By Clive James, Founder and Chair of ISAAA

Due to significant benefits, strong growth continued in 2011 with a double-digit increase of 12 million hectares, at an annual growth rate of 8%, reaching 160 million hectares, up from 148 million hectares in 2010.

Of the 29 countries planting biotech crops in 2011, 19 were developing and 10 were industrial countries. The top 10 countries each grew more than one million hectares and they provide a broad-based, worldwide foundation for diversified growth in the future.

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Tag-uri: ISAAA|global status of biotech crops|GM-crops|GMO facts

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published guidance for the risk assessment of food and feed derived from GM animals and on related animal health and welfare aspects. The document outlines specific data requirements and the methodology to be followed for risk assessment should applications for food and feed derived from GM animals be submitted for market authorisation in the European Union (EU).

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Tag-uri: GM-animals|GMO|GM-food|GM-feed|risk assessment|EU|EFSA|guidelines

Global Industry Coalition prezintă ghidul explicativ – “White Paper”: “PROTOCOLUL DE LA CARTAGENA PRIVIND BIOSECURITATEA: OMC-Consistenţa Restricţiilor la Import care Iau în Calcul Considerentele Socio-Economice”

Protocolul de la Cartagena privind Biosecuritatea (PCB) permite părţilor semnatare la PCB să ia în calcul anumite considerente socio-economice (CSE) în luarea de decizii cu privire la organismele vii modificate (OVM). PCB încurajează de asemenea Părţile să coopereze în domeniul cercetării şi schimbului de informaţii cu privire la impactele socio-economice, şi Părţile au iniţiat o serie de activităţi de promovare de asemenea cooperări.

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Tag-uri: Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety|WTO|Socio-economic considerations|Living Modified Organisms

January 16, 2012 5:46 pm

BASF, the German chemical giant, is to pull out of genetically modified plant development in Europe and relocate it to the US, where political and consumer resistance to GM crops is not so entrenched.

The headquarters of BASF Plant Science will move from Limburgerhof in south-west Germany to Raleigh, North Carolina, and two smaller sites in Germany and Sweden will close. The company will transfer some GM crop development to the US but stop work on crops targeted at the European market – four varieties of potato and one of wheat. The decision was based on seeing "no business sense to continue investing in products exclusively for cultivation in this market."

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Tag-uri: ban on GMO|BASF|European Union|Genetic engineering

Dr. Niklaus Ammann publishes a brochure ( final text to be issued in Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology, Springer) “The GM crop risk-benefit debate: science and socio-economics - a plea for a new regulatory system for a modern agriculture”.

In the view of extensive treaty on the GM debate: It is difficult to continue with a reform of the regulatory system within the Cartagena Protocol, although theoretically possible and certain articles would allow for substantial change towards a more science based system.

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Tag-uri: GM-crops|Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety|risk and benefit|regulations|Science and society

Monsanto's genetically engineered, drought resistant corn is deregulated, the U.S. Agriculture Department said Thursday, clearing the variety for sale.

USDA approved the variety after reviewing environmental and risk assessments, public comments and research data from Monsanto.

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Tag-uri: GM-corn|drought resistance|approvals|Mosanto|MON 87460

The aim of this systematic review was to collect data concerning the effects of diets containing GM maize, potato, soybean, rice, or triticale on animal health. We examined 12 long-term studies (of more than 90 days, up to 2 years in duration) and 12 multigenerational studies (from 2 to 5 generations). We referenced the 90-day studies on GM feed for which long-term or multigenerational study data were available…”

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Tag-uri: biosafety|GM-feed|GM-food|safety assessment