Save our Seeds

Overexpression of a single gene in plants could increase their root growth by 60%, scientists at the University of Connecticut claim in the recent edition of "Science" magazine. "This discovery has the potential to revolutionize agriculture worldwide," claims plant biologist Roberto Gaxiola, who leads the team.</p><p><a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-10/uoc-sdg100405.php">Scientists discover genetic key to growing hardier, more productive plants</a>

A World Trade Organization dispute panel ruling on the EU`s market authorizations for genetically modified products, which was due October 10th, is being put off until the first week of January 2006. Although the panel did not explicitly link the delay with the WTO`s Hong Kong ministerial conference in December, it has been noted that the postponement will allow the WTO to avoid having the dispute become an issue at the ministerial conference, which is expected to be targeted by thousands of anti-globalization protestors. The panel, established in August 2003, has been asked to rule on what the US, Canada and Argentina claim is the EU`s illegal de-facto moratorium on the approval of products containing GMOs. The three also accused Austria, France, Greece, and Italy of prohibiting the marketing of GMO products, which have already been approved for sale within the EU.

Consumer, environmental and health organisations challenged the European Food Safety Authority to put public and environmental safety before commercial interests as the agency opens its first stakeholder dialogue at its new office in Parma, Italy.The organisations urge EFSA to make serious changes in its work and procedures, in particular regarding genetically modified crops and food. So far the central EU agency has rubber-stamped all GM crop approvals and dismissed concerns of NGOs, scientists and national safety authorities.</p><p><a href="http://www.foeeurope.org/press/2005/joint_06_Oct_EFSA.htm">Joint Press Release</a></p><p><a href="http://www.efsa.eu.int/stakeholder_stakeholder_consultative_platform/consultative_platform/catindex_en.html">EFSA: Stakeholder consultative platform</a></p><p><a href="http://www.foeeurope.org/publications/2005/EFSA_stakeholders_challenge.pdf">GP. FOE, Euro-Coop, EEB, EPHA: Detailed EFSA challenge</a>

The European Court of Justice today rejected a general GMO prohibition law of the Region of Upper Austria. Upper Austria wanted a total ban on cultivating genetically modified crops to protect conventional and organic crops, as well as wildlife, from potential contamination. In 2003 the EU Commission refused, arguing Austria had presented no new scientific evidence to support such a ban, and could not opt out of EU-wide rules of GMO risk assessment and approval. The Austrian complaint against the Commissions verdict has now been rejected by the Court. The government of the Region announced it would find other means to stay GMO free.</p><p><a href="http://curia.eu.int/jurisp/cgi-bin/gettext.pl?where=&lang=en&num=79948994T19040235&doc=T&ouvert=T&seance=ARRET">ECJ: Judgement Upper Austria vs. EU Commission</a><p></p><p><a href="http://www.saveourseeds.org/downloads/ECJ_Upper_austria_06_10_2005.pdf">SOS update on Upper Austrian case against the EU Commission</a></p><p><a href="http://www.foeeurope.org/press/2005/HH_05_Oct_ECJ.htm">Friends of the Earth: Commission urged to review EU law</a></p><p><a href="http://europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/03/1194&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en">Commission decision 2 September 2003</a>

Farmers who once sowed GM oilseed rape on their fields will be unable to grow non-GM rape for at least 9 years, a study of UK scientists concludes. Even though the GM seed would be reduced by 95% over these years it "would be highly likely to result in the presence of more than two volunteer plants per square meter in a rape crop sown 9 years after the HT crop. This density would exceed the European Union threshold of 0.9% adventitious presence of GM seeds in a non-GM crop."</p><p><a href="http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/environment/article318238.ece">The Independent (10 Oct 05): GM crop ruins fields for 15 years</a></p><p><a href="http://www.journals.royalsoc.ac.uk/index/6PTR0X3YR8Y9BYFE.pdf">Royal Society, Proceedings: Biological Sciences: Persistence of seeds from crops of conventional and herbicide tolerant oilseed rape (Brassica napus)</a>

French scientist Jean Masson carefully unlocks the gate of a heavily protected open-air enclosure. Behind the fence and security cameras there are no wild animals or convicts, just 70 vines ... genetically modified to resist the court-noue virus. The experiment raises concerns of vine growers all over France.</p><p><a href="http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/32675/story.htm">Reuters: Genetically modified vines worry French winemakers</a>

A new report on the large scale GM field trials of GM oilseed rape, sugar beet and maize in the UK conducted 1999-2002 shows that detrimental effects of the GM crops on biodiversity have persisted the following two years after the farmers went back to conventional cultivation.</p><p><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4287044.stm">BBC: GM crop impact 'lasts two years'</a></p><p><a href="http://www.pubs.royalsoc.ac.uk/bio_let_home_link_3.shtml">Original study: Effects of gm herbicide-tolerant cropping systems on weed seedbanks in two years of following crops</a>

EU Agricultural ministers could not reach an agreement to authorise DuPont herbicide resistant and Bt maize 1507 for import as animal feed and food. It will now be up to the Commission to decide and approve the variety. For the first time Denmark voted in favour of the approval.</p><p><a href="http://dbs.cordis.lu/cgi-bin/srchidadb?CALLER=NHP_EN_NEWS&ACTION=D&SESSION=&RCN=EN_RCN_ID:24462">Cordis: Agriculture Council fails to reach a decision on biotech maize</a></p><p><a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/09/21/gm_maize_impasse/">The Register: EU GM maize impasse favours DuPont</a>

At the 19 - 23 September meeting of the international WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius task force on biotech food attended by 263 delegates from 53 countries in Chiba, Japan no substantial progress on key issues such as labelling, food contamination with unapproved GMOs, genetically engineered animals and traceability. There is a lifely debate, which can be followed closely, even in life broadcast at the blogs below.</p><p><a href="http://iacfo.blogs.com/codex/biotech_task_force_2005_september/index.html">Life streaming and reports from the Coces meeting by IACFO</a></p><p><a href="http://martinjapan.blogspot.com/2005/09/codex-meeting-begins.html">codex blog by Martin Frid</a></p><p><a href="http://www.codexalimentarius.net/download/report/653/bt05_01e.pdf">Official agenda of the Codex task force</a>

EU environment experts failed to agree on authorising imports of a genetically modified maize hybrid on Monday. Representatives of 12 member states voted against authorisation, seven were in favour, five abstained and one member state was absent from the vote.The requested use for the maize, engineered by US biotech giant Monsanto, was for use in industrial processing.</p><p><a href="http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/32579/story.htm">Reuters</a></p><p><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000082&sid=a3B2XgigKm64&refer=canada">Bloomberg: EU Governments Block Approval of Monsanto Hybrid Corn Variety</a>