finance Committee opposing the nomination ahead of a scheduled confirmation hearing tomorrow for Islam Siddiqui.

2009-11-04 |

Bayer blamed at U.S: trial for crops ’contaminated’ by GE rice

Bayer CropScience AG is responsible for financial damage sustained by Missouri farmers when their rice crops were contaminated by genetically modified seeds, the growers’ lawyer told a federal court jury in St. Louis. Their trial is the first of a series the Bayer AG unit is defending against farmers from five states making similar claims. More than 1,200 such cases have been filed.

2009-11-04 |

Monsanto plans to cooperate with Australian wheat breeders

GENETICALLY modified wheat and drought-tolerant corn and cotton could be on the cards for Australia. Monsanto Scientific Affairs Asia senior director Dr Harvey Glick said drought-stress tolerant corn and cotton would be available by 2012. ”The plants will be able to withstand a moderate amount of drought, which Australian farmers face pretty much every year,” Dr Glick said.

2009-11-04 |

Monsanto’s RR sugar beet and alfalfa at U.S. courts

Beet farmers around Oregon, and the nation, say they feel like they are in limbo right now. They are awaiting a judge’s decision about whether it is legal to plant genetically-modified sugar beet seeds this year – or not. The decision could come as early as December. Most of us know beets as the bright red table beets we usually eat in salads. But to many Oregonian farmers, when you say beet – you mean a sugar beet.

2009-11-03 |

How Philippines grass-land slopes were converted into Bt Corn fields

The gentle mountain slopes in this fascinatingly beautiful place at once catch the attention not merely for their idyllic setting and extremely hospitable people that reside in their lush green shadows but also for a revolutionary trend in the agriculture they now practice along these inclines. As one winds through the serene terrains of Cagayan valley in northern Philippines, none can escape the hypnotising effect of the slopes covered with rows of standing corn crops.

2009-11-03 |

U.S. Justice Department’s investigation targets Monsanto

The U.S. Justice Department’s inquiry into Monsanto Co.’s marketing tactics in the biotech seed industry may be a leading indicator of the Obama administration’s approach to antitrust matters in general. Monsanto said earlier this month that it has provided interviews and documents in response to an inquiry from the Justice Department in connection with anti-competitive allegations raised by DuPont. The two are fierce competitors in the lucrative seed industry.

2009-11-03 |

Spanish Ministry for Environment acknowledged GE maize coexistence problems

The Spanish Ministry for Environment, Rural Activities and Marine Environment has acknowledged the existence of a problem concerning farmers affected by the presence of genetically modified crops nearby conventional or organic ones. [...] The ministry has not always been aware of these issues, so much that the general manager of the sustainable agricultural development program, Gesù Casas, acknowledged that companies like Monsanto are conducting ”an ongoing lobbying work within the Ministry’s offices.”

2009-11-03 |

GMO approvals won’t unblock EU soybean imports-trade

EU soybean and soymeal imports are unlikely to return to normal levels despite the EU’s decision on Friday to authorise three maize types containing genetically-modified organisms (GMOs), [...] Some soy shipments to the EU which had been blocked as they contained small traces of the three maize types may now be freed for import, a spokeswoman for European grain trade association Coceral said. But approval was still needed of the GMO maize type MIR604 from Swiss group Syngenta before normal imports could resume, she said.

2009-11-03 |

Statement of UCCS (Mexico) against GE maize approval

This year you stand in a historical position to prevent irreversible damage to one of the World’s most precious resources: Mexico’s maize diversity. We observe that your Administration may be rushing to introduce genetically modified (GM) maize into the Mexican environment and we are convinced, from our understanding of the scientific evidence, that this move represents a disproportionate risk which should be avoided for the benefit of Mexico and the World. Joined together in our well-informed concern, we urge you to move aggressively to ensure that no GM maize is planted in Mexico, the Center of Origin and Diversification of this important crop.

2009-11-03 |

Tests on treasured maize ignite fears in Mexico

As scientists race the clock to increase food production worldwide, new trials to plant genetically-modified maize have stoked anger in Mexico, the cradle of corn. Many here are sensitive about meddling with maize, which dates back to pre-Hispanic times, when mythologies held that people were created from corn.

2009-11-02 |

Turkey bans imports of biotech products

Turkey, the 27th largest export market for all U.S. goods, issued a new regulation placing additional requirements on all food and feed products containing genetically enhanced components. This new regulation essentially came without warning, according to U.S. Grains Council Regional Director in the Middle East and Subcontinent Joe O’Brien. ”This ban came at us pretty much out of the blue,” he said.

2009-11-02 |

Taiwan’s DOH and COA say no to genetically modified rice from United States

Taiwan is not about to allow the import of genetically modified rice from the United States, the Department of Health and the Council of Agriculture said yesterday. The denials followed the uproar about last week’s government deciding last week to allow the import of bone-in beef and other beef products from the United States. ”If (genetically modified rice) is imported, I will step down,” COA Minister Chen Wu-hsiung told reporters.

2009-11-02 |

Indian agricultural universities give green signal to Bt Brinjal

a distinguished professor with the Punjab Agriculture University (PAU) said that genetically modified brinjal (Bt brinjal) is not harmful and added that it’s a safe technology. Dr Satbir Singh Gosal, additional director, research, (agriculture) in PAU, said the technology would produce vegetables with much less insecticide level, whereas Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), which was involved in research for genetically modified (GM) food the past six years, has also commented that it is safe to consume Bt brinjal.

2009-11-02 |

Why a freeze on GM crops in India

the decision of Jairam Ramesh, minister for environment and forests, to postpone decision on environmental release of Bt brinjal until enough time has been given to people to review what has been done on Bt brinjal critically and according to stringent scientific norms, and then to have a scientific discussion on the merit or demerit of such a release, is fair and wise. We must commend the minister for his courageous stand.

2009-11-02 |

Zero tolerance for GM foods in Europe

Food is to European culture what free speech is to American culture. There may not always be a good scientific reason for concern, but to consider eating something that has resulted from some laboratory manoeuvring is felt by many Europeans as a kind of refutation of the true self. Whether judiciously or not, most Europeans are frightened to death of genetically modified food. And, this is not entirely a matter of Europeans’ falling victim to protectionist propaganda or frenzy. Trying to force genetically modified food down European throats is the surest way to guarantee that they swallow neither the potatoes nor a lot of the tactics to dump GM foods.

2009-11-02 |

Indian States against Bt brinjal

A Madhya Pradesh minister believes there is no difference between genetically modified (GM) crops and the East India Co, the British firm that began trading with India in 1600 but subsequently came to rule the country till 1858. And many farmers and activists agree with him.
[...] ’Commercial cultivation of Bt brinjal (a GM crop) will not be allowed in Madhya Pradesh,’ Kusmariya told IANS.

2009-10-28 |

GE virus-resistant squash more vulnerable to bacterial infection

Once the virus infects susceptible plants, cucumber beetles find the genetically modified plants a better source for food and mating. ”Our study has sought to uncover the ecological cost that might be associated with modified plants growing in the full community of organisms, including other insects and other diseases,” said Ferrari. ”We have shown that while genetic engineering has provided a solution to the problem of viral diseases, there are also these unintended consequences in terms of additional susceptibility to other diseases.”

2009-10-28 |

What happens when wild boars and fallow deer snack on genetically modified corn?

Corn – or maize, as it’s known to scientists – is a high-energy delicacy for local game, which is why it is used specifically for winter feeding and to divert animals from farmers’ fields. Today, with GM (genetically modified) maize acreage increasing worldwide, biologists are discussing a highly controversial question: What happens when a wild boar takes a snack in a transgenic maize field or when deer feed on imported GM maize in winter?

2009-10-28 |

For a greener Green Revolution

”The new Green Revolution must be really green,” Marco Contiero of the Greenpeace European unit tells IPS. ”The dominant industrial farming system that has caused hunger is based on fossil fuels - pouring nitrogen fertilisers into the soil, using herbicides and pesticides made from oil, emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere to transport food from one part of the world to another. ”The whole system supports greenhouse gas emissions. We need a paradigm shift in the way we produce, distribute and consume food.”

2009-10-28 |

U.S. GM sugar beets hit by California court ruling

A federal court judge in California has thrown up a possible roadblock for the nation’s sugar beet growers next spring as they move toward planting more genetically altered beets. [...] For local sugar beet growers like Wellington area farmer Richard Seaworth, the court action was a blow. ”We were very disappointed,” said Seaworth, who is just wrapping up his second season of growing GM beets. ”Roundup Ready is the greatest thing to happen for beet growers and (GM crops are) going to keep the world from starvation.”

2009-10-28 |

Obama supports Food Inc.’s world domination and all we get is the White House garden?

I’ll admit it. I’m an unabashed fan of the First Lady. I read every article about the White House organic garden and I go to Michele’s farmers’ market every Thursday. [...] Because I admire the First Lady’s good example, I am shocked by the chemical agribusiness and biotech cheerleading of her husband’s administration.

2009-10-28 |

Courts force U.S. reckoning with dominance of GM crops

These days, there is no rarer commodity in farming than trust. Take Oregon’s Willamette Valley, which for generations has been the germ of the U.S. sugar beet industry, producing nearly all the country’s seeds. Such breeding is complicated when neighbors grow genetically similar crops and stiff Pacific winds, baffled by the Coast Range mountains, shove pollen every which way.

2009-10-27 |

German coalition cautiously favorable on GMOs

Germany’s incoming government drew mixed responses on Monday to its cautiously-favorable policy toward genetically-modified organisms (GMOs). The incoming coalition between the conservative and pro-business liberal parties which won Germany’s parliamentary elections in September announced its core policies over the weekend which included a statement in overall favor of GMO crops if they are found to be safe.

2009-10-27 |

First successful Aids vaccine receives mixed responses

Results from the first successful Aids vaccine trial confirmed yesterday that it is only marginally effective and may weaken over time, prompting a further fierce defence of the value of such costly research. Scientists who conducted the study, which confounded expectations in the Aids research community when initial findings were released last month, said that it showed the experimental vaccine prevented some HIV infections.

2009-10-27 |

Six reasons why BioArts (USA) does no longer clone dogs

Unfortunately, in addition to producing and delivering numerous perfectly healthy dog clones, we’ve also seen several strange anomalies in cloned offspring. One clone – which was supposed to be black and white – was born greenish-yellow where it should have been white. Others have had skeletal malformations, generally not crippling though sometimes serious and always worrisome. One clone of a male donor was actually born femal [...] Conclusion: Cloning is still an experimental technology and consumers would be well-advised to proceed cautiously.

2009-10-27 |

South Korean stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-suk convicted of embezzlement, cleared of fraud

Disgraced stem cell researcher Hwang Woo-suk was convicted Monday of embezzling state and private funds and illegally buying human eggs for his research, but was cleared of fraud charges. The Seoul Central District Court gave the 56-year-old scientist a two-year prison sentence suspended for three years, ending a three-year, four-month saga that dates back to his indictment in 2006.

2009-10-27 |

Australian canola purchasers CBH and Elders will not buy GE canola

MAJOR canola purchasers CBH and Elders will not be buying GM canola this season, in a nod to the market sensibilities of major customers in Europe and Japan. Europe has only just relaxed moratoria on buying GM canola seed and is unlikely to buy any GM this season due to a big harvest, while Japan prefers non-GM from Australia, even though most of its imports come from Canada, the largest GM canola producing nation in the world.

2009-10-27 |

On feeding the world and growing GE canola in Australia

The world is not getting any bigger, so the question is, how are we going to feed all of these people?
Genetic Modification has been touted as one of the solutions to the problem. The Agriculture Minister, Terry Redman, says [...] ”It’s not a silver bullet, it’s not something that everyone’s going to grow, it’s not something that they’re going to put their whole farm into, but it’s another tool to put in the toolbox that farmers can use to address the challenges they face in Western Australia,”

2009-10-26 |

For-profit seeds hurting farmers, biodiversity

Large biotechnology firms are not only depriving poor farmers of inputs essential for their livelihoods, but are also pushing up food prices, according to a new U.N. report. ”Excessive protection of intellectual property rights in agriculture is an obstacle rather than an incentive for innovation,” says Olivier De Schutter, the U.N. special rapporteur on the right to food, who authored the report released Tuesday.

2009-10-26 |

Opensourcing GM flowers: ”Biopiracy” in the name of art

Imagine a do-it-yourself genetic piracy kit where you could clone genetically modified (GM) plants in your own kitchen and, if you were crazy or creative enough, set them free. Well that’s exactly what the Common Flowers / Flower Commons project has set out to do: revert flower cuttings into their genetically modified origins by transforming cuttings with basic kitchen utensils to create living flowers. For this years Ars Eletronica art festival in Austria, artists Shiho Fukuhara & Georg Tremmel used as their specimen the ”Moondust” blue carnation which was developed in 1995 by Japanese beer and whiskey brewer Suntory.

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