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Mexican corn study raises GM concerns
November 28, 2001: Preliminary studies claim traces of genetically modified corn in native Mexican corn varieties.

Re-Approval of Bt Corn Good News, Scientist Says
K-State News Release -- November 16, 2001

GARDEN CITY, Kan. – Word out of Washington last month that the Environmental Protection Agency had approved the use of Bt corn for another seven years is good news for farmers, a Kansas State University scientist said.

"The economics of Bt corn have made it very popular in our area," said K-State Research and Extension entomologist Phil Sloderbeck. "This maintains an option in a grower’s arsenal. It’s a way to help the grower reduce losses from corn borers."

The ups and downs of GMOs. 
CHICAGO (Reuters), November 5, By Peter Bohan

Despite corporate attempts to spin genetically modified products, GMOs have been nothing short of a global public relations disaster. While the U.S. is open to GMO use, European, South American, and Asian markets remain skeptical with governments calling for increased testing and regulations. In the U.S. GMO corn use has remained steady over the last year while GMO soybean use grew to 63 percent, up from 54 percent a year before. 

Biotechnology Corn Approved For Continued Use  WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): 

Based on a comprehensive scientific review, corn genetically modified with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) has been approved for an additional seven years. Bacillus thuringiensis is a naturally-occurring soil bacterium that produces a protein toxic to certain insects, which has been used for many years to control insect pests. Incorporating the genetic material from Bt into corn plants enables the plants to produce the same toxin and defend against several pest species. Scientific studies and a history of successful use have demonstrated that Bt is not toxic to humans or other animals.

BIOPESTICIDES REGISTRATION ACTION DOCUMENT Bacillus thuringiensis Plant-Incorporated Protectants

This version of the Biopesticides Registration Action Document for the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Plant-Incorporated Protectants is dated October 15, 2001. This version corresponds to the version issued on September 29, 2001, with the following changes. The Agency has revised portions of Section I. Overview and Section II. Science Assessment relating to Cry1Ab and Cry1F proteins expressed in corn (Bt corn), in light of public comments received as of September 21, 2001. The Agency has also added two new sections entitled: "V. Bt Corn Confirmatory Data and Terms and Conditions of Amended Registration" and "VI. Regulatory Position on Bt Corn."

EU Says Biotech Foods May Be Safer
By PAUL GEITNER, AP Business Writer 

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) - Contradicting the prevailing sentiment in Europe against biotech crops, a report Tuesday from the European Union (news - web sites)'s head office suggested they may be even safer than regular foods. The biosafety report summarizes 81 research projects financed by the EU over the last 15 years, at a cost of $64 million, on genetically modified crops and products made from them. The research has not found ``any new risks to human health or the environment, beyond the usual uncertainties of conventional plant breeding,'' said the European Commission (news - web sites), the EU's executive branch. ``Indeed, the use of more precise technology and the greater regulatory scrutiny probably make them even safer than conventional plants and foods.'' 

NEW BIOTECH REPORT
>
A new study released by InterNutrition, the Swiss Association for Research and Nutrition entitled, "Health-relevant and Environmental Aspects of Different Farming Systems:  'Organic, Conventional and Genetic Engineering' is now available.  The aim of the study was to make a scientific comparison of the health and environmental aspects of different agricultural systems and products.  The report has several sections including a Summary of the findings; Statistics, developments and opinion polls; Health-relevant aspects of human and animal nutrition; Environmental aspects of various agricultural systems; Conclusions; and References.  The study was based on published scientific papers and InterNutrition outlines the facts that must be considered when comparing organic, conventional and genetic modification farming approaches. According to the conclusions of the study:  "From agronomic, health and environmental viewpoints, conventional, organic and genetic engineering farming methods should co-exist.  The different strategies move towards a more sustainable agriculture.  Only a flexible and specific combination of all useful approaches will enable the existing potential to be fully exploited.  A unilateral ban on transgenic breeding methods cannot be scientifically justified.  It would be incomprehensible and short-sighted not to benefit form these new opportunities in order to overcome unsolved agricultural problems." 

New study shows that biotechnology offers significant benefits to diverse crops 
October 4, 2001/AMA Science News

Preliminary findings of 30-crop study, shows significant savings in production costs

Conditional Registration Of BT Cotton Reaffirmed 
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2 /U.S. Newswire/ -- EPA: 

Web Site on Bt Corn Risk to Monarchs
The United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service has made available information about the impact of Bt corn on Monarch butterflies.  The core of the information on the web page is research coordinated by ARS and published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences October 9th issue. 

Monarch Papers Published in October 9, 2001 Issue (Volume 98) of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences The cover photograph features Monarch larvae feeding on corn plants.  Five studies evaluate the potential impact of Bt corn pollen on monarch and one study focuses on black swallowtail larvae populations. The papers include:  Zangerl et al.  11908-11912, Oberhauser et al. 11913-11918, Pleasants et al.  11919-11924, Hellmich et al.  11925-11930, Stanley-Horn et al.  11931-11936, and Sears et al.,  11937-11942.

Study casts doubt on anti-GM lobby claim
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 17 2001, Times Newspapers Ltd. 
BY MARK HENDERSON, SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT

Green lobbyists have been accused of distorting science to promote the case against genetically modified crops after research exposed one of their key claims as unfounded. The most comprehensive analysis yet of the effects of GM maize on the monarch butterfly, one of North America’s most spectacular species, found that the risk to the insect is negligible. The results undermine those of a previous study, much cited by anti-GM campaigners, that suggested that toxic pollen from the maize could cause serious harm to butterfly populations. Although the new research does not dispute that the GM pollen can be poisonous to the butterflies, it shows that monarch caterpillars living in cornfields are not exposed to harmful levels. 

Transgenic Corn Poses Little Threat to Monarchs, Study Concludes 
Canadian Press
September 10, 2001

The delicate black and orange monarch butterfly stands as a symbol of the environmental movement. Referred to as "the Bambi of the insect world," the attractive butterfly is listed as a threatened species in Canada, and has been used by lobbying groups to call attention to the frailties of the natural environment for everything from diminishing habitats to pesticide use. But despite earlier findings, recent research has struck genetically modified corn from the list of potential threats to the species. 

US ARS/ Researchers clone powdery mildew resistance gene
[M2 Communications, Inc.] September 10, 2001

M2 PRESSWIRE via NewsEdge Corporation : Agricultural Research Service scientists in Ames, Iowa, have cloned and characterized the powdery mildew resistance gene from barley. This is the first successful cloning of a gene that confers active disease defense to small-grain cereals.

SCIENCE MAGAZINE REPORTS CLEMSON RESEARCHER'S FINDINGS OF GENETIC BASIS OF INSECT RESISTANCE TO Bt COTTON
DATE: 8-3-01

"We have identified a gene in the budworm which binds Bt-toxin produced in genetically
modified plants like cotton," Gahan said. "If the gene is altered or defective in the insect, the
insect will not bind the toxin and effectively becomes resistant to it. Knowing the gene
involved in resistance allows us to develop a DNA test for monitoring resistance in field
population of insects." 

European Commission improves rules on labelling and tracing of GMOs in Europe to enable freedom of choice and ensure environmental safety. Brussels, 25 July 2001

The European Commission adopted today an important legislative package on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) which establishes a sound community system to trace and label GMOs and to regulate the placing on the market and labelling of food and feed products derived from GMOs. The new legislation is intended to provide a trustworthy and environmentally safe approach to GMOs, GM food and GM feed. The package consists of a proposal for traceability and labelling of GMOs and products produced from GMOs and a proposal on regulating GM food and feed. It will require the traceability of GMOs throughout the chain from farm to table and provide consumers with information by labelling all food and feed consisting of, containing or produced from a GMO. It will establish a "one door one key" procedure for the authorisation of GMOs for food and feed, including the deliberate release into the environment. This procedure will consist of a single scientific assessment, carried out by the scientific committees of the European Food Authority. The new system as proposed today ensures a tight and stringent regulatory framework on the use of GMOs in Europe and closes existing legal gaps whilst addressing legitimate concerns of the economic operators. It meets the requests by Member States governments, the European Parliament and consumer organisations and has been drafted in close dialogue with all stakeholders and Member States. Two further proposals relating to GM seed will be brought forward in autumn. Today's proposals are subject to co-decision with the European Parliament and the Council and should enter into force in 2003 at the latest. The labelling provisions in respect of food and feed will be reviewed after two years of operation.

Playing God or Doing God’s Work?

July 23, 2001

Monsanto Announces Simpler Pricing for Biotech Traits in 2002

ST. LOUIS, June 14, 2001 - Monsanto Company today announced plans to simplify the pricing for corn and soybean traits produced through biotechnology. Starting with the 2002 season, Monsanto will eliminate the technology fee paid to Monsanto bygrowers who plant YieldGard insect-protected corn, Roundup Ready corn and Roundup Ready soybeans and replace it with a royalty paid by seed companies licensed to market those products. Thus, growers will make a single payment to the seed company for technology and seed, rather than one payment to the seed company and a separate payment to Monsanto for the right to use Monsanto's patented technology. "This change is in line with grower requests to move away from our previous technology fee structure and seed company requests to offer a more simplified pricing structure for their customers," said Jim Zimmer, U.S. director of technology for Monsanto Company. The new royalty pricing structure will allow seed companies to price herbicide resistance and insect tolerance technology, just as they already set the price of their seed. Each seed company will set the price for corn and soybean technology in their branded seed based on the value their products bring to the marketplace. The new royalty pricing structure will only affect Monsanto's YieldGard corn, Roundup Ready soybeans and Roundup Ready corn technologies. Growers who plant Monsanto's cotton and canola technologies will see no change in their current pricing structure at this time.

StarLink Corn Not Responsible For Allergic Reactions
Center For Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia
June 13, 2001
CDC’s investigation did not find any evidence that hypersensitivity to the Cry9c protein was responsible for the self-reported allergic responses that people experienced last fall after consuming StarLink corn.

GM tomato 'reduces risk of disease'
BY MARK HENDERSON, SCIENCE CORRESPONDENT
May 1, 2001
A GENETICALLY modified tomato that protects against cancer
and heart disease has been developed by British scientists. 

Harvest of Fear
PBS-A NOVA/FRONTLINE Special Report
April 24, 2001

Brazil court battle for GM soya 
Monday, 23 April, 2001
Consumer and environmental groups are fighting a rearguard action in the Brazilian courts to try to prevent the government legalising the cultivation of genetically modified soya 

Progressive Farmer Biotechnology Page
Continuous Updates: The corn industry continues to work through StarLink. StarLink is the genetically engineered corn, approved only for industrial and livestock uses, that turned up in human foods, setting off food recalls, controversy and legal wrangling. 

SYNGENTA ANNOUNCEMENT - Completion of Rice Genome Map - Audio File 
Jan 26, 2001

Predicted Failure of Mandatory Labels for Genetically Modified Foods
January, 2001
By Alan McHughen, University of Saskatchewan

Process-Based Labeling Is Fundamentally Flawed and Unworkable. Most consumers say they would like labels on foods produced using genetic modification technologies. The usual justification
is to enable an informed choice in the market. I support informed choice and the ability to choose (or avoid) particular foods. But mandatory labeling based on a method of production, as opposed to the physicaland chemical characteristics of the food itself, is fundamentally flawed and will not enable informed choice. To understand the many reasons why, we must start at the beginning, the very purpose of labeling....

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Clinton administration was poised to update its biotech food rules and require U.S. companies to meet with regulators before taking a new product to market, but will not require special labels on bio-foods, industry sources said Wednesday.

ORLANDO, Fla. (Reuters) - Most farmers have shrugged off global concerns about genetically modified crops and plan only slightly to reduce their 2001 spring plantings, according to a Reuters survey released on Wednesday

Although many millers already are testing for StarLink corn, Food and Drug Administration guidelines will require more extensive sampling than processors have been doing, an industry spokeswoman said Monday.

The Agriculture Department has issued similar guidelines to test corn seed for StarLink contamination before it is sold to farmers for spring planting.

ORLANDO, Fla., (Reuters) - Farm scientists said Sunday genetically modified wheat, barley and rice could be available commercially within the next three years, although the recent controversy surrounding StarLink bio-corn could hinder their arrival.

James Cook, wheat scientist for Washington State University, said Monsanto's Roundup Ready wheat, used to control weeds, could be available to farmers by 2003.

Dr. Strangelunch 
Or: Why we should learn to stop worrying and love genetically modified food 
By Ronald Bailey; Reason OnLine Jan. 2001

BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE NEWS FOR 2000

BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE NEWS FOR 1999