Actualité
15.01.2010
Agbiotech CEO appointed as director for UK agriculture research institute
Professor Moloney is currently Chief Scientific Officer of SemBioSys Genetics Inc, based in Calgary, Canada. He founded the company in 1994 and has maintained this role alongside a successful academic career at the University of Calgary, where he serves as NSERC/Dow AgroSciences Industrial Research Professor of Plant Biotechnology.
- Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, UK (BBSRC) (14.01.2010): New Director for Rothamsted Research
- GM Watch, UK (15.01.2010): A declaration of war
- Inter Press Service, Italy (IPS) (14.01.2010): India holds public meetings on GM food crop
- Farmers Guardian, UK (22.01.2010): Anti-GM lobby anger at new Rothamstead director
15.01.2010
U.S. Justice Department steps up antitrust investigation into Monsanto
The Justice Department has intensified its antitrust investigation into Monsanto Co., demanding internal documents that outline marketing tactics of the world?s biggest seed company. The demand, disclosed Thursday by Monsanto, formalizes a months long investigation into possible antitrust violations at the company, which has gained unprecedented power in the multibillion market for biotech seeds.
- Yahoo! Finance, USA (14.01.2010): Feds step up antitrust investigation into Monsanto
- St. Louis Post-Dispatch, USA (15.01.2010): Justice Department turns up heat on Monsanto
- The Wall Street Journal, USA (15.01.2010): U.S. opens antitrust probe of Monsanto
- Monsanto, USA (14.01.2010): Monsanto announces continued cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice
15.01.2010
Nature fights back against GM crop technology - study explains development of superweeds
Nature has found a new way to fight back against GM crop technology, according to a recent study. The study looked at the new superweeds growing in GM crops to find out how they were resisting the herbicide Roundup (active ingredient glyphosate). [...] ?Monsanto may make a short term financial gain by the introduction of their GM technology in Australia, but farmers, environment, human health and economy will endure a long term loss.?
- Mothers Are Demystifying GE, Australia (MADGE) (07.01.2010): Nature fights back against GM crop technology - study explains development of superweeds
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia (ABC) (12.01.2010): GM cotton crops in US useless
- The Organic Center, USA (18.01.2010): Monsanto-funded research echoes Organic Center?s ?Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use …? report, concluding that glyphosate-resistant weeds threaten future of herbicide-tolerant, genetically engineered crops
14.01.2010
TraceConsult comments on misleading numbers on 2010 GE crop area in Brazil
For many months now, the waves of the global (mis)information battle between biotech promoters and NGO opponents ? actually mostly the huge remainder of European society ? have reached new heights. With the planting season behind us, this seems to be the right time to deliver cast-in-stone statements and predictions, particularly regarding the crop to be expected in 2010 in the world?s largest Non-GMO producing country, Brazil.
14.01.2010
South Korea buys 25,000 tonnes of non-GMO soybean from Bunge (USA)
South Korea has bought 25,000 tonnes of non-genetically modified yellow soybeans for March 19 [...] The agency purchased the food-grain from Bunge at $585.00 per tonne on a cost and freight basis, to be shipped between Feb. 1-20 from the U.S. Gulf
14.01.2010
Was 2009 the year the world turned against GM?
Despite promising the world in 2009, biotech corporations have increasingly raised the hackles of scientists and citizens worldwide
2009 was a year in which the biotech industry, Gates and their US Administration allies did everything in their power to drive the world down the GM road, but it was also a year marked by remarkable global resistance.
14.01.2010
Indian decision on Bt brinjal likely by February 2010
The Centre will take a decision on the mode of introduction of Bt brinjal in the country by February this year, hoping to reach a consensus by then. The Union environment ministry will also come out with a status report based on the public hearings on Bt brinjal by that time. The controversial Bt brinjal was cleared by the country?s bio-technology regulator last year for commercial cultivation.
- The Financial Express, India (14.01.2010): Decision on Bt brinjal likely by Feb
- Lttle About, India (13.01.2010): Orissa opposes introduction of Bt Brinjal in the state
- Medindia, India (13.01.2010): Genetically modified Bt brinjal move questioned: Upcoming rally in South India
- The Hindu, India (13.01.2010): Consultation on Bt. Brinjal in Bangalore on Jan 25
14.01.2010
Discussion on Bt brinjal hits the road of West Bengal (India)
Scientists and farmers came out with suggestions on various aspects of the issue and submitted their written plea to the minister. Most of them were against cultivation of the genetically modified (GM) crop. Some scientists opined that there is nothing wrong in it but the government should be more cautious. While Ramesh was listening to the views, protestors took to the streets with posters and placards saying ?BT brinjal go back?. Towards the end of the discussion, the minister himself came out and pacified the protectors who were demonstrating on the road.
- Indian Express, India (13.01.2010): Discussion on Bt brinjal hits the road
- The Telegraph, India (14.01.2010): Brinjal fire fries minister
- The Hindu, India (13.01.2010): Protests mark first public consultative meeting on Bt brinjal
- ThaiIndian News, Thailand (13.01.2010): West Bengal farmers, experts oppose Bt Brinjal
- Terraviva EUROPE (19.01.2010): India Holds Public Meetings on GM Food Crop
14.01.2010
Monsanto options volatile after critical GMO research report
Monsanto Co was the subject of active market moves on Wednesday because of research that showed organ damage in animals that ate its biotech corn, juxtaposed with the company?s new biotech products aimed at bringing in billions in new sales. Monsanto shares fell as low as $80.50 early in the day, and were down 18 cents at $83.13 at midmorning. They recovered their losses and even rose slightly later in the day, heartened by the company?s research and development efforts in agricultural seed technology.
13.01.2010
Indian Environment Minister to hold meetings on Bt brinjal across the nation
Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh will from Wednesday hold a series of public meetings across the country on the controversial Bt brinjal which was cleared by the country?s bio-technology regulator last year for its commercial cultivation.
- Press Trust of India, India (11.01.2010): Ramesh to hold meet on Bt brinjal across the nation
- Indian Express, India (11.01.2010): City scientists, NGOs set to protest against BT brinjal
- Orissa Diary, India (12.01.2010): Jairam Ramesh likely to be in Bhubaneswar to conduct consultation on BT Brinjal
- ThaiIndian News, Thailand (12.01.2010): Assessment on Bt Brinjal wrong, hold its release: biosafety expert
- The Hindu, India (09.01.2010): TNAU awaits Centre?s nod on brinjal seeds
- Express Buzz, India (09.01.2010): Govt backs genetically modified seeds
13.01.2010
Greenpeace not backing down on genetic engineering
Not many things are certain but in the media you can be sure that things you say will often get distorted so much so - that after a while they bear little or no resemblance to what you actually said - especially when the industry you oppose gets a hold if it. [...] To be completely clear here - on our own blog - we remain firmly in opposition to genetically engineered (GE) crops.
13.01.2010
German food giant Lidl sells regional, GMO-free milk products
It is a quality offensive hitherto unknown from discount retailers: From Monday on, Lidl shelves in Bavaria will have dairy products of regional origin. Under the label ?Ein gutes Stück Heimat? (A Good Piece of Home), the retail giant sells, for the first time, milk, yoghurt and butter from ?guaranteed Bavarian milk?. [...] It is surprising what Lidl is NOT writing on its new milk and butter packaging: That the products are GMO-free.
13.01.2010
New wave of GM potato trials set for UK
A new wave of genetically-modified crop trials will be carried out this year after scientists successfully grew GM potatoes in the UK. Scientists at Leeds University, who carried out the trial, are set to apply for a licence to plant more modified potatoes following similar tests in 2009. Dr Peter Unwin, of the university?s Faculty of Biological Sciences, said a second variety of nematode-resistant potatoes could also be trialled in the spring if scientists were given the go-ahead.
13.01.2010
Herbicide-tolerant GM crops could make organic farming more eco-friendly
The rigidity of organic certification rules can thus work against sustainability by blocking the use of helpful technologies, Professor Conway said. Herbicide-tolerant GM crops, for example, can encourage ?no-till? farming that reduces carbon emissions. ?You can genetically engineer crops to be better organic crops. At the moment, I don?t think many people would accept that, but I think eventually they will,? he said.
13.01.2010
Safety of GM sugar beets subject of hearing
Could a federal judge in San Francisco who has already found the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) lacking when it comes to making sure genetically modified sugar beets are safe end up blocking planting of Roundup Ready sugar beets this spring? [...] The parties, who have until Feb. 4 to hold a settlement conference on their own, are scheduled for a hearing on June 11th, well after most Roundup Ready sugar beets will be in the ground in the western and upper Midwestern states that grow them.
11.01.2010
Gates Foundation picks new head of ag program
A man who has focused much of his career on agriculture technology, including development of genetically-modified seeds, was named Friday as the new head of agriculture development for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. [...] Dryden previously was chair and CEO of Emergent Genetics, which developed and marketed genetically modified seeds. The company was sold to the Monsanto Co. in 2005. Before Emergent, he co-founded Agrigenetics Corp., which is now part of Dow AgroSciences.
11.01.2010
Monterey (California/USA) hosts Eric Schlosser at GMO film festival
The debate over genetically modified crops in Monterey County will get its close-up from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday during the Genetically Modified Film Festival at the Cannery Row IMAX Theater in Monterey. The festival comes as the Monterey County Agricultural Advisory Committee debates whether to recommend a ban on genetically modified crops to the county Board of Supervisors. Proponents of the ban say it will protect the organic farm industry and the health of county residents. Others suggest it may tie local farmers? hands.
11.01.2010
Canada moves to revive flax exports by cleansing programme
Canadian exporters will try to cleanse their flax shipments of genetically modified organisms by requiring farmers to use certified seed, in an effort to reopen trade with top markets. [...] ?The feeling is that this is probably the best way to get this mess cleaned up once and for all,? said Barry Hall, president of the Flax Council. ?I think it will be very effective.?
The plan will take effect with the crop planted this spring and harvested in autumn, 2010.
11.01.2010
Monsanto announces record 11 project advancements - mostly new Bt and HR plants
This year?s annual research and development (R&D) pipeline update marks many firsts for Monsanto Company. Among the record 11 project advancements are the first biotechnology product with a direct consumer dietary benefit and two of the largest commercial product launches in the company?s history. These and other projects in the company?s R&D pipeline are expected to help farmers meet the unprecedented global challenges facing agriculture.
11.01.2010
Monsanto argues that no seed company owns a dominant market share
Monsanto Co., which faces a steady barrage of criticism and an inquiry from antitrust regulators, continued to make its case this week that the U.S. seed market is competitive and that its biotech seed innovations are benefitting farmers, not hurting them. [...] Monsanto?s statements are part of a 21-page paper titled ?Observations on Competition in the U.S. Seed Industry.? In it, the company argues that no seed company owns a dominant market share, and that many choices of biotech and conventional seed exist within a wide band of prices.
