Actualité
28.10.2008
Australian Banana Growers Council oppose GE bananas
”We don’t believe the Australian consumer is ready to take onboard and buy and be satisfied with a GM-based banana,” [Tony Heidrich from the Australian Banana Growers Council] said. ”Until such time where we believe there is market acceptance out there, then we would not support its commercialisation.”
28.10.2008
Australian-first GM grass trial to start
Genetically modified pasture grass that is more nutritious and easier for stock to digest is set to be trialled in Victoria in an Australian first. Field trials of up to 500 lines of grasses will start in Hamilton, in western Victoria, following approval from the Federal Gene Technology Regulator. The trials will be undertaken by the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and the grasses will not be commercially released.
28.10.2008
Kenyan Bt maize project to audit performance, set for regional trials
The Insect Resistant Maize for Africa (IRMA), project that began in 1999 is to table their results on Bt maize experimental findings [...]. The meeting will then give the way forward particularly on expanding the experiment to other countries. The crucial issue for discussion would be how to avoid repeating the same procedures should the Bt maize tried in Kenya be taken across the borders to other countries in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, COMESA.
28.10.2008
Drought resistance is the goal, but methods differ
Monsanto will not say exactly what genes it is using, or in which species they originated. But one approach involves transcription factors, which are like master regulators, able to turn on dozens of other genes to orchestrate a plant’s response to lack of water. But with so many downstream genes activated, there could be other effects on the plants besides less need for water. At a recent biotechnology conference, a university researcher showed a photograph of a cotton plant with an inserted gene for a transcription factor. The plant was missing most of its leaves. No single approach is likely to suffice for all types of dry conditions. ”Probably no one has found the magic gene yet,” said Jian-Kang Zhu, a professor of plant biology at the University of California, Riverside. ”Probably there is no magic gene.”
28.10.2008
Restrict Indian GM food import without examination
The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre to restrict the import of genetically-modified food stuffs containing living modified organisms without examining their contents. A bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), a regulatory body under the ministry of environment and forests, would scientifically examine the genetically-modified food stuffs and crops before allowing their sale in the country.
28.10.2008
Protests sprout ahead of new field trials of India’s first GM foodcrop
A vegetable is at the centre of a row in Orissa as it is likely to become the first genetically-modified (GM) foodcrop to be permitted for commercial production in the country. While anti-GM activists in the state and elsewhere are furious at the insufficient data on the safety aspects of the crop, Bt (bacillus thuringiensis) brinjal seeds are likely to be sown in Orissa sometime next month as part of the countrywide field trials of Varanasi-based Indian Institute of Vegetable Research (IIVR).
27.10.2008
Australian company challenges universities using patented breast cancer gene for testing
The Federal Government says it’s extremely worried about the threat by a private company to restrict the use of a genetic test for breast cancer. The Melbourne-based company Genetic Technologies owns the patent to test for two breast cancer genes and it has told public hospitals that it will take legal action if they don’t stop conducting the test. But the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is investigating whether this contravenes the law.
27.10.2008
Food labelling review on its way in Australia
The Food Regulation Ministerial Council meeting in Adelaide today vowed to commission a sweeping review of food labelling after being urged by scientists to crack down on unlabelled genetically modified food. West Australian Minister for Agriculture Terry Redman said consumers should be able to make informed decisions when purchasing food ”with the ability to choose GM or non GM food based on clear and unambiguous labelling”. [...] Fifteen Australian and international scientists wrote an open letter to the ministers putting the case for further independent testing of GM food in Australia and an expansion of the labelling laws.
27.10.2008
UK National Farmers Union calls for more scientific research including GM
The report launched before 70 MPs at the House of Commons called on government ”to recognise the need of productive and efficient agriculture as an important goal for scientific research and development and not focus on environmental mitigation as its sole objective.” Dr Helen Ferrier, the author of the report, said this included research into genetically modified crops. She said it was one of ”the weapons in the armoury” in boosting output particularly given the challenges of climage change and increased demand for food.
27.10.2008
French Development Agency supports GE and organic cotton project in West Africa
The French Development Agency has granted US$ 4.5 million to the African Cotton Producers Association (APROCA) to support the development of the genetically-modified (GM) and organic cotton in West and Central Africa, a French diplomatic source has said. [...] It will further help devise a regional strategy in an attempt to strengthen and expand GM and organic cotton sub-industries according to the demand and ensure their leverage effect in promoting the Africa cotton and its competitiveness and professionalise farmers’ organisations.
27.10.2008
GM tomatoes may ward off cancer – shame they’re purple
Scientists have created tomatoes genetically modified to produce antioxidants that could help people to improve their diet and health. The tomatoes are being heralded as the first GM product to offer health benefits to consumers. [...] The research, to be published in Nature Biotechnology, was part-funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, funded by the British government. ”This is one of the first examples of a GM organism with a trait that really offers a potential benefit for all consumers,” said Martin, who now plans to test the tomatoes on humans.
- The Times, UK (26.10.2008): GM tomatoes may ward off cancer – shame they’re purple
- Reuters, UK (26.10.2008): Scientists develop cancer fighting purple tomato
- Eurekalert News, USA (26.10.2008): Purple tomatoes: The richness of antioxidants against tumors
- Cattle Network, USA (05.11.2008): Attack on the «anti-cancer” tomatoes
- GMO-Compass, Germany (30.10.2008): Purple GM tomatoes could fight cancer and increase lifespan
27.10.2008
Europe’s secret plan to boost GM crop production
Gordon Brown and other European leaders are secretly preparing an unprecedented campaign to spread GM crops and foods in Britain and throughout the continent, confidential documents obtained by The Independent on Sunday reveal. The documents – minutes of a series of private meetings of representatives of 27 governments – disclose plans to ”speed up” the introduction of the modified crops and foods and to ”deal with” public resistance to them. And they show that the leaders want ”agricultural representatives” and ”industry” – presumably including giant biotech firms such as Monsanto – to be more vocal to counteract the ”vested interests” of environmentalists.
25.10.2008
Critics warn of corporate grab on plant life
A new 12-page report from ETC Group, ”Commodifying Nature’s Last Straw? Extreme Genetic Engineering and the Post-Petroleum Sugar Economy,” warns that corporate biorefineries fueled by plant sugars will create a massive demand for agricultural feedstocks, which threatens to devastate marginalized farming communities, deplete soil and water, and destroy biodiversity. ETC Group is an international advocacy group based in Canada that monitors the social impacts of new technologies
25.10.2008
Yo! No GMOs!
Like the 600 or so other co-ops that flourish across Japan -- providing food to more than 22 million people nationwide -- SCCC is dedicated to offering wholesome, non-GM foods at reasonable prices. Unfortunately, as my visitors explained, it is becoming increasingly difficult to purchase non-GM feed corn, so they traveled to the U.S. to meet with Midwestern farmers in hopes of securing feed contracts. Although supplies of non-GM feed corn have decreased in recent years, there is renewed hope for those not wanting to consume foods from GM-fed livestock and poultry. Research suggests that the trend among U.S. farmers to grow GM livestock feed is decreasing.
25.10.2008
U.S. Biotechnology Industry Organization questions proposed GE pharmacrop rules in Orgeon (USA)
Oregon’s proposed biopharm crop regulations overstep the state’s authority and are unnecessary, according to a biotech industry executive. At a hearing on the proposed rules Tuesday, Oct. 14, Michael Wach, a director for the Biotechnology Industry Organization, said: ”As drafted, the proposal appears to exceed the state’s authority to act in several important ways.” Federal law prohibits states from implementing laws or regulations that exceed USDA regulations, he said.
25.10.2008
Snowstorm slows GE beet harvest in Idaho (USA)
A snowstorm over the weekend of Oct. 10 through 12 slowed the sugar beet harvest in Idaho just as it was getting under way, said an official of Amalgamated Sugar Co. in Boise. [...] He said the new Roundup Ready beets, which the co-op is using commercially for the first time this year, should help. The genetically enhanced beet, whose sugar is identical to sugar from conventional beets, allows the use of the herbicide Roundup. It’s more effective and less costly overall than existing weed-control chemicals for conventional beets.
25.10.2008
U.S. students develop GE yeast for anti-cancer beer
College students often spend their free time thinking about beer, but some Rice University students are taking it to the next level. They’re using genetic engineering to create beer that contains resveratrol, a chemical in wine that’s been shown to reduce cancer and heart disease in lab animals. Rice’s ”BioBeer” will be entered in the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) competition Nov. 8-9 in Cambridge, Mass. It’s the world’s largest synthetic biology competition, a contest where teams use a standard toolkit of DNA building blocks -- think genetic LEGO blocks -- to create living organisms that do odd things.
25.10.2008
Genetically engineered animals in the U.S. food supply
”This is a cutting-edge technology that has significant implications, including real benefits, not just for human health, but also for animal health, such as developing disease-resistant animals,” said Dr. Bernadette M. Dunham, director of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. The AVMA responded to the FDA guidance with a statement that noted potential benefits of GE animals while urging stakeholders to keep animal welfare in mind. ”The development and appropriate regulation of this technology has widespread applications in advancing our knowledge of diseases, food safety, environmental conservation, and efficient food and fiber production,” wrote Dr. W. Ron DeHaven, AVMA chief executive officer, in the AVMA response.
24.10.2008
Delay hits South Africa’s Consumer Protection Bill
The Consumer Protection Bill hit a hurdle in the national council of provinces last week when an opposition MP pointed out that thorough consultation about an amendment regarding genetically modified organisms (GMO) appeared not to have been carried out. Economics and foreign affairs select committee chairman Mbhazima Sibiya, of the ANC, agreed that the committee should not hasten the passage of the legislation at the cost of not abiding by the rules.
24.10.2008
Victorian (Australia) Government blocks council GM ban
THE Victorian Government has rejected moves by several shires to declare themselves GM-free zones. Greater Bendigo, Yarra Ranges, South Gippsland, Moreland, East Gippsland and Bass Coast in Victoria have declared themselves GM free, in the wake of the Government lifting the ban on genetically modified canola earlier this year. [...] But a spokesman said the Government supported giving Victorian farmers choice on the crops they grew. ”This support remains,” he said.
