Archive for September, 2006

Kenyan forum to open up biotech debate

This article reports on a new initiative to promote public understanding of agricultural biotechnology in Africa. This forum is important as it will help participants explore the relevance of genetic engineering in Africa’s agriculture. It’s important that participants approach all issues pertaining to biotechnology with an open mind. Perhaps, of utmost significance will be to [...]

Partnership forged to spur Africa’s green revolution

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Rockefeller Foundation have again committed huge amounts of money to the improvement of Africa’s agriculture. The two philanthropies will spend close to $150 million to, among other things, develop drought and pests resistant crops for Africa. Though not explicitly mentioned, the funding is another chance for Africa [...]

Europeans Discuss the Future of Genetically Modified Crops

In the past one week, I have been participating in an online forum entitled “What Lies in the Future for Genetically Modified (GM) Crops in Europe?” organized by GMO Compass.
GMO Compass defines itself as “the work of independent science journalists… and is financially supported by the European Union (EU) within the European Commission’s Sixth Framework [...]

A Brazilian Researcher Explains the Pros and Cons of GMOs

Brazilian scientist Dr. Luciana Di Ciero is being featured in Biotech Gmo expressing confidence in Gmos testing and food safety.
Dr. Luciana repeats what I have always argued in this blog about geneically modified food.
“Nothing has zero risk. So you can’t tell me there should be zero risk with biotechnology or any other technology for [...]

Biotechnology Research Gets a Boost

The Monsanto Fund has announced a gift of $15 million to the U.S.-based Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. The gift will go towards running various biotechnology programs being already undertaken at the center.
Specifically, the grant will promote the center’s Campaign for a Green Future – launched in 2004, and the development of high-yielding virus [...]

Objections to GM food must be vetted in peer-reviewed research

On many occasions, this blog has argued that opponents of genetically modified food use unscientific tactics to mislead the public. They will never appreciate the importance of modern agricultural biotechnology. Their activities, especially in developing countries, are retrogressive, and do not aim to help the poor improve their standards of living.

This letter, published in [...]

Private-Public Sector Partnership Necessary in Biotechnology Research

There are very interesting developments in the field of agricultural biotechnology currently taking place in India.
The Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company (Mahyco) has offered to transfer the technology and basic breeding material of Bt Brinjal, a low calorie vegetable widely grown in India, to two public sector institutions; The Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore (TNAU) [...]

Regionalization of Biotech Investments the Only Hope for Africa

Should Africa regionalize biotechnology investment? This is one of the key issues in the draft report on the future of biotechnology in Africa, prepared by a panel of eminent African scientists and policy makers.
The panel, set up by the Africa Union and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad), has “proposed a key biotechnology mission [...]

Scientist challenges anti-GM findingsBy

Anthony Fletcher
01/09/2006
Food Navigator
An Australian scientist has challenged claims that a GM crop may produce dangerous herbicides in human intestines.Dr Christopher Preston of the University of Adelaide, Australia, wrote this week that Jeffrey Smith’s assertion that LibertyLink crops could pose a risk to human health were an “example how a few kernels of truth can [...]