Noticias
04.03.2010
No GM grain seeds for mass cultivation approved says Chinese ministry
In response to allegations that ?the ministry had given green light to imports of genetically modified seeds and allowed massive-scale domestic cultivation,? the ministry told the Xinhua News Agency on Tuesday that although it has already authorized the imports of four genetically modified crops of cotton, soybeans, corn and canola as raw materials for trial, the ministry has not yet ratified any genetically modified food crop seeds to be imported for cultivation.
04.03.2010
FAO condemned for shameless promotion of GMOs
We the undersigned civil society organizations are appalled at the decision of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization to sponsor a technical conference on agricultural biotechnology [...] taking place as the Mexican government moves to introduce genetically engineered maize in field trials, threatening the center of origin of maize and its most important center of diversity with irreversible contamination, a move being fought vocally and vigorously by Mexican civil society, indigenous peoples, campesinos, and all those who stand in defense of maize and its history in Mexico.
- GM Watch, UK (01.03.2010): FAO condemned for shameless promotion of GMOs
- ETC Group, Canada/USA (26.02.2010): FAO?s biotech meeting dubbed ?Biased for Business? as Steering Committee member resigns in protest
- GM Watch, UK (25.02.2010): Protest in Peru against FAO GM meeting
- GM Watch, UK (01.03.2010): Powerful speech to FAO by poor farmer
- Latin American Herald Tribune, Venezuela (26.02.2010): Greenpeace denounces UN support for GM crops in Mexico
04.03.2010
UN warns of harmful impact on poor farmers of narrow focus on biotechnology
An over-dependence on genetically modified organisms to boost agricultural production eclipses other biotechnologies and their potential to benefit poor farmers in developing countries, warned the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) today.
- United Nations, USA (01.03.2010): UN warns of harmful impact on poor farmers of narrow focus on biotechnology
- Food and Agriculture Organisation, Italy (FAO) (01.03.2010): Biotechnologies should benefit poor farmers in poor countries
- Scoop, New Zealand (19.02.2010): Head of the UNDP gets it right on agriculture
03.03.2010
New Zealand GE pasture trial aims to soften public concern
Agricultural scientists genetically engineering clover and ryegrass to feed sheep and cattle are ?softening up? the public for an application to trial GE pastures on New Zealand farms, says a lobbyist critical of some uses of the technology.
- Stuff, New Zealand (03.03.2010): GE pasture trial concerns
- The New Zealand Herald, New Zealand (02.03.2010): GE plants promoted as ?cisgenic?
- SciBlogs, New Zealand (02.03.2010): GM ryegrass ? at least 7 years away from release
- Sydney Morning Herald, Australia (01.03.2010): Aussies researching super-grass pastures
- The New Zealand Herald, New Zealand (07.04.2008): GM crops on way to NZ, say experts
- Royal Society of New Zealand, New Zealand (02.03.2010): Royal Society of New Zealand paper highlights the potential benefits and possible risks of genetically modified forages
03.03.2010
Farmers and exporters warn GM animals could damage ?brand New Zealand?
Organic farmers fear ?brand New Zealand? will be damaged if plans proceed to expand the range of genetically modified animals. Farmers and exporters told a panel deciding whether to allow Agresearch to put human genes into goats, sheep and cows that overseas customers might stop buying New Zealand products if there were further trials.
- The New Zealand Herald, New Zealand (03.03.2010): Farmers, exporters warn GM animals could damage ?brand New Zealand?
- Stuff, New Zealand (03.03.2010): Ruakura ?escapes? feared
- Voxy, New Zealand (02.03.2010): Conflict of interest by GE animals hearing Chair
- Scoop, New Zealand (01.03.2010): Time to stop the clock on GMO application
- Stuff, New Zealand (27.02.2010): GE cows face death if super milk rejected
- The New Zealand Herald, New Zealand (02.03.2010): Support for GM animal medicines
03.03.2010
Monsanto to enforce Bt corn refuge rules in Canada
Monsanto Canada plans to give corn growers one warning to keep a refuge of at least 20 per cent in fields of Bt corn, after which it will cut off growers who still don?t comply. [...] Under Monsanto?s new policy, Bt corn growers who are found to be non-compliant during ?random field assessments? will get letters advising them of the importance of a ?properly configured? refuge, and that they can expect a follow-up assessment in the next growing season.
03.03.2010
Monsanto ?warrior? Grant fights antitrust accusations and critics
For a man trying to feed the world, Monsanto Co.?s Hugh Grant has no shortage of people trying to disrupt his dinner plans, from activists fighting genetically modified crops to the U.S. Department of Justice probing his company?s sales practices. [...] Monsanto is not allowing the best seed to get to the market and is imposing unjustified pricing that hits American farmers and independent seed producers throughout the United States,? Paul Schickler, president of DuPont?s Pioneer seed unit, said in an interview.
03.03.2010
More than 200,000 NGOs, farmers, consumers, and organic producers call for USDA to prohibit GE alfalfa
The National Organic Coalition today announced that more than 200,000 people submitted comments to the United States Department of Agriculture critiquing the substance and conclusions of its Draft Environmental Impact Statement on Genetically Engineered Alfalfa. [...] In addition, more than 300 public interest organizations, farmers, dairies, retailers and organic food producers from the U.S. and Canada delivered a strongly worded letter to USDA
- The Center for Food Safety, USA (03.03.2010): More than 200,000 NGOs, farmers, consumers, and organic producers call for USDA to prohibit genetically engineered alfalfa
- Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, Canada (03.03.2010): Stop GE alfalfa from contaminating Canadian farms
- Food Safety News, USA (03.03.2010): Sustainable Ag: GE alfalfa threatens organics
- Consumers Union, USA (02.03.2010): Consumers Union poll: Two-thirds of organic foods consumers concerned with genetically engineered contamination
03.03.2010
GM potato approval ?A big step for Germany? but not for Italy and Austria
German Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner welcomed the decision, telling German news agency DPA it gave EU member states ?more freedom? to form their own policies. [...] the coalition agreement between Angela Merkel?s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the business-friendly Free Democratic Party (FDP) states that: ?We support the cultivation of the genetically modified starch potato Amflora for commercial industrial use.?
- Der Spiegel, Germany (03.03.2010): GM potato approval ?A big step for Germany?
- Radio France Internationale, France (RFI) (03.03.2010): Italy, Austria, Greens angered by GM potato
- Teatro Naturale, Italy (03.03.2010): Italy: no to Europe GM?s decision
- Times of Malta, Malta (03.03.2010): John Dalli walks into a storm
- EuroNews, Belgium (03.03.2010): Health Commissioner defends GM potato decision
- Reuters, UK (05.03.2010): France blasts GM crop approvals by EU agency
- Inter Press Service News Agency, Italy (IPS) (05.03.2010): Potato drags GM food into Europe
02.03.2010
EU Commission to dump risk assessment of genetically engineered plants?
The EU Commission is planning to adopt large parts of the European Food Authority?s guidelines on the risk assessment of genetically engineered plants as an official part of EU regulations. The EFSA guidelines are controversial and widely disputed in public. They have been heavily criticized from many sides. Nevertheless, in future large parts of these guidelines might become the official interpretation of EU legislation in this context.
- Testbiotech, Germany (01.03.2010): EU Commission to dump risk assessment of genetically engineered plants?
- GM Free Cymru, UK (23.02.2010): Formal protest from scientists: Commission regulation on implementing rules for GM applications and assessments
- Testbiotech, Germany (21.01.2010): Close EFSA?s open doors to industry!
02.03.2010
EU nations get more leeway on approving or rejecting GE crops
The European Commission Tuesday signaled a more liberal stance on regulating genetically modified crops, approving a controversial biotech potato and moving to allow national governments leeway on regulating biotech crops. [...] Allowing national governments to approve their own genetically modified crops would likely result in more biotech crops being grown throughout the EU, experts say.
- The Wall Street Journal, USA (02.03.2010): EU nations get more leeway on modified crops
- European Commission, Belgium (02.03.2010): Commission announces upcoming proposal on choice for Member States to cultivate or not GMO?s and approves 5 decisions on GMO?s
- Novinite Sofia News Agency, Bulgaria (02.03.2010): EC allows cultivation of GM potato, proposes weaker GMO laws
- Reuters, UK (02.03.2010): EU clears 5 GMO crops, eyes proposal on cultivation
02.03.2010
Scottish Environment Minister at odds with arable experts over GM potato trials
THE sharp divide on GM crops was to the fore when environment minister Roseanna Cunningham addressed a meeting of top arable farmers yesterday. [...] while she accepted the need to use molecular markers to help improve the efficiency of plant breeding in getting better varieties to market, she said she had great difficulty accepting the need for open field trials of GM cultivars
02.03.2010
BASF (Germany) wins first EU approval for GE crop planting in a decade
The EU authorized the Amflora potato to be grown for the production of industrial starch over the objections of environmental groups. [...] ?We hope that this decision is a milestone for further innovative products that will promote a competitive and sustainable agriculture in Europe,? Stefan Marcinowski, a board member of Ludwigshafen, Germany-based BASF, said in a statement.
- Business Week, USA (02.03.2010): BASF wins first EU approval for biotech planting in a decade
- The Financial Times, UK (02.03.2010): Genetically modified potato wins EU approval
- Farmers Guardian, UK (02.03.2010): EU approves first GM crop in 12 years
- British Broadcasting Corporation, UK (BBC) (02.03.2010): GM potato cleared for EU farming
- Business Week, USA (02.03.2010): BASF clears regulatory hurdle for Amflora after 13-year wait
- Agence France Press, France (02.03.2010): EU authorises GMO potatoes
- The New York Times, USA (02.03.2010): E.U. clears biotech potato for cultivation
- The New York Times, USA (02.03.2010): E.U. approves first modified crop for planting in 12 years
- Business Week, USA (02.03.2010): EU approves modified maize, potato
02.03.2010
Starch producer and NGOs have doubts about Amflora approval
Obviously, there are substantial doubts about the marketing of the gene-starch-potato Amflora even in the starch sector after the approval for commercial cultivation in the European Union. According to a Wednesday report of the ?Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung? even Emsland Stärke GmbH, according to its own date the largest German and world-wide second potato starch producer with seat in Emlichheim in Lower Saxony, refrains from cultivation of Amflora at present.
- Ad-Hoc-News, Germany (03.03.2010): Emsland Stärke GmbH sieht Bedenken wegen Genkartoffel Amflora (Approval - Emsland Stärke GmbH has doubts about gene-potato Amflora)
- Friends of the Earth Europe, Belgium (02.03.2010): European Commission gives green light to genetically modified potatoes
- GM Freeze, UK (02.03.2010): EC forces through ?bad decision? on GM industrial potato and ignores health risks
- Slow Food International, Italy (02.03.2010): Against the will of citizens and farmers, and overriding the sovereignty of Member States, the EU authorizes a GM potato
- Gozo News, Malta (02.03.2010): Keep the GM potato out of our soup ? MOAM
- Greenpeace European Unit, Belgium (02.03.2010): Barroso Commission authorises controversial GMO potato
- EuropaBio, Belgium (02.03.2010): EuropaBio welcomes Commission decision to approve five GMOs
- GMO Information Centre & Ecological Club Transylvania, Romania (03.03.2010): Reactions against the GM potato from Romania
02.03.2010
European Commission approves Amflora starch potato
?After waiting for more than 13 years, we are delighted that the European Commission has approved Amflora,? said Stefan Marcinowski, member of the Board of Executive Directors of BASF SE. ?We hope, that this decision is a milestone for further innovative products that will promote a competitive and sustainable agriculture in Europe.?
01.03.2010
U.S. soil scientist warns of glyphosate yield reduction
The speaker, Don Huber, a professor emeritus from the Indiana-based Purdue University, generated buzz at this conference with his theory that increased glyphosate use, due to the introduction of Roundup Ready crops and widespread adoption of no-till, may actually harm crop yields. Trish Jordan, a spokesperson for Monsanto Canada, says Huber?s work is often discredited by other academics because it is not indicative of what would happen in a real world situation. ?It?s an academic situation,? she says
01.03.2010
More US weeds found resisting Monsanto Roundup
Scientists said on Friday they have confirmed expanding weed resistance to a key ingredient in Monsanto?s widely used Roundup herbicide, a troubling development for farmers and fresh fodder for Monsanto critics. Kansas State University said scientists had found five kochia weed populations in western Kansas that have been confirmed to have become resistant to glyphosate.
01.03.2010
Deadline to comment on sale of genetically altered alfalfa nears
The USDA will accept comments through Wednesday on whether genetically altered alfalfa seeds can again be marketed. The crop was approved five years ago but then banned by court order. Monsanto appears to be in the final stages of a years-long fight to market a genetically altered alfalfa that was federally approved in 2005, but whose sales were quickly put on hold by a federal court.
01.03.2010
Suit seeks to bar genetically modified sugar beets in the USA
Organic farmers fear this year?s spring breezes will be carrying pollen from genetically altered sugar beets, which they say could render their crops worthless, and they hope to persuade a federal judge this week to halt the plantings nationwide. an injunction could jeopardize U.S. sugar supplies, about half of which comes from the biotech beets planted on more than 1 million acres in 10 states stretching from Michigan to Oregon.
01.03.2010
Lawsuit filed to bar GE crops from national wildlife refuge in the USA
A lawsuit filed today in federal court against the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service seeks to compel the Service to uproot genetically engineered crops from its Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware. As many as 80 other national wildlife refuges across the country now growing GE crops are vulnerable to similar suits.
- Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, USA (PEER) (01.03.2010): Lawsuit filed to bar GE crops from national wildlife refuge
- Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, USA (PEER) (24.03.2009): Lawsuit ends genetically engineered crops on wildlife refuge
- Philadelphia Inquirer, USA (02.03.2010): Suit seeks to halt engineered crops at refuge
- Reuters, UK (02.03.2010): Lawsuit filed over GMO crops in nature refuge
- The News Journal, USA (10.03.2010): Delaware environment: Suit filed against refuge farming
