Biotechnology Archives - Page 3 of 25

Young man reading shopping list in produce aisle, side view, close-up

‘You’re wrong’ is the wrong message

Trying to dictate what products consumers should get or what  food companies should supply them is surely a losing tactic 

By Alan Guebert November 14, 2016

When most of us hear the words, “Have I got a great deal for you!” we grab our wallets because experience suggests any forthcoming deal won’t be great. Similarly, when someone says, “Here’s the straight talk,” our baloney meters redline because we know the coming talk will be about as straight as a hound’s hind

Crops, News

New York Times findings on GM crops disputed

A Times study concludes GM crops don’t yield more than conventional ones,  but two Canadian agricultural economists found GM crops are worth billions

By Allan Dawson November 14, 2016

Genetically modified (GM) crops haven’t increased yields or reduced pesticide use as promised by developers, according to a study conducted by the New York Times published Oct. 29. But a Canadian study shows biotechnology, which includes genetic modification and new hybridization techniques in canola, boosted yields and put billions of extra dollars into farmers’ pockets.

CropLife Canada’s Ted Menzies says a recent report the group commissioned quantifies the value of biotechnology and crop protection products.

Crops, News

CropLife report highlights importance of crop protection and biotechnology

The group says it’s ready to make the case for the value and economic contribution  of the industry’s technology to the country

By Alex Binkley October 19, 2016

CropLife Canada wants to talk about the value of crop protection products and plant biotechnology. To this end it’s commissioned a report examining how much the industry contributes to the country by the consultancy RIAS. Ted Menzies, president of CropLife, says his organization is looking for venues and opportunities to discuss the information contained in

The cattle industry could benefit from genetic modification but the technology faces hurdles.

Beef cattle, Livestock, News

GM cattle could have many benefits

Genetic modification for cattle is under investigation at the federal level

By Alex Binkley October 18, 2016

Genetically modified cattle can offer both producers and consumers benefits. They won’t be seen in grocery stores for the foreseeable future, but it’s worth laying the groundwork for them, Andrea Brocklebank, executive director of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, told the Commons agriculture committee recently. “Beef from GM cattle is not likely to be on the

A graduate student works with common beans in a greenhouse at North Dakota State University.

Crops, Pulses

Pulses toward back of research pack

While biotechnology has made big changes to some types of crop production, pulses remain underfunded

By Shannon VanRaes October 5, 2016

When competing against staple crops like corn, wheat and rice, pulses get the short end of the research funding stick. Speaking to a crowd of biotechnology insiders at the Agricultural Bioscience International Conference in Fargo, North Dakota last week, Professor Irvin Widders said the sheer variety of pulse crops guarantees funding will be spread across

Comment

Comment: Closing the barn door after the fact

Sudden concern about mergers on the part of politicians is too little, too late

By Alan Guebert October 4, 2016

One of the oldest truisms agriculture offers is the simple, rock-solid advice that the time to close the barn door is before the cows get out. Closing the door afterwards, as everyone knows, is pointless because the cows are already long gone. Everyone, except of course, the U.S. Congress which, on Sept. 20, hosted a

“Look, I grew up on a farm and I know that for a lot of farmers, just like for anybody else, change is a little disconcerting." – Robert Fraley

News

Consolidation won’t reduce innovation: Monsanto

No word yet on whether a Monsanto-Bayer merger will affect canola growers

By Shannon VanRaes September 29, 2016

Fewer companies means more innovation. That’s the world according to Robert Fraley, Monsanto’s chief technology officer and executive vice-president, who says biotechnology companies need to consolidate to remain effective. “Consolidation is both needed and healthy in order to be able to provide the kind of investments that you need in cutting-edge biology and data science

University of Saskatchewan’s Richard Gray says there’s plenty of reason to be concerned about the Bayer-Monsanto merger.

News, Oilseeds

Canola farmers worried about Bayer-Monsanto merger

The fear is the new company’s market power will result in higher seed prices and less innovation unless regulators order some divestiture of assets

By Allan Dawson September 22, 2016

Farmers who are worried about chemical and seed giants Bayer and Monsanto merging should be, according to one prominent agriculture economist. With 94 per cent of western Canadian canola containing Bayer’s Liberty Link or Monsanto’s Roundup Ready traits, the new company will have tremendous market power resulting in higher canola seed prices for farmers, said

The world’s first clone of an adult animal, Dolly the sheep, bleats during a photocall at the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, Scotland January 4, 2002.

International news, Livestock

Dolly sheep clones reach ripe old age

The study results are reassuring after Dolly’s early death

By Ben Hirschler August 10, 2016

The heirs of Dolly the sheep are enjoying a healthy old age, proving cloned animals can live normal lives and offering reassurance to scientists hoping to use cloned cells in medicine. Dolly, cloning’s poster child, was born in Scotland in 1996. She died prematurely in 2003, aged six, after developing osteoarthritis and a lung infection,

Crops

Wilf Keller elected new AIC board chair

By GFM Network News, Manitoba Co-operator Staff July 28, 2016

Wilf Keller is the new head of the Agricultural Institute of Canada. Keller is a well-known agricultural researcher who has worked for nearly 40 years mainly in the field of biotechnology development and application for the genetic modification of crops. In this time he has led numerous major research efforts. Keller worked at the Research

Daily Network News

Women who fed a nation

U.S. grains: Soybeans rise on China demand hopes; corn and wheat rebound

U.S. livestock: Hogs rebound, cattle hit upward limits

Tag Archives Biotechnology