Archived News

September 2002

NZ Growers Want GE Options Open
30 September 2002 NewsRoom
New Zealand grain growers want to keep their options open so they can grow genetically modified crops in the future, despite little interest in the crops now, reports NewsRoom.

How Not To Save The World
28 September 2002 New Scientist
Bullying people into action has become counterproductive, says Calestous Juma to the New Scientist. We need a new generation of activists who are prepared to work with business.

Don't Discount Biotech Benefits
27 September 2002 The StarPhoenix
Nicole Sangster of Saskatoon writes that she came away with a totally different idea about how biotech is helping farmers in both the developed and developing worlds.

CIRAD Says GMOs Could Help Developing Countries
27 September 2002 CropBiotech.net
The French research organization CIRAD says that biotech could help in addressing key constraints in the developing world.

Changing Status Of GM Crops In Europe?
27 September 2002 CropBiotech.net
Following a series of important European Union minister meetings in October, the informal ban on genetically modified (GM) crops may be lifted.

GMO's Pose no Greater Threat than Non-GMOs
27 September 2002 New Zealand News
A new public discussion paper released by the Ministry for the Environment in New Zealand says the risks associated with GMO’s pose no greater threat than non-GMO’s, reported the New Zealand News.

GM Crops Benefits Small Farmers in Spain
27 September 2002 Europabio
In a new study presented in Brussels, Brookes West consultancy reports that small farmers in North East Spain are achieving environmental benefits as well as higher yields, better quality and increased income by growing genetically modified maize (Bt Maize).

BT Technology Could Cut Use of Insecticides
27 September 2002 The Guardian
GM crops are the most successful of any new agricultural technology, said David T. Dennis, Ph.D., FRSC president and CEO, Performance Plants Inc., reported The Guardian.

Monsanto Executive Says Continuous Innovation Strengthens Market Position
26 September 2002 Monsanto Co.
Continuous innovation is a cornerstone of Monsanto Company’s leadership in the agricultural industry, Chief Technology Officer Robert T. Fraley, Ph.D., said at the 15 th annual Credit Suisse First Boston Chemicals Conference.

GM Crops Seen as 'a Fantastic Tool'
26 September 2002 The West Australian
If genetically modified crops are used wisely in Australia, they will be a fantastic tool in managing existing herbicide resistance problems, reported The West Australian.

German Food Chain on "Green Biotechnology": Facilitating co-existence - Ensure Freedom of Choice
25 September 2002 Monsanto.co.uk
The German food chain "from farm to fork" considers the co-existence of production methods - with and without the use of genetic engineering - to be both possible and necessary.

An American Farmer Appeals to Africa
25 September 2002 Chicago Tribune
I grow poison on my farm, feed it to my family and sell it to unsuspecting consumers in the U.S. and around the world, said John Reifsteck to Chicago Tribune.

European Parliament Supports EU Research on Plant Biotechnology
25 September 2002 Europabio
The Parliament signalled support for EU plant biotechnology research when voting on a new proposed Regulation to implement the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety.

Pseudo-science and "FrankenFears"
24 September 2002 Life Sciences Network
In an article for the Times of India, journalist Swaminathan S Anklesaria Aiyar alleges that Green fundamentalists are killers.

Biotechnology is Cutting Production Costs, Food Prices, Expert Says
24 September 2002 Knight-Ridder Tribune
Leonard Gianessi, program director of the nonprofit National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy said that biotechnology is lowering production costs for farmers and food costs for consumers, reported Knight-Ridder Tribune.

Developing Countries Should Adopt Biotech, U.N. Panelists Urge
24 September 2002 US Department of State
Developing countries should consider adopting agricultural biotechnology, which can improve crop yields and safely provide more nutritious food at a lower cost, according to a group of experts meeting at U.N. headquarters.

New Book Entitled "Plants, Genes and Crop Biotechnology" is Available
23 September 2002 CropBiotech.net
This textbook is about plants, genes, food, and agriculture, and the changing relationships among them.

October 17 will be D-Day for GM Crops in Europe
23 September 2002 EUobserver
Consumers and farmers in Europe may be exposed to a GMO revolution after important EU minister meetings in October, writes Norwegian paper Nationen.

Biotech Offers Real Opportunities for Australian Farmers
23 September 2002 CropBiotech.net
The effectiveness of Bt in minimizing insect attacks in the first half of the growing season has seen a major reduction in the application of chemicals such as endosulfan.

Monsanto Questions GM Report Claims
23 September 2002 Monsanto Co.
Genetically-modified (GM) crop manufacturer Monsanto says a report claiming GM products have been a failure in the United States does not correspond with the figures.

Uganda Could Take 4 To 5 Years To Introduce Bt Cotton - Official
20 September 2002 OsterDowJones
Uganda could take four to five years to introduce genetically modified cotton, or Bt. cotton, a senior government official told OsterDowJones.

Biotech Food can Save Millions of African Lives
19 September 2002 International Herald Tribune
All scientific risk assessments thus far show that the biotech foods now on the market are every bit as safe to eat as their conventional counterparts, reported International Herald Tribune.

GM Food Said a Big Help Advantage for Developing Nations
19 September 2002 The Leader-Post - Regina
Anatole Krattiger was cited as telling the final plenary session of the Agriculture Biotechnology International Conference (ABIC) in Saskatoon that the agriculture biotechnology community should take a radically different approach to convincing people of the merits of genetically modified (GM) food.

Farmers Not - Stupid!
18 September 2002 Life Sciences Network
Dr Steve Sonka, Director of the National Soybean Research Laboratory in Illinois says that the data in the Soil Association report is being used to mislead the public.

Let the Facts Speak for Themselves
18 September 2002 Life Sciences Network
The 69-page report refutes the statement that widespread growing of GM herbicide-tolerant crops has harmed the environment.

Why Do We Need The UK Farm-Scale Trials?
18 September 2002 Spiked-online
The farm-scale evaluations are essential if we are to make informed decisions about growing GM crops without harming wildlife.

GM in Perspective
18 September 2002 Spiked-online
If the field trials are allowed to progress unmolested, Britons will find that they show GM crops to have real environmental benefits.

New Rice Line Could Benefit Malnourished Populations
17 September 2002 USDA
Rice grains with less phytic acid could mean improved nutrition for the world's malnourished, more nutritious animal feed and less potential for water pollution from manure.

American Farmers Rebut GM 'Myths'
17 September 2002 Life Sciences Network
American farmers dismissed claims that many of them were against the use of biotechnology in agriculture as ludicrous.

Britain Funds £13.4m GM Programme in Third World
16 September 2002 Independent
Clare Short's overseas aid department DFID (Department for International Development) has funded at £13.4m programme to create a new generation of GM animals, crops and drugs throughout the Third World.

Top Farmer: GM Techniques Could Cut Chemical Use
13 September 2002 Agbioworld
Raul Q. Montemayor was cited as saying that genetically modified crops offer the world's farmers a chance to reduce their use of chemical insecticides, pesticides and herbicides.

FAO Conference 7: GMOs - Gene Flow
13 September 2002 Food and Agriculture Organization
The Conference 7 of the FAO Electronic Forum on Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture is complete.

WSSD Plan of Implementation Available
13 September 2002 Johannesburg Summit.org
One of the key documents produced from the recently concluded World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) is already available.

Impact of Herbicide Tolerant Soybeans
13 September 2002 Crop Biotech Net
A study was conducted by the George Morris Center to determine the impact of Glyphosate Tolerant (GT) soybeans in Ontario.

Gene Targeting in Rice
13 September 2002 CropBiotech.net
Researchers have found a rapid way of finding the function of specific genes in rice, one of the world's most vital staples.

FDA Issues Guidelines for Bioengineered Plants
12 September 2002 FDA
The FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research is seeking public comments.

GM Crop-Fed Livestock 'Safe Source of Food'
12 September 2002 Gulf Times
Food derived from animals fed genetically modified products is as safe as that produced from conventional feed ingredients, a British expert told the fourth symposium on ‘Food Safety and Human Health’.

Doors Opening For GM Foods - European Briefing
11 September 2002 The Times
While the European Court's advocate-general makes bad law out of bad weed, some sense is beginning to emerge from the Commission on transgenic food, according to The Times.

European Food Sector has to Drive Innovation
10 September 2002 European Commission
Innovation in the farming and food sector is a vital issue to which Europe will need to devote significant attention and energy in the coming years, reported the European Commission.

Many Delegates - Little Sustainability
10 September 2002 Bio-Scope
For the past few days, the eyes of the world have been on the South African city of Johannesburg, where delegates have gathered to forge the master plan for a just, healthy and - above all - sustainable world.

Monsanto Soybean Research Facility First In The World To Receive Prestigious ISO Quality Certification
10 September 2002 Monsanto Co.
Monsanto Company announced that its Ames, Iowa soybean breeding program has become the first soybean breeding program in the world to be awarded the ISO certification.

FAO and Agricultural Biotechnology
09 September 2002 Food and Agriculture Organization
The `World Food Summit: five years later' took place on June 10-13, 2002, at the Headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in Rome and was attended by delegations from more than 180 countries.

Scotland Considers more GM Trials
06 September 2002 Life Sciences Network
Ministers in Scotland are considering whether the autumn programme of genetically modified crop trials should go ahead.

Science Forum Focuses on Role of Biotech and Biodiversity
06 September 2002 Monsanto Africa
One of the highlights during the recently concluded World Summit on Sustainable Agriculture was the Science Forum Workshop on the Role of Biotechnology and Biodiversity in Sustainable Development held at Ubuntu Village, Johannesburg, South Africa.

WSSD Concludes With Government Commitments and Partnership Programs
06 September 2002 Monsanto Africa
The two-week WSSD in Johannesburg, South Africa concluded with significant commitments to improve the lives of people living in poverty and to reverse the continuing degradation of the global environment.

Russian Potato Farms Battle Beetle
06 September 2002 Monsanto.co.uk
The Colorado beetle may be a tougher challenge. The most promising solution is a genetically modified potato, reported Reuters.

Scientists Applaud Limited Activist Supportfor GM Food Aid
06 September 2002 Agbioworld
A group of scientists and agriculture experts led by the AgBioWorld Foundation are applauding recent activist statements supporting genetically-modified food aid from the United States.

Zimbabwe 'Accepts GM Food'
06 September 2002 Monsanto Africa
"The World Food Programme says Zimbabwe has dropped objections to accepting genetically-modified grain so that urgently-needed food aid can be delivered, according to the BBC.

Schmeiser Loses Again; Will the Rest of Us?
06 September 2002 Food Safety Network
Percy Schmeiser, Canadian canola farmer and international genetically engineered (GE) crop martyr, has again lost in a court of law.

FAO Urges Southern Africa to Accept GM Maize Aid
05 September 2002 Just-Food.com
Countries in southern Africa whose populations are facing devastating droughts should "carefully consider" current scientific knowledge before rejecting genetically modified food aid, Dr Jacques Diouf said.

National Academy of Sciences: GM Food is Safe to Eat and Drink
05 September 2002 National Academy of Sciences
A report from the National Academy of Sciences has helped to clarify that genetically engineered foods are safe to eat and drink.

African Scientists Urge GM Acceptance
05 September 2002 Scidev.net
A coalition of African scientists at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg has urged southern African countries to accept donations of genetically modified (GM) maize.

Federal Court Judges Unanimously Dismiss Appeal in Schmeiser vs. Monsanto Canada Inc. Patent Infringement Case
05 September 2002 Monsanto Co.
The Federal Court of Appeal has unanimously dismissed the 17 grounds of appeal submitted for Mr. Percy Schmeiser, who was found guilty of violating Monsanto’s patent pertaining to the Roundup Ready gene in canola.

The 'Pure' and Starving Poor; Environmentalists Stifle Modern Agriculture in the Third World
03 September 2002 Los Angeles Times
The apartheid system is gone, but many here at the World Summit on Sustainable Development seem to want to bring back a form of "separate and unequal" in the form of environmental regulation that would stifle economic development.

Focus On Trade: Famine Reshapes `Frankenfood' Debate
03 September 2002 Wall Street Journal Europe
Some Opponents Of Genetically Modified Food Make Exception For Southern Africa, according to the Wall Street Journal.

South African Minister of Science and Technology Endorses Biotechnology as a Tool for Sustainable Development
02 September 2002 Africabio
Contrary to the negative sentiments that are being expressed by Vandana Shiva and all her allies, biotechnology has been given the go ahead by the South African Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ben Ngubane.