Monsanto, Germany Clash On GM Maize

U. S. biotech firm Monsanto Co. on Feb. 19 criticized Germany’s farm minister for calling into question the cultivation of maize with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Germany. Farm Minister Ilse Aigner said in a media interview she would consider reviewing permission given to grow GMO maize (corn) in Germany as its cultivation had brought

EU executive advances on GM crops

European Union biotech experts will get the chance in February to vote whether to allow two genetically modified (GM) maize types to be grown in Europe, in a bid to break the long-standing EU deadlock on growing GM crops. The full European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, on Jan. 21 backed proposals drafted by its


U. S. watchdogs call for tighter GMO oversight

More oversight and coordination is needed among federal agencies to prevent unapproved releases of genetically modified crops into the environment and food and feed supply, the investigative arm of the U. S. Congress said Dec. 5. Since 2000, there have been six known unauthorized releases of GMO crops into the food supply involving GMO corn

Pushing GMOs to feed the planet

“How do the starving destitute react? Well often and not surprisingly they react with violence.” – joe clark Co-operation and innovation, including new genetically modified crops, are needed to feed the world as it grows and gets richer, speakers told CropLife Canada and the Grain Growers of Canada meeting in Ottawa last month. “This combination


EU plan may increase global food problem

The challenge of meeting soaring global food demand may be made more difficult by European Union proposals which could ban some fungicides, Britain’s chief scientist said Nov. 12. The European Union may change to a hazard rather than risk-based approach, which effectively means crop chemicals could be banned if they are dangerous at any dosage.

GM urgency eases

The push to promote genetically modified (GM) wheat to combat global food shortages could slow as global commodity prices ease, a top industry executive said Nov. 16. “Now that prices have fallen off their peak, I don’t think it will be a priority,” said Vijay Iyengar, managing director of the Singapore-based grains trader Agrocorp International


Improving the staff of life

At first glance, the press release issued by the Canadian Wheat Board earlier this month is a classic “dog bites man” story. The board announced the vast majority of Prairie wheat farmers (88 per cent to be exact) grow varieties that are used primarily to produce bread and pasta. What’s more, this is not a