Archive for October, 2005

Lets Listen to Biotech Gurus

One of the canon constitutional obligations of U.S. Senators is to advise and consent. Every senior presidential appointment must command confidence from the Senate. I see scientists and Senators as birds of the same feather. Both work for the common good. If Senators derelict their duties, they can mess up the entire country. If scientists [...]

Chinese team says GM plants can clean up heavy metals

October 28, 2005
SciDev.net
By: Jia Hepeng
Chinese researchers have genetically modified tobacco and a species of algae to remove toxic heavy metals such as mercury from soil and water.
As a cheap and effective way of eliminating heavy metal pollution from the environment, the GM plants carry substantial health and economic benefits, says their developer, Ru Binggen of [...]

East Cape farmers planting more GM maize

October 26, 2005
The Herald
By: Nicky Blatch
With a better crop yield, lower input costs and less management required, the farming of genetically modified (GM) maize is being encouraged among emerging farmers in the Eastern Cape.
But despite its benefits to farmers, GM maize – which accounted for 8,2 per cent of the country’s white maize and [...]

GM crops to ensure food

October 25, 2005
The New Nation

Agricultural biotechnology and its proper utilisation can meet the challenge of the next century for ensuring food and nutrition security in the developing countries, including Bangladesh, said biotechnology campaigners.
They called for stocking the country with research equipment, including lab facilities and supply of chemicals and building up trained manpower.
International Service for [...]

Monsanto gets nod to sell double-resistant cotton

October 2005
Business Day
By: Tamar Kahn
Multinational seed company Monsanto announced yesterday that it had obtained government approval to launch a new variety of genetically engineered cotton in SA.
The seed combines an insecticide with a built-in resistance to weed-killer.
It is the first time that South African authorities have granted a permit for the commercialisation of a [...]

South Africa Embraces New GM Cotton

A couple of months ago, a friend asked me to outline three reasons behind South Africa’s economic prosperity. As a news junkie, I had ready answers. One, there is zero-tolerance on corruption in South Africa. Two, South Africa has invested heavily in human resource development. Third and perhaps most importantly, South Africa is and remain [...]

Africa seen accepting GMO crops more in future

October 18, 2005
Reuters
Genetic crops are expected to gain wider acceptance in Africa as more homegrown projects emerge that will spread benefits among the poor, a Kenyan biotech expert said on Tuesday.
Several African nations ban genetically-modified (GM) crops, but much of the resistance has been against foreign companies introducing technology that may not be appropriate [...]

Food for thought

October 14, 2005
The Wall Street Journal
By: Norman Borlaug and Jimmy Carter
The past 50 years have been the most productive period in global agricultural history, leading to the greatest reduction in hunger the world has ever seen. The Green Revolution, as this period came to be known in the developing world, has kept more than one [...]

Advantages Of Genetically Modified Food Revisited

Since commercial introduction of genetically modified food in 1996, much progress has been made. More and more hectares of land are now under genetically modified (GM) crops. And the area continues to balloon year after year. The once upon a time poor farmers are smiling all the way to the bank. They can feed and [...]

African journalists pledge more balanced GM coverage

October 14,2005
SciDevNet
By: Talent Ngandwe
Journalists in east and southern Africa have pledged to make their coverage of biotechnology-related issues more balanced, accurate and analytical.
The group issued a declaration outlining their resolve on 7 October in the Zambian capital Lusaka.
This states that with growing pressure on African nations to accept genetically modified (GM) crops, journalists have a [...]