Archived News

January 2007

Results from the FAO Biotechnology Forum: Background and Dialogue on Selected Issues
30 January 2007 FAO
The specific needs expressed in the different conferences for capacity building activities in regulation of GMOs, in applying biotechnology in food processing and in the use of molecular markers for genetic improvement, convey a more general need for a comprehensive programme of capacity building activities in agricultural biotechnology for developing countries.

Brazil CTC to Start Field-Testing GMO Cane in Coming Weeks
30 January 2007 Dow Jones via Checkbiotech.org
Brazil's leading private sugarcane technology firm, CTC, is planning to begin field-testing three varieties of transgenic cane with high sucrose levels in coming weeks, after approval was granted last month by the country's biosafety commission, said the CTC on Monday.

Transgenic Success
30 January 2007 Business Standard
Despite entering the field late, India is making rapid strides in biotech cultivation.

Soybean Farmers Eager to Plant 2007 Crop
30 January 2007 Delta Farm Press
Varieties in the pipeline include beans that have insect protection, nematode resistance, drought tolerance, increased yields, dicamba herbicide resistance and high levels of Omega 3 fatty acids.

Oklahoma Gov. Proposes Biofuels Center
30 January 2007 AP via Forbes
Gov. Brad Henry on Tuesday proposed the creation of a world-class Oklahoma Bioenergy Center to develop fuels that would lessen the country's dependence on foreign oil.

Biotech Now Second Only to Pineapple
29 January 2007 Pacific Business News
After reviewing the newest statistics from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, local growers of designer gene crops are declaring that they have become the second biggest crop category in Hawaii.

Researchers Upgrade Ethanol Production
29 January 2007 United Press International
U.S. engineers have found a way to improve ethanol production, thereby helping ensure biofuels become a significant part of the U.S. energy supply.

Washington Lawmakers Considering Legislation for Biofuels Production Incentives
29 January 2007 San Diego Union Tribune
The incentives would go to farmers to grow crops like canola, and to various government entities to replace or retrofit big polluters like school buses.

South Africa: African Leaders Urged to Support Biotech
29 January 2007 BuaNews (Tshwane) via allAfrica
The co-ordinator of the West and Central Africa Programme for Bio-safety Systems (PBS) has urged African leaders to support the development of modern biotechnology, including genetically modified (GM) crops.

GM Canola Could Spell the End of Trans Fats
29 January 2007 The West Australian via Checkbiotech.org
Canola crops could be genetically modified to eliminate the arteryclogging trans fats partly responsible for WA’s emerging obesity crisis, according to a leading farm consultant and WA biotechnology experts.

Asia to Drive Growth of GMO Crops in Next 10 Years
29 January 2007 Reuters
Bt cotton increased the incomes of some 6.8 million farmers as it cut pesticide use by 60 percent, while raising yields by 10 percent compared with conventional varieties...

GM Crops May Reduce Greenhouse Gases
29 January 2007 New Scientist
If 4 million cars were taken off the road in a single year, stopping 9 billion kilograms of carbon dioxide being discharged, most environmentalists would whoop with joy. But what if the same saving came from planting genetically modified crops?

Biotech Crops Exceed $6-B Market Value in 2006
28 January 2007 The Philippine Star
The global market value of biotechnology crops in 2006 exceeded the $6-billion mark at $6.15 billion, registering a significant increase of almost a billion dollars over that of the previous year's $5.25 billion.

Schools Expand Biotech Education
28 January 2007 The Independent Tribune
Schools are working to create more awareness about biotechnology in preparation for the billion-dollar North Carolina Research Campus.

EU Farmers Losing Out in Biotech Revolution
26 January 2007 Food Navigator
European farmers are lagging behind the rest of the world in terms of access to agricultural biotechnology, according to the president of the European Federation of Biotechnology.

First GM Eggplant Soon to Be Commercially Grown in the Philippines
26 January 2007 The Philippine Star via Checkbiotech.org
Thanks to India, the Philippine vegetable industry will soon include genetically modified (GM) eggplant as one of the prized food crops.

One in Ten Million
26 January 2007 Truth About Trade & Technology
In its 2006 update report, the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) reported that the world is now home to more than 10 million farmers who plant biotech crops.

Biotech Crops to Help Reduce Poverty, Says Expert
25 January 2007 The Daily Times PK
The sowing of biotech crops will formally be launched in March-April this year in the country, and this will help the government not only ensure food security, but to reduce poverty as well.

See the Label, Dump the Trans Fat
25 January 2007 Des Moines Register
In the past several years, major crop seed companies including Pioneer Hi-Bred International and Monsanto Co. have increased the amount of acres of low-linolenic soybeans.

Premium for Vistive(TM) Soybeans Will Nearly Double to 55-65 Cents Per Bushel for 2007 Growing Season
25 January 2007 Monsanto
In response to 2007 market conditions, Monsanto and U.S. soybean processors are increasing the premium on grain harvested from Vistive(TM) low-linolenic soybeans. For 2007, growers will be able to earn a premium of 55 cents to 65 cents per bushel on Vistive soybeans -- nearly double the average 30-35 cent bushel premium offered in 2006.

Nobel Laureate James Watson Supports Applications of Recombinant DNA Technology in Agriculture
24 January 2007 Monsanto
Dr. James Watson expounds on his support for applications of recombinant DNA technology in agriculture in a brief and exclusive video made available today at the Conversations about Plant Biotechnology Web site.

GM Proves Pesticide Killer
24 January 2007 The Weekly Times
Genetically modified crops have delivered environmental benefits, put more money in farmers' pockets and helped combat global warming, a new report says.

Global Biotech Crop Cultivation Continues to Grow: Why Is Europe So Far Behind?
24 January 2007 BIO
Prof. Dr. Marc Van Montagu told journalists in Brussels that European farmers are lagging behind the rest of the world in terms of access to agricultural biotechnology.

APEC Forum Discusses Agricultural Biotechnology
24 January 2007 SeedQuest
Biotechnology, including genetic modification (GM), has the potential to provide farmers with significant benefits by cutting costs and increasing the ability of plants to cope with water stress, salinity, pests and diseases.

No Identity Crisis With GM Canola, Says ABARE Report
24 January 2007 SeedQuest
ABARE believed identity preservation costs with GM crops were modest and manageable

Bush Seeks Vast, Mandatory Increase in Alternative Fuels and Greater Vehicle Efficiency
24 January 2007 The New York Times
Vowing to reduce the nation’s thirst for foreign oil, President Bush called on Tuesday for a huge government-mandated increase in renewable fuels — mainly ethanol — and tougher mileage standards for cars and light trucks.

BIO and IICA Enter into Memorandum of Understanding to Promote Agricultural Biotechnology in the Americas
24 January 2007 Biotechnology Industry Organization
The Biotechnology Industry Organization and the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture today entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate for the continued adoption of agricultural biotechnology in the Americas as part of IICA’s Hemispheric Biosafety and Biotechnology Program.

Burkina Runs Out of Money to Pay Cotton Producers
24 January 2007 AFP via Yahoo!
In a bid to boost its production and lower costs, Burkina plans to start producing genetically engineered cotton this year, following conclusive tests launched three years ago.

Biotechnology Is the Key to Improvements in Soybean Varieties
23 January 2007 High Plains Journal
Monsanto is working to identify a biotech approach to increasing soybean yields. It is a very complex process that involves multiple genes.

S.Africa GMO Crops Soar by 180 Pct in 06/07 - Union
23 January 2007 Reuters S. Africa
South Africa's genetically modified crop area (GMOs) soared by 180 percent in the 2006/07 season to 1.4 million hectares, farm union Agri SA said on Tuesday.

Springtime for Ethanol
23 January 2007 The New York Times
In his State of the Union address, President Bush is expected to call for a huge increase in the amount of ethanol that refiners mix with gasoline, probably double the current goal of 7.5 billion gallons by 2012.

DA Says Sweet Potato, Cassava Good Biofuel Sources
23 January 2007 Government of the Philippines
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has accredited some sweet potatoes and cassava varieties as good sources for biofuels.

GM Technology Develops in the Developing World
23 January 2007 Science via Checkbiotech.org
The fruit of more than a dozen years of effort, these maize plants have been genetically altered to resist infection by the virus...it would be a milestone: the first-ever genetically modified (GM) crop developed by Africans for Africa.

The Precautionary Principle and the Future of Democracy
23 January 2007 The Sudbury Star
...GMOs help to prevent the starvation of millions of people. Putting an end to this technology would result in the exacerbation of the food crisis which is already overwhelming so many populations throughout the world.

Using Plants to Clean Up Soil
23 January 2007 Agricultural Research Service, USDA
Raising soil acidity to a pH level of 5.8 to 6 to help alpine pennycress absorb heavy metals from soil doesn't harm beneficial soil microbes, according to a recent study by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and cooperators.

BIO Says, President’s Major Biofuels, Climate Change Initiatives Are Game-Changing Solutions
23 January 2007 BIO
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today applauded President Bush’s far-reaching initiatives to catapult the U.S. biofuels industry into the next level of commercial development, to address climate change from transportation sources and to increase energy security.

Genetically Modified Chickens Lay Drugs in Eggs
23 January 2007 Reuters
British scientists have succeeded in producing multiple generations of genetically altered, or transgenic, hens that produce functional pharmaceutical proteins in the whites of their eggs.

Death to the Industry Conspiracy Theories!
22 January 2007 Food Navigator
Here we go again. Industry-sponsored studies into the nutritional benefits of food and drink products are biased. Don’t believe anything that has an industry sponsor.

GM Fears a Pile of Crop, says APEC
22 January 2007 The Herald Sun
The once scary concept of genetic modification could turn out to be a saviour for farmers struggling with the drought.

SA Accelerates Development of Cutting-Edge Biotech Research
22 January 2007 Engineering News
South African State research institutions and private-sector companies are forecast to spend R2,5-billion on biotechnology and genetic engineering research and development (R&D) over the next three years.

People, Cows Changing Face of Arizona Agriculture
22 January 2007 Western Farm Press
The two farmers say new cotton varieties containing the Bacillus thuringiensis genes have made a major difference in Arizona.

US Scientist Produces Vaccines from Genetically-Modified Plants
20 January 2007 Channel News Asia
An Indian-born US scientist has found a way to genetically engineer plants to make large amounts of certain vaccines.

Ten Years of Genetically Modified Crops in Argentine Agriculture
19 January 2007 ArgenBio
All of these aspects, when taken together, highlight the fact that the first decade of GM crops in argentine agriculture has been a period of large benefits, not only for the agricultural sector, but for the economy as a whole.

Mexican Farmers Seek OK for Genetically Modified Corn
19 January 2007 EEF via Checkbiotech.org
Mexican agricultural producers asked the government to allow them to plant genetically modified corn in response to the so-called "tortilla crisis," which has seen prices surge for one of the country's staple foods.

Scientists Identify Genes for Perfect Coffee Beans
19 January 2007 Food Navigator
Scientists from Brazil and France have moved a step closer to creating the perfect cup of coffee after identifying key genes that can affect flavour in the beans.

Ten Million USD Grant to Revamp Cornell Labs to Advance Biofuel Research
19 January 2007 Cornell University
To help advance technologies that convert perennial grasses and woody biomass to ethanol, Cornell professor of biological and environmental engineering Larry Walker will use a $10 million grant from the Empire State Development Corp. to upgrade Cornell's industrial biotechnology laboratories.

Global Biotech Area Surges Past 100 Million Hectares on 13 Percent Growth
18 January 2007 ISAAA
Farmers continued rapid adoption of biotech crops around the globe in 2006 driving multiple adoption milestones for the technology-enhanced crops that produce greater yields of food, feed, fiber and fuel, according to an annual report released today by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA).

GM Crops Soar to Over 250 Million Acres Worldwide
18 January 2007 Agricultural Biotechnology Council
22 countries - which are home to more than half the world’s population – planted 252 million acres of GM crops in 2006. Today’s figures, published by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA), also show that the global biotech crop area jumped by nearly 30 million acres (or 13%).

Global Acceptance of Agricultural Biotechnology Continues to Grow With Record Numbers of Farmers Planting Biotech Crops
18 January 2007 BIO
Global acceptance of biotech crops increased in 2006, with global biotech crop acreage reaching 252 million acres in 22 countries according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA).

An Analysis of McLean County, Illinois Farmers' Perceptions of Genetically Modified Crops
18 January 2007 AgBioForum
McLean County, Illinois farmers who had utilized GM crops in the past were more likely to be satisfied with the benefits of biotechnology as both producers and consumers than were their counterparts.

UK Scientists Downplay GMO Threat to Biodiversity
18 January 2007 Reuters
Fears that switching to genetically modified (GMO) crops could harm the habitat of wild birds, insects and other plants may be overblown, British scientists who have developed a forecasting model say.

Feds Freeze Out Antidote, Costing Billions
18 January 2007 TCS Daily
Farmers have only pathetically low-tech methods for preventing frost damage to their crops...The only possible high-tech solution, a clever application of biotechnology, has been frozen out by federal regulators.

'Health Check' for Farm Wildlife
18 January 2007 BBC
Using the framework, the scientists found that the introduction of genetically modified (GM) crops might have less of an impact on biodiversity than originally thought.

Alfalfa Value Focus of Current Round of Biotech Research
18 January 2007 Western Farm Press
Since the commercial rollout of Round-Up Ready alfalfa in August 2005, a survey by the University of Wisconsin comparing conventional products with Roundup Ready varieties yielded a one-ton yield advantage (per acre) with Roundup Ready alfalfa.

Achieving Peaceful Coexistence with Biotechnology Is a Goal of University of California Program
17 January 2007 University of California, Davis
Growing genetically engineered (GE) crops in the United States continues to stir debate, but some University of California scientists believe attention should now be focused on how farmers opposed to the technology and those in favor of it can step back from the controversy and successfully produce and market their crops in the way they personally see fit.

Spain Seen Producing 600,000 T Biodiesel in 2008
17 January 2007 Reuters via Checkbiotech.org
Spain should be producing 600,000 tonnes of biodiesel in 2008, based on the number of plants now under way, renewable energy association APPA said on Tuesday.

"Orange" Cauliflower Gene Eyed as Nutrition Booster
17 January 2007 Agricultural Research Service, USDA
Can a gene from an orange cauliflower found three decades ago be the key to making food crops more nutritious?

Coexistence Between GM and non-GM Maize Crops
17 January 2007 Journal of Agronomy & Crop Science
Levels of GM DNA in harvested grain resulting from outcrossing can be managed to levels below 0.9 %by simply planting 20 m of conventional maize as a pollen barrier between adjacent fields.

Energy Driving Yield Push; Yield Push Pushing Technology
17 January 2007 Farm Week
Biofuels development should prove a boon for the seed industry as well as for its customers.

Improving Crop Plants Through Genomics
16 January 2007 Agricultural Research Service, USDA
Today, PSNL scientists are building on Holley's legacy, applying genomics and related sciences such as proteomics and molecular genetics to improve the nutritional value of leading crops.

Why Do You Plant Biotech Seed? Labor a Key Driver, Economists Say
16 January 2007 Agriculture Online
Farmers have adopted biotechnology for a wide variety of crops, but for different reasons.

Producing Medicines In Plant Seeds
16 January 2007 VIB, Flanders Interuniversity Institute of Biotechnology
Researchers from the Flanders Interuniversity Institute for Biotechnology (VIB) at Ghent University have succeeded in producing in plant seeds proteins that have a very strong resemblance to antibodies.

We've Never Had It So Good
16 January 2007 Spiked Online
Such [GM] crops have fed 300million Americans and tens of millions of visitors to the country with no apparent ill-effects since 1996.

Bush Readies Speech on Climate Change
16 January 2007 Reuters via The Washington Post
U.S. President George W. Bush's annual speech to Congress next week is likely to call for a massive increase in U.S. ethanol usage and tweak climate change policy while stopping short of mandatory emissions caps, sources familiar with White House plans said on Tuesday.

Dangerous Wheat Disease Jumps Red Sea
16 January 2007 International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)
A new form of stem rust, a virulent wheat disease, has jumped from eastern Africa and is now infecting wheat in Yemen in the Arabian Peninsula

Genetic Mapping of Finger Millet
16 January 2007 International Journal of Plant Breeding Research
The construction of a finger millet genetic map, reported in this paper, is a first step toward mapping traits of agronomic importance and will ultimately help in trait transfer in breeding programs.

Corn Prices Surge to 10-year High
16 January 2007 BBC
Ethanol is an additive that can be combined with petrol and is billed as a more environmentally friendly fuel, as well as being easier to produce and therefore a more secure source of energy.

Importance of Genetically Modified Crops Underlined
15 January 2007 The Hindu
The promises of biotechnology include precision breeding for a specific quality, pest and pathogen resistance, elimination of hunger and sustainable farming methods.

Which Came First, the Chicken or the Drug?
15 January 2007 The Scotsman
A flock of chickens genetically modified to lay eggs that could help produce cancer-fighting drugs, has been bred by a team of Scottish scientists, it emerged yesterday.

Asian States Sign Key Energy Deal
15 January 2007 BBC
Leaders at an East Asian summit have signed an agreement to promote energy security and find alternatives to conventional fuels.

Biotech a Key to Ethanol Future
15 January 2007 Monsters & Critics
The biotech sector has been hard at work looking for the means of not only growing more corn per acre but also making it economically possible to turn other more-complex non-food plant materials into ethanol as well.

Splicing Genes for Safe Food
14 January 2007 The San Francisco Chronicle
Perhaps in the aftermath of the recent E. coli contamination of spinach and Taco Bell lettuce, the organic lobby will rethink its opposition to biotechnology.

The Organic Church Splits
13 January 2007 The Guardian
In British agriculture today some sensitive observers are beginning to detect the faintest seismic twitches in a religious cult that has thrived mightily in recent years.

Rural India Eyes Rs 7K-cr Windfall
13 January 2007 The Economic Times
The 9-odd million acres under Bt cotton is expected to add more than Rs 7,000 crore to rural India's income in 2006.

The Hybrid Solution
13 January 2007 The Economic Times
Price is not the issue with farmers who want better results and value for their produce. Farmers also sensed that this is the right technology to get more productivity and income, says Solanki.

Genetic Mapping of Finger Millet
12 January 2007 Crop Biotech Net
Four types of molecular markers were used to obtain the genetic map of the polyploid finger millet, an important cereal crop in East Africa and Southern India.

Technology Reduces Gossypol in Cottonseed
12 January 2007 Agricultural Research Service, USDA
Genetic technology developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and cooperators suggests that cottonseed could one day become a significant source of low-cost protein for the developing world.

Adoption of Bt Cotton in Pakistan
12 January 2007 The Nation
The use of biotech crops has significantly reduced pesticide usage while increasing yields. The impact of economic benefits can be gauged from the fact that their farm incomes have increased to the tune of US$ 27 B in crops such as cotton, corn and soybean.

Major Boost for Biofuels Sector
12 January 2007 Farmers Weekly
More biofuels will be used in road transport in future, under new EU Commission proposals to increase the minimum inclusion rates and make them compulsory.

Vietnam: Genetic Engineering Necessary for Nation’s Socio-Economic Progress
12 January 2007 Viet Nam News via Checkbiotech.org
While the world was still hotly debating genetic engineering in crops and animals, Viet Nam considered this evolving field indispensable for social and economic progress, experts said.

Agricultural Biotechnology Has Given Argentina a 20 Billion Profit
12 January 2007 Crop Biotech Net
Total benefits generated by all three GM crops were estimated, based on results from a mathematical simulation model...on excess of 20 billion US dollars.

Technology Reduces Gossypol in Cotton Seed
12 January 2007 Agricultural Research Service, USDA
Genetic technology developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and cooperators suggests that cottonseed could one day become a significant source of low-cost protein for the developing world.

Rice Growers Need Steady Supply of New Varieties
12 January 2007 Delta Farm Press
A continuous supply of new rice varieties is crucial to the survival of the industry in Louisiana as old varieties become susceptible to disease or just plain lose their production spunk with age.

No-Till, Rotation Play Key Roles for SW High Cotton Winner
11 January 2007 Delta Farm Press
Evans says biotechnology makes no-till feasible and helps him avoid the kind of wreck he had that first year.

New Pinto Bean Resists Viral Diseases
11 January 2007 Agricultural Research Service, USDA
"Quincy," a hardy new pinto bean, could give growers and breeders added insurance against attack by the bean common mosaic virus (BCMV).

America's Next Top Spud
11 January 2007 York Dispatch
Inside tucked-away labs in this town built by french fries, teams of scientists are splicing potato genes, working daily to perfect Idaho's top cash crop with modern biotechnology.

GM-crops Issue Ripe for State in Drought Mode
11 January 2007 The Advertiser via AgBioWorld
We cannot afford the indulgence of ignoring GM crops. Gene technology provides the opportunity of producing crops that can be grown much more efficiently in drought areas.

Broccoli Genes Uncovered
11 January 2007 Fresh Info UK
The Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council has awarded almost £500,000 to a team at Warwick HRI to identify genes in broccoli to extend its shelf-life and maintain its nutritional value for longer.

Monsanto Making Changes in Response to Farmers' Pleas
11 January 2007 St. Louis Post Dispatch
Monsanto Co., which is buying the nation's largest cottonseed company, on Wednesday announced several programs meant to please cotton farmers.

Ag Processing Inc. Expands VISTIVE Low-Linolenic Soybean Program
11 January 2007 Ag Processing
Ag Processing Inc a cooperative announced Jan. 8 that it has expanded processing of VISTIVE™ low-linolenic soybeans to six of its nine soybean processing plants for 2007.

Monsanto Outlines New Commitments to U.S. Cotton Producers
10 January 2007 Monsanto
Monsanto announced yesterday at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences that it is undertaking several initiatives in 2007 to build on its commitment to U.S. cotton producers.

Wheat Can Fatally Starve Insect Predators
10 January 2007 Purdue University
A newly identified wheat gene produces proteins that appear to attack the stomach lining of a crop-destroying fly larvae so that the bugs starve to death.

Texas A&M Chair, Fellowship Named in Honor of Norman Borlaug
10 January 2007 Texas A&M University
Texas A&M University Agriculture and Monsanto Company have announced the creation of the Borlaug-Monsanto Chair for Plant Breeding and International Crop Improvement.

How Biotechnology Can Help Farmers to Power Ahead
10 January 2007 The Scotsman
Britain'S fledgling bioenergy market has been given a substantial shot-in-the-arm as a result of two major research projects.

Divergence, Monsanto Extend Collaboration to Develop Nematode-Resistant Soybeans; Announce Accomplishment of Milestone
10 January 2007 Divergence
Monsanto Company and Divergence, Inc. announced today an extension to their ongoing collaboration agreement to develop nematode-resistant soybeans, as well as the accomplishment of a key initial milestone.

Corn Farmers Seek Alternate Fuel Source
10 January 2007 AFX via ABC Money UK
Scientists are developing ways to turn crop residues such as corn stover into ethanol, and demonstration plants could begin using such materials within the next year, experts said Tuesday during a conference at South Dakota State University.

Argentina Posts $20 Bln Revenue from GM Crops Since 1996
10 January 2007 El Mostrador via Checkbiotech.org
Argentina has posted a cumulative revenue of about $20 bln (15.37 bln euro) from genetically modified (GM) crops since 1996, according to a report of Argentina's council for biotechnology ArgenBio.

Promoting Biofuels as Credible Alternatives to Oil in Transport
10 January 2007 Financial Mirror
With the significant rise in oil prices and the growing concern about stable, secure and environmentally friendly energy supplies, the promotion of biofuels use in transport is a priority on the European political agenda.

The Truth About Organic Food
09 January 2007 Spiked Online
It's not healthier or Greener, and it's incapable of feeding the world. So why is it back in fashion?

Plants Point the Way to Coping with Climate Change
09 January 2007 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Scientists studying how plants have naturally evolved to cope with the changing seasons of temperate climates have made a discovery that could help us to breed new varieties of crops, able to thrive in a changing climate.

NSF Provides $14 Million to Advance Research in Comparative Genomics of Economically Important Plants
09 January 2007 National Science Foundation
Scientists will find improved ways of studying the structure, function and evolution of the genomes of economically important plants, thanks to $14 million in new awards from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

£13M to Harness Science for Better Crops
09 January 2007 Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
The UK’s primary public funder of bioscience research has today (9 January) announced over £13M of research projects to turn ideas from excellent basic plant science into practical applications to benefit the UK’s farmers and consumers.

Transgenic Corn Provides Economic and Environmental Benefits to Spanish Farmers
09 January 2007 Monsanto
Transgenic insect-protected corn is enabling farmers in Spain to successfully manage against the damage from the European corn borer, which causes annual yield losses of 5 to 15 percent.

South Africa Considers Biofuel for Renewable Energy
09 January 2007 SciDev.Net
The South African cabinet has approved an ambitious biofuels industrial strategy, announced the Department of Minerals and Energy this week.

Production of Recombinant HIV-1 Antigen in Transgenic Tobacco
09 January 2007 Information Systems for Biotechnology
Transgenic plants have emerged as a promising technology to create recombinant biopharmaceutical proteins and vaccines. They offer a spectrum of exclusive advantages, and so their potential to be used as bioreactors for the production of therapeutic molecules is a current area of research intensively explored.

We Cannot Afford to Become a Part of the Flat-Earth Brigade
08 January 2007 The Scotsman
Vast areas of soya and maize are grown in South America, the US, India and China with no apparent harmful side effects. Europe is being left behind in developing the technology and the crops specifically suited to a largely temperate climate.

Plant 'Vaccines' May Combat Viruses in Crops
08 January 2007 Rockefeller University
Plants might not get colds, but they do get viruses — and viral diseases in crops cause enormous economic damage each year. New research, however, suggests that plant “vaccines,” developed at Rockefeller University, may be a new way of helping fend off viral attackers.

'No Proof' Organic Food is Better
07 January 2007 BBC
There is no evidence organic food is better than food grown conventionally, minister David Miliband has said.

Studies on Feeds from Genetically Modified Plants (GMP) - Contributions to Nutritional and Safety Assessment
07 January 2007 Animal Feed Science & Technology - Vol. 133(1-2) , pages 2-30
In agreement with more than 100 animal studies available to date, results show no significant differences in the nutritional value of feeds from GMP of the first generation in comparison with non-GMP varieties.

Pakistan to Release Insect-Resistant Cotton Variety
07 January 2007 The International News
Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (MINFAL) is planning to release first home-grown insect-resistant Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) cotton variety during next sowing season to maximise the production of cotton crop for domestic needs and exports.

Paper-Eating Bacteria Fuel
06 January 2007 Scenta UK
A University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (UWM) professor recently assisted the US Department of Energy (DOE) to find another source for ethanol by analysing the DNA of a bacterium that can break down cellulose.

Scientists Develop Method to Find Genetic Basis for Plant Variation
06 January 2007 Purdue University
A new research approach that allowed scientists to rapidly identify the gene responsible for high sodium levels in certain naturally occurring plant populations could have applications for the study of a wide variety of other important plant properties.

Biotechnology Will Help Meet Demand for Food and Fuel, BIO Says
05 January 2007 BIO
Biotechnology is helping American farmers continue to supply an economic, environmentally sustainable supply of food and raw material for biofuels.

How Journalism Can Hide the Truth About Science
05 January 2007 SciDev.Net
Senegalese science writer Armand Faye says it's because the subject matter of science is so complex. "Most of my time is spent on making science understandable and exciting for my audience. I think this is a big distraction from reporting on the process of science."

Engineering Dehydration-Stress Tolerant Plants
05 January 2007 Crop Biotech Net
They also predict that in the future, stress inducible promoters, RNA interference (RNAi) technology, and transposable elements will help produce better transgenics with abiotic stress resistance.

Genomic Studies Reviewed
05 January 2007 Crop Biotech Net
The availability of high throughput approaches combined with automation, the rapid increase in sequence data in the public domain, and good expertise and tools in the area of bioinformatics has made it possible for genomics to increase the efficiency of breeding.

IFP Launches Bioeconomy Policy Agenda
05 January 2007 Crop Biotech Net
The International Futures Programme (IFP) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has launched a two-year project on “The Bioeconomy to 2030: Designing a Policy Agenda”.

Canada and India to Collaborate on Agriculture and Biotechnology Information Exchange
05 January 2007 Government of Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada's New Government has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with India to extend scientific collaboration in exchanging technology and expertise and in conducting research.

Monsanto Reports Customer Satisfaction with YieldGard Plus and Roundup Ready Corn 2 Technologies
05 January 2007 Monsanto
Roundup Ready® Corn 2 and YieldGard® Plus Corn both received high marks in a 2006 grower survey, with over 90 percent of surveyed farmers saying they were satisfied with the biotech corn products and the performance these corn traits were demonstrating on their farming operations.

Monsanto Reaps Profits While More Acres Switch To GMO Corn
05 January 2007 Dow Jones via Nasdaq
Monsanto Co.'s first-quarter net income increased 53% as more farmers used its genetically modified corn seeds and Roundup weed killer, the company reported Thursday.

Democrats Hope to Take From Oil, Give To Green Energy
04 January 2007 The Washington Post
House Democrats are crafting an energy package that would roll back billions of dollars worth of oil drilling incentives, raise billions more by boosting federal royalties paid by oil and gas companies for offshore production, and plow the money into new tax breaks for renewable energy sources, congressional sources said yesterday.

Corn Seed and Traits Business, Roundup Business Drive First-Quarter Sales For Monsanto Company
04 January 2007 Monsanto
We remain focused on delivering the next generation of innovation to the farm by offering our farmer customers meaningful seed and trait technologies. Our results in the first quarter are testament to this commitment and the value our products are providing farmers. Backed by the solid performance of our seeds and traits business including strong early demand for our triple-trait corn technology in the United States, we believe our business is on track for another strong year.

"BioAsia 2007 Thailand" Expects to Attract Over 15,000 Visitors Worldwide
04 January 2007 BioAsia 2007 Thailand
Over 5,000 visitors and another 2,000 biotech experts and seminar attendees are expected to participate at "BioAsia 2007 Thailand."

How Stress Could Help Save the World’s Plants
04 January 2007 The Herald
Scientists who have discovered how plants can get stressed and can fight off viruses and believe they hold the key to preventing millions of pounds of crops being destroyed by disease worldwide.

Monsanto Sees Tremendous Progress In R&D Pipeline
04 January 2007 Monsanto
Monsanto Company reported on a remarkable year in research-and-development (R&D) advancements, highlighting progress across both its biotechnology and breeding platforms.

Monsanto Reaps Profit on Corn, Tax Cut
04 January 2007 MarketWatch
Monsanto Co.'s first-quarter net income increased 53% as more farmers used its genetically modified corn seeds and Roundup weed killer, the company reported Thursday.

New Technology from Plant Bioscience Ltd.: John Innes Centre Scientists Develop Revolutionary Tool to Predict Heterosis in Hybrid Crops
04 January 2007 SeedQuest
Prof Ian Bancroft and colleagues at The John Innes Centre, UK (JIC) have developed a revolutionary new method to predict heterosis. The method can be used to accurately predict hybrid vigour for a range of important crop performance traits, including yield.

Grant Scheme Gives Biomass Market a Boost
04 January 2007 Farmers Weekly
England’s fledgling biomass market has been given a helping hand with the launch of a capital grant scheme from Defra.

Thought for Food
04 January 2007 The Times
Organic farming, for example, demands a far larger area of land if it is to produce anything like the yield that modern agricultural techniques realise. This has an adverse environmental impact.

Monsanto Sees New Genes, New Products in Pipeline
04 January 2007 AP via The Washington Post
Crop biotechnology company Monsanto Co. (MON.N), said on Thursday its research and development of new products is accelerating at a record pace, with a range of genetically altered crop enhancements on the horizon.

GM Cost 'Manageable'
03 January 2007 The Weekly Times AU
The costs of separating genetically modified canola from conventional crops would be "modest and manageable", a new federal study shows.

Crops Mutated in Outer Space
03 January 2007 Shanghai Daily
China's latest "agricultural revolution" isn't taking place on farmland around the country - it is being conducted in outer space.

Stars Must 'Check Science Facts'
03 January 2007 BBC
Celebrities have been asked to check their facts before lending support to scientific research and campaigns, rather than risk misleading people...The group has listed statements made by stars on topics such as organic food, pesticides and ways to avoid cancer.

GM Cost 'Manageable'
03 January 2007 The Weekly Times AU
The costs of separating genetically modified canola from conventional crops would be "modest and manageable", a new federal study shows.

Healthier Oil Made from Local Soybeans
02 January 2007 The Star Press
Monsanto reported in August that Vistive soybeans were growing on 500,000 acres in the Midwest, with distribution expected to increase to 1.5 million to 2 million acres in 2007.

Drought Resistant Grain Crops Provide Hope for Farmers
02 January 2007 Infarmation
Farmers may soon be able to increase grain profitability with the recent discovery of drought-resistant genes in crops by scientists at the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.

Corn May Top 10-Year High, Soybeans Rise on Fuel Use
02 January 2007 Bloomberg
Corn futures in Chicago may rise above a 10-year high and soybeans may extend a rally as demand increases for alternative fuels made from crops.

Shifting Seed Industry Relies on Public Cotton Breeding Programs
02 January 2007 Southwest Farm Press
Biotechnology is clearly making a big impact in the marketplace as dozens of new cotton varieties have become available in the last few years. What many fail to understand is that the potential for biotechnology to radically change the way cotton varieties are developed is still years away from being fully harnessed.

Healthier Oil Made from Local Soybeans
02 January 2007 The Star Press
Monsanto reported in August that Vistive soybeans were growing on 500,000 acres in the Midwest, with distribution expected to increase to 1.5 million to 2 million acres in 2007.

Drought Resistant Grain Crops Provide Hope for Farmers
02 January 2007 Infarmation
Farmers may soon be able to increase grain profitability with the recent discovery of drought-resistant genes in crops by scientists at the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries.

GM Cows Could Protect Beef-Eaters From the Risk of vCJD
01 January 2007 The Times
Cattle lacking the prion protein, which malfunctions to cause "mad cow" disease, have been created by scientists in an experiment that suggests that animals can be genetically modified to be resistant to the devastating brain condition.