Save our Seeds

The European Commission`s Joint Research Centre just published case studies to identify how farmers can reduce the "adventitious" - unintended and unavoidable - presence of GM material in non-GM harvests. The objective of the report is to provide a science-based reference to support any future design and implementation of coexistence measures within the EU.</p><p><a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/06/230&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en">EU Commission Press Release</a></p><p><a href="http://www.jrc.es/home/pages/eur22102enfinal.pdf">JRC: New case studieson the coexistence of GM and non-GM crops in European agriculture</a></p><p><a href="http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/35309/story.htm">Reuters: EU Debates How Much GMO is Okay to End Seed Row</a>

Monsanto made a public promise in 1999 not to commercialize "Terminator Technology" - plants that are genetically engineered to produce sterile seeds. Now Monsanto says it may develop or use the so-called "suicide seeds" after all. The revised pledge from Monsanto now suggests that it would use Terminator seeds in non-food crops and does not rule out other uses of Terminator in the future.</p><p><a href="http://www.banterminator.org/news_updates/news_updates/monsanto_may_commercialize_terminator">www.banterminator.org</a></p><p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/argentina/story/0,,1715330,00.html?gusrc=rss">The Guardian: Seeds of dispute</a></p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/downloads/Terminator_action_alert_230206.pdf">Action Alert - Stop Suicide Seeds</a>

Europe`s food safety authority is holding a high level meeting with scientists this Wednesday to discuss the future development of Genetically Modified food within the European Union. Scientists from environmental non-governmental organisations have been invited to share views on scientific and procedural issues related to the authority`s work and advice in this field.</p><p><a href="http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?n=65931-efsa-gm-wto">Foodnavigator: EFSA opens up to discuss future of GM in Europe</a></p><p><a href="http://www.efsa.eu.int/stakeholder_stakeholder_consultative_platform/technical_meetings/catindex_en.html">EFSA announcement</a>

Writing in the latest issue of Parliament Magazine, Austrian agriculture and environment minister, Joseph Proell said he will ask national environment ministers meeting in Brussels on March 9 to take another look at the EU´s GM authorisation procedures."The Austrian presidency will initiate another debate on the longstanding practice of approving GMOs when no qualified majority is reached,"said Proell.</p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/downloads/Austria%20_EU_Presidency_GM_200206.pdf">Parliament Magazine</a></p><p><a href="http://www.eupolitix.com/EN/News/200602/53c2a24e-428c-40ef-896b-e59bfa0ae2cc.htm">europolitix.com</a>

A big coalition of farmers, consumers and environmental activists on Thursday sued the US government over its approval of a biotech alfalfa. The lawsuit contends that the US Department of Agriculture improperly is allowing Monsanto to sell an herbicide-resistant alfalfa seed while failing to analyse the public health, environmental, and economic consequences of that action.</p><p><a href="http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/35154/story.htm">Reuters: Farmers, Others Sue USDA Over Monsanto GMO Alfalfa</a></p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/downloads/ComplaintAlfalfa2.15.2006.pdf">View the Complaint</a></p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/downloads/Alfalfa_WORC_Factsheet.pdf">WORC Factsheet: The Problem with GM Alfalfa</a>

The World Trade Organisations preliminary ruling in the GMO case US vs. EU will convince Europeans but could force GM food on the plate elsewhere in the world, says John Vidal in the "Guardian".</p><p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/gmdebate/Story/0,,1708375,00.html">Guardian: America`s masterplan is to force GM food on the world</a>

The Romanian government has decided toban the growing of Roundup Ready soybeans from 1. January 2007. Permits to continue growing in 2006 will be given only under special conditions. This is a major blow to Monsanto`s strategy to use the country, where last year around 140.000 hectares were planted to the GM soybeans, as a hub to introduce GMO cultivation in Europe.</p><p><a href="http://www.gene.ch/genet/2006/Feb/msg00034.html">GENET: Romania bans GM soya cultivation</a>

The World Trade Organization ruled on Tuesday that the European Union and six member states had broken trade rules by barring entry to genetically modified crops and foods.</p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/dossier/fact_sheet_WTO.htm">Please read the SOS fact sheet</a>

The battle over agricultural biotechnology could reach a tipping point this week, when the World Trade Organization is expected to render its verdict on charges by the United States that Europe is illegally restricting imports of genetically modified crops.</p><p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/06/business/06crops.html?_r=1&oref=slogin">The New York Times: Trade Ruling Is Expected to Favor Biotech Food</a>

The Greek government has issued a renewed ban on maize seed varieties containing Monsanto`s GM trait Mon 810. After the European Commission had ordered Greece to lift a ban on 17 varieties issued last year, the government issued a new ban now on 31 varieties, as 14 additional Mon810 maize varieties had been added to the Common Catalogue of seeds in December 2005.</p><p><a href="http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_politics_100002_31/01/2006_65816">Kathimerini: Greece firm on GM corn</a></p><p><a href="http://www.ana.gr/anaweb/user/showplain?maindoc=3869485&maindocimg=1151649&service=8">Greenpeace applauds Greek ban on GMO corn</a>