Diversity in the News
14.11.2008
Lake County (USA) GMO ban unlikely to survive
Lake County voters last week elected rancher James Compton to the board, tipping the board’s majority to 3-2 against the ban. ”I don’t believe the county should have an ordinance,” he said Tuesday, affirming his pre-election stance on the issue. Compton said the county should not be regulating farming practices, a view he shares with supervisors Rob Brown and Jeff Smith.
- The Press Democrat, USA (12.11.2008): Lake GMO ban unlikely to survive
- Lake County Record-Bee, USA (11.11.2008): GE ban tabled in second reading
- Lake County News, USA (06.11.2008): GE ban ordinance postponed as board considers changes
- Lake County News, USA (04.11.2008): GE ordinance faces last-minute obstacles
14.11.2008
City of Nelson (Canada) becomes a GE plant free zone
Acting as a pinnacle to our GE-Free Zones series, on November 3, 2008, the City of Nelson, B.C., officially became Canada’s third GE-Free zone. In a unanimous decision by the City Council, a resolution was adopted that expresses opposition to the ”cultivation of GE plants and trees”. Deconstructing Dinner was on hand to record the monumental decision.
14.11.2008
GE taro and coffee banned on Big Island (Hawai’i, USA)
The Hawaii County Council has voted to uphold a ban on genetically modified taro and coffee. Mayor Harry Kim initially vetoed the ban. Thursday the council voted seven to zero to override that veto. The decision makes it illegal to grow genetically engineered taro and coffee crops. Anyone caught could face a $1,000 fine. Those supporting the ban say they want to preserve the brand-name value of their crops.
14.11.2008
West Australian government accused of caving in to GM lobby
The West Australian government today announced it would lift a moratorium on the commercial production of GM cotton in the East Kimberley region’s Ord River Irrigation Area in the state’s north. Conservation Council director Piers Verstegen said the government had succumbed to pressure from the GM industry, despite community concerns.
- The West Australian, Australia (14.11.2008): WA govt accused of caving in to GM lobby
- Western Australia Today, Australia (14.11.2008): WA approves first GM crops
- Government of Western Australia, Australia (14.11.2008): New potential for GM cotton production in the East Kimberley
- Conservation Council, Australia (14.11.2008): GM Cotton a Trojan Horse for other GM Food crops
- Sydney Morning Herald, Australia (14.11.2008): WA lifts ban on GM cotton in Kimberley
- The West Australian, Australia (15.11.2008): GM cotton ban lifted for Ord
- The West Australian, Australia (17.11.2008): GM cotton ’will end up in food supply’
14.11.2008
Government of Pakistan does not subsidies Monsanto’s Bt cotton
The government has turned down Monsanto’s offer of introducing second-generation technology of Bt cotton against billions of rupees as seed subsidy to the company for its intention of selling Bt cottonseed in the country. [...] The company during the next ten years of its technology transfers to the local seed companies would pocket $1.2 billion and the federal government would pay the sum in the name of seed subsidy to the company.
13.11.2008
GMOs: Kenya in dilemma
Kenya is faced with a dilemma on whether or not it should enact the Biosafety Bill to regulate activities of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). [...] Although the authority will also be charged with the responsibility of administering the law and promote public awareness and education regarding GM activities, it fails to recognise public participation as a basic right. This shortcoming has prompted a group of civil society to vehemently oppose the Bill on grounds that all the stakeholders were not consulted during the drafting stage.
- Africa Science News Service, Kenya (11.11.2008): GMOs: Kenya in dilemma
- Africa Science News Service, Kenya (12.11.2008): Agricultural Minister says Kenya urgently needs Biosafety law
- Africa Science News Service, Kenya (29.10.2008): New safety kit to narrow rift in GMO row
- Business Daily Africa, Kenya (11.11.2008): Nema builds new muscle to enforce laws
- SciDev.Net, UK (12.06.2007): Will Kenya’s Biosafety Bill of 2005 ever become law?
- SciDev.Net, UK (06.11.2008): Kenya prepares to approve biosafety legislation
13.11.2008
BASF StrigAway Maize - Yet another quick fix for Africa’s farmers?
BASF has joined forces with two high-profile non-profit organisations, CIMMYT and AATF, to bring its technology to maize farmers in East Africa. The promise is that Clearfield maize seeds will rescue African farmers from the parasitic tentacles of the Striga plant, a weed that destroys huge tracts of Africa’s maize production. If things move according to plan, the seeds, which are called StrigAway or Ua Kayongo (Swahili for ”Striga killer”), will be commercialised in Kenya before the end of 2006.
13.11.2008
After 10 years Insect Resistant Maize for Africa project, non-GE varieties are launched
At a recent workshop to review progress so far achieved on the Insect Resistant Maize for Africa (IRMA) project, Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) which partners up with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) announced that although their research has taken almost ten years for Bt maize, it has instead come up with conventional maize varieties that is resistant to rampant field pests like stem borers that feed from the plant leaves and storage pests like larger grain borers that can clear stored seeds in a short period.
13.11.2008
Non-GE varieties of quality protein maize available for African farmers
Africa’s endemic hunger and malnutrition that continues to blight a huge proportion of the population has found a respite, with the introduction of quality protein maize varieties for small holder farmers. The new varieties (it is not just one, there are several) have significantly boosted yields as well as nutrition and incomes to small scale farmers. According to documented research from the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Centre (CIMMYT), quality protein maize (QPM) contains enhanced levels of essential amino acids, lysine and trytophan, along with other features that make more of its protein useful to humans and farm animals.
13.11.2008
Aresa (Denmark) announces failure of GE landmine detection technology
As was expected the tests in Serbia did not produce a positive result (none of the plants changed colours to red when growing in proximity to TNT-infected soil) and as the company explained at its general meeting, further development of the plant is assessed to last 2-3 years. aresa is now left with patented technologies that have not been validated. This makes the value of the patents highly uncertain, and the technology represents value only if the biotech activities continue in some form. aresa has booked goodwill in relation to the patents of DKK 13,4m, which is now at risk of being written down to DKK 0.
13.11.2008
Modified genes spread to local maize in Mexico
Transgenes from genetically modified (GM) maize (corn) crops have been found in traditional ’landrace’ maize in the Mexican heartland, a study says. The work largely confirms a similar, controversial result published in Nature in 2001 and may reignite the debate in Mexico over GM crops. The paper reports finding transgenes in three of the 23 locations that were sampled in 2001, and again in two of those locations using samples taken in 2004. Written by a team led by Elena Álvarez-Buylla of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City, the study will be published in the journal Molecular Ecology.
12.11.2008
Critical analysis of EFSA’s opinion on MON863 hybrids
Decreased organ weight were observed in all studies including heart, kidney, thyroid/parathyroid, epididymes and other (not specified) organs. Most of these differences are described as ”statistically significant different”. Changes in blood included lower numbers of red blood cells, increased corpuscular hemoglobin for one hybrid and a decrease in another, increased blood urea nitrogen, changes in basophile counts, and an increased neutrophil count. Other changes included higher feed consumptions of animals: Female rats fed with a small amounts of MON863xMON810 and rats fed high amounts of MON863xNK603 consumed more feed then the control groups.
12.11.2008
Monsanto’s statement on safety allegations related to transgenic maize NK603 X MON 810
the scientific community refrains from making any substantive conclusions based on a preliminary report. The gold standard for communication of scientific results is a thorough peer review by qualified experts. The Greenpeace press statement is inconsistent with over a decade of reputable, peer-reviewed, scientific studies, including multi-generational studies, which demonstrate and confirm the safety of GM crops. ”These products have been proven to be safe. This report does not provide any basis to conclude otherwise,” said Jerry Hjelle, Ph.D., Vice President of Monsanto’s regulatory group.
- Monsanto, USA (11.11.2008): Monsanto’s statement on safety allegations related to transgenic maize NK603 X MON 810
- Earth Times, India (11.11.2008): Genetically modified maize lowers fertility in mice, study finds
- Greenpeace International, The Netherlands (11.11.2008): Mice! Forget about birth control - try GE maize instead!
12.11.2008
My two-day field trip with Germany’s BASF Plant Science
Of course, if you’re to believe BASF, there’s nothing at all to fear from genetic modification - or genetic ”optimization,” as it was repeatedly referred to there. A presentation by Graham Brookes, director of the England-based PG Economics Limited, showed hard evidence of the overwhelmingly positive economic and environmental impacts of the crops. Mind you, this is a man whose company gets a paycheck from such pro-GM trade associations as CropLife International and Green Biotech Europe, and who summed up his view of the Indian environmental activist Vandana Shiva with the couplet ”bloody idiot.”
12.11.2008
Monsanto Company to invest in technologies for sugarcane with acquisitions of CanaVialis and Alellyx
In the face of long-term changes driving greater global demand for food and biofuel sources, Monsanto Company is investing in a new large-acre row crop, sugarcane, to diversify its existing core crop portfolio and to leverage its experience in bringing innovations to the agricultural marketplace through breeding and biotechnology. Monsanto announced today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Aly Participacoes Ltda., which operates the sugarcane breeding and technology companies, CanaVialis S.A. and Alellyx S.A., both of which are based in Brazil.
12.11.2008
U.S. wheat industry works on pro-GE-wheat campaign
Vic Knauf believes there is great potential in solving some of the agronomic problems that plague wheat producers.
Knauf is the chief scientific officer at Arcadia Biosciences, Davis, California. The company develops plants that improve the environment and are beneficial to human health. And Arcadia is developing Nitrogen Use Efficiency technology in wheat.
12.11.2008
Syngenta buys Argentine seeds company SPS
The world’s largest agrochemicals company Syngenta AG said on Monday it has bought SPS Argentina, a company specialised in development, production and marketing of soybean, corn and sunflower. ”The transaction will give Syngenta a significantly increased presence in the important soybean market in Argentina, complementing its existing strong positions in corn and sunflower,” the company said in a statement.
11.11.2008
Austrian study shows fertility problems in mice fed with Monsanto’s NK603xMON810 Bt maize
A study published today by the Austrian government identified serious health threats of genetically engineered (GE) crops. In one of the very few long-term feeding studies ever conducted with GE crops, the fertility of mice fed with GE maize was found to be severely impaired, with fewer offspring being produced than by mice fed on natural crops. Considering the severity of the potential threat to human health and reproduction, Greenpeace is demanding a recall of all GE food and crops from the market, worldwide.
- Greenpeace International, The Netherlands (11.11.2008): Genetically-engineered food: potential threat to fertility
- Friends of the Earth Europe, Belgium (01.11.2008): EU debates GMOs at the highest levels
- Farmers Guardian, UK (10.11.2008): Benn backs GM food safety
- Agence France Press (12.11.2008): GM crops found to affect reproduction in mice: Austrian study
- The Daily Mail, UK (12.11.2008): Why eating GM food could lower your fertility
- The Center for Food Safety, USA (13.11.2008): Austrian study finds eating genetically engineered corn may reduce fertility
11.11.2008
Researchers bring non-GE drought-tolerant, disease-resistant cassava to African farmers
Cassava farmers in the semi-arid zones of sub-Saharan Africa are now enjoying 6-10 times better yields thanks to a new variety developed by IITA that is well-adapted to the dry or drought-prone conditions of the region. Dubbed TMS92/0067, the variety, with farmer management, produces an average of 30 to 50 tonnes of cassava per hectare as opposed to the 5 tonnes per hectare from local varieties commonly used by farmers in these areas.
11.11.2008
U.S. researchers breed non-GE drought-tolerant soybeans with Asian landraces
Carter and his team have been transferring a slow-wilting characteristic from Asian landraces into U.S.-adapted varieties. Once the team gets the slow-wilting trait into a high-yielding line, they share the new line with private seed companies and public soybean breeders. ”Industry breeders use the USDA drought-tolerant lines as valuable breeding stock to develop high-yielding varieties adapted to the stressful U.S. summers,” says Carter.
In a Nebraska field, Team Drought collaborator Jim Specht screens soybean plants for desirable slow-wilting traits.
