Actualité
17.12.2007
Western Australia says its canola crop to stay GMO-free
The Western Australian government said on Friday it will not follow the two main eastern states of New South Wales and Victoria in lifting bans on commercial genetically modified canola crops. ?The WA government?s attitude to GMOs is clear -- we will remain clean, green and GMO-free unless our consumers tell us otherwise,? Western Australia?s Agriculture Minister Kim Chance said in a statement.
17.12.2007
We need GM crops, says new UK chief scientist
The Government?s new chief scientist will press ministers to reopen the case for growing genetically modified crops commercially and back the construction of a new generation of nuclear power stations. John Beddington, who succeeds Professor Sir David King in the influential job next month, endorsed his predecessor?s outspoken support for the controversial technologies yesterday, saying that he saw both as important to Britain?s future. [...] ?I think there is little doubt that GM has real potential for increasing food production in a friendly way, though clearly we need some fairly serious controls,? he said.
17.12.2007
Germany proposes EU GM approval overhaul
Seehofer would like to see a parallel system to that which exists for pharmaceutical products, whereby the decisions are actually made by a competent scientific authority. The role of the European Commission should be limited to setting conditions for the use of GM plants, like GM and non-GM co-existence, and labeling requirements. Until a new procedure has been agreed and implemented, he thinks no new approvals should be granted.
14.12.2007
IFOAM conference demands zero tolerance on GMO contamination
At a high level organic conference in Brussels GMOs were the most important point of dissent between organic farmers and the European Commission. Whilst the organic representatives from practically every EU country and adjacent states like Croatia and White Russia demanded zero tolerance for GMO contamination, representatives of the Commission advocated a general allowance of 0,9%.
14.12.2007
Update on animal cloning and genetic engineering
GTC Biotherapeutics, Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement with ProGenetics, LLC, a private company based in Blacksburg, Virginia, to obtain an exclusive license to develop and commercialize ProGenetics? recombinant human factor IX, recombinant human factor VIII, and recombinant human fibrinogen for North America, Europe and Japan. ProGenetics is developing production of the human coagulation factors IX and VIII in the milk of transgenic pigs and has patents that cover the transgenic production of human fibrinogen.
- GTC Biotherapeutics, USA (05.12.2007): GTC Biotherapeutics obtains licenses to factor IX, factor VIII and fibrinogen
- Mass High Tech: The Journal of New England Technology, USA (10.12.2007): FDA OKs orphan status for GTC's anti-clotting drug
- New Zealand Herald, New Zealand (11.12.2007): AgResearch in GE milk bid
- GE FREE New Zealand, New Zealand (09.12.2007): Spread of GE cows
- The Chosun Ilbo, South Korea (13.12.2007): Korean scientists clone genetically-modified cat
- The New England Journal of Medicine, USA (13.12.2007): Knock out, Knock in, Knock down -- Genetically manipulated mice and the Nobel Prize
14.12.2007
San Diego company formed around breakthrough in embryonic stem cell research
Cascade LifeSciences is the exclusive worldwide licensee of Dr. Mitalipov?s technology related to SCNT reprogramming as well as a second method of generating embryonic stem cells using an approach known as parthenogenesis. [...] Dr. Donald Wolf, Ph.D. a retired OHSU primate center scientist who helped author the Nature paper, and currently chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board of Cascade LifeSciences, commented ?Dr. Mitalipov?s new technology provides a solid basis for the development of human SCNT-ESC lines that may ultimately save thousands of human lives.?
14.12.2007
Personal DNA data soon available to all Icelanders
deCode Genetics in Iceland is joining a handful of other companies breaking into the market of genetic information databases that are available to members of the public. A new start-up called 23andMe, which is backed by Google, is making genetic information available to those who want to know about their genetic predisposition to certain illnesses and conditions.
14.12.2007
Extreme monopoly: Venter?s team makes vast patent grab on synthetic genomes
Six months ago ETC Group exposed the Venter Institute?s controversial patent applications on the world?s first human-made living organism built entirely from synthetic DNA (dubbed ?Synthia? by ETC Group). Newly published patent claims reveal an even bigger grab for ownership of synthetic life. [...] This time, Venter?s shop isn?t claiming a single microbe (Synthia) made from synthetic DNA ? the new claims are broadly framed to seek exclusive monopoly on ALL synthetic genomes. Venter?s latest bid for extreme monopoly has drawn strong condemnation ? but not much surprise ? from civil society and from scientists in the field of synthetic biology.
14.12.2007
Canadian grower ordered to pay Monsanto CAD160 per acre for violating patent rights on RR GE soybeans
The Federal Court of Canada has issued a judgment against Mr. Paul Beneteau of Amherstburg, Ontario for patent infringement pertaining to the Roundup Ready gene in soybeans. In a judgment dated Nov. 27, 2007, the Honourable Mr. Chief Justice Lutfy determined that Mr. Beneteau had infringed certain claims of Monsanto?s patent by growing, harvesting and selling 55 acres of soybeans which he ?knew contained genes and cells as claimed in the said claims of the Patent.? The Court has ordered Mr. Beneteau to pay damages to Monsanto fixed at $8,800, which is an award to Monsanto of $160.00 per acre on the 55 acres in question.
13.12.2007
Peruvians ?uninformed? about GM
A high percentage of people in Peru?s capital Lima have never heard of biotechnology or transgenic food, and those with some knowledge of the issues cited television as their major source of information. These are the main findings of a survey commissioned by Peru?s National Institute for Agrarian Research (INIA) to determine public perceptions of transgenic food. [...] The survey found 84 per cent of respondents knew nothing about biotechnology and 81 per cent had never heard of transgenic food. Those who did have knowledge were mostly between 18?24 years old and from the middle and upper classes. Sixty-six per cent of these people supported the production and commercialisation of genetically modified foods.
13.12.2007
Indigenous groups defend Mexican corn
Meeting in Chihuahua?s Sierra Tarahumara last weekend, representatives of more than 20 indigenous Raramuri and Tepehuan communities vowed to defend the traditional corn that nourishes their cultures and livelihoods. At the Third Annual Corn Fair held in Ejido Bacabureachi, indigenous leaders agreed to implement measures aimed at protecting their corn from genetically modified (GM) varieties. Among the proposals considered was a demand to require that any corn entering the Sierra Tarahumara for any purpose have a certificate of origin.
13.12.2007
Brazil?s landless peasants occupy Syngenta plants
Brazilian landless peasants occupied two production facilities of agrochemical producer Syngenta on Monday, demanding the Swiss company leave the South American farm export giant. Hundreds of activists broke into a Swiss-owned Syngenta agrochemical plant in the state of Sao Paulo, expelling 50 employees and shutting down production, a company spokeswoman told Reuters.
13.12.2007
Nature Biotechnology editor admits involvement in Ermakova ?set-up?
The Editor of a prestigious biotechnology journal has admitted that he allowed his journal to be used as a vehicle for a premeditated attack on Russian scientist Irina Ermakova. December?s on-line edition of ?Nature Biotechnology? contains an extraordinary admission that he was closely involved in a plan by four scientists to ?set up? Ermakova and then to seek to dissect and dismiss her scientific methods and her results
13.12.2007
Euro Coop Statement Labelling: Making the non-GM alternative possible
Consumer cooperatives across Europe are committed to offering consumers that freedom of choice. They are striving to adapt their food supply so that it reflects the concerns, values and convictions of their consumer-members. Despite the cost and complexity involved, some cooperatives have totally eliminated GMOs from their own brand products, instructing suppliers to use certified GM-free feed and providing clear labels as a result.
13.12.2007
Showdown for Europe - On the Bt maize controversy
A mammoth bureaucratic battle is looming between senior European Commission officials and national governments that could affect the long-term prospects for the cultivation of genetically modified crops on the continent. Late last month, the European Commission?s environment commissioner Stavros Dimas said that he plans to reject applications from Syngenta and Pioneer Hi-Bred International for approval to grow two transgenic strains of maize (corn), on the grounds that the crops could adversely affect the environment. Dimas?s position has been welcomed by environmental groups and attacked by industry lobbyists. And researchers point out that it ignores the recommendation Dimas received from his own scientific advisers.
12.12.2007
Arcadia Biosciences reports progress in drought-tolerance crop development
Arcadia Biosciences, Inc., an agricultural technology company focused on products that benefit the environment and human health, today announced the successful completion of its first drought tolerance technology field trial. Results of the trial demonstrated that plants engineered for drought-tolerance achieved significantly higher yields than the control plants under induced-drought conditions, and similar yields under non-drought conditions.
12.12.2007
Official numbers for Indian Bt cotton area
Bt. Cotton is the only genetically modified crop released for commercial cultivation in India by Genetic Engineering Approval Committee of Ministry of Environment & Forest. Bt. Cotton seed of 167 hybrids is produced and marked by 25 private seed companies at prices ranging from Rs. 750/- to Rs. 900/- per packet of 450 gms. The prices have been fixed by the Seed Industry in consultation with States. Cultivation of Bt. Cotton has increased from 29,073 hectare in 2002 to 3.37 million hectare in 2006. Production of cotton has increased from 86.24 lakh bales of 170 kg. each in 2002 to 226.96 lakh bales in 2006.
12.12.2007
Lack of venture capital is forcing Indian biotech firms to make public offers
Early next year, Villoo Morawala-Patell, fou-nder and chairman of Avestha Gengraine Technologies Pvt. Ltd (Avesthagen), will embark on a roadshow that will cover 100 cities and towns, even small ones, across India in an attempt to sell the company?s initial public offering (IPO) to investors. By doing this, she will be bucking two trends: one, of Indian biotech companies shunning the equity market; and two, of trying to get investors who understand only such things as revenues and cash flows buy into the economic benefits of research and development (R&D).
12.12.2007
Indo-US deal on Agriculture exempts some imported GE food from approval system
One outcome of the Indo-US deal on Agriculture appears to be the deregulation of the GM (genetically modified) foods sector. The Ministry of Environment and Forests has through a notification withdrawn the requirement that importers of GM foods must first take permission from the Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC), India?s premier regulatory body in the sector of genetic engineering.
12.12.2007
Monsanto: Winning the ground war
When Hugh Grant took the top job at Monsanto (MON) in May, 2003, the company?s nickname in some quarters was ?Mutanto.? A growing chorus of critics warned that Monsanto?s genetically modified plant seeds would wipe out the monarch butterfly, give people virulent new allergies, and reduce the planet?s agricultural diversity. Author Jeremy Rifkin predicted that genetically modified organisms (GMOs) would turn out to be ?the single greatest failure in the history of capitalism.? Paul McCartney urged the world to ?say no to GMO.? Prince Charles wrote an editorial arguing that genetic engineering takes ?mankind into realms that belong to God and to God alone.?
