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13.11.2008
Non-GE varieties of quality protein maize available for African farmers
Africa’s endemic hunger and malnutrition that continues to blight a huge proportion of the population has found a respite, with the introduction of quality protein maize varieties for small holder farmers. The new varieties (it is not just one, there are several) have significantly boosted yields as well as nutrition and incomes to small scale farmers. According to documented research from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), quality protein maize (QPM) contains enhanced levels of essential amino acids, lysine and trytophan, along with other features that make more of its protein useful to humans and farm animals.
13.11.2008
Aresa (Denmark) announces failure of GE landmine detection technology
As was expected the tests in Serbia did not produce a positive result (none of the plants changed colours to red when growing in proximity to TNT-infected soil) and as the company explained at its general meeting, further development of the plant is assessed to last 2-3 years. aresa is now left with patented technologies that have not been validated. This makes the value of the patents highly uncertain, and the technology represents value only if the biotech activities continue in some form. aresa has booked goodwill in relation to the patents of DKK 13,4m, which is now at risk of being written down to DKK 0.
13.11.2008
Modified genes spread to local maize in Mexico
Transgenes from genetically modified (GM) maize (corn) crops have been found in traditional ’landrace’ maize in the Mexican heartland, a study says. The work largely confirms a similar, controversial result published in Nature in 2001 and may reignite the debate in Mexico over GM crops. The paper reports finding transgenes in three of the 23 locations that were sampled in 2001, and again in two of those locations using samples taken in 2004. Written by a team led by Elena Álvarez-Buylla of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City, the study will be published in the journal Molecular Ecology.
12.11.2008
Critical analysis of EFSA’s opinion on MON863 hybrids
Decreased organ weight were observed in all studies including heart, kidney, thyroid/parathyroid, epididymes and other (not specified) organs. Most of these differences are described as ”statistically significant different”. Changes in blood included lower numbers of red blood cells, increased corpuscular hemoglobin for one hybrid and a decrease in another, increased blood urea nitrogen, changes in basophile counts, and an increased neutrophil count. Other changes included higher feed consumptions of animals: Female rats fed with a small amounts of MON863xMON810 and rats fed high amounts of MON863xNK603 consumed more feed then the control groups.
12.11.2008
Monsanto’s statement on safety allegations related to transgenic maize NK603 X MON 810
the scientific community refrains from making any substantive conclusions based on a preliminary report. The gold standard for communication of scientific results is a thorough peer review by qualified experts. The Greenpeace press statement is inconsistent with over a decade of reputable, peer-reviewed, scientific studies, including multi-generational studies, which demonstrate and confirm the safety of GM crops. ”These products have been proven to be safe. This report does not provide any basis to conclude otherwise,” said Jerry Hjelle, Ph.D., Vice President of Monsanto’s regulatory group.
- Monsanto, USA (11.11.2008): Monsanto’s statement on safety allegations related to transgenic maize NK603 X MON 810
- Earth Times, India (11.11.2008): Genetically modified maize lowers fertility in mice, study finds
- Greenpeace International, The Netherlands (11.11.2008): Mice! Forget about birth control - try GE maize instead!
12.11.2008
My two-day field trip with Germany’s BASF Plant Science
Of course, if you’re to believe BASF, there’s nothing at all to fear from genetic modification - or genetic ”optimization,” as it was repeatedly referred to there. A presentation by Graham Brookes, director of the England-based PG Economics Limited, showed hard evidence of the overwhelmingly positive economic and environmental impacts of the crops. Mind you, this is a man whose company gets a paycheck from such pro-GM trade associations as CropLife International and Green Biotech Europe, and who summed up his view of the Indian environmental activist Vandana Shiva with the couplet ”bloody idiot.”
12.11.2008
Monsanto Company to invest in technologies for sugarcane with acquisitions of CanaVialis and Alellyx
In the face of long-term changes driving greater global demand for food and biofuel sources, Monsanto Company is investing in a new large-acre row crop, sugarcane, to diversify its existing core crop portfolio and to leverage its experience in bringing innovations to the agricultural marketplace through breeding and biotechnology. Monsanto announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Aly Participacoes Ltda., which operates the sugarcane breeding and technology companies, CanaVialis S.A. and Alellyx S.A., both of which are based in Brazil.
12.11.2008
U.S. wheat industry works on pro-GE-wheat campaign
Vic Knauf believes there is great potential in solving some of the agronomic problems that plague wheat producers.
Knauf is the chief scientific officer at Arcadia Biosciences, Davis, California. The company develops plants that improve the environment and are beneficial to human health. And Arcadia is developing Nitrogen Use Efficiency technology in wheat.
12.11.2008
Syngenta buys Argentine seeds company SPS
The world’s largest agrochemicals company Syngenta AG said on Monday it has bought SPS Argentina, a company specialised in development, production and marketing of soybean, corn and sunflower. ”The transaction will give Syngenta a significantly increased presence in the important soybean market in Argentina, complementing its existing strong positions in corn and sunflower,” the company said in a statement.
11.11.2008
Austrian study shows fertility problems in mice fed with Monsanto’s NK603xMON810 Bt maize
A study published today by the Austrian government identified serious health threats of genetically engineered (GE) crops. In one of the very few long-term feeding studies ever conducted with GE crops, the fertility of mice fed with GE maize was found to be severely impaired, with fewer offspring being produced than by mice fed on natural crops. Considering the severity of the potential threat to human health and reproduction, Greenpeace is demanding a recall of all GE food and crops from the market, worldwide.
- Greenpeace International, The Netherlands (11.11.2008): Genetically-engineered food: potential threat to fertility
- Friends of the Earth Europe, Belgium (01.11.2008): EU debates GMOs at the highest levels
- Farmers Guardian, UK (10.11.2008): Benn backs GM food safety
- Agence France Press (12.11.2008): GM crops found to affect reproduction in mice: Austrian study
- The Daily Mail, UK (12.11.2008): Why eating GM food could lower your fertility
- The Center for Food Safety, USA (13.11.2008): Austrian study finds eating genetically engineered corn may reduce fertility
11.11.2008
Researchers bring non-GE drought-tolerant, disease-resistant cassava to African farmers
Cassava farmers in the semi-arid zones of sub-Saharan Africa are now enjoying 6-10 times better yields thanks to a new variety developed by IITA that is well-adapted to the dry or drought-prone conditions of the region. Dubbed TMS92/0067, the variety, with farmer management, produces an average of 30 to 50 tonnes of cassava per hectare as opposed to the 5 tonnes per hectare from local varieties commonly used by farmers in these areas.
11.11.2008
U.S. researchers breed non-GE drought-tolerant soybeans with Asian landraces
Carter and his team have been transferring a slow-wilting characteristic from Asian landraces into U.S.-adapted varieties. Once the team gets the slow-wilting trait into a high-yielding line, they share the new line with private seed companies and public soybean breeders. ”Industry breeders use the USDA drought-tolerant lines as valuable breeding stock to develop high-yielding varieties adapted to the stressful U.S. summers,” says Carter.
In a Nebraska field, Team Drought collaborator Jim Specht screens soybean plants for desirable slow-wilting traits.
11.11.2008
Newspaper brings to light abuses against poor farmers in Argentina
According to official statistics, between 2002 and 2006, more than 500,000 hectares were deforested to make way for genetically modified soybeans, Argentina’s main export crop. The advance of monoculture, besides destroying the area’s natural biodiversity, is also undermining the very survival of campesinos who have lived and farmed in the region for generations.
11.11.2008
Report cannot disprove links between Bt cotton and farmer suicides in India
The authors admit in the actual paper that the data is simply not available that would allow specific conclusions as to the numbers of Bt cotton farmers who have committed suicide: ”...none of the reported data sources on farmer suicide provide information about the concerned farmers’ characteristics.” [...] there’s nothing in this report to contradict the award-winning Indian development journalist P Sainath [...] calling the massive hyping of Bt cotton to poor debt-burdened dryland farmers as, ”murderous... stupid... killing”.
11.11.2008
Indian campaign against GM crops gaining momentum
The distinction between a vegetarian and a non-vegetarian might soon get blurred with the introduction of genetically modified crops. Now, imagine tomatoes, which are genetically modified with the gene of a pig. This has sparked a global campaign against genetically modified (GM) foods. Uttar Pradesh, too, has been engulfed in the campaign — ”I am no lab rat”.
11.11.2008
Austrian study shows fertility problems in mice fed with Monsanto’s NK603xMON810 Bt maize
The fertility of mice which have been fed with genetically modified maize NK603xMON810 of the U.S. agro-multi Monsanto is impaired significantly. This is the results of a long-term study published by the Austrian Ministry of Health in Vienna today. In contrast to mice fed with conventional maize, the treated animals gave birth to less and weaker offspring. Greenpeace calls for an immediate moratorium on genetically modified crops in the EU.
10.11.2008
Engineering a false hope
The recent spike in food prices, as well as concerns about what the future may hold, are weighing on the minds of people across the globe. The biotech industry is exploiting such worries and claiming, contrary to evidence, that genetically engineered (GE) crops must be accepted to help the world feed itself. The industry hopes to use these scare tactics to expand into the many countries, especially in Europe and the East, that have wisely rejected GE foods because their human health and environmental safety have not yet been assessed.
10.11.2008
Clinton at UN: food, energy, financial woes linked
”Food is not a commodity like others,” said Clinton, who heads an international non-governmental organization bearing his name. ”We should go back to a policy of maximum agricultural self-sufficiency,” Clinton said. While there would always be a global market for crops like rice, wheat and corn, he added, ”it is crazy for us to think we can develop a lot of these countries where I work without increasing their capacity to feed themselves and treating food like it was a color television set.”
10.11.2008
Indian Cotton farmers adopt Bollgard II in 4,5 mill acres
Due to improved yield and better control of pest-resistance, adoption of Bollgard II version of GM cotton has increased four-fold since its commercial launch in 2006 and area under cultivation has risen to 45 lakh [4,5 mill ac; 1,8 mill ha]. Of 172 lakh acres of total Bt cotton, farmers cultivated Bollgard II in 45.1 lakh acres and Bollgard in 127.2 lakh acres during kharif 2007-08 season, said Mahyco Monsanto Biotech, a 50:50 joint venture between Maharashtra-based seed firm Mahyco and global seed giant Monsanto.
10.11.2008
First GM canola crop delivered to silo in New South Wales (Australia)
THE first genetically-modified canola crop has been delivered into a silo in NSW, Monsanto Australia announced. Parkes farmer Graham Barron, who delivered his Roundup Ready canola crop to a silo at Grenfell this week, said in a statement issued by Monsanto that he was impressed by the results and with the supply chain processes.
- Weekly Times, Australia (07.11.2008): First GM canola crop delivered to silo
- The West Australian, Australia (08.11.2008): The good oil on GM canola
- Stock & Land, Australia (04.11.2008): GM crops ready to face first test
- Stock Journal, Australia (29.10.2008): SA waits on interstate GM yields
- Stock Journal, Australia (22.10.2008): GMs - is SA missing out?
