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Environmental activists have warned the European Commission against authorising the cultivation of new genetically modified crops in the EU, which could increase herbicide use by up to 15 times. According to a report commissioned by Greenpeace from agricultural economist Dr Charles Benbrook, the introduction of herbicide tolerant GM crops “would lead to substantial increases in the use of glyphosate and other pesticides, sharp increases in seed prices and the spread of corporate domination of food production”. The paper, published on 7 November, predicts increases of over 800% – up to 1,500% in the case of GM soy – in the use of glyphosate in the EU over 14 years (2012-2025) for herbicide-tolerant GM maize, soy and sugar beet.

Claims about drug carrying genetically engineered tomatoes should be treated cautiously. Researchers fed the GM tomatoes to mice as a small part of a Western-style high-fat, calorie-packed diet. The study has not been peer reviewed or published in a scientific journal but its findings are being promoted as a way to “reduce global epidemic of heart disease”. [...] according to the Daily Mail; “Researchers hope to mass produce the GM tomato so it can be eaten around the world”. Dr Fogelman is no stranger to cashing in on his research. Some years ago his private company (presumably something he runs during the evenings and days off from his University job) secured a $200 million dollar deal with Novartis for another application of peptides.

Farmer community in Gujarat has raised objection to the union agriculture minister, Sharad Pawar’s appeal to the state governments to permit field trials of genetically modified food crops. Farmer body, Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) has alleged that Pawar has colluded with the multi-national seed companies to act against the interests of the country’s farmers. “It is unfortunate that our union agriculture minister, who has the responsibility to ensure welfare of the farmers and achieve food security for the country, is pressing for field trials of GM crops despite the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture had recommended to stop all field trails,” said Ambubhai Patel, national secretary, Bhartiya Kisan Sangh.

Major food and seed companies appear to be on the verge of defeating a California ballot initiative that, if passed on Tuesday, would create the first labeling requirement for genetically modified foods in the United States. In a campaign reminiscent of this summer’s successful fight against a proposed tobacco tax in California, opposition funded by Monsanto Co, DuPont, PepsiCo Inc and others unleashed waves of TV and radio advertisements against Proposition 37 and managed to turn the tide of public opinion. [...] The swing in sentiment in the final weeks was predicted by pollsters, based on the power of a $46 million “No on 37” campaign, one of the best-funded for a California ballot measure fight.

The Andean nation is a small producer of soybeans compared with its giant agricultural neighbors, Brazil and Argentina, but output and exports of the oilseed have jumped in recent years due to improved crop yields and bigger plantings. [...] Virtually all Bolivian soy uses GM seeds and the law signed by Morales earlier this month has rattled growers in the lowland east, historically a bastion of opposition to the Aymara Indian president -- a vocal advocate of organic farming methods and Pachamama, which means Mother Earth in the Andes. The legislation, which former coca farmer Morales has called a means “to live in equilibrium and harmony with Mother Earth,” also calls for limits on the expansion of farming into new areas and assigns a spiritual value to land beyond its social and economic function.

Today at the usual Cabinet session the RA Minister of Nature Protection Aram Hartutyunyan presented to the Cabinet the project about the Genetically Modified Organism for an approval. Minister noted that the law has passed a long way. According to the suggested law the RA is recognized as GMO free zone. By the law, it is allowed to carry out activities only in isolated systems, for laboratory experiments only. [...] The Cabinet approved of the project.

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to ban open field trials on genetically modified crops despite a court-appointed expert panel recommending a 10-year halt on them. Hearing a public interest litigation filed by anti-GM food activist Aruna Rodrigues, a two-judge bench of the apex court instead invited views of all the stakeholders on the expert panel's report. Rodrigues had sought the court's intervention to stop the field trials until a new set of regulatory conditions is enforced, as suggested by the expert panel. Her lawyer Prashant Bhushan argued that a ban was necessary as open field trials in the current form could lead to contamination of indigenous species and loss of bio-diversity.

After losing a more than two-to-one lead from a month-long barrage of critical opposition TV ads, supporters of a genetically engineered foods labeling initiative have taken to the air. The Yes on Proposition 37 campaign on Thursday launched a TV blitz of their own, starting out in the Southern California and San Francisco Bay Area markets. The ads, which cost ”seven figures,” are expected to air statewide between now and the Nov. 6 election day, the Yes campaign said. ”We're in it to win it,” said Yes campaign spokeswoman Stacy Malkan. ”We believe that when people get the truth about what Proposition 37 is about, they'll vote yes.”

As supporters rallied in front of Los Angeles City Hall today, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting Prop 37, the Right to Know ballot measure that would label genetically engineered foods in California. [...] ”It's not often that the LA City Council votes unanimously to support a measure, but Prop 37 was a no-brainer. We have the right to know what's in the food we're eating and feeding our families,” said Councilmember Paul Koretz, the resolution's author. ”I'm proud to be a part of this true grassroots campaign in our struggle against the biggest pesticide and junk food companies in the world.”

All of this could begin to change on Election Day, when California’s Proposition 37 — which would require the labeling of most foods containing G.M.O.’s — goes to a vote. On Sept. 15, I wrote that “polls show Prop 37 to be overwhelmingly popular: roughly 65 percent for to 20 percent against, with 15 percent undecided.” But thanks to an infusion of big bucks by the opposition (led by Monsanto, DuPont and the Grocery Manufacturers Association), support for labeling is eroding. By some accounts the “no” advocates are spending $1 million a day, and a recent poll says the margin is now just 8 percent.