News
2011-12-28 | permalink
Azores (Portugal) declared GMO-free zone
The regional government of the Azores archipelago on the mid-Atlantic ridge has declared it is a Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) free zone. As such, the region “prohibits the growing, sowing, planting nor breeding of any GMOs throughout its territory”. The regulation still permits exceptions for scientific research and technological development that are clearly in the public’s interest.
The Portugal News, Portugal: Azores declared GMO-free zone2011-12-27 | permalink
Boulder County (USA) anti-GMO activists look ahead to 2012
Conrad Lattes, an attorney for the open space department, told the Food and Agriculture Council, which took up the GMO issue in November, that residents could not force a referendum on their own. “If the county commissioners desired to put that question to the people in a referred measure, they could do that,” he said. “If they do not want to put that question to the voters, that issue could not be initiated by the citizens.” But some in the anti-GMO movement have resolved to make the planting of genetically engineered crops a platform issue for commissioner candidates next year. Two of the three county commissioner seats will be up in 2012.
2011-12-20 | permalink
Monsanto spent $2 million lobbying U.S. government in Q3 2011
Monsanto Co. spent $2 million in the third quarter to lobby the federal government on issues including regulations for genetically engineered crops and patent reforms, according to a recent disclosure report. [...] The company lobbied the Congress and the Department of Justice on issues surrounding agricultural consolidation and antitrust enforcement.
2011-12-20 | permalink
Database on the risks of genetically engineered crop plants published
Testbiotech is today publishing a database designed to give an overview of the risks associated with genetically engineered plants allowed for marketing in the European Union, or being about to be authorised soon. The current version of the database, called PlantGeneRisk, gives an overview of thirteen genetically engineered crops, four soy plants and nine maize plants. Ten of these plants already have EU authorisation for use, import and usage in food and feed, one of them is also allowed for cultivation.
2011-12-13 | permalink
Arkansas Supreme Court affirms $50M damage verdict for farmers with GE contaminated rice
The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday affirmed a nearly $50 million verdict for farmers who say they lost money because a company’s genetically altered rice seeds contaminated the food supply and drove down crop prices. Bayer, the German conglomerate whose Bayer CropScience subsidiary produced the seeds, had argued that Arkansas tort laws set a limit on punitive damages and that courts should set aside jury awards that “shock the conscience.” In the April 2010 verdict, a Lonoke County jury awarded $42 million in punitive damages and $5.9 million in actual damages.
