Archive for August, 2005

GMOs: Commission authorises import of GM-oilseed rape for use in animal feed

August 31 2005
Europa
The European Commission authorised today the placing on the market of the genetically modified oilseed rape known as GT73 for import and processing. This decision is valid for 10 years and results from an application submitted by the company Monsanto. The GT73 oilseed rape, which is tolerant to the herbicide glyphosate, is already [...]

GM crop that holds onto its seeds offers higher yields

August 30, 2005
SciDev.Net
By: Wagdy Sawahel
Researchers have found a way of boosting the yield of a major crop by stopping its seedpods from bursting open.
Indian mustard (Brassica juncea) is the most important oilseed crop in India after groundnut. It is grown largely to produce cooking oil from the seeds. However, because the seedpods open naturally to [...]

South Africa GM production growing

August 30, 2005
News24.com
Genetically Modified Organisms food production is growing worldwide despite vigorous anti-GMO campaigning, according to major agricultural seed and pesticide company Monsanto.
Addressing the National Assembly’s science and technology committee on Tuesday, Monsanto Sub-Sahara Africa managing director Kobus Lindeque said despite the anti-GMO campaign to stop the production of GM crops to produce food, more [...]

A Very Encouraging Trend on Biosafety Laws

A very encouraging trend is taking place in Africa regarding agricultural biotechnology. After realizing that modern agricultural biotechnology is here to stay and holds the key to sustainable development, more and more countries are drafting National Biosafety Frameworks. This is encouraging as it will give them a chance to chart their own future regarding food [...]

The GMO debate in Egypt: Tough to swallow

August 2005
Business Today (Egypt)
By: Joseph Krauss

As America and Europe squabble over the viability of genetically modified foods, Egypt is quietly developing modified corn and cotton crops that have the potential to boost output and reduce chemical spraying. But even if the crops prove safe, some fear GM production could interfere with Egypts exports to the [...]

Govt issues bio-safety rules to curb risk from GMOs

August 25, 2005
The Rising Nepal
His Majesty’s Government has made public the Guidelines on Biosafety-2005 with the objective of preventing the possible risk from the international trafficking, transportation and use and operation of the genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) and to regularise the international transportation of goods produced from these animals.
His Majesty’s Government had last year approved [...]

Using Biotechnology to Fight Diarrhea

A common mortal from a developed country would be hard to convince that in Southeast Asia and Africa, diarrhea is responsible for as much as 8.5% and 7.7%, respectively. Yet this is the stark reality. Diarrhea is mostly caused by gastrointestinal infections. About 2.2 million people globally die of gastrointestinal-induced diarrhea. The bulk of these [...]

Ghana drafts GM safety legislation

August 17, 2005
SciDev.Net
By: Wagdy Sawahel
Ghana’s Ministry of the Environment and Science issued draft biosafety legislation yesterday (16 August), intended to protect the country’s citizens and environment from the potentially damaging effects of genetically modified (GM) organisms.
The implication is that the government is open to allowing GM products in the country. Yet this is in [...]

Ghana advances in bio-safety

August 18, 2005
AllAfrica.com
By: Kenneth Nyarko & Ayisha Natasha Yahaya
The minister for Environment and Science, Ms. Christine Churcher, has launched a national framework on Bio-safety for Ghana at a ceremony in Accra.
She said the framework is based on Ghana’s position on the Cartegena Bio-Safety Protocol rectified on May 30, 2003, in Montreal Canada.
“By the accession, [...]

Ghana strongly favours GM crops

August 18, 2005
Ghanaweb.com
Mr Ernest Debrah, Minister of Food and Agriculture, on Thursday said Ghana had not taken any strong stand against the importation and cultivation of Genetically Modified Crops, but was rather strongly in favour of it.
He said with he National Bio-Safety Framework and its other nine accompanying instruments, which had just been launched, “we [...]