GENET news: Protein

20.12.2006

Rice seed industry votes against testing certified seed for GE

The rice seed industry has voted against USA Rice Federation’s plan to test certified rice seed for the presence of LL601 and LL62. While seedsmen pledged to work with the industry to help get commercial seed stocks of Cheniere out of the system, they voted against «running any tests on commercial seed stocks to provide any documents that are not required by law. The retail invoice for certified seed shall be the only documentation delivered to purchasers at the time of sale.” The seedsmen approved the position at a meeting of the industry’s Certified Rice Seed Channel on Dec. 15 in Memphis. A statement said the Federation’s proposal «will require substantial additional costs to the industry for no useful purpose, creating the risk that legal seed stocks could be eliminated from the marketplace.”

20.12.2006

Most GE-contaminated corn now destroyed

All but about 50ha of the sweetcorn crops grown with seed contaminated with genetically engineered seeds in the Gisborne and Hawke's Bay regions has been destroyed. Biosecurity officials last week ordered 258.4ha of Hawke's Bay and Gisborne sweetcorn crops planted with 1807kg of contaminated seed to be harrowed, with the growing plants chopped and buried.

14.12.2006

Contaminated corn importer plans compo

American seed company Syngenta hopes to sort out compensation issues over its shipment of sweet corn seed contaminated with genetically engineered material as quickly as possible, a spokesman said today. A border bungle this year has led to an estimated 4420kg of sweet corn seed being investigated for possible contamination. About two-thirds of the seed has been planted in the Hawke's Bay, and near Gisborne and Ashburton.

13.12.2006

DuPont further strengthens seed business with second Chinese joint venture

Yesterday DuPont announced that its subsidiary Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. , has formed a joint venture with one of China’s largest seed production companies, Dunhuang Seed Co. Ltd., to provide top-performing corn hybrids to Chinese farmers in the spring market. «I’m excited about the opportunities for the Pioneer business in China and the increased productivity that we can bring to Chinese farmers,” said Paul Schickler, vice president, Pioneer International Operations. «This partnership brings together two strong seed companies and combines their strengths to benefit the agricultural industry.”

13.12.2006

More for Less? - The development of hybrid rice in Egypt

Although Asian countries produce the majority of the world’s rice, Egypt is beating out its global competitors when it comes to crop yields. Years of breeding programs have created strains of rice that are high yielding and well adapted to the local environment. With an average of 10 tons of rice per hectare (t/ha), Egypt is now the world’s highest-yielding rice producer, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture’s Rice Research and Training Center (RRTC). [...] Egypt does not ban GM foods, and Tantawi says the Agricultural Research Center is already working with GM organisms (GMOs) «in research conditions.” He says he is not opposed to the use of GMOs in Egypt, arguing, «If we can find good quality seeds with GMOs we will consider them.” Discussions about potential concerns and benefits related to the widespread use of hybrid rice in Egypt are something of a grasp into the dark. The RRTC is still conducting research, hybrid rice is not yet being mass-marketed, and private seed companies are not yet producing hybrid seed.

13.12.2006

AAI calls on Department of Justice to evaluate competitive issues of Monsanto/Delta and Pine Land deal

In a white paper the American Antitrust Institute (AAI) calls on the Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division to evaluate the competitive issues raised by Monsanto's proposed acquisition of Delta and Pine Land (D&PL). AAI noted the deal raises both competitive issues and broader public policy concerns associated with dominant firm control of an important agricultural supply chain. The white paper analyzes six major issues raised by the transaction, which include: vertical integration, closed "systems," potential competition, consumer choice, efficiencies and entry barriers, and up-front fixes.

11.12.2006

New Zealand Government may face $1 million bill for corn botchup

Sweet corn investigation. Update 2 - Table 1
Sweet corn investigation. Update 2 - Table 1The Government may face a hill of up to $1 million to clean up the latest border bungle - allowing genetically-engineered (GE) contaminated seeds to enter the country. Imports of a total of 4420kg of sweetcorn seed is being being investigated for possible GE contamination. About two-thirds of the sweetcorn seed -- 3067.5kg -- was planted in Hawke's Bay, Gisborne, and Ashburton, on about 373ha spread over 25 properties. The bill the Crown faces for cleanup of the latest incident is understood to be in the vicinity of $1 million," Sustainability Council executive director Simon Terry said today.

11.12.2006

Monsanto, Pioneer locked in fight over biotech seeds

Winter months are quiet on the farm, but it's crunch time for seed companies Monsanto Co. and Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. While farmers place their orders for next year's crop, the companies are fighting for market share in the multibillion-dollar market for genetically engineered seeds. Pioneer is developing new strains of biotech seeds, while Monsanto has been aggressively buying up small seed-dealing companies to get better access to farmers. The result seems to be a tight competition this year, with Monsanto possessing an edge, according to a recent report from analyst Kevin McCarthy with Bank of America in New York.

06.12.2006

Bungle let 'twice as much' corn into New Zealand

Biosecurity Minister Jim Anderton says the border bungle which allowed into New Zealand sweetcorn seed now suspected of being genetically modified was twice as bad as previously thought. Mr Anderton told Green Party co-leader Jeanette Fitzsimons an estimated 4420kg of sweetcorn seed was being investigated for possible GM contamination. This included an extra 2620kg of possibly contaminated seed that had been identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry following further tracing in the past day, he said in Parliament.

01.12.2006

Monsanto sees unprecedented early order activity for triple-stack traits by U.S. corn growers

Early order patterns in the United States for Monsanto's corn seeds and traits are reinforcing the company's goals of growing market share and increasing trait penetration, particularly in a triple-stack combination. In the 2007 growing season, the company's DEKALB and Asgrow national corn brands could have more than 35 percent of all of their seed sold in a triple stack, and for the first time will sell more acres of triple-stacked corn hybrids than hybrids with just one trait. The company's American Seeds Inc. (ASI) subsidiary of regional seed brands could have more than 30 percent of its seed sold as a triple stack. In 2006, the mix of triple stacks was 21 percent for DEKALB and Asgrow, and the mix of triple stacks was 14 percent for ASI.

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