Actualité
22.01.2008
New anti-GMO petition launched in Western Australia
The Say No to GMO campaign launched a new petition in Western Australia this month, asking that liability for contamination of non-genetically modified crops rest with those responsible for bringing GM crops or food into the state. [...] Campaigner Janet Grogan told Green Left Weekly that the petition aimed to turn the liability issue around: ?Instead of farmers suffering the double burden of unwanted contamination and royalty payments or prosecution, we are saying liability must be worn by the biotech companies themselves.?
22.01.2008
GMO rally shakes up first day of Hawaii Legislature
Hawaiian rights advocates banded together last week at the Capitol Rotunda to protect taro, a core staple of Hawaiian culture. The Hawaii Legislature kicked off the 2008 session with several hundred demonstrators rallying in support of a bill asking for a 10-year moratorium on genetically modified (GMO) taro. Senate Bill 958 was first proposed last year. However, after passing through the Senate the bill was blocked in the House of Representatives by House Speaker Calvin Say and Agriculture Committee Chairman Representative Clift Tsuji. The Representatives said the bill was too complicated and controversial at the time, but would be revisited in the next session.
22.01.2008
US claims negotiator snubbed in Brussels
Fresh tensions emerged in transatlantic relations on Monday with US officials suggesting that Washington?s top trade negotiator had been snubbed in Brussels. Susan Schwab, the US trade representative, met Peter Mandelson, her EU counterpart, but expressed disappointment that Stavros Dimas, the environment commissioner, was not free to discuss a dispute on genetically modified crops. ?Mr Dimas was not available and I have written him a note. I hope we can get together,? Ms Schwab told reporters.
22.01.2008
Over 300 Spanish scientists and green lobby groups urge GE crop ban
Over 300 scientists and green lobby groups in Spain have signed a petition calling on their government to ban the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The signatories, made up of scientists from Spanish universities and research centres, including the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), and green groups, denounced the ?dangers and impacts of the introduction [of GM crops] into the environment and on our plates? and demanded that the Spanish government adopt measures to eradicate the cultures on its territory.
22.01.2008
EU lawyers say no to Poland?s biotech ban
European Commission lawyers have stopped Poland?s move to ban trade and plantings of genetically modified (GMO) seeds, saying it had no scientific justification, the EU?s Official Journal said on Monday. Poland?s plans for what amounted to a national GMO ban, announced last year, quickly drew criticism from experts at the EU executive who routinely scrutinize any such proposals to check that they comply fully with EU law. Ahead of the announcement by EU lawyers, Polish Agriculture Minister Marek Sawicki said the new centre-right government was planning to give way and allow GMO seeds by changing a law that was to come into effect in August.
21.01.2008
Much more coming in cotton transgenics
Transgenics cottons resistant to herbicides and insect damage have revolutionized cotton production. The numeric/alphabet soup of varieties now available is nothing compared to what?s coming, according to plant breeders who spoke recently at the Central Coast Cotton Conference. ?The technologies that we?re talking about now, we won?t even see for 10-15 years,? says Kater Hake, director of agricultural research for Cotton Incorporated. ?We have to be incredibly visionary. Who would have thought back 10 years ago that alternative herbicide strategies would be critical? It wasn?t that long ago that glyphosate was the solution. Now, we have a huge need for alternative herbicides.?
21.01.2008
Iloilo (Philippines) upland farmers go for RR corn
Corn farming technology for the upland areas developed by seed company Monsanto Philippines called ?Tipid Sak? now allows farmers to plant corn even in highly elevated areas with minimum, if not zero tillage, a biotechnology group said in a press release. Rosalie Ellasus, president of the Philippine Maize Federation, Inc., said farmers in Sara, Iloilo are using crops like the genetically engineered herbicide-tolerant Roundup Ready corn appropriate for upland areas.
21.01.2008
GE carrot hype: All hail the super carrot!
A genetically modified carrot delivers 41% more calcium to the body, Texas scientists have shown. Kendal Hirschi and colleagues had previously engineered the carrots to have a two-fold higher calcium content, but it was unclear whether consumption of this marvel of science actually increased the amount of calcium in the body of the eater.
- The Great Beyond - Nature Science Blog, UK (16.01.2008): All hail the super carrot!
- Wired, USA (16.01.2008): Genetically fortified carrot could launch GMO 2.0
- Texas A&M University, USA (14.01.2008): Got carrots? Vegetables may have bone to pick as calcium providers
- NutraIngredients, France (16.01.2008): GM carrots could cut osteoporosis risk
21.01.2008
Soil Association (UK) first organisation in the world to ban nanoparticles
As of January 2008, the Soil Association has banned the use of man-made nanomaterials from all Soil Association certified organic products. This applies particularly to health and beauty products, but also to food and textiles. Ahead of the Government, we are the first organisation in the world to take action against this hazardous, potentially toxic technology that poses a serious new threat to human health.
21.01.2008
Phytoremediation of volatile pollutants through genetic engineering
A direct method for enhancing the effectiveness of phytoremediation is to overexpress in transgenic plants the genes involved in metabolism, uptake, or transport of specific pollutants. This can be readily achieved for many plant species by using Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated plant transformation. Since phytoremediation is generally more effective when using large, fast-growing plants, the focus has been on poplar trees. Depending on the hybrid and particular clone, reasonable transformation frequencies can be achieved in poplar.
21.01.2008
Monsanto says biotech just beginning
Monsanto Co. executives told shareholders Wednesday that record profits in 2007 are just the beginning, with growing acceptance of genetically engineered crops expected to deliver new business opportunities in coming decades. ?It?s still like being back in the ?60s with computers,? Chief Technology Officer Robb Fraley said. ?This is an industry that is very much in the beginning of its cycle.? Such predictions might have seemed far-fetched just five years ago, when Monsanto faced tough global resistance to its engineered crops -- derisively called ?Frankenfood? by critics. Trade barriers kept the seeds out of many European countries and important foreign markets.
18.01.2008
US scientist clones himself from skin cells
An American scientist has created a cloned embryo from his own skin cells as part of a research project into patient-matched stem cells. Samuel Wood at Stemagen Corporation in La Jolla, California, plucked cells from his skin and injected them into donated eggs that had been treated to remove their own genetic material. The eggs developed into very early stage embryos that were genetically identical to the scientist?s own DNA.
18.01.2008
British scientists get licence for hybrid embryos
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) granted licences to conduct research using hybrids ? made from animal eggs that have had their nucleus replaced with human genetic code. Researchers will now use the technique to create embryonic stem cells in order to study the causes of and develop treatments for diseases such as Alzheimer?s, Parkinson?s, cystic fibrosis, motor neurone disease (MND) and Huntington?s. They originally applied for permission to do the work in November 2006, but the HFEA delayed its decision for 12 months to carry out a public consultation and to wait for the Government to publish new proposed laws governing such research.
- The Daily Telegraph, UK (18.01.2008): British scientists get licence for hybrid embryos
- Human Fertility & Embryology Authority, UK (17.01.2008): The HFEA have released a statement on licensing of applications to carry out research using human-animal cytoplasmic hybrid embryos
- The Guardian, UK (18.01.2008): Human-animal embryos get the go-ahead
- The Guardian, UK (17.01.2008): Q&A: Hybrid embryos
18.01.2008
European Group on Ethics doubts animal cloning ethics
A European Union panel yesterday said it had ?doubts? about the ethics of using cloning to improve farm livestock, because cloned animals and their surrogate mothers suffered more health problems than conventional animals. [...] The negative findings of the European ethics group do not directly contradict those of the FDA and the EFSA, because the EGE was looking at moral and ethical aspects of cloning, rather than scientific and food safety issues. The EGE said if food derived from cloned livestock were introduced to the European market, there should be new requirements to guarantee the animals? welfare and health.
- Financial Times, UK (18.01.2008): Panel doubts animal cloning ethics
- The European Group on Ethics in Science and New, Belgium (16.01.2008): European Group on Ethics adopts its opinion nr. 23 on ethical aspects of animal cloning for food supply
- The New York Times, USA (18.01.2008): Europe?s ethics panel says cloning harms animals
- Agence France Press, France (17.01.2008): Europe voices ethical doubts over ?Frankenfood?
- Agence France Press, France (17.01.2008): US consumers unfazed by GM foods
18.01.2008
Kraft (USA) starts selling rBST-free cheese
Northfield-based Kraft says it will start selling a line of cheese made with milk from cows free of rBST by June. Some consumer groups, citing scientific studies, say the production-boosting hormone can cause cancer, despite assurances from U.S. food regulators that it is safe. Kraft aims to capitalize on consumer worries about food safety with a specialty product that will fetch a higher price than its mass-market cheeses. The new cheese reflects CEO Irene Rosenfeld?s plan to rekindle growth with premium brands. Such a move by the nation?s biggest food company also could force rivals to offer products free of artificial hormones.
18.01.2008
Pennsylvania (USA) backed down from banning rBST-free labels
Pennsylvania agriculture officials backed down today from a controversial ban on milk labels that identify the milk as coming from cows not treated with synthetic growth hormone. The ban was to take effect Feb. 1, to the dismay of consumer activists and many smaller dairies who choose not to inject their cows with hormones. But the move was superseded by new standards issued today, after a review by the office of Gov. Rendell. Rendell ordered the agency to review the policy after consumer outcry, his spokesman said
18.01.2008
U.S. team finds non-GE approach to boost the vitamin A content of maize
A team of plant geneticists and crop scientists has pioneered an economical approach to the selective breeding of maize that can boost levels of provitamin A, the precursors that are converted to vitamin A upon consumption. This innovation could help to enhance the nutritional status of millions of people in the developing world. [...] The innovation involves a new approach for selecting the parent stock for breeding maize, and significantly reduces the ambiguity and expense of finding varieties that yield the highest provitamin A content available. As part of this investigation, the researchers have identified a naturally mutated enzyme that enhances the provitamin A content of maize.
17.01.2008
GE protesters chop down trees at research institute in New Zealand
Nineteen trees, some genetically modified, have been cut down in an apparent protest against Crown forestry research institute Scion. Those responsible for the attack dug under the Rotorua institute?s perimeter fence and left behind a spade with a sticker saying ?GE Free New Zealand?. It is unknown exactly when the attack occurred but the trees were discovered slashed on Monday and police were called.
- New Zealand Herald, New Zealand (17.01.2008): GE protesters chop down trees at research institute
- Stuff, New Zealand (16.01.2008): Protesters cut down GM-trial pine trees
- TV3, New Zealand (16.01.2008): Lobby group demands controls for GM tree trialing
- Soil & Health Association of New Zealand Inc, New Zealand (16.01.2008): GE Tree trial breach shows institutional contradictions
- Scoop Independent News, New Zealand (13.01.2008): Christmas is over Scion, take the GE trees down
- Stuff, New Zealand (17.01.2008): Scientists outraged by GE tree vandalism
- Hawkes Bay Today, New Zealand (16.01.2008): Lend an ear to positive uses of GM
17.01.2008
News on non-GE breeding successes: rice and cranberries
American scientists have reported the development of a variety of hybrid rice with improved cooking quality and double the protein content of normal rice. The study is scheduled for publication later this month in the ACS Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Hari Krishnan and colleagues from the University of Missouri, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University and the USDA created a hybrid by crossing a commonly cultivated rice species called Oryza sativa with a wild species, Oryza nivara.
17.01.2008
Edible non-GE antifreeze promises perfect ice cream
Edible antifreeze developed by a US researcher could keep ice cream tasty and smooth, and prevent other frozen foods from being ruined. The antifreeze contains proteins similar to those that help ?snow flea? insects survive winter without freezing solid. The taste of good ice cream depends on a blend of flavour, temperature, and texture ? what food scientists call ?mouth feel?.
