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November 2000

Golden Grains Of Hope - A Life-Saving, Genetically Altered Rice Gets Stuck In Politics
30/11/2000, The Knowledge Centre
1 million to 2 million children die every year because their diet lacks enough of a single nutrient, vitamin A. Since the Many of these children eat a diet based on rice, researchers figured out a way to manipulate the genes of rice so that it naturally produced more vitamin A, many of these children would live.

Monsanto Genetically Engineers Potato That Resists Common Fungus
28/11/2000, St. Louis Post Dispatch
Scientists at Monsanto Co. have genetically engineered a potato to resist a common fungal disease. The feat marks the first time researchers have been able to make fungus-defying potatoes by inserting a single gene. Other attempts produced potatoes that withstood fungal diseases in the laboratory, but not in the field.

Monsanto Chief Executive Outlines Commitments on New Agricultural Technologies In The 'New Monsanto Pledge'
27/11/2000, Monsanto
Monsanto Company President and Chief Executive Officer Hendrik A. Verfaillie today outlined the "New Monsanto Pledge" - principles in five key areas outlining Monsanto's policy for the development, use and stewardship of products of new agricultural technologies.

AS Biotech Crops Safe - Washington State University Scientist Says Biotechnology Need Not Be Feared
27/11/2000, Washington State University
International controversy over genetically modified crops threatens future advancements in biotechnology , said Washington State University plant pathologist R. James Cook. Cook, who has been studying wheat and barley root diseases for 35 years, said developments, such as new methods of preventing a root disease of barley, hang in the balance.

Transcript Internet Chat on November 8, 2000-"Making Safety The Key Ingredient Of Our Food-Introducing The European Food Authority Proposal"
22/11/2000, The European Commission
A live internet chat with David Byrne, Commissioner for Health and Consumer Protection.

Pest Resistance To Genetically Modified Cotton Not Seen
21/11/2000, UniSci
Results of a new study published in today's issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences may diminish fears about one of the potential pitfalls of genetically modified crops.Bt cotton has a gene transferred from the bacterium Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) that lets plants produce a natural insecticide, thus reducing reliance on sprays of chemical insecticides.

Blair Warns Against Anti-science Attitudes
20/11/2000, The Knowledge Centre
Prime Minister Tony Blair has warned GM food protestors, including the Prince of Wales, against an anti-science agenda. During a speech made at the European Bioscience Conference in London, Blair attacked "anti-science attitudes" and warned that the Government would not allow blackmail and physical assault to stand in the way of research. He also warned the public of the dangers of slipping into "anti-science" attitudes which could deprive Britain of the benefits of cutting-edge research and technology.

Speech By The UK Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, At The European Bioscience Conference
20/11/2000, 10 Downing Street
"This is to continue the series of speeches about the choices I believe Britain faces if it wants future prosperity for all. One such choice is investment in our future productive base. The vital part of such investment is science. Biotechnology is science's new frontier."

Meat, Milk And Eggs Are Safe From Livestock And Poultry Fed Biotech Crops, U.S. Scientists Say
14/11/2000, Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS)
Are the meat, milk and eggs from livestock and poultry fed genetically modified or biotech feeds, safe to eat? Yes, says the Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS), a federation comprising over 10,000 animal, dairy and poultry scientists. FASS scientists have reviewed all of the data available worldwide from research studies in which results have been published in refereed, peer-reviewed journal articles. These research results conclusively indicate that there is no effect of feeding biotech crops to livestock and poultry on the nutritional value or safety of meat, milk and eggs.

No Health Risk From Unauthorized Gm Ingredients In Tortilla Chips - Investigation Continues
14/11/2000, University of Guelph , Department of Plant Agriculture
The Canadian Food Standards Agency announced today that the levels of GM contamination alleged by Friends of the Earth to be present in tortilla chips are far too low to pose a danger to human health. The FSA made its announcement after receiving advice from its independent advisory committee, the Advisory Committee on Novel Foods and Processes (ACNFP).

Britain's Anti-Biotech Food Lobby Loses Some Bite
14/11/2000, Bridge News
Those campaigning in Britain against genetically engineered food could be forgiven for expecting the American Starlink corn episode to further their cause. The incident, however, seems to have been of limited value to them. British activists have not been falling over one another to preach their gospel that any food containing imported American corn is a health hazard. Or that this "escape" was proof positive that, once this biotech genie was out of the bottle, it was uncontrollable.

Poor Nations Can't Afford Debate On Gene-Altered Crops
13/11/2000, Christian Science Monitor
Recent world conferences on agricultural biotechnology have made it unmistakably clear that if governments foil the growth of this technology, mankind will be denied solutions to a host of problems that plague many nations, particularly in the developing world.

Address By David Byrne On The Precautionary Principle In The Domain Of Human Health And Food Safety At The Economist Conferences
9/11/2000, European Commission
"This topic is of major importance to the Community and it is in all our interests to foster a general understanding of this principle both within the Community and internationally. This conference therefore gives me an ideal opportunity to outline the Commissions view on the precautionary principle, its initiatives relating to the principle and other relevant activities."

Various Firms Are Beginning To Utilize Biotechnology
8/11/2000, Knight Ridder
For most of its 20-year history, biotechnology has focused on the workings of genes and proteins to cure and treat diseases. But the same tools used to slice and dice DNA in the search for new drugs are being adopted by all sorts of industries. Agricultural companies have turned to biotech to develop heartier crops. Food companies are experimenting with it to increase the nutritional content of rice. Chemical companies are exploring ways to make plastic out of corn.

Roundup Ready Corn - Alleged Detection By FOE: Q&A
7/11/2000, Monsanto
A U.K.-based anti-biotech group has claimed they have detected traces of Roundup Ready corn and DEKALB’s Bt-Xtra corn in tortilla chips in the United Kingdom and Denmark. These results have not been validated by the food companies involved nor by regulatory agencies in these countries.

Monsanto Calls On Friends Of The Earth To Provide Test Data Results For Public Validation
7/11/2000, Monsanto
Monsanto Company has called on Friends of the Earth to make available for validation the data and test methods used by its contract laboratory in alleging unapproved varieties of corn were present in specific food products. Monsanto's letter to Friends of the Earth in the United Kingdom followed calls by U.K. food companies for independent validation of the data at the heart of Friends of the Earth's allegations and the U.K. Food Standards Agency announcement that it intends to investigate the validity of the claims.

Speech By Mr David Byrne, European Commissioner For Health And Consumer Protection To The Conference On "Genetics And The Future Of Europe"
7/11/2000, European Commission
"I firmly believe that the only way to obtain societal acceptance of the application of genetics and biotechnology is to promote an open-minded dialogue between all stakeholders - such as scientists, industry, farmers and consumers."

African Trials Herald Biotech Food Revolution
4/11/2000, The Knowledge Centre
10-inch genetically modified sweet potato seedlings are being considered the “dawn of an agricultural revolution in Africa”. The sweet potato trials reflect a boom in biotechnology experiments across Africa which include: modified maize and other products which will combat livestock diseases.

Monsanto Commits Support For Food Companies And Farmers Following Activist Allegations
6/11/2000, Monsanto
Monsanto Company today promised full support to European food companies and regulatory agencies in response to unproven activist allegations about the corn in taco chips and is acting to protect markets for farmers and their grain. Hugh Grant, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Monsanto, also urged food authorities in the United Kingdom to obtain the data and samples used by an anti-biotechnology activist group, the Friends of the Earth.