News
2012-08-06 | permalink
Monsanto loses to beekepers of Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico)
Beekeepers have succeeded in preventing, through two suspensions obtained in amparo (specialized protection), the seeding of transgenic soy for 253,500 hectares in Campeche, Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Tamaulipas, San Luis Potosi, Veracruz, and Chiapas. 59 organizations of beekeepers, environmentalists, and NGO´s have maintained that the amparos (or protections) granted by the second district court of Campeche, are setting a precedent to continue demanding the definitive suspension of permits that have been issued by SAGARPA to Monsanto. The organizations added in their press release communication that they will not cease in their fight for production that is free of transgenic interference.
The Yucatan Times, Mexico: Monsanto loses to beekepers of Yucatan Peninsula2012-08-06 | permalink
Monsanto’s GE sweet corn hits stores unlabeled, but Wal-Mart isn’t worried
It’s genetically modified sweet corn from the biotech giant Monsanto, engineered to resist a common herbicide and certain pests. The arrival of the crop’s first harvest has alarmed consumer groups and activists who say genetically modified foods may pose environmental and health risks. In recent months they have urged major retailers to avoid Monsanto’s sweet corn, prompting Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and General Mills to pledge not to sell or use it. But this week the world’s largest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., confirmed to the Tribune that it would not restrict sales of the genetically modified corn in its stores.
2012-08-02 | permalink
South Africa’s food safety compromised by lack of testing for risky glyphosate
The African Centre for Biosafety has today released its new study titled, ”How much glyphosate is on your dinner plate? SA's food safety compromised by lack of testing.” This study highlights numerous risks posed by the herbicide glyphosate to human and animal health as well as worrying regulatory failures, particularly in relation to the monitoring, inspection and testing of food for glyphosate residues. South Africans consume glyphosate ridden food on a daily basis: currently, 77% of maize grown in South Africa is genetically modified and of this 54% (about 1 million hectares) is modified to be glyphosate tolerant. Soya products on our market suffer the same fate: all of the GM soya planted in South Africa is tolerant to glyphosate, planted on 480 000 ha.
2012-08-01 | permalink
Alarm raised on field testing of GE Golden rice in the Philippines
A very low-key field testing of genetically modified ”Golden Rice” in two Camarines Sur towns has stirred debate between organic farmers and farming advocates and those conducting the tests. Representatives of Magsasaka at Siyentipiko para sa Pag-unlad ng Agrikultura (Masipag) and CamSur Organic Agriculture and Industrial Development Inc. (Camsoaid) raised alarm over the field tests, saying the genetically modified rice variety could contaminate traditional rice varieties in farms near the testing sites in the towns of Pili and Tigaon. [...] Dr. Antonio Alfonso, plant molecular biologist and head of Philippine Rice projects to test GMOs [...] said grains of Golden Rice were planted on a 950-square-meter area each in Pili and Tigaon last March and were harvested in June yielding about three sacks of grains per field test area. He said samples were taken for further study. Most of the harvest, he said, was destroyed.
2012-08-01 | permalink
Philippine GE crop trials will continue despite court challenge
Field trials and commercializing genetically engineered crops to address food security and raise farmer income will continue to be pursued by the government, an official said. Dr. Candida B. Adalla, the Department of Agriculture's biotech program head, also noted in a forum here last week that by integrating technology such as genetic engineering in farming, crops can be improved, become pest-resistant, adapt to climate change and could become nutritious. [...] Despite the Writ of Kalikasan case filed against her group, a court relief to protect the environment, Ms. Adalla shared that the Agriculture department will not stop field trials on genetically engineered crops pending a stay order.
