18.01.2005 | permalink
200 representatives from 30 countries to discuss GMO free Regions in Berlin
Participants from Albania to Scotland, from Turkey to Sweden, from Ireland to Azerbaijan and Georgia, more than 150 representatives of regional governments and institutions, activists and experts, farmers, politicians, scientists, lawyers and civil servants working for GMO-free regions in 30 countries will meet during the International Green Week in Berlin.</p><p><a href="http://www.zs-l.de/conference/Presse.html">Press release</a>
18.01.2005 | permalink
EFSA to Assess First GMO Crops
The EU`s food safety agency should give its first risk analysis this year of live genetically modified (GMO) crops - an issue that has split the bloc`s membership down the middle.</p><p><a href="http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/29049/story.htm">Reuters via PlanetArk</a>
17.01.2005 | permalink
Sick - Eat Maize!
Growing drugs inside plants - instead of making them in factories - could soon be big business with the U.S. market alone potentially worth $2.2 billion by 2011, according to a report on Monday.</p><p><a href="http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L17174144.htm">Reuters: Drugs made in plants may be $2 bln market by 2011</a>
14.01.2005 | permalink
Monsanto `seed Police' Scrutinise Farmers
Agribusiness giant Monsanto has sued more than 100 U.S. farmers, and its "seed police" have investigated thousands of others, for what the company terms illegal use of its patented genetically engineered seeds. In total, U.S. courts have awarded Monsanto more than 15 million dollars, according to a new report by the Washington-based Centre for Food Safety (CFS) called "Monsanto vs. U.S. Farmers" "Monsanto`s business plan for GE crops depends on suing farmers," said Joe Mendelson, legal director for CFS.</p><p><a href="http://ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=27041">IPS News</a></p><p><a href="http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/Monsantovsusfarmersreport.cfm">Center of Foodsafety: Monsanto vs. U.S. Farmers Report</a></p><p><a href="http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/press_release1.13.05.cfm">Center of Food Safety: Press Release</a>
14.01.2005 | permalink
Brazil: President Lula gets his Transgenic Law
The law, which was published yesterday, January 13, in the Federal Register (Diário Oficial), requires producers to sign a declaration of commitment, responsibility, and adjustment of behavior by January 31, 2005.</p><p><a href="http://www.brazzilmag.com/content/view/1147/1/">Brazzil Magazin</a>
14.01.2005 | permalink
GM Swiss cheese and wine in 2005?
In Switzerland, new labelling regulations concerning GM food will apply from February 2005. The general question is - what will have to be labelled as GM food in Switzerland in the future?</p><p><a href="http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=newsletter&topic_id=6&subtopic_id=33&doc_id=9436">Check Biotech</a></p><p><a href="archiv/www.wti.org/conf/documents/Wuger_GMFoodSwitz_Draft_5.pdf">Consumer information on GM-Food in Switzerland and WTO law</a></p><p><a href="http://www.wti.org/conf/documents/SynthesisPaper_000.pdf">Synthesis Paper</a>
13.01.2005 | permalink
Russia: the situation on transgenic food
The most wide-spread genetically modified sources are found in soy-containing foods - meat products (17.7 percent), baked and cereals foods (16.7 percent), soy products (16.4 percent).</p><p><a href="http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5306068&startrow=1&date=2005-01-13&do_alert=0">Russian News and Information Agency</a>
13.01.2005 | permalink
Worldwide Biotech Crops Experience Near Record Growth
Biotech crops experienced the second highest hectarage growth on record in 2004 to reach 81million hectares (200 million acres). According to a report released today, authored by Clive Jameschairman and founder of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), global area for biotech crops grew 20 percent in 2004 - anincrease of 13.3 million hectares (32.9 million acres).</p><p><a href="http://www.isaaa.org/kc/CBTNews/press_release/briefs32/News_release/English.pdf">ISAAA Press Release</a></p><p><a href="http://www.isaaa.org/">Retrieve the report and further information via ISAAA</a>
13.01.2005 | permalink
Background, USA: When saving seeds becomes a crime
Since 1997, Monsanto has filed 90 lawsuits for saving their GM seeds times in 25 US states against 147 farmers and 39 agriculture companies, according to a report issued by the Washington D.C. based Center for Food Safety.</p><p><a href="http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,66282,00.html?tw=wn_tophead_7">Wired News: Saving Seed Is Latest Tech Piracy</a></p><p><a href="http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/pubs/CFSMOnsantovsFarmerReport1.13.05.pdf">Centre for Food Safety, full report: Monsanto vs. farmers</a>
11.01.2005 | permalink
Syngenta Claims Multi-Genome Monopoly
Syngenta, the global gene giant, has a patent pending in 115 countries that, if approved, would give it a multi-genome monopoly over at least 40 plant species.</p><p><a href="http://www.etcgroup.org/article.asp?newsid=494">ETC Group News Release</a>