News
Archives

September 2000

'Ignorance' Of Greens Berated By Scientist
28/9/2000, Knowledge Centre
Independent scientist James Lovelock, 81, who is revered by Green groups, has attacked them today for their stance on nuclear power and GM food. Lovelock, who is best known for his Gaia theory and the many environmental prizes he has won, said: "Too many Greens are not just ignorant of science, they hate science."

GM Crops' Risk
25/9/2000, Genetic Modification
and Biosafety Research Group
The debate about GM and non-GM crop segregation is principally about a mechanism that enables society to benefit from future advances in biotechnology in the UK and internationally, while safeguarding choice - choice for farmers to grow and consumers to buy different kinds of crops.

EPA Report Finds Biotech Crops Have Little Impact On Monarch Butterflies
22/9/2000, Biotechnology Industry Organisation
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reaffirmed Wednesday that a review of all available scientific information indicates that monarch butterflies are at very little risk from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn products, contrary to widely published reports. EPA further found that "In fact, some authors are predicting that the widespread cultivation of Bt crops may have huge benefits for monarch butterfly survival."

Researchers Say Consumers Shouldn't Be Too Concerned
19/9/2000, Associated Press
Consumers should not be too worried over reports of an unapproved biotech corn found in Taco Bell taco shells, a New Mexico State University plant genetics researcher says. "Although I do think the protein in question should not be available to consumers until studies are finished and clearly demonstrate it is not allergenic, I also think this whole thing is a bunch of hype coming from environmental organizations looking for some reason to protest biotechnology," Kemp said.

GM Crops 'Good For Wildlife And Yield'
12/9/2000, Knowledge Centre
A new generation of genetically modified crops could be a key to richer wildlife and efficient food production on British farms, a leading scientist said.

Vaccine In GM Fruit Could Wipe Out Hepatitis B
8/9/2000, Knowledge Centre
Tomatoes and bananas genetically modified to contain hepatitis B vaccine could rid the world of the virus, a leading American scientist said in London yesterday. This new development will save hundreds of thousands of lives a year, said Charles Arntzen, the scientist who developed the technology.

Princess Calls For Open Mind On GM
7/9/2000, Knowledge Centre
Princess Anne said in her presidential address to the British Association science festival in London that there was "great potential for improving people's lives". She cited varieties of GM rice that had been enriched with iron and the precursors of vitamin A, which could play a role in compensating for deficient Third World diets.

Statement From Monsanto In Response To GeneWatch Press Release 04/09/00
4/9/2000, Monsanto
The document referred to in the GeneWatch press release is a confidential internal Monsanto document which provides internal communications of our regulatory and scientific outreach activities in various countries for the months of May and June 2000. The summary demonstrates the extensive effort that Monsanto invests to ensure that we comply with the stringent and evolving regulations and regulatory requirements for every Monsanto product around the world.