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Mothers for Natural LawInternational News on Genetic Engineering in AgricultureBiweekly News 00/03/03
Articles have been aggressively shortened. ------------------ BusinessWire
Major Health Foods Manufacturer Takes Pro-Genetically-Modified Stance LAKE CHARLES, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 22, 2000--Lumen Foods ( www.soybean.com ), a major health foods manufacturer and the nation's largest maker of "vegetarian jerkies," announced it has broken ranks with Greenpeace and other environmental groups over the issue of genetically-modified foods. Not only is the company resisting pressure from environmentalists to take a "non-GM" (short for "non-genetically-modified") stance, but it's actually promising to use genetically modified ingredients in its in-house brands. Lumen Foods is, to date, the only U.S. food processing company to take this position. For more information, please contact Greg Caton, (337) 436-6748,
Email: caton@ifu.net or visit the Lumen Foods web site:
------------------ GMA, Major Trade Groups Urge Hill to Oppose Biotech Labeling Bill February 23, 2000 Senate Biotech Labeling Bill 'Would Result in Consumer Confusion, Not Education' WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Mandatory labeling of products developed through biotechnology "would result in consumer confusion, not consumer education," said 35 leading trade associations in letters sent to every member of the Senate. The Grocery Manufacturers of America was among several major food, farm, retailer, and manufacturer groups that urged lawmakers to oppose a mandatory labeling bill being introduced by Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA). Her bill is similar to one introduced in the House by Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH). A copy of the letter is available on GMA's Web site at www.gmabrands.com. For more information, contact Brian Sansoni at 202-337-9400 x3957. SOURCE Grocery Manufacturers of America ------------------ Trade-Belgium: Genetic Engineering Threatens Food Security COMTEX Newswire BRUSSELS, (Feb. 15) IPS - A new report on biopatenting and food security has called on Europe to ensure that food security and the protection of biodiversity take precedence over commercial interests. The report, "Biopatenting and the Threat to Food Security -- A Christian and Development Perspective," was published by the International Cooperation for Development and Solidarity (CIDSE). The CIDSE is a Catholic development alliance of 15 organizations from Europe, North America and New Zealand. The report suggests that patents on genetically modified crops, enforced by current world trade rules and pushed by its supporters, such as the European Union (EU), enables major transnational corporations (TNCs) to exploit crops at the expense of farmers in poor countries. ------------------ Dear Ge-News Members: I am writing to inform you that the new issue (Volume 2, No. 3&4) of AgBioForum is now on-line at (www.agbioforum.org). The URL has changed so please update your bookmarks. This issue discusses the impacts and possibilities for agrobiotechnology in less developed countries. I hope that you will find this issue a useful resource. If you have any specific questions please contact agbioforum@missouri.edu. Leonie A. Marks, Ph.D.
------------------ Augusta Chronicle Feb 15, 2000 Hard Times Hit Biotech Agriculture - Growing Opposition To Engineered Plants, Poor Economy Hurt Growers Of Genetically Altered Food Products The companies that genetically engineer crops are bringing fewer new varieties to market amid a slumping farm economy and growing public resistance to biotech food. Seed companies sought government approval for six genetically engineered varieties in 1999, the fewest applications since 1993, and withdrew four of them by year's end. One application has been filed this year. By comparison, businesses filed 14 applications with the Agriculture Department in 1997 and nine in 1998. All but four were approved. "Getting a new biotech crop approved is probably high on the dumb things to do for your stock price right now," said Alex Hittle, an industry analyst with A.G. Edwards and Sons Inc. ------------------ @griculture Online 02/23/2000 01:20 p.m.CDT Farmers Pulling Back on GMO Plantings By Cheryl Rainford, News Editor Farmers are cutting back their acres planted to GMOs for 2000 but only slightly, according to preliminary research from an Illinois ag consulting firm. Last year 23.5% of respondents' corn acres were planted to GMOs. This year farmers say they plan to plant 17.7% of acres to GMO corn, according to the new study, which was conducted by Ag Education and Consulting (AEC) (www.centrec.com). Soybean acreage may change less. Last year 51.3% of soybean acres were planted to GMO soybeans, and this year farmers say they plan to plant 48.4% of their soybean acreage to GMOs, according to the survey... Very few farmers said they plan to increase their ability to segregate grains, though the ones who said they do plan to tended to be larger producers. The results of the survey will be available shortly on the AEC site: www.centrec.com. ------------------ Monsanto Charges U.S. Farmers More for Seeds WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (Reuters) - Farmers in the United States pay nearly double what farmers in Argentina pay for soybean seeds that have been genetically modified to tolerate Monsanto Co.'s Roundup herbicide, the government reported on Wednesday. The report, issued by the General Accounting Office (GAO), prompted one farm group to demand that Monsanto refund the technology fees it charges U.S. growers. The GAO found farmers in Iowa and Illinois were charged $20 to $23 for a 50-pound bag of Roundup Ready soybean seeds, while Argentine growers paid $12 to $15 for an identical bag. The GAO, which acts as the investigative arm of Congress, said the price disparity stemmed from better U.S. patent protection and a burgeoning black market in Argentina. The American Soybean Association issued a statement calling for Monsanto to refund technology fees it charges U.S. farmers. The fees are currently $6.50 per bag. Copyright 1999 Reuters Limited. ------------------ EU Assembly Delays GMO Animal Feed Directive STRASBOURG, France, Feb 16 (Reuters) - The European Parliament on Wednesday refused to endorse European Union legislation on the authorisation of genetically-modified organisms (GMOs) and other additives in animal feed. In a move designed to protest against the procedure being used to adopt the legislation, the Parliament voted to refer it back to the assembly's agriculture committees pending a settlement of the inter-institutional dispute. In a report, Green deputy Friedrich-Wilhelm Graefe zu Baringdorf said growing public concern over the use of GMOs in the food chain meant the directly-elected assembly should have more say over the final shape of the legislation. At the moment, the Commission is proposing the new law be adopted by EU farm ministers once the Parliament has merely given its opinion, whereas the assembly wants joint say over its content. Copyright 1999 Reuters Limited. ------------------ Carrefour Leads Purchase of Non-GMO Brazil Soy PARIS, Feb 22 (Reuters) - A pool of French pork and poultry farmers and animal feed makers led by retailer Carrefour has signed a deal to buy non-genetically modified soybeans from Brazil, a company official said on Tuesday. The group will buy 180,000 tonnes of Brazilian soybeans this year in support of Carrefour's policy of removing genetically modified organisms (GMOs) from its products, said Gilles Debrosse, director of fresh products. Carrefour has scrapped GMOs from hundreds of own-brand goods ranging from breakfast cereals to confectionery amid protests from environmental activists. It aims to remove GMO ingredients from all its products by 2002. "Carrefour, faithful to its principles of precaution and prevention, is responding to the expectations of consumers who do not wish to eat GMOs, directly or indirectly, and is anticipating regulations on GMOs in animal feed," said Debrosse. Carrefour has hired inspection company SGS to supervise production, crushing and shipment to ensure the Brazilian grain is properly segregated to prevent any accidental contamination, said Debrosse. Soybeans from 850 farmers in the central state of Goias will be taken by truck to a dedicated crushing plant in the town of Jatai owned by Coimbra, part of the Louis Dreyfus group. The plant will produce 25,000 tonnes of soymeal pellets per month, which will be carried by road and rail to the port of Vitoria in Espirito Santo state, from where they will be shipped to St Nazaire in northwest France by importer Soules-Caf. Demand for Non-GMO Soy Rising Buyers will pay a premium of 125 francs per tonne over the current market price of 1,000 francs per tonne, said Debrosse. The impact on retail prices would be negligible. Carrefour hoped to extend the policy to its cattle and sheep suppliers and was considering the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul as future suppliers. "Our potential with all our other order books, sheep and cattle, is for a total 300,000 tonnes," he said. The companies participating in the deal were Cooperl, Duc-Bourgoin, La Cana, Groupe Zaffani, LDC, Fipso-Actalim, Guyomarc'h and Agralco-Ucanor Ouest. Copyright 1999 Reuters Limited. ------------------ Financial Times (London) February 23, 2000, Wednesday London Edition 2 Food Store Warns of Extension to Non-GM Feed Policy By MICHELA WRONG Iceland, the supermarket chain, announced yesterday that by September all its animal products would come from livestock reared on non-genetically modified diets. It said the warning was aimed at North American farmers preparing to sow new crops. Copyright 2000 The Financial Times Limited ------------------ GM Food Rejected; Source: The Dominion Genetically modified foods that claim to be good for people will not win New Zealanders over, according to a Massey University study issued yesterday. The study of 417 shoppers found that only 1 per cent would choose "GM only" foods when given the choice. Researchers said that when presented with a label that read "GM with consumer benefit", the demand was still lower than for "GM free" goods. Publication date: Feb 22, 2000 (c) 1999, NewsReal, Inc. ------------------ BBC News Online
Blair's Shift on GM Food Tony Blair has acknowledged that genetically-modified foods are potentially damaging to human health and the environment... Tony Blair: "No doubt that there is potential for harm"... Mr Blair continues: "But there is no doubt, either, that this new technology could bring benefits for mankind... Mr Blair adds: "The key word here is potential, both in terms of harm and benefit. "The potential for good highlights why we were right not to slam the door on GM food or crops without further research. "The potential for harm shows why we are right to proceed very cautiously indeed. And this is exactly what we are doing." And he concludes: "I can promise that no GM food will be put on the market here without going through the most rigorous safety assessments in the world ... no GM crops will be grown commercially in this country until we are satisfied there will be no unacceptable impact on the environment." BBC News Online ------------------ Steve Druker in Edinburgh REPORT ON EDINBURGH ANTI-GM PRESS CONFERENCE
The Natural Law Party was involved in an amazing press conference at the OECD meeting in Edinburgh today... At the close of the morning session, Patrick Holden stood up and took over the microphone available for the audience. This great, brave soul then simply announced who he was and that since he had not been invited to speak at the conference, he had organised his own conference with Steven Drucker and it would be taking place straight away ... he left the hall followed by the whole of the attending press corps!!!! (50 - 100) At the press conference Patrick introduced everyone and Steven Drucker spoke for about 10 minutes. His main point was that since all the OECD countries had signed up to the precautionary principle they should produce their evidence of safety by the end of the week. If they could not do this, he challenged them to withdraw all GM products world-wide immediately. Geoffrey Clements of the Natural Law Party then seized on the point made by Tony Blair yesterday that only two GM food ingredients are available in the UK. He then read a long list of GM items and pointed out the large number of processed foods imported from the USA containing GM ingredients passed by the FDA and since the food was processed could be imported unhindered into the country. Following Steven Drucker's lead he challenged the British Government to produce the evidence of safety straight away or immediately remove GM from the market. The conference started at 1.15 and was scheduled for 15 minutes. At 2.45 everyone was still there!!!!! The journalists were nearly all in support of banning GM. The Independent journalist was already waiting for Steven in the morning when he arrived at the hall... ------------------ Farmers Weekly 25 February 2000 (Arable Focus Supplement) Wheat Future is in Bio-Tech Not GM By Charles Abel Biotechnology rather than genetic modification is the key to improving wheat varieties, says Monsanto. Although GM techniques may develop some traits, most will stem from conventional breeding backed by sophisticated biotech tools. ------------------ In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is compiled for educational use only. |
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