Actualité
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 But the move was superseded by new standards issued today, after a review by the office of Gov.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?.
17.01.2008
Kenyan-UK research showed effectiveness of non-GE ?push-pull? approach
Scientists at BBSRC-sponsored Rothamsted Research, working with researchers principally from icipe in Kenya, have found that the approach produces real and tangible benefits for subsistence farmers and, if adopted widely in African countries, could have a huge impact in reducing crops lost to pest infestation. The researchers also show that the ?push-pull? approach has intriguing potential for reducing animal infections, and potentially even to control human disease. ?Push-pull? entails mixing, into a field of crops, plants that repel insect pests (the ?push?) and planting, around a crop, diversionary trap plants that attract the pests (the ?pull?). In the Rothamsted studies, the ?push? plant, desmodium, was also found to give extremely effective control of the parasitic African Witchweed.
17.01.2008
Hawai?i (USA) activists renew GE taro ban effort
armers and Hawaiian activists who have unsuccessfully pushed for a state ban on genetically modified taro -- a plant they liken to an ancestor -- called yesterday on key lawmakers to give the proposal ?a fair hearing? during the legislative session that opens today. ?This is a cultural issue,? said Walter Ritte of Molokai. ?Our eldest brother, Haloa (taro), has been attacked genetically. We want to prevent any more genetic attacks on our family.?
- Star Bulletin, USA (16.01.2008): Activists renew taro ban effort
- KGMB9, USA (16.01.2008): Rally protests genetic research on taro
- The Molokai Times, USA (15.01.2008): Hui Ho`opakele Aina, others camp at Iolani Palace
- The Honolulu Advertiser, USA (16.01.2008): Hawaiian activists seek halt to modified taro
- The Molokai Times, USA (16.01.2008): GMO demonstration draws crowds, politicians
17.01.2008
Monsanto and Syngenta are wrong to withdraw from an international assessment on agriculture
?This is a most reluctant decision.? These are the words of a spokesman for the agriculture-industry body CropLife International speaking to Nature this week. The decision in question is that by two CropLife member corporations, Monsanto and Syngenta, to pull out of the International Assessment of Agricultural Science and Technology. This is an ambitious, 4-year, US$10-million project that aims to do for hunger and poverty what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has done for another global challenge.
17.01.2008
India?s ?national crop designing strategy? should be based on non-GE methods
India is working on a ?national crop designing strategy? to improve nutrition, yield and insect resistance levels of a wide range of key crops. It plans to do this not through the use of genetically modified, or GM crops, but by identifying the right parents for future generations of the crop. Over the next four months, a committee headed by Deepak Pental, a geneticist and vice-chancellor, University of Delhi, will prepare a report on this, which will also identify experts who can create better crops. This will be done by picking parents with the required genetic make up, a process called marker assisted selection (or MAS).
16.01.2008
DuPont climbs as seeds, global growth increase profit
DuPont Co. climbed the most in four years in New York trading after it said profit gained last year and 2008 earnings will be higher than previously forecast because of rising crop-seed demand and sales outside the U.S. [...] DuPont gets about 23 percent of sales from agriculture products such as pesticides and seeds. [CEO] Holliday is spending about half his research budget on crop chemicals and genetically modified corn and soybean seeds to compete with Monsanto Co.
16.01.2008
Two viewpoints on coexistence of Bt and organic corn in Maine (USA)
Through rulemaking, the BPC should assign responsibilities to accompany the right to grow Bt corn. Just as it is the responsibility of every driver to keep in their lane, it should be the responsibility of the Bt grower to provide an adequate buffer zone around the Bt crop. This buffer zone should be sufficient to prevent their Bt corn from an unfortunate collision in the form of cross-pollination with a nearby field of non-Bt corn, organic corn, or seed corn.
16.01.2008
North American indigenous speakers warn on GE crops on Hawai?i (USA)
Paula Garcia, executive director for the New Mexico Acequia Association (NMAA), came to tell Molokai residents about the fight she and her people have battled against private corporations and government bodies for the protection of their culture, water and seeds. Garcia was one of four North American indigenous speakers invited to speak at the Mitchell Pau?ole Center for Saturday night?s talk story community presentation. She and the other speakers encouraged the audience to protect Hawaii?s taro against contamination from genetic engineering.
16.01.2008
Brussels to hear report on moral and ethical issues on animal cloning for food
The ethical and moral issues surrounding the use of cloned animals and their offspring for food and milk will be examined today in a report by a European advisory group, including senior Christian theologians. Their verdict could be crucial in determining whether Europeans accept the controversial technology. ?We have taken into account the moral, ethical and social dimensions,? said Göran Hermerén, chairman of the European Group on Ethics in Science and professor of medical ethics at Lund University, Sweden.
- Financial Times, UK (16.01.2008): Brussels to hear report on moral and ethical issues
- Reuters (15.01.2008): Cloned meat may be safe, but will consumers eat it?
- Biotechnology Industry Organization, USA (15.01.2008): BIO supports FDA?s safety conclusions on animal cloning
- The Center for Food Safety, USA (15.01.2008): FDA opens ?Pandora?s Box? by approving food from clones for sale
- Organic Valley, USA (15.01.2008): Organic Valley opposes FDA ruling that food from cloned animals is safe
16.01.2008
U.S. FDA issues documents on the safety of food from animal clones
After years of detailed study and analysis, the Food and Drug Administration has concluded that meat and milk from clones of cattle, swine, and goats, and the offspring of clones from any species traditionally consumed as food, are as safe to eat as food from conventionally bred animals. There was insufficient information for the agency to reach a conclusion on the safety of food from clones of other animal species, such as sheep. FDA today issued three documents on animal cloning outlining the agency?s regulatory approach ? a risk assessment; a risk management plan; and guidance for industry.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, USA (15.01.2008): FDA issues documents on the safety of food from animal clones
- Bloomberg, USA (15.01.2008): Cloned animals are safe for U.S. food, agency says
- Reuters (15.01.2008): U.S. gives blessing to food from cloned animals
- Reuters (15.01.2008): FACTBOX: Timeline and facts about animal cloning
- Chicago Tribune, USA (15.01.2008): Sale of food from cloned animals OKd
- Food Navigator, France (15.01.2008): FDA gives safety thumbs-up for cloned meat, milk
16.01.2008
German ruling coalition agrees on new GM labeling law -- But how strict is it?
With a view to creating greater transparency for consumers, Germany is to introduce a special label for food that has not been genetically modified, such as products from animals that have not been fed biotech grains. Deputy Agriculture Minister Gert Lindemann said the new ?non-GM? label will apply not only to non-genetically-modified crops but to eggs, meat and milk from animals that were raised without biotech feed.
15.01.2008
Regulations ?hinder? China biotech investment
China?s biotechnology industry has seen tremendous growth in recent years, but a more favourable environment is needed to attract investors to the capital-thirsty sector, according to a new study. Sarah Frew and colleagues from the McLaughlin-Rotman Centre for Global Health at the University of Toronto, Canada, interviewed the management of 22 innovative Chinese health biotechnology firms. They published their findings this week (7 January) in Nature Biotechnology.
15.01.2008
James Randerson interviews biologist Arpad Pusztai
Contrary to the belief of some in the scientific community, Dr Arpad Pusztai does not have horns or a malevolent cackle. Nor does he inhabit an imposing gothic mansion bought with the proceeds of guest appearances as an eco-hero. In fact, he lives in a modest semi in Aberdeen. This elderly man is one of the most divisive figures in biology. Many blame him for tilting the balance in the PR battle over GM food towards public rejection.
15.01.2008
US holds fire on sanctions against EU in biotech food dispute
The United States said Monday it would temporarily hold fire on sanctions on European Union goods in a last-ditch attempt to resolve a bitter trade dispute over genetically modified crops. The EU missed a World Trade Organization deadline Friday to comply with a decision against EU restrictions on some genetically modified organisms (GMOs). And on the same day, the French government announced it was imposing a ban on the only genetically modified crop grown in the country.
- Agence France Press, France (14.01.2008): US holds fire on sanctions against EU in biotech food dispute
- The Wall Street Journal, USA (15.01.2008): U.S. threatens sanctions on EU
- Reuters (14.01.2008): US agrees to give EU more time on biotech OK
- Biotechnology Industry Organization, USA (14.01.2008): BIO supports U.S. government in WTO case against EU on agricultural biotechnology products
- GMO Compass, Germany (14.01.2008): EU obtains further delay in WTO dispute
- U.S. Trade Representative, USA (14.01.2008): USTR - statement on EC-biotech dispute
- CropLife, Belgium (15.01.2008): Time to move forward and comply with WTO ruling
15.01.2008
Bayer CropScience launches herbicide-tolerance technology for soybeans in the United States
Bayer CropScience plans to launch its LibertyLink® herbicide-tolerance technology for soybeans in the United States in 2009. The company informed farmers, retailers and the soy-processing industry about the benefits of this technology at the 38th Soybean Seed Research Conference in Chicago, USA. ?The launch of our LibertyLink® soybean technology in the United States in 2009 as the first market worldwide will be an important milestone for Bayer CropScience,? said Dr. Rüdiger Scheitza, Member of the Board of Management of Bayer CropScience AG and Head of Global Portfolio Management.
