NEWS

Bt maize performance in Spain
Currently, Bt maize is the only genetically modified crop authorized for commercial cultivation in the European Union. Spain, with over nine years of experience in Bt maize cultivation, is the European member state with the highest adoption rate for the biotech crop. A survey, published by the journal Nature Biotechnology, reports that farmers adopting Bt maize experienced higher average yields than conventional corn growers in certain regions in the country. The survey was conducted by researchers from the European Commission Joint Research Center and the University of Córdoba.

Arsenic speciation varies with type of rice
New studies suggest that U.S. rice contains more methylated arsenic, a less toxic form of the metal, than rice from Europe and Asia does.

Why I Am Bothered by Neo-Colonialist NGOs
Temba Nolutshungu, Arusha Times via AllAfrica.com
Soon after the real colonialists had left Africa, a new breed of Western colonialists emerged: the statist Non-Governmental Organisations that want to save us from everything from genetically-modified food to globalisation--and growth.

China experts identify gene for yield, height in rice
Tan Ee Lyn, Reuters via Forbes
China - KABUL - Scientists in China have identified a single gene that appears to control rice yield, as well as its height and flowering time, taking what may be a crucial step in global efforts to increase crop productivity.

The French government has called for a debate on the review of the EU
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) has also repeatedly criticised the EU for "undue delays" in the authorisation of GMOs. See the latest WTO ruling:

The legal bans are in France, Austria, Poland, Hungary and Greece.

EU delays decision on approving more GM crops
Wed May 7, 2008 | Jeremy SmithBRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission, the EU's executive arm, delayed a decision on Wednesday on whether farmers may grow more genetically modified crops, saying further scientific analysis was needed before approval could be given.

UCR Geneticist Plays Scientific Advisor to Movie about “Love, Adventure and ... Genetically Modified Rice”
May 7, 2008
Norman Ellstrand checked and improved the science behind Basmati Blues, a musical comedy set for a 2009 release

Gujrat worst-hit by illegal Bt cotton production
BS Reporter / Ahmedabad April 22, 2008Gujarat is not only the top cotton-producing state but also the largest manufacturer of illegal Bt cotton seeds in the country. The cotton bowl of India manufactured 5 million packets of spurious or illegal Bt seeds in 2007. Besides, Gujarat also stands numero uno in sowing spurious cotton seeds in the country.

Farmers seek ban on GM crops
DH News Service, New Delhi:Hundreds of farmers on Tuesday staged a protest in the national capital, pressing for a complete ban on genetically modified (GM) crops and food in India.

Call for policing
Ijaz Ahmed Rao discusses the virtues of a bio-safety framework for genetically modified crops, now that they have become farmers’ favourite
Plantings of genetically modified (GMO) crops are increasing globally in spite of warnings by environmentalists that they may be unsafe for both humans and the environment. The recent annual report issued by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) said that the global GMO were planted on an area of 282.4 million acres in 2007.

Stem cells: The 3-billion-dollar question
Can a state do what a country cannot, and transform the way stem-cell research is funded? Erika Check Hayden reports on the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.

Genes as the solution
In 2002, the Zambian government did something stupendously silly. It banned maize imports needed to feed its famine stricken population. Millions died as a result. The government shrugged and said the maize was “genetically modified” (GM) and therefore dangerous.

Food crisis spurs research spending
Agricultural research comes in from the cold.
Declan Butler
More than 20 United Nations development agencies joined the World Bank and the World Trade Organization this week in Bern, Switzerland, to discuss emergency humanitarian aid and other measures to combat the growing world food crisis. The World Food Programme says it needs an extra US$755 million just to meet existing needs for food aid.

Global Food Crisis / UN / Bilingual Transcript of Statements by Secretary-General, Heads of Concerned Agencies, and Response to Questions at Press Conference on Global Food CrisisGM Crops, A World View
In 2007, farmers grew more than 114 million hectares of GM crops - mainly soy, maize, cotton and canola. Here we show who grows them, who imports them and highlight the top eight countries that together produce more than 99% of the world's biotech plants.

Mass Protests against GM Crops in IndiaInterference at the EPA
Science and Politics at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Open letter to Robert B. Zoellick, President, World BankNew BT variety may push short staple cotton output.
By Kalpesh Damor
AHMEDABAD, India - If every thing falls in place, farmers will have the option of sowing a new variety of short staple BT cotton, which has seen a decline in production in recent years.

The future of agricultural biotechnology: Creative, destruction, adoption, or irrelevance? ICABR Conference 2008
Organized by International Consortium on Agricultural Biotechnology Research (ICABR) in collaboration with: CEIS - University of Rome "Tor Vergata"; Rutgers University; Yale University; University of California, Berkeley; Leibniz University of Hannover; University of Missouri; University of Saskatchewan; Wageningen University. Jun 12 - Jun 14, 2008 | Location: Ravello, Italy.

Soaring food prices and global grain shortages are bringing new pressures on governments, food companies and consumers to relax their longstanding resistance to genetically engineered crops.
In Japan and South Korea, some manufacturers for the first time have begun buying genetically engineered corn for use in soft drinks, snacks and other foods. Until now, to avoid consumer backlash, the companies have paid extra to buy conventionally grown corn. But with prices having tripled in two years, it has become too expensive to be so finicky.
“We cannot afford it,” said a corn buyer at Kato Kagaku, a Japanese maker of corn starch and corn syrup.

Prof. Kameswara Rao and Dr. Manjunath participated in the following activities

Scrutinizing Industry-Funded Science: The Crusade Against Conflicts of Interest
For approximately a century, industry has been a powerful motivating force in the creation of new technology and the underwriting of scientific research. Yet the last two decades have seen the development of a sweeping conflicts of interest movement aimed squarely at curtailing academic/industry biomedical research collaborations and restricting membership on government scientific advisory boards to researchers associated with industry.

LEADER: Nurturing nanotech
No one wants to strangle a fast-expanding young industry with regulations. The internet illustrates the benefits of allowing an exciting new technology to explode in a virtually unregulated environment. But some promising new fields are likely to grow better inside a well-constructed regulatory framework, either because they are exceptionally sensitive in moral and ethical terms or because they pose a potential hazard to health and the environment.

Center for Indigenous Knowledge for Agriculture and Rural Development
The Center for Indigenous Knowledge for Agriculture and Rural Development (CIKARD) at Iowa State University focuses its activities on preserving and using the local knowledge of farmers and other rural people around the globe.

Scientists find potential schistosomiasis treatment
Researchers have identified a compound that could potentially be used in treating schistosomiasis.

Islamic conference boosts S&T with new resolutions
The Organization of the Islamic Conference has approved several resolutions to strengthen innovation and research in the Islamic world.

Mexico publishes GM approval guidelines
Mexico has published guidelines for the approval of genetically modified organisms under its biosafety law.

Uganda 'close to stamping out Hib meningitis'
Uganda is close to eradicating Hib meningitis among young children as a result of consistent immunisation programmes.

New method 'prevents spread of GM plants'
Chinese researchers have developed a new method to prevent genetically modified crops spreading to conventional plant populations.

Social factors 'help women with post-tsunami stress'
Stress and depression in Sri Lankan mothers after the 2004 Asian tsunami can be lessened by good familial and social ties, say researchers.

Women scientists celebrated in new charter
The achievements of female scientists have been recognised with a new charter signed by past winners of the L'ORÉAL-UNESCO awards.

Sub-Saharan Africa news in brief: 13–25 March
A round up of news from or about Sub-Saharan Africa for the period 13–25 March.

Brazil creates US$18 million fund for young scientists
Brazilian funding agency CNPq has announced a new fund to help young scientists develop their careers.
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Health weeks 'powerful tools' for deworming children
A study shows that national health weeks are an efficient way of delivering deworming treatment to children in Mexico.
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Rotavirus vaccine, not treatment, 'cheaper for Panama'
A vaccination programme for rotavirus would avoid a thousand hospitalisations per year and slash medical costs in Panama, says a study.
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