The scientific and policy debate on the potential benefits and risks of biotechnologies remains polarized. As more genetically modified crops, insects, and fish are developed, the 2000 Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on Biological Diversity provides a forum to monitor developments and address risk assessment and risk management …
Farmers in Makueni last week got a chance to ask questions and voice their concerns on genetically modified maize that could be released to farmers in one or two years time if approved. This follows an application for the approval of GMO maize by the Kenya Agricultural Research and Livestock …
The National Biosafety Authority (NBA) has stepped up checks at the country’s entry points to stop the illegal entry of Genetically Modified Foods (GM Food). This follows concerns GM foods including rice and soya oil are being imported into the country without approval. Some GM foods produced in America are …
An organic farmer from Western Australia who took on his GM canola-cultivating neighbour on contamination claims has failed in his bid to appeal against a large legal costs bill. GM crop farmer told to reveal if he was backed by Monsanto in legal battle Read more Kojonup farmer Steve Marsh …
Monsanto said it would abide by Latvia's and Greece's requests under a new EU opt-out law to be excluded from its application to grow a genetically modified (GM) crop across the European Union, but accused them of ignoring science. Under a law signed in March individual countries can seek exclusion …
Germany has reportedly begun taking steps towards banning the use of all genetically modified crops. New rules will allow individual member states to block farmers from using GM organisms, even if the variety has been approved on an EU-wide basis. Scotland became the first country to opt out of bloc-wide …
A food safety advocacy group sued an arm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture on Tuesday, saying it illegally withheld public information on genetically engineered crops. The lawsuit, brought by the Center for Food Safety (CFS) against the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), claims the regulator has …
Germany has initiated a move to stop the growing of genetically modified crops under new European Union rules, documents seen by Reuters showed on Monday. German Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt has informed German state governments of his intention to tell the EU that Germany will make use of new "opt-out" …
Farmers in North Rift Monday held a peaceful demonstration on the Iten-Eldoret road to protest over the planned introduction of genetically modified crops. Irate protestors walked on the streets of Eldoret Town waving anti-GMOs placards. "Studies have linked the foods to cancer. Keep the ban on," read one placard. The …
Nearly 30 organisations sign open letter accusing Scottish environment secretary of taking political decision not based on scientific evidence A powerful group of scientists and academic bodies has urged the Scottish government to rethink its ban on growing GM crops, with a warning that it would damage farming, healthcare and …
Scotland is to ban the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) produce, the country's rural ministry has announced. Rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead said he was not prepared to "gamble" with the future of Scotland's £14bn food and drink sector. The Scottish government intends to take advantage of new EU rules …
The Director of Bio-Safety and Stewardship for Sustainable Agriculture in West Africa, Prof Walter Alhassan says Ghana is following the required procedure for the trial of Genetically Modified Crops. He said the country is through with trying the plants under Green Houses and three of the four crops are now …
The Federal Government said all is set for a nationwide survey and analysis of suspected genetically modified organisms in the country to guard against any adverse impact on humans and the environment. Mr Rufus Ebegba, Director General, National Biosafety Management Agency, who said this at the agency's inception session, noted …
The Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI) is set to release three varieties of Bt Brinjal this year and two other varieties by next year despite controversies regarding its production and harmful effects on human body, officials said. The five varieties are Sing Nath, Chega, Islampuri, Dohazari and Khotkhotia. Of these, …
Scientists are lobbying for approval to commercialise a genetically modified maize variety. "Globally, Bt maize has been proven to effectively control stem borer and improve maize grain yield and quality due to reduced pest damage," Eliud Kireger said yesterday. Kireger, the director general of the Kenya Agricultural Livestock and Research …
A genetically-modified cereal crop that produces fish oil in its seeds has been grown successfully for the first time in Britain, scientists have announced. Up to 15 per cent of the oil in the seeds of the GM crop following the first year’s harvest turned out to be the omega-3 …
ISLAMABAD: Cotton growers’ current woes with the genetically modified (GM) Bt seeds have been traced to an agreement that a national research institute signed with a multinational biotech seed producing company in 2006 over the head of Pakistan government, according to knowledgeable sources. “Dr Yousaf Zafar, the then director of …
European food safety officials found there was no need to widen buffer zones around genetically modified (GM) crops even though research shows that pollen from GM maize, which can travel kilometres further than previously thought. The buffer zones to protect vulnerable species, such as butterflies, have been part of heated …
The White House on Thursday directed the three U.S. agencies that oversee biotech crop products to improve and modernize their regulatory "framework" to boost public confidence in a system that critics call a failure. The order, announced in a statement by President Barack Obama's Office of Science and Technology Policy, …
A scientist at the Yam and Cotton Breeding Programme of the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), Dr Emmanuel Chamba, has confirmed that Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton trials in the three northern regions of the country have yielded positive results. “What we did was that we had a quarter hectare Bt …
ISLAMABAD: “Bt”, the genetically modified cotton seed surreptitiously introduced in Pakistan in 2005, is proving a disaster than a boon to the country’s strategic crop. Growers say Bt has disproved its superiority over the indigenous seed which it has all but banished and in fact has introduced new pests, leaving …
