2012-01-11 | permalink
Nepal’s Monsanto debate spotlights seed sovereignty
An effort by US donors and multinational agribusiness Monsanto to partner with Nepal to boost local maize production with imported hybrid seeds has met civil society opposition calling - instead - for home-grown solutions. ”If an organization like USAID [US Agency for International Development] wants to help us with a company like Monsanto, we would hope that they would help us to actually develop our own hybrids instead, not to import their foreign seeds,” said Hari Dahal, spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives
2012-01-09 | permalink
Latvia on the brink of complete ban of GE crop cultivation
More than 100 of the 110 municipalities (novads) of Latvia have decided that their land will be GMO-free by the end of 2012. Cultivation of GM crops will be prohibited on municipal land, according to Eric Leitis, senior consultant of the protection of species and habitats at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of Latvia. The 101 novads have adopted mandatory rules on the cultivation of genetically modified plants on their territory, including the five districts that already made this policy-move last year.
2011-12-30 | permalink
Rootworms may be resisting Monsanto’s GE corn toxins
One of the nation’s most widely planted crops - genetically engineered corn that makes its own insecticide - may be losing its effectiveness because a major pest appears to be developing resistance more quickly than scientists expected. [...] The hybrid was such a swift success that it and similar varieties now account for 65 percent of all U.S. corn acres - grain that ends up in thousands of everyday foods such as cereal, sweeteners and cooking oil.
But over the past few summers, rootworms have feasted on the roots of Bt corn in parts of four Midwestern states, suggesting that some of the insects are becoming resistant to the crop’s pest-fighting powers.
Washington Times, USA: Pests may be resisting modified corn’s toxins- Science News, USA: Bt: The lesson not learned
- KHAS TV, USA: BT corn farmers plan steps to protect crops
- The Daily Mail, UK: The billion-dollar pest: U.S. beetle is developing resistance to one of the most widely used genetically modified crops, say scientists
2011-12-29 | permalink
Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic monitors GM seeds
The Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic is concerned about genetically modified seeds being brought into the country by the multinacional Monsanto and the Eurosuministros company. These products, they say, affect the island’s genetic pool and create a monopoly that puts local farmers out of business. “As these organisms are modified they are not natural products. Biologically speaking, any modified product has an unknown effect on the organisms of humans, and of the animals that we eat, which are fed on this genetically modified material”, said Academy president Milciades Mejía.
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.
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
Unlabeled animal feed with genetically modified ingredients on sale in Bulgaria
Genetically modified animal feed without GMO labeling is being sold on the Bulgarian market, according to reports of the Public Environmental Center for Sustainable Development/ PECSD/ in Varna and environmental NGO ‘Za Zemiata’ (For the Earth). […..] A Varna-based laboratory concluded that five types of feed containing soybean meal produced in Bulgaria contain over 5% of GMO soy “RoundupReady Soya 40-3-2”, the Bulgarian Telegraph Agency (BTA) announced.
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.
2011-12-12 | permalink
Women farmers network oppose Bt eggplant trials in Davao City (Philippines)
SMALL organic farmers in Davao City hailed Mayor Sara Duterte’s stance in opposing the second round of Bt talong field testing in Davao City. Tranquilina Alibango of Kababaihang Nagtataglay ng Bihirang Lakas (KNBL), a network of women farmers in the city’s third congressional district, welcomed the city mayor’s move, saying it showed her commitment towards protecting the welfare of small organic farmers.
Die Internationalen Nachrichten sind ein Service von Save our Seeds
Newsletter bestellen
Monatsüberblick auf dt.
Der englischsprachige GM-Watch, einer der wichtigsten kritischen Informationquellen im Gentechnik-Bereich, gibt monatlich einen deutschsprachigen Rückblick auf die Geschehnisse weltweit raus.
News on this page
- Nepal’s Monsanto debate spotlights seed sovereignty
- Latvia on the brink of complete ban of GE crop cultivation
- Rootworms may be resisting Monsanto’s GE corn toxins
- Academy of Sciences of the Dominican Republic monitors GM seeds
- Azores (Portugal) declared GMO-free zone
- Monsanto spent $2 million lobbying U.S. government in Q3 2011
- Database on the risks of genetically engineered crop plants published
- Unlabeled animal feed with genetically modified ingredients on sale in Bulgaria
- Arkansas Supreme Court affirms $50M damage verdict for farmers with GE contaminated rice
- Women farmers network oppose Bt eggplant trials in Davao City (Philippines)
Unterstützen Sie GM Watch!
GM-Watch, eine der wichtigsten internationalen Organisationen zur Information im Gentechnik-Bereich braucht dringend finanzielle Hilfe, um weiterarbeiten zu können. Forum Umwelt und Entwicklung hat sich dazu bereit erklärt, Spenden aus Deutschland dafür zu sammeln, eine Spendenquittung ist möglich.
Konto: 260 11 999
Konto-Inhaber: DNR Umwelt & Entwicklung
BLZ: 370 501 98 Sparkasse Köln-Bonn
Verwendungszweck: GM Watch Weiter zur Webseite
