Save our Seeds

Unless stopped by a 2/3 majority in the second chamber of the Laender the revised German law adopted by the Bundestag in June would not make it easy to release GMOs for agricultural purposes in the future. Provisions on liability could stop farmers from using and companies from selling GM crops in Germany, according to the national farmers union as well as the insures association and major seed companies.</p><p><a href="http://www.bio-markt.info/index.php?action=,45,,31,33,,44,,_n191__">BIO-Markt.info: New German genetic engineering law and reactions</a></p><p><a href="http://www.biomedcentral.com/news/20040628/02/">The Scientists: German law may stifle science</a>

The Ministry of Agriculture in Brazil has published estimates of GMO soybean growing in the country for this years harvest. 4,2 of 51 mio tons are transgenic it says. 93% of the transgenic soybeans are grown in one province, Rio Grande do Sul.</p><p><a href="http://www.zs-l.de/saveourseeds/news/international/soya%20in%20Brazil%202004.pdf">soya in Brazil 2004.pdf</a>

A proposal of the EU Commission to allow Monsanto`s Bt maize NK 603 for consumption in Europe has been rejected by 9 member states and approved by another 9 states, four countries abstained at the meeting of Environment Ministers.</p><p><a href="http://www.euobserver.com/?sid=9&aid=16761">EU observer: Member states split on GM maize approval</a></p><p><a href="http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/news-NG.asp?id=53158">Food navigtator: Political pressure to influence Commission on GM food</a>

The EFSA has published a documentation about a "stakeholder consultation" on its draft guidance on risk assessment which unfortunately does not contain the comments made, but only the presentations of its own scientific committee. A new draft is expected in autumn.</p><p><a href="http://www.efsa.eu.int/consultation/483_en.html">E F S A Consultation on a draft guidance document for the risk assessment of GM plants and derived food and feed</a>

Spanish Environment Minister Cristina Narbona said the government would seek the advice of independent researchers about continuing with the country`s extensive cultivation of biotech crops.She accused the previous conservative government of authorizing a massive extension of genetically modified crops without waiting for scientists to reach a definitive opinion.</p><p><a href="http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1539&ncid=1539&e=3&u=/afp/20040622/sc_afp/spain_environment_biotech_040622160931">Yahoo! News - Spain to seek independent advice on biotech crops</a>

In 2002, Bt cotton was cultivated on 4.6 million hectares around the world, roughly 13% of the total cotton acreage. The FAO recently hailed its beneficial impacts for Chinese farmers. However, reports about its performance paint a contradictionary picture.</p><p><a href="http://www.grain.org/research/btcotton.cfm">GRAIN Agricultural research for whom?</a></p><p><a href="http://www.zs-l.de/saveourseeds/news/international/BT_cotton_links_06_04.rtf">List of available studies and reports on Bt-cotton</a>

The biotech industry`s promotional showpiece BIO 2004 has just finished in San Francisco. Here are two interesting reviews...</p><p><a href="http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/FF15Dj01.html">Asian Times - Biotechnology: Breeding hurdles and hype</a></p><p><a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3571917&thesection=news&thesubsection=general">New Zealand Times - Backlash curbs GM investment</a>

The EC has defended its policies on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in its first written submission in the dispute launched by the US against a 'de facto' EC moratorium on the approval and marketing of biotech products.</p><p><a href="http://www.ictsd.org/weekly/04-06-09/story4.htm">Bridges Weekly</a>

Biotechnology companies are getting worried that what they call "the European disease" of opposition to genetically modified food is spreading to the United States.Activists opposing genetic modification and a variety of other causes staged protests in San Francisco yesterday as 18,000 delegates gathered for the world`s biggest biotech conference, Bio 2004.</p><p><a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/businessstorydisplay.cfm?storyID=3571114&thesection=business&thesubsection=technology&thesecondsubsection=bio&thetickercode=">The New Zealand Herald</a>

DuPont Co., the largest U.S. corn-seed producer, agreed to buy Maxygen Inc.`s Verdia plant-sciences unit for $64 million to get a process for making herbicide-resistant crops and other genetically modified plants.</p><p><a href="http://www.oaklandtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,82~10834~2191952,00.html">Bloomberg News</a>