News

Cultivation of genetically modified plants: Member States should decide for themselves

EU Commission: Plans up to summer. – Amflora potato: First approval for cultivation in the EU since 1998.

March 4, 2010

TILLING: The ‘good’ alternative to genetic engineering?

A new breeding method is acceptable even to biotechnology critics. Does TILLING make genetic engineering methods superfluous for plant breeding?

February 15, 2010

India: No approval for genetically modified aubergines

Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh announces an indefinite moratorium on the cultivation of Bt brinjal and demands more public research into GM plants.

February 10, 2010

USA: Superweeds encouraged by GM plants?

Farmers in the US are increasingly facing problems with herbicide-resistant weeds. A recent study blames the problem on the cultivation of genetically modified crops.

January 11, 2010

Butterflies and moths barely affected, even with large-scale cultivation of Bt maize

Scientists from five European countries have developed a mathematical model for predicting the risk to butterflies and moths from genetically modified Bt maize.

January 7, 2010

Genetically modified canola in Australia: "Coexistence is a question of the market."

Interview with Christopher Preston at the University of Adelaide about coexistence between GM and conventional canola cultivations.

December 30, 2009

Bt-Maize: No effects on organisms in water detected in field trials

Germany/Berlin - NABU symposium: US American ecologists presented their new research results on the effects of Bt-maize on caddis flies.

December 18, 2009

"Transgenic plants for non-foods bring new challenges for their approval and for determining their coexistence."

Germany - European Joint Project on Technology Assessment of Genetically Modified Plants: An Interview with Rolf Meyer, the Coordinator of the Project

December 16, 2009

Genetically modified Bt maize in the USA: Resistance management under fire

In the USA the proportion of farmers following the resistance management requirements for genetically modified Bt maize has been declining for some years.

November 17, 2009

India: Dispute about GM aubergines

Indian environment minister puts approval on hold following heavy public protests

October 27, 2009

Coalition agreement: Plant biotechnology to receive more support

Germany/Berlin - Clear signals for research on genetically modified plants.

October 26, 2009

GMO Safety at Biotechnica

Germany/Hannover - BIOTECHNICA, Europe’s largest biotechnology exhibition closed its doors. GMO Safety was represented there for the first time and provide information on biosafety research into genetically modified plants.

October 9, 2009

Plants as a production platform: EFSA publishes guidance for risk assessments

Italy/Parma - European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has now described the risk assessment requirements for molecular farming plants in greater detail.

September 1, 2009

Western corn rootworm causes massive harvest losses in Northern Italy

Italy/Milan - In Lombardy, Italy’s main maize-growing region, the Western corn rootworm has destroyed 30 per cent of the harvest. Scientists are working on a biological method for controlling the pest.

August 21, 2009

"It's not surprising that different studies arrive at contradictory results."

USA/CA - Michelle Marvier from the University of Santa Clara recommends the establishment of central and publicly-accessible databases on biosafety research and that meta-studies should be routine in the safety assessment of genetically modified plants.

August 18, 2009

Second round table discussion on agricultural biotechnology: Schavan sees progress

Germany/Berlin - The main topics were the criticisms levelled by environmental associations at biological safety research and key areas of future agricultural and plant research in Germany.

July 23, 2009

"Little respect for scientific facts"

France/ Paris - French researchers criticise MON810 ban. They come to the conclusion that there are no scientific grounds for the cultivation bans.

July 16, 2009

Renewal application for MON810 maize: Positive assessment by EFSA

Italy/Parma - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) once again assesses genetically modified MON810 maize as safe for humans, animals and the environment.

July 1, 2009

National cultivation bans on GM plants: An end to the political deadlock in the EU?

Luxembourg - Proposal: The EU member states may be able to decide whether to permit the cultivation of genetically modified plants themselves. - Coucil meeting Environment: no formal decisions were taken

June 25, 2009

New EFSA report: Adverse effects from marker genes "unlikely"

Italy/Parma - EFSA has published a new opinion on antibiotic resistance marker genes in genetically modified plants. Based thereon, BASF has called for the EU Commission to approve Amflora.

June 13, 2009

EFSA: New members for GMO Panel

Italy/Parma - The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has revealed the names of the scientists that will sit on the GMO Panel until 2012. Four of the 21 panel members come from Germany.

June 10, 2009

Field research on genetically modified potatoes and barley to continue

Germany/Braunschweig - BVL approves more release trials with GM plants.

June 8, 2009

Apple trees destroyed

Germany/Dresden-Pillnitz - Biotechnology battle: Plants growing under cover destroyed for the first time.

June 3, 2009

German ban on cultivating genetically modified MON810 maize in 2009 is final

Germany/Lüneburg - Higher Administrative Court in Lüneburg upholds ruling by lower court. Decision in main court proceedings due in the autumn.

May 29, 2009

No concrete results, but "the prelude to a new dialogue"

Germany/Berlin - Round table discussions on agricultural biotechnology with 30 representatives from science, associations, politics and churches to be continued. Research and Agriculture Ministers Schavan and Aigner pleased with the results.

May 20, 2009

Nobel Laureate Nüsslein-Volhard: "The ban on cultivating Bt maize sends an alarming signal."

Germany/Berlin - DFG/DLG memorandum on crop biotechnology: Dependable legal and social framework requested.

May 13, 2009

Braunschweig administrative court upholds MON810 ban

Germany - Monsanto’s urgent appeal rejected.

May 5, 2009

"This will have consequences for Germany as a research location."

Germany/Braunschweig - MON810 cultivation ban.: What does the MON810 ban mean for the future of biosciences in Germany? GMO Safety spoke to the VBIO President, Rudi Balling.

May 4, 2009

"Our experiments only make sense if we use Bt maize."

Germany/Braunschweig - After the ban on cultivating Bt maize line MON810: Can the research programme of the BMELV on coexistence continue in 2009? GMO Safety spoke to Gerhard Rühl, coordinator of the research programme.

April 30, 2009

Protesters moved from trial field in Braunschweig

Germany/Braunschweig - Research into the biological safety of genetically modified plants can continue.

April 28, 2009

Mexico: Traces of GM maize confirmed

Mexico - New discussion about consequences for landraces. Mexican government authorises experimental planting of GM maize.

March 11, 2009

"It undermines the credibility of biosafety research."

Germany/Berlin - German agriculture minister Aigner to consider ban on Bt maize MON810

February 20, 2009

French government sticks to ban on cultivating MON810 GM maize

Belgium/Brussels - EU Commission: Ban illegitimate. Surveyor controversy in France.

February 19, 2009

Genetic engineering and protected areas: ‘1000 m is the radius within which a more detailed assessment is needed.’

Germany/Braunschweig - GMO Safety spoke to Ulrike Middelhoff of the Federal Office of Consumer Protection and Food Safety (BVL).

January 7, 2009

Does GM maize cause impotence? EFSA experts voice doubts

Italy/Parma - EFSA disputes the results of the Austrian long-term feeding study with GM maize. Futher data is needed.

December 12, 2008

Approval of genetically modified plants in the EU: No major changes for the time being

Belgium/Brussels - The Council of EU Environment Ministers has adopted the resolution on plant genetic engineering. Risk assessment guidelines: general revision by 2010. - Regional bans on cultivation: only on scientific basis

December 4, 2008

10th global meeting of biosafety researchers in Wellington, New Zealand

250 participants from 34 countries are discussing research outcomes on the environmental safety of genetically modified plants

November 17, 2008

"GM maize causes impotence" Or: How a scientific study is used for political motives.

Austria/Vienna - Long-term feeding trial with mice: Fewer offspring in the third and fourth litters. Scientists warn against hasty generalisations.

November 13, 2008

EFSA: "No new evidence to justify a ban on cultivation."

Italy/Parma - EFSA opinion on the ban on cultivating MON810 maize in France – new studies on GM maize Bt11 and 1507: EFSA reaffirms risk assessment

November 3, 2008

Nobel Prize for fluorescent protein

Sweden/Stockholm - Wide range of applications: In biosafety research projects the GFP gene is used as a test system.

October 8, 2008

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