News

2014-01-13 | permalink

Tasmania Extends Ban on GM Crops Indefinitely

In a victory for the GMO Free movement in Australia the Tasmanian Government announced Thursday that it has extended the state’s ban on genetically modified crops and animals indefinitely.

• Sustainable Pulse: Tasmania Extends Ban on GM Crops Indefinitely
• The Advocate: Tasmania: GMO decision seen as boost to Tasmanian brand
• The Advocate: Tasmania: GM ban extension 'hurting producers'
• Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Tasmania: Genetically modified crop ban angers farmers

2014-01-13 | permalink

Hawaii: Agrochemical companies sue to block anti-GMO law

Three of the world's largest agrochemical companies have filed a lawsuit in Hawaii to block a law enacted on the island of Kauai in November to limit the planting of biotech crops and the use of pesticides.

• Reuters: Hawaii: Agrochemical companies sue to block anti-GMO law
• The Indian Express: Hawaii: A councillor's lonely fight for genetically modified crops
• Surfer Today: Hawaii: Surfers march against GM Organisms

2014-01-09 | permalink

USA: Grocery Manufacturers Want Foods with GMOs to Be Labeled as Natural

There was a time when food was food. You ate it and were glad of it. What could be more “natural” than that? But that was back in earlier times when most food came either from your own farm or from stores that bought food from nearby farms.

• Food Safety News: USA: Grocery Manufacturers Want Foods with GMOs to Be Labeled as Natural
• Bangkok Post: USA: Battle rumbling over GMO labeling

2014-01-07 | permalink

China continued rejecting and screening U.S. GM corn

China continued to reject corn cargoes from the U.S. that contained an unapproved genetically modified variety while accepting a first bulk-carrier shipment of the grain from Ukraine. The quarantine agency’s newest figure cited by Xinhua was 56,000 tons more than it announced on Dec. 19, showing the government’s continued screening of U.S. corn and and dried distillers’ grains, or DDGS, for the unapproved insect resistanr MIR 162 gene. Net corn sales to China from the U.S. in the seven days through Dec. 26 dropped by 116,000 tons from the previous week, according to a report on the website of U.S. Department of Agriculture.

• China Rejecting U.S. Corn as First Shipment From Ukraine Arrives - Businessweek
• China rejects more U.S. corn due to GMO -traders| Reuters
• China faces dilemma regarding genetically modified crops CCTV News - CNTV English
• Seed smuggling a 'serious threat' to national security, says Beijing | South China Morning Post
• MIR162 - GMO Authorisation in the EU

2014-01-07 | permalink

GM soy is not substantially equivalent to non-GM soy

Compositional differences in soybeans on the market: glyphosate accumulates in Roundup Ready GM soybeans

•Glyphosate tolerant GM soybeans contain high residues of glyphosate and AMPA.
•Soybeans from different agricultural practices differ in nutritional quality.
•Organic soybeans showed a more healthy nutritional profile than other soybeans.
•Organic soy contained more sugars, protein and zinc, but less fibre and omega-6.
•This study rejects that GM soy is “substantially equivalent” to non-GM soybeans.

• Compositional differences in soybeans on the market: glyphosate accumulates in Roundup Ready GM soybeans (Food Chemistry)