Archived News

July 2002

French Approval for Field Trials on GM Crops
30 July 2002 Asia Intelligence Wire
The French government has approved 8 new field trials on genetically modified crops.

GM Moratoriums, Regulations, May Cost Lives
24 July 2002 New Zealand Institute of Crop & Food Research
Moratoriums and regulations will mean that many malnourished children continue to suffer because they can’t get access to the new technology.

Put Facts Before Fervour in GM Food Debate
23 July 2002 NZ Herald
It would be easy to conclude from the political debate that genetic engineering is the greatest risk we face in providing safe food to New Zealand consumers and to our export markets.

Farmers Urged to Face Facts in GM Decision
22 July 2002 Stockjournal
The grains industry is being urged to decide on the future of genetically modified crops in Australia without being "misled by claims not supported by science".

Japan Approves Biotech Corn and Soy for Food
18 July 2002 Life Sciences Network
Japan's Health Ministry approved three varieties of genetically modified (GM) corn and soybeans as safe for human consumption, paving the way for more imports of controversial bioengineered foods.

Young UK Farmers Support Gene Crop Trials
18 July 2002 Life Sciences Network
A poll of more than 2,000 farmers by Lloyds TSB was cited as finding that more than half of young UK farmers and nearly half of older farmers support field trials of genetically modified crops.

More US Land Growing GM Crops
17 July 2002 NewsRoom
New figures showing United States farmers are growing more genetically modified crops is being interpreted by some experts as a sign that farmer resistance to the technology is dwindling.

Next Generation of Foods from Biotechnology
17 July 2002 Life Sciences Network
The Consumer Federation of America held its National Food Policy conference on April 22 and 23 in Washington, D.C.

Approved Use of GM is Safe
16 July 2002 Life Sciences Network
Despite GE foods having been approved and released into our food chain without any long term testing, Life Sciences Network is claiming that 'Approved use of GM is safe'.

Monsanto Gains Early-Bird Advantage In Cotton Hybrids Market
15 July 2002 Business Line
Monsanto 's Bt cotton may have made a quiet beginning in the farmers' fields this season. But it has triggered off a seemingly inevitable process of consolidation in the 10 million packets per year cotton hybrid seeds business.

New GE Products Ready To Go – Scientist
15 July 2002 Monsanto Co.
Crop and Food, Lincoln researcher Margy Gilpin was cited as saying that a raft of new genetic engineering (GE) products is about to be unleashed on the world.

New Biotech Corn Could Significantly Cut Pesticide Use
12 July 2002 Biotenz
A new type of genetically engineered corn awaiting government approval could significantly reduce use of chemical insecticides if the crop proves as popular with farmers as expected.

IFPRI Analyzes Economic Impact of Agri-Biotech
12 July 2002 ISAAA
Growing transgenic cotton is likely to result in reduced pesticide use and is predicted to be profitable in most US states in the Cotton Belt.

'Extremely Low' Risk of GM Transfer
11 July 2002 Food Standards Agency
A series of FSA research projects have concluded that it is extremely unlikely that genes from genetically modified (GM) food can end up in bacteria in the gut of people who eat them.

GM Corn Helps Keep Drinking Water Clean
11 July 2002 ISAAA
A study predicts that herbicide-tolerant GM corn, and probably other transgenic crops with the similar trait, lessens the pesticide load on watersheds.

Monsanto Rounds Up Farmer Support
10 July 2002 Life Sciences Network
Monsanto is trying to garner support from grain growers for its application to commercially release genetically-modified canola.

Blair to Head GM Campaign
10 July 2002 Life Sciences Network
Tony Blair is, according to this story, to lead a three-pronged campaign to win public opinion over to the idea that genetically modified crops should be grown commercially in Britain.

New Figures Show Europe Rapidly Adopting GM
09 July 2002 Life Sciences Network
Recently released figures show a marked increase in the environmental release of GM crops right across Europe.

Biotech Group Supports GM Technology
09 July 2002 Life Sciences Network
A biotechnology organisation is supporting the move to introduce genetic modification for farming in Australia, according to a professional lobbyist.

Bt Rice Could Benefit Philippines and Vietnam
08 July 2002 Agbiotechnet
A study by a Masters student at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University suggests that introduction of Bt rice could have significant economic benefits for the economies of the Philippines and Vietnam.

UK: Government Publishes Proposed Autumn GM Crop Trial Sites
08 July 2002 Just-food.com
Sites for the autumn trials of oilseed rape in the UK government's programme of Farm-Scale Evaluations (FSEs) of herbicide tolerant genetically modified (GM) crops were published on July 9, 2002.

Monsanto Bets on Transgenic Cotton in Brazil
08 July 2002 Gazeta Mercantil
American agrochemical giant Mondanto is, according to this story, investing R$1.5 million in research into BT transgenic cotton in Brazil.

G8 Summit Produces Good Biotech Statement
07 July 2002 Honolulu Advertiser
One of the less-well-noticed decisions coming out of that meeting in Canada of the G8 nations was a statement urging the use of biotech food in the global battle against hunger and malnutrition.

Gene May Boost Tomato's Flavor
06 July 2002 Knight-Ridder Tribune
The fierce rivalry to produce the tastiest tomato is, according to this story, under way between dedicated tomato lovers in humorist Garrison Keillor's fictional town of Lake Wobegon.

Tangible Benefits To Adopting GE Crops
05 July 2002 ISAAA
A study by Jorge Fernandez-Cornejo and William McBride used data from the US Department of Agriculture data to examine the extent to which farmers have adopted GM crops.

Government to Hold First Meeting on Biotechnology Strategy
05 July 2002 Kyodo World Service
Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda was cited as telling reporters that the government will hold the first meeting of a new panel on the state's biotechnology strategy July 18 as a measure to help revitalize the sagging economy.

Biotech Crops Benefit Environment – Latest US Report
05 July 2002 Biotenz
Figures in a recent report released by the United States Council for Agricultural Science and Technology (CAST) show that biotechnology is beneficial to the environment.

China Academy Of Sciences Prepares To Refute The Allegations In The Nanjing Study
03 July 2002 Monsanto UK
Recent media stories out of China have highlighted Greenpeace allegations regarding the effectiveness and value of Bt cotton. Read the facts.

Question and Answers on the Regulation of GMOs in the EU
03 July 2002 Life Sciences Network
It is divided into two sections; Part A covers legislation in force; Part B covers the legislative proposals on tracability and labelling put forward in July 2001.

Food, Feed Safety Promote Dialogue With European Delegation
03 July 2002 Monsanto Co.
Monsanto Company recently hosted a diverse European group at the Chesterfield Village research facility in St. Louis for a tour and greater understanding of biotechnology food and feed safety.

Statement On Crop Biotechnology - The American College of Nutrition
01 July 2002 American College of Nutrition
The American College of Nutrition is committed to the worldwide availability of a safe, adequate and nutritious food supply. Substantial valid scientific evidence exists establishing the safety of crops developed via biotechnology.

China’s Health Minister Denies Delay in GMO Regulation
01 July 2002 Dow Jones
China's Ministry of Health has denied reports that it is delaying immediate implementation of new safety rules for genetically modified food imports in favor of a one-year phase-in period.

GM Crops Have a Place: NSW Minister
01 July 2002 Life Sciences Network
The use of genetically modified crops has been given cautious support by NSW Agriculture Minister Mr Richard Amery.