The IMF’s April 2025 Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa presents a clear warning: regional growth is slowing, debt pressures are mounting, and donor assistance is declining. Yet the report outlines critical opportunities particularly in domestic revenue mobilization, structural reform, and private sector activation that can shape a more resilient …
THE Participatory Ecological Land Use Management Association (PELUM) has urged Government to disregard recent demands for genetically modified bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton trials in Zambia. In July last year, the Cotton Development Trust (CDT) said in Malawi that the company is optimistic that once Zambia is given the permission to …
The Ministry of Agriculture on Monday vowed to beef up its supervision over genetically modified (GM) crops in order to protect human health, ecology and the environment. Agricultural authorities at all levels should strengthen the control of testing, production, processing, labeling and marketing of GM seeds and crops, according to …
Burkina Faso is phasing out the production of genetically modified cotton introduced by Monsanto Co., the world’s largest seed company, because growers are unhappy with the short length of its fiber. Africa’s biggest cotton grower is reducing the acreage for genetically modified cotton this season until it’s completely phased out …
The world’s farmers have increased their use of genetically modified crops steadily and sharply since the technology became broadly commercialized in 1996. Not anymore. In 2015, for the first time, the acreage used for the crops declined, according to a nonprofit that tracks the plantings of biotech seeds. The organization …
This paper surveys the current status of GM crops and where the technology is heading. It then analyzes how the currently dominant crops and traits have not delivered as hoped for developing country farmers and consumers, while technologies under development could be more beneficial. It then turns to an examination …
Rarely does a large multinational company threaten to leave India. But that is exactly what Monsanto, the $40-billion American seed and agrochemical behemoth, did earlier this month. In December, the ministry of agriculture had issued an order to cap the prices of Bt cotton seeds, the genetically modified (GM) hybrid …
US seed giant Monsanto has threatened to pull its genetically modified crop technology from India if the government goes ahead with its plan to cut the company's royalty fees. Monsanto's joint venture firm in India said that it would be difficult to bring new technologies to India because it was …
Nagpur: Even after Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) of the Union ministry of environment, forests and climate change has put the commercialization of genetically modified (GM) mustard, Dhara Mustard Hybrid-11 or DMH-11 developed by Delhi University's (DU) former vice-chancellor Deepak Pental on hold for a few months, more skeletons continue …
The government plans to release genetically modified (GM) potato, reportedly capable of resisting late blight disease, during the upcoming season. “We are planning to apply for the approval for releasing one variety of GM potato at the end of this year,” said Rafiqul Islam Mondol, director general of Bangladesh Agricultural …
South Africa will relax some of its tough rules on genetically modified crops so it can ramp up maize imports from the United States and Mexico to avert a potential food crisis amid a severe drought, officials said. Almost 90% of maize in South Africa is genetically modified and the …
A legal challenge to the Philippines' rules on genetically modified organisms is threatening to spark a food crisis in the country and could cloud the outlook for GM technology around Asia. Government agencies are scrambling to set new regulations on GMOs by Feb. 23 after the Southeast Asian nation's top …
Before the fresh review procedure starts, the committee will meet first — likely on March 3 — to finalise the modalities for preparing the RARM report “including roles, responsibilities, consultation, time lines etc”. IN A move that has effectively placed commercial cultivation of GM Mustard in cold storage for now, …
Bangladesh’s record at promoting crop biotechnology is a marked contrast to India’s ambivalence India’s crop biotech Industry has been going through a period of great uncertainty ever since the moratorium on commercialisation of Bt Brinjal that was imposed by then Minister of Environment and Forests in February 2010, despite the …
Rythu Sangam seeks availability of genetically-modified seed at affordable prices Upset with Monsanto allegedly fleecing farmers and making super profits in the form of royalty, the Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangam has decided to go on a warpath demanding that the Union government rein in multinational hybrid seed company and make …
How safe is it to grow genetically modified, or GM, mustard on Indian farms? An answer to that requires a deep understanding of conflicting scientific views. How capable is the government in scientifically assessing the safety of GM mustard and other GM food crops on behalf of the citizens based …
On Friday, the country’s biotechnology regulator deferred a decision on allowing commercial cultivation of Mustard DMH-11, a transgenic crop developed by Centre for Genetic Manipulation of Crop Plants at Delhi University. On Friday, the country’s biotechnology regulator deferred a decision on allowing commercial cultivation of Mustard DMH-11, a transgenic crop …
Farmer unions, including BKS, today demanded that the Environment Ministry cancel the meeting of the regulatory body GEAC scheduled for February 5 to discuss the much-debated genetically modified (GM) mustard seed. The Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC)had met once last month to hear views of the technology developer Deepak Pental, …
The Supreme Court on Monday sought response from the government on a plea asking it to initiate contempt against three members of the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) for proceeding with numerous field trials of GM mustard. A bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur sought response after counsel …
Papers that describe harmful effects to animals fed genetically modified (GM) crops are under scrutiny for alleged data manipulation. The leaked findings of an ongoing investigation at the University of Naples in Italy suggest that images in the papers may have been intentionally altered. The leader of the lab that …
