Archive for February, 2006

Biotech crops improved global farm income

The Navhind Times
UNI, Mumbai, Feb 26: Global farm income has increased by a cumulative total of US $ 27 billion following increased adoption of biotech crops since 1996, the International Service for Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) has said.
India too, has benefitted immensely by using biotech crops with the adoption of insect-resistant cotton, increasing [...]

Empty Rhetoric Has No Place In Biotech Debate

I have just finished reading an article entitled, “The hidden agenda in push for genetically modified foods,” in Kenya’s Daily Nation newspaper. The article attempts, in vain, to whip up emotions against genetically modified food, using the much discredited argument that Africans are mere pawns in a wider scheme to enrich biotech companies.
The article claims [...]

Zim Not Importing Genetically Modified Food - Mutasa

The Herald (Harare)
February 21, 2006
THE Minister of State for National Security responsible for Lands, Land Reform and Resettlement, Cde Didymus Mutasa, has dismissed as hogwash, claims on the Internet that Zimbabwe had changed heart and started importing genetically modified foods from Argentina.
In a statement yesterday, Cde Mutasa said the country’s official position still stood.
“To be [...]

Stop Blaming Biotech Companies

Much of the debate about genetically modified food centers on the role of multinational biotech companies. Critics contend that biotech companies’ sole motive is to enrich themselves at the expense of poor farmers. Exploitative profit, to critics of genetically modified food, is what drives biotech companies. This is far from the truth.
True, biotech companies - [...]

GM crops are compatible with sustainable agriculture

February 8, 2006
SciDev.Net
By: Christine Gould
Do crops that have been genetically modified — for example to increase their resistance to insects and other threats — have a place in integrated pest management (IPM)?
We at CropLife International, the global federation that represents the plant science industry, feel strongly that they do, and that genetic modification is [...]

Biotechnology: How to set African women free

February 10, 2006
The Monitor
By: Margaret Karembu
A trade dispute between rich nations could unlock the chains on the world’s poorest farmers–meaning most African women: the World Trade Organisation’s ruling on GM foods could help them conquer famine.
The World Economic Forum published a ranking last year of 58 countries and their “gender gap,” a big feature [...]

Zambia Must Re-think Its Position on GMOs

This week I came across a news article entitled, “Africa vows to reject GM.” The article quoted Zambia’s Agriculture Minister, Mundia Sikatana, as saying, “We do not want genetically modified foods and our hope is that all of us can continue to produce non-GM foods.”
Sikatana’s statement didn’t surprise me at all. Zambia’s position to [...]

WTO says Europe’s GM ban broke trade rules

February 8, 2006
SciDev.net
By: Wagdy Sawahel
The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled yesterday (7 February) that the European Union and six of its member states broke trade rules by banning imports of genetically modified (GM) crops and food.
The preliminary ruling, which could have significant implications for developing countries, still needs to be confirmed in a final decision [...]

What Next After End of Cotton Subsidies?

The U.S. Congress has finally scrapped a law that used to guarantee American cotton farmers close to $2.6 billion annually in subsidies. Under immense pressure from the World Trade Organization (WTO), which a year ago declared such subsidies to be in violation of the global trade body’s rules and regulations Congress’ amendment of the [...]

South Africa: portal for GMOs slipping into Africa?

February 3, 2006
Reuters
By: Ed Stoddard
A two-day training workshop has been organised in Swedru for four select committees of Parliament to enhance the debate on Ghana’s bio-safety bill yet to be placed before Parliament for passage.
The bill addresses key elements such as government policy on bio-safety, an administrative system, a decision-making system, mechanisms for public [...]