New virus found on GM virus resistant papayas

[img_assist|nid=231|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=43]The discovery of a new pathotype of the Papaya leaf distortion mosaic virus (PLDMV, P-TW-WF) from papaya in Taiwan shows that claims like "virus resitance" are really only of relevance to the specific virus targeted, and that new GM varieties can just as well be suspectible to other viruses - or even more so.

Submitted by Antje on 25 Jul 2008.

MON810 reduces Daphnia fitness

[img_assist|nid=229|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=43]A new study from the GenOk Centre for Biosafety in Tromso show a reduced fitness of Daphnia magna fed on Bt maize MON810. Daphnias fed on MON810 had a higher mortality rate, less females reached sexual maturation, and the overall egg production was lower compared to D. magna fed isogenic maize. Since this reduced fitness after feeding on Bt maize coincided with an earlier onset of reproduction, the scientists concluded a toxic effect rather than a lower nutritional value of the GM-maize.

Submitted by admin on 21 Jul 2008.

GM trees & risk assessment

This report by Ricarda Steinbrecher (German Federation of Scientists, VDW and Econexus) with Antje Lorch provides an overview of risk assessment and risk management issues of genetically engineered trees. It was prepared for the Ninth Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biodiversity (COP9) in Bonn, May 2008.

July 2008

R.A. Steinbrecher with A. Lorch; Federation of German Scientists, May 2008

GMOs behind closed doors?

[img_assist|nid=225|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=43]The president of the European Commission Barroso came up with a new idea to solve the problem that so far there has never been a qualified majority to approve of a GM crop: he simply wants to get Member States to agree on GMOs behind closed doors.

Submitted by Antje on 16 Jul 2008.

Amflora volunteers

[img_assist|nid=108|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=43]In 2007 and 2008, the German authorities approved of 'field-trials' with the GM potato Amflora by BASF even though the goal was/is not to do any research but simply to produce seed potatoes for the case that Amflora actually gets a cultivation approval in the EU. One of the conditions was that no potatoes would be left on the field afterwards. Already in autumn 2007, a number of potatoes were discovered on one of the fields after the harvest.

Submitted by Antje on 10 Jul 2008.

EU lowers agrofuel targets

[img_assist|nid=222|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=43]Thanks to a lot of hard work of NGOs and civil society organisations, the EU Envrionmental Committee decided to drop its agrofuel targets from 10 to 4%. Together with a decision in the UK this shows that the uncritical hype to replace fossil fuels by crops without changing much about fuel and energy use ist over, and that there are serious doubts whether the production of agrofuels can be sustainable and fair.

Submitted by Antje on 8 Jul 2008.

Is there a de-facto moratorium on GE trees?

[img_assist|nid=111|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=43]On Friday, 30 May 2008, when COP9 closed, the German Ministry on Environment issued a press release, summarizing the results.

Submitted by Antje on 3 Jun 2008.

Kontrolle oder Kollaboration? Agro-Gentechnik und die Rolle der Behörden

[img_assist|nid=227|title=|desc=|link=none|align=right|width=100|height=43]Eine Recherche darüber wer mit wem Verbindungen hat in der Entwicklung, der Risikobewertung und der Zulassung von Gv-Pflanzen in Deutschland zeigt, dass viele der involvierten Presonen sehr vielfältige Kontakte habe, darunter auch zu Lobby-Organisationen und zur Gentechnik-Industrie.

Der vollständige Bericht ist hier als pdf erhältlich.

Aus dem Inhalt:

June 2008

A. Lorch & Ch. Then, Studie für U. Höfken, Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, Mai 2008.

Cartagena Protocol: Still no liability regime

[img_assist|nid=216|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=43]The Fourth Meeting of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety took place on 12-16 May in Bonn, Germany. The Cartagena Protocol sets rules for the international trade with living modified organisms (LMOs). Finalizing a Liability and Redress system was on the agenda for this meeting, after negotiations on this topic had been going on for several years.

Submitted by Antje on 3 Jun 2008.

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