News

Quality standards for safety research – Environmental groups pull out

Biosafety research was at the heart of the fourth round table on plant genetics at Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). As always, opinion differ widely on the subject. The environmental groups pulled out of the meeting shortly before it was due to be held on 7 July 2010 in Berlin. (Jul 8, 2010) mehr…

Cultivation of genetically modified crops: European Commission plans renationalisation

On 13 July the European Commission will decide on new regulations for plant genetic engineering. The key issue is that EU member states are to be granted the freedom to ban the cultivation of genetically modified crops on their own territory. (Jul 6, 2010) mehr…

„The phenomenon is as old as crop protection itself“

In China and USA were a number of reports of secondary pests in Bt plants. Their natural competitors have been decimated through cultivation of Bt maize. Does the cultivation of Bt crops entail risks that have been overlooked until now? Questions put to Johannes Jehle. (Jun 10, 2010) mehr…

Schavan: „Applying all research methods for safeguarding world food – also gene technology“

For the third time, the Federal Minister for Research, Annette Schavan held a round table discussion on plant genetics in Berlin. This time the topic was the safeguarding world food and the demands on agricultural and plant research that arose from this. (Jun 9, 2010) mehr…

EU makes decision on approval, countries on cultivation

The EU Commission has apparently finalised the long-awaited new regulations for approval and cultivation of genetically modified plants. On 13 July 2010, voting is meant to take place on the proposals drawn up by the consumer protection commissioner John Dalli. (Jun 8, 2010) mehr…

Release of genetically modified eucalyptus approved

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved field trials with 200,000 genetically modified eucalyptus trees in seven states. The trials are testing new traits: male sterility, cold resistance and a lower lignin content. (May 26, 2010) mehr…

Long-term study: Cultivation of Bt maize does not affect earthworms

Earthworms are not affected by genetically modified Bt maize even after several years of cultivation. - Ecologists from the USA and Switzerland have investigated the effects of different Bt maize lines on the earthworm populations. (May 18, 2010) mehr…

“The impact of transgenes is basically limited to their immediate function”

Conventional breeding causes more changes in plants than genetic engineering, a fact demonstrated in barley plants by scientists from Nuremberg and Giessen. Uwe Sonnewald discusses the research findings. (Apr 19, 2010) mehr…

USA: Genetically modified plants have the potential to reduce ecological damage

The National Academy in the USA has published studies on Green gene technology. GM plants are beneficial for both farmers and the environment. Long-term advantages can only be achieved through appropriate culivation techniques. (Apr 15, 2010) mehr…

Resistant pests found in India

Scientists working in the Indian state of Gujarat have discovered resistant pests in Bt cotton fields. Indian experts are now calling for more efficient measures to prevent or at least slow down a further spread of the resistance. (Mar 16, 2010) mehr…

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Updated: Interactive maize field

Genetically modified Bt maize: A risk for bees, butterflies, earthworms…?

Coexistence: Countries can order „gene technology free zones“

On 13 July 2010, the EU commission decided on new guidelines for coexistence. These mark a turning point in the European policy on gene technology. Essentially, the Member States are now allowed to enforce their own concept of ‘Coexistence’. Whereas previously ‘gene technology-free zones were only possible on the basis of voluntary agreements, Countries may now prohibit the cultivation of certain genetically modified plants.

Research Live

cleistogamic and conventional oilseed rape

„After this year we will know whether cleistogamic oilseed rape is a suitable method for the biological containment of foreign genes.“

A flowering oilseed rape field near Braunschweig: While one half of the field glows bright yellow, the other half looks somewhat paler. This half is being used to grow cleistogamic oilseed rape, i.e. plants with flowers that do not open. The idea is to prevent the plants from releasing pollen into the environment. This trait could be used in future for the biological containment of foreign genes in genetically modified oilseed rape plants. This field trial is designed to show whether the method works in practice. more

Research Live

After havesting, the plant residue remaining on the field is collected at different time points to investigate the decomposition of the mulch and the microorganisms involved.

Maize litter and micro-organisms

It is the middle of April and there is stubble as far as the eye can see. There are still a few weeks left until the next crop of maize will be sown and the trial field lies abandoned. Scientists from Müncheberg have arrived to collect samples of the maize litter that was left on the field after the harvest last autumn. They are investigating whether the cultivation of Bt maize has an impact on soil-dwelling bacteria and fungi that break down maize litter. more

News

“The impact of transgenes is basically limited to their immediate function”

It is often maintained that genetic interventions may have unintended consequences for the metabolism of modified plants and by implication for human health and the environment as well. A recently completed research project compared gene expression and plant substances in different conventional and transgenic barley lines. GMO Safety discussed the findings with Uwe Sonnewald, one of the project leaders.more

Research Live

Pollen diet for caterpillars

January 2010. It is below freezing outside, but in a greenhouse at RWTH Aachen University winter has been kept at bay and clouds of butterflies are fluttering about in a carefully controlled atmosphere in a large tent-like net. Mechthild Schuppener has succeeded in establishing a breeding programme for small tortoiseshell butterflies. She needs small caterpillars for feeding experiments that she is conducting in the laboratory. She is trying to find out whether genetically modified Bt maize is harmful to butterflies.more

Debate

Feed the world: With or without genetic engineering?

16 October is World Food Day. The FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), which established World Food Day in 1979, will be drawing attention to the fact that one billion people are now suffering from hunger and malnourishment. The UN’s millennium goal of halving the number of hungry people by 2015 is probably no longer attainable for a number of different reasons, ranging from population growth and water scarcity to climate change and the economic crisis. Can plant biotechnology play a role in reducing hunger and poverty? GMO Safety asked two experts. more