Actualité
15.02.2007
Federal Court finds USDA erred in approving genetically engineered alfalfa without full environmental review
In what will likely be a precedent-setting ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Charles R. Breyer of the Northern District of California decided in favor of farmers, consumers, and environmentalists who filed a suit calling the USDA’s approval of genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa a threat to farmers’ livelihoods and a risk to the environment. Judge Breyer ordered that a full Environmental Impact Statement must be carried out on ”Roundup Ready” alfalfa, the GE variety developed by Monsanto and Forage Genetics. The decision may prevent this season’s sales and planting of Monsanto’s GE alfalfa and future submissions of other GE crops for commercial deregulation.
15.02.2007
GM yeast variety has no effect on wine quality, reveal new trials
A new genetically modified yeast variety designed for use in wine production has been found to behave similarly to the parent commercial yeast strains during fermentation, according to its manufacturer First Venture Technologies. [...] First Venture Technologies’ propriety yeast claims to be able to reduce levels of the carcinogen ethyl carbamate, a compound that can naturally occur in fermented foods and beverages, such as wine, beer and bread. The firm says its yeast can reduce levels of the substance in red wine by up to 89 percent, and in bread by up to 54 percent.
15.02.2007
U.S. ethanol demand threatens food prices
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, this year the country is going to use 18 to 20 percent of its total corn crop for the production of ethanol, and by next year that will jump to 25 percent. And that increase, says Marshall Martin, an agriculture economist at Purdue University, ”is the main driver behind the price increase for corn.” The jump in corn prices is already affecting the cost of food. The most notable example: in Mexico, which gets much of its corn from the United States, the price of corn tortillas has doubled in the past year, according to press reports, setting off large protest marches in Mexico City.
15.02.2007
GM yeast variety has no effect on wine quality, reveal new trials
A new genetically modified yeast variety designed for use in wine production has been found to behave similarly to the parent commercial yeast strains during fermentation, according to its manufacturer First Venture Technologies. [...] First Venture Technologies’ propriety yeast claims to be able to reduce levels of the carcinogen ethyl carbamate, a compound that can naturally occur in fermented foods and beverages, such as wine, beer and bread. The firm says its yeast can reduce levels of the substance in red wine by up to 89 percent, and in bread by up to 54 percent.
15.02.2007
EFSA pushes EU-wide GM risk approach
EFSA has met with the four member states currently involved in GM environmental risk assessments in order to discuss the development of an EU-wide approach. Experts from France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands met with environmental expert members of the GMO Environmental Risk Assessment Working Group of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA)’s GM panel to share their experiences on the environmental risk assessments of specific GM applications for cultivation.
15.02.2007
Environmental liability – Make GMOs a special case
Genetically Modified Organisms should be made a special case when new rules on liability for environmental damage are put in place in the UK say a group of environmental organisations. The UK is due to implement the European Environmental Liability Directive in the UK this year and public consultations are currently underway. The group are calling upon UK politicians to support their proposals to strengthen the UK’s environmental liability laws for GMOs to go well beyond the baseline laid down in the Directive. If the Government’s current proposals are implemented, biotech companies are unlikely to be held responsible for any damage to wildlife caused by their GM crops.
15.02.2007
Hawai’i House bill aims to ban taro testing for 5 years
A bill that would ban the testing and growing of genetically modified taro in Hawai’i for five years advanced out of the House Agriculture Committee yesterday. A similar measure calling for a 10-year moratorium is moving through the Senate. Supporters of a moratorium consist primarily of Native Hawaiian taro farmers who say the development of genetically modified taro, or kalo in Hawaiian, is unnecessary and an affront to Hawaiian culture and tradition.
- The Honolulu Advertiser, USA (14.02.2007): House bill aims to ban taro testing for 5 years
- Pacific Business News, USA (14.02.2007): Hawaii has more biotech bills
- Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology, USA (13.02.2007): Final Pew Initiative analysis finds State legislatures continue to focus on agricultural biotechnology
14.02.2007
USDA violated law when deregulating GE alfalfa, judge rules
A federal judge ruled yesterday that the Agriculture Department violated the law by failing to adequately assess possible environmental impacts before approving Monsanto’s genetically engineered alfalfa. Judge Charles R. Breyer of Federal District Court in San Francisco said the agency had been ”cavalier” in deciding that a full environmental impact statement was not needed because the potential environmental and economic effects of the crop were not significant.
14.02.2007
Whole Foods (USA) won’t sell meat from clones
Austin-based Whole Foods Market Inc. says it will not allow any meat or milk from cloned animals or their offspring to be sold in its stores. ”We require producers who sell to us to use only natural breeding or artificial insemination as acceptable breeding practices,” said Margaret Wittenberg, vice president for communications and quality standards for the natural and organic grocer.
- Austin American-Statesman, USA (14.02.2007): Whole Foods won’t sell meat from clones
- The Center for Food Safety, USA (07.02.2007): Protesters urge FDA to withdraw plan to approve cloned food
- The Center for Food Safety, USA (14.02.2007): Senators introduce legislation to keep animal cloning out of organic food
14.02.2007
Producers Rice Mill (USA) target of biotech rice lawsuit
A federal lawsuit by a British company is seeking damages from Stuttgart-based Producers Rice Mill over traces of unapproved genetically engineered rice that were found in the food supply. Tilda Ltd. of Essex filed the suit in federal court in Little Rock on Jan. 23.
14.02.2007
GE pharma crops: An apple a day keeps the doctor away
Dr. Guy Cardineau says the fruits of two decades of isolating the antidotes to a host of diseases into plants could be on the threshold of widespread use, rendering squeamishness over needles obsolete. [...] «There’s a whole range of plants being used — rice, lettuce, casavas, spinach, tobacco, potatoes,” he said. [...] But another merit of vaccinated fruit is the cost — possibly pennies a capsule, said Cardineau.
14.02.2007
Patenting life
YOU, or someone you love, may die because of a gene patent that should never have been granted in the first place. Sound far-fetched? Unfortunately, it’s only too real. Gene patents are now used to halt research, prevent medical testing and keep vital information from you and your doctor. Gene patents slow the pace of medical advance on deadly diseases. And they raise costs exorbitantly: a test for breast cancer that could be done for $1,000 now costs $3,000.
14.02.2007
Pharm animals crank out drugs
With its tranquil ponds and rolling fields, the GTC Biotherapeutics farm in Charlton, Massachusetts, looks like a typical pastoral retreat. But its 1,400 goats don’t produce any butter or cheese. Instead, the animals are sophisticated drug incubators, with millions of dollars of potential profit accumulating in their udders each day.
13.02.2007
Attributes of best biofuel: Cost-efficient, eco-friendly
Disparate, powerful factions are unified that the world needs to find an alternative to fossil fuels. The World Economic Forum and President George W. Bush’s State of the Union address both sounded the alarm on America’s dependence on foreign sources of energy. Hopes are high for the United States to find ways to become less dependent on gasoline The tides have finally begun to shift, and the world is now embracing the challenge of reducing greenhouse gases. Companies that participate in the process intelligently can reap significant economic benefits.
- DesMoines Register, USA (11.02.2007): Attributes of best biofuel: Cost-efficient, eco-friendly
- DesMoines Register, USA (11.02.2007): With biofuels, consider: Who suffers? Who benefits?
- DesMoines Register, USA (11.02.2007): A battle over biofuels
- DesMoines Register, USA (11.02.2007): Shape this farm bill for the future
13.02.2007
Brazil to invest 10 billion reais in biotechnology
Brazil plans to invest 10 billion reais ($4.77 billion) in biotechnology over the next decade to fuel growth in agriculture, pharmaceuticals and other industries. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed a decree today creating the program to invest 1 billion reais annually for 10 years. Lula also called on companies to match the government"s investments.
13.02.2007
Cotton industry should invest in R&D in Zimbabwe
The cotton industry has been urged to invest in research and development of biotechnology to be the leader at the forefront in promoting biotechnology, Science and Technology Deputy Minister, Mr Patrick Zhuwawo said here on February 11.
13.02.2007
Greenpeace moves to block GMO rice approval in the Philippines
Greenpeace today moved to block Bayer"s application for the approval of the genetically-modified (GMO) rice LL62 for "direct use in food, feed, and processing" in the country at the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) in Malate. Questioning the expected approval of the GMO rice strain by the bureau’s Scientific and Technical Review Panel, the environmental group is set to submit a comprehensive dossier opposing GMOs, particularly the genetically-engineered (GE) Liberty Link (LL) rice, to oppose Bayer’s move to legalize LL62 for human consumption.
13.02.2007
Negros (Philippines) eyes total ban on GMOs
Negros officials and representatives from the private sector believe that in a few years, a shared goal of making the island the organic food bowl of Asia can be achieved.
13.02.2007
Dupont sees key GMO role in ethanol corn challenge
New strains of genetically modified corn will play a key role in meeting soaring demand as U.S thirst for ethanol fuel cuts into supplies, a top seed company scientist said on Friday. Dupont’s Bill Niebur, the firm’s vice president for genetics research and development, said demand for ethanol means the race is on to rapidly ramp up grain yields. ”We doubled average yields in North America in 41 years. We don’t have that much time to make the next step,” Niebur said at a gathering of grain exchanges, traders and consumers in Mexico. ”The challenge for our plant breeders is to move that curve significantly faster.”
10.02.2007
Plea to halt cultivation of Bt hybrids in India
The Deccan Development Society (DDS) has asked the Government to declare a moratorium on the cultivation of Bt hybrids until a comprehensive study is undertaken on the possible impact of Bt hybrids on environment, livestock and human health. In a statement, M. Abdul Qayuum and S. Kiran, DDS scientists, said the deleterious affects of Bt cotton on livestock have resurfaced in Warangal district. In Gammadavelli village, symptoms appeared more on the goats compared to sheep. Bloating of stomach, mucous flow from nostrils, reddish urination were some of the symptoms. Besides, some shepherds also had bloating of stomach and skin allergies in the neck region, the release said.
