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October 1999

Letter To The Editor Of The Independent
28/10/99, Monsanto
Biotechnology has not given us crops that can tolerate higher doses of pesticides and weed-killer. Equally misleading is the suggestion that the "terminator gene" will force farmers to buy new seeds from their suppliers. "Terminator technology" doesn't even exist.

Biotechnology Will Profit The Poor More Than Anyone
27/10/99, International Food Policy Research Institute
The Sept. 17 Post editorial "Genetically Modified Confusion" accurately pointed out the misguided nature of much of the debate over agricultural biotechnology and genetically modified foods. A big part of the equation was mentioned only in passing, however: the effect of new agricultural technologies on the world's poor and hungry. Most of these people live in developing countries, and they stand to benefit more than anyone from biotech.

Monsanto Statement Regarding The Oct. 26, 1999, Proposal On BST By The European Commission
27/10/99, Monsanto
Despite the decision by the European Commission, Monsanto remains committed to providing new options and choices for farmers around the world, Barton said. The advantages of BST to dairy producers have been proven time and time again. The safety of BST has been reaffirmed in every country where it is currently sold and by international scientific review.

Biotech Can Help The Poor
25/10/99, Development News
A two-day conference on biotechnology wrapped up Friday in Washington with a strong sense of the enormous potential the new and fast moving field holds for alleviating global poverty. The conference, entitled Can Biotechnology Help?, was convened by the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and the US National Academy of Sciences.

'Super Rice' Set To Break Yield Barrier
25/10/99, Hindu Business Line
The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) is on the verge of developing a 'super rice', embodying a 25 percent genetic potential yield gain over the existing high-yielding varieties (HYV). The 'new plant type' of rice is being touted as the foundation breeding material for the next Green Revolution in developing countries.

Altered-Food Debate Cools Down In Britain
18/10/99, The Journal of Commerce
While the genetically modified crops issue has held the attention of the British public like a well-scripted soap opera for most of 1999, its popularity may be on the wane. It has had a superficially plausible and popular plot, several topical sub-themes, colorful characters, almost daily episodes and even cameo celebrity appearances. Entertaining though it has often been, the controversy has unfortunately tended to create more heat than light.

Lettuces 'Dressed With Illegal Level Of Pesticides'
18/10/99, The Evening Standard
Every time you eat a "healthy" green salad you could be ingesting a coktail of chemicals, according to a new report today. Researchers claim that more pesticides are applied to the humble lettuce than any other vegetable crop, with an average 11.7 applications in a year. London-based environmental consumer group Sustain found that the UK came bottom of a European league table with the worst record per capita of any country for the testing of pesticide residues.

Biotech Seeds Can Be Good For The World
13/10/99, The Rockefeller Foundation
Biotechnology is surely the most powerful tool ever put in the hands of agricultural research, or medical research, for that matter. But where scientists and development organizations see better health and nutrition for hundreds of millions, others see danger. There are some genuine concerns about corporate ethics and potential impacts on health and the environment. But many of the fears are imaginary or misplaced.

Monsanto Statement On Glyphosate
12/10/99, Monsanto Company
"Monsanto refutes absolutely today's story in the UK and Irish Independent newspapers, headed "Monsanto weedkiller 'wipes out beneficial insects'". Farmers, growers and gardeners can be assured that Monsanto will continue to support all the currently approved uses of glyphosate and at this time there is no reason why these should be amended."

Pontificial Academy For Life Pronounces On Biotechnology
12/10/99, Zenit
Bishop Elio Sgreccia, vice-president of the Pontifical Academy for Life and director of the Institute of Bioethics of the Sacred Heart University of Rome, explained that the research in the biotechnological field could resolve enormous problems as, for example, the adaptation of agriculture to arid land, thus conquering hunger.

Royal Society Rejects Latest Claims On GM Potatoes
11/10/99, The Royal Society
A paper apparently due to be published by Dr Pusztai and Professor Ewen in the Lancet examines the possible toxicity of genetically modified (GM) potatoes by measuring gut responses in rats fed with GM potatoes. The paper is based on experiments flawed in design and implementation and no conclusions can be drawn from it. The comments the Society published in May about alleged experimental evidence of toxic effects remain valid.

Monsanto Vows To Open Dialogue On Biotech Issues
7/10/99, Associated Press
The head of the U.S. Monsanto Co., Robert B. Shapiro, who earlier this week touched off a storm by pledging not to commercially develop so-called "terminator seeds" that leave plants sterile, pledged Wednesday to seek dialogue with environmentalists.