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April 2000

Genetically Modified Foods
27/4/2000, The Irish Times
Opposition to GM crops is deeply misguided and may have disastrous consequences. By promulgating irrational fears and prejudices, it may thwart the potentially enormous benefits of this technology.

Biotech Battles
25/4/2000, Journal of Commerce
Washington and Brussels recently launched a regular exchange of scientific information and views on biotechnology. Over time, this could help to persuade the EU and member states that biotechnology should be regulated like any other industry - with an eye on the facts and not on baseless fears.

In Biotech, The European Tail Must Not Wag The American Dog
18/4/2000, ProBiotech
Interference from Europe's hypochondriacs threatens to cut short agricultural progress before consumers can enjoy its benefits. I, therefore, beg America to be on its guard against cross-fertilization by European hypochondria; it is the one piece of genetic modification that we do not require.

Global Warming May Make GM Food A Necessity
15/4/2000, The Journal
A scientist yesterday warned that genetically modified food could become essential if global warming plunges Britain into a cold Russian-style climate.

Liability Vote On GMOs Fails
13/4/2000, The Journal
Efforts to make producers of genetically modified foods legally liable for the results failed yesterday. Euro MPs rejected calls to impose responsibility on the makers for any damage done by genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to human health or the environment.

Smith Releases Report On Genetically-Modified Plants
13/4/2000, U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on Science Subcommittee on Basic Research Chairman Nick Smith (R-MI) released a report assessing the benefits and risks of genetically-modified plants and plant-derived foods, and recommending changes in federal regulation.

Europe Says Yes To Biotech
12/4/2000, EuropaBio
EuropaBio, the European Association for Bioindustries, welcomes today's vote by the European Parliament of the Revision of EU-Directive 90-220 on the deliberate release of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) into the environment.

G8 Summit To Ponder Plan For World Forum On Transgenic Food
11/4/2000, Agence France Presse
The Group of Eight (G8) summit in Japan in July will be asked to set up a global forum to help assess the safety and impact of genetically-modified foods. The proposal was announced Friday by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which has been asked by the G8 to help clarify the debate on transgenic foods.

Cancer Expert Says GM Crops Can Be Healthier (Summary)
10/4/2000, The Knowledge Centre
Sir Walter Bodmer, principal of Hertford College and one of Britain's leading geneticists, attacked Lord Melchett, the executive director of Greenpeace, for demanding that genetically modified crops be proven absolutely safe.

Rice Crop Research Agreement Is "Major Scientific Milestone"
6/4/2000, Eastern Daily Press
Scientists at Norwich Research Park have been given a major boost to undestand the genetic make-up of one of the world's key food crops. Scientists will be able to make faster progress in understanding the rice crop, which helps to provide almost half the world's food needs.

Terminology Key To GM Acceptance
5/4/2000, Farm Gate
Agribusiness must choose its words carefully when stepping into the fray over biofoods.The terminology has been over looked - it really is important to consumers how we refer to this.

Rice Genome Sequencing To Speed Up As A Result Of Sharing Public And Private Data
3/4/2000, John Innes Centre
The publicly funded International Rice Genome Sequencing Project (IRGSP) has announced today that it has reached an agreement that will give the IRGSP access to information and other resources, from the biotechnology company Monsanto, that will both accelerate and reduce the cost of its own programme.

Monsanto Rice Genome Sequencing Project
3/4/2000, Monsanto Company
Monsanto has produced the first "working draft" of the rice genome. This working draft provides the most extensive understanding of all 12 chromosomes of rice to date.