News
24.08.2007 | permalink
GMO moratoria in Australia: Two farmer groups supporting the GE canola moratoria
The BFA group, Australia’s largest representative body of more than 1700 certified organic farmers, has lodged a submission today to the SA, NSW & Victorian Governments reviewing the moratoriums prohibiting planting of genetically engineered (GE) canola. ”The BFA submission comprehensively makes the case for continuing the moratoria on the planting of GE crops in Australia”, said Scott Kinnear spokesperson.
Biological Farmers of Australia, Australia: GE canola moratoriums must stay
Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia: Organic farmers worry GM canola will be uncontrollable- Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia: Organic farming body warns against GM canola
- Network of Concerned Farmers, Australia: Farmers refuse to accept liability for GM crops
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia: Farmers group slams report that supports GM
- North Queensland Register, Australia: GM segregation big ‘unresolved concern‘
- North Queensland Register, Australia: Anti-GM lobby welcomes Esperance, WA, field trial
24.08.2007 | permalink
GMO moratoria in Australia: Campaigning for GE crops
State moratoriums for genetically modified organisms should be removed, according to National Farmers Federation president, David Crombie. Speaking at last week’s Rural Media of South Australia luncheon, he said Australia was missing out by not considering GMs.
- North Queensland Register, Australia: GM crops: Australia 'missing out'
- The Age, Australia: Why GMO is not such a dirty term
- Country News, Australia: Moratorium holding Victoria back: Broad
- Country News, Australia: Call to cancel GM ban
- The University of Melbourne, Australia: Why Australia‘s growers & the environment need GMO technology
- National Farmers‘ Federation, Australia: Farmers want State Govts to end GM moratoria
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia: SA farmers back GM canola push
24.08.2007 | permalink
GMO moratoria in Australia: Critical voices on the pro-GMO campaign
Most Australian states have started reviews of their 2004 GM Acts which carry a de facto moratorium on growing genetically modified (GM) crops. The pro-GM lobby has responded with an orchestrated campaign. [...] Australian State governments been caught up in a religious type rapture over biotech promises of silver bullets. They have become naïve investors seemingly unaware of biotech economic strategies. Industry lobbyists such the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA) and its PR arm the Australian Environment Foundation have egged them on.
- Eureka Street Magazine, Australia: Governments duped over GM food crops
- The Age, Australia: Food production must not be controlled by the few
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia: Gene Ethics group questions GM crops survey
- Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia: Anti-GM crops group rejects farmer benefit claims
- Biotechnology Australia, Australia: Accusations of push-polling in biotechnology poll unfounded and unjustified
22.08.2007 | permalink
Germany agrees draft rules for GMO crops
The German government on Wednesday agreed new draft rules for cultivation of genetically modified (GMO) crops, including a minimum buffer zone from conventional plantings. The cabinet approved a draft law from Agriculture Minister Horst Seehofer for local German rules for cultivation of GMO crops which the European Union has already authorised. Under the rules, there must be a 150-metre gap between GMO crops and conventional crops to prevent cross-pollination. A 300-metre gap must be kept from fields with organic crops.
22.08.2007 | permalink
Brazil first public sector GE crop is a herbicide tolerant soybean
The Brazilian Enterprise of Agropecuary Research (Embrapa) said Tuesday that it had developed Brazil’s first genetically modified soybean for commercial purposes with the world’s largest chemical company BASF. The transgenic soybean contains a gene of the plant Thale Cress, scientifically known as Arabidopsis thaliana, a member of the watercress and mustard family that is commonly grown in the lab. The gene provides the soybean with resistance to imidazolinone herbicide.
22.08.2007 | permalink
New Zealand‘s politicians pass GE buck on to communities
Northland mayors will grapple with the thorny issue of genetic engineering next week following news that communities will be liable for clean-up costs if GE crops contaminate the environment. Former Environment Minister David Benson-Pope said in a letter to the Whangarei District Council last month that persons affected by GE ’pollution’, not the ’polluter?, will pay for damages if genetically engineered crops contaminate natural crops or the environment. Far North Mayor Yvonne Sharp says news that landowners and local authorities will be liable for costs is a concern.
21.08.2007 | permalink
Update on GMO approvals in the EU
The U.S. biotechnology industry is awaiting this fall's deadline for Europe to speed up its approval of new biotech food and crops -- a process Washington has long complained is woefully slow -- in the hope of increased access to a major market. After a World Trade Organization ruling last year found "undue delays" in Europe's approval of biotech products, the EC has until November 21 to bring its system up to speed.
- Reuters: U.S. biotech industry awaits Europe approval speedup
- Reuters: No GMO from feed found in meat, eggs, EU agency says
- Northern Ireland Grain Trade Association, UK: EU decision will mean a significant increase in feed prices
- Belfast Telegraph: GM ‘vital for cheap food‘
- Roscommon Herald, Ireland: GM policy u-turn ‘could cost farmers dearly’
20.08.2007 | permalink
Update on GMOs in Finland
The Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners (MTK) said on Tuesday that wants voluntary labelling of food products to indicate any phases of the production chain in which genetically modified products have been used. The MTK has been pushed to make a statement on the use of GM animal feed ever since food producers LSO Foods and Lounais-farmi said earlier in the summer that they would start to import GM soybeans for use in pig feed.
- Helsingin Sanomat, Finland: Finnish farmers’ union wants labels on food indicating use of GM products
- Finnish News Agency, Finland: Finland‘s Anttila appeals for GM labelling
- Finnish News Agency, Finland: Finnish retailers‘ lobby slams voluntary GMO labelling
- Finnish News Agency, Finland: Most finns want GM meat labels -AL poll
- Finnish News Agency, Finland: Finland‘s Pekkarinen drops hint over GM-free meat labels
- Helsingin Sanomat, Finland: Genetically modified feed to be introduced to Finnish pig farms
- Finnish News Agency, Finland: Finland's LSO Foods faces GM demo
16.08.2007 | permalink
Portugal: Action against GM maize in Algarve
This year the first GMO field ever has been planted in the Algarve Region in Portugal and now meets civil disobedience action. There has been strong opposition from civil society against the cultivation of GMOs in the Algarve. As a result the Algarve was the first GMO free zone in Portugal declared by the Junta Metropolitana do Algarve already in 2004. Municipalities passed additional motions rejecting GM crops on their territory.
16.08.2007 | permalink
Famers declare Vancouver Island GMO free zone
At the general meeting of Farmers Institutes from across Vancouver Island in Cobble Hill, August 14th 2007 farmers bravely declared Vancouver Island (plus Powell River) a genetically modified free zone.
Headlines
- GMO moratoria in Australia: Two farmer groups supporting the GE canola moratoria
- GMO moratoria in Australia: Campaigning for GE crops
- GMO moratoria in Australia: Critical voices on the pro-GMO campaign
- Germany agrees draft rules for GMO crops
- Brazil first public sector GE crop is a herbicide tolerant soybean
- New Zealand‘s politicians pass GE buck on to communities
- Update on GMO approvals in the EU
- Update on GMOs in Finland
- Portugal: Action against GM maize in Algarve
- Famers declare Vancouver Island GMO free zone
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