Scientists: GM crops created superweed
The Guardian, July 25, 2005 (UK)

Modified genes from crops in a GM crop trial have transferred into local wild plants, creating a form of herbicide-resistant "superweed."
The cross-fertilisation between GM oilseed rape, a brassica, and a distantly related plant, charlock, had been discounted as virtually impossible by scientists with the environment department. Since charlock seeds can remain in the soil for 20 to 30 years before they germinate, once GM plants have produced seeds it would be almost impossible to eliminate them.
Brian Johnson, an ecological geneticist and member of the government's specialist scientific group which assessed the farm trials, has no doubt of the significance. "You only need one event in several million. As soon as it has taken place the new plant has a huge selective advantage. That plant will multiply rapidly."
Full item: http://www.GEinfo.org.nz/082005/01.html

Suspected GM maize costly to trace
NZ Herald, July 29, 2005 (New Zealand)

[A] giant silo of potentially GM-contaminated maize worth around $300,000 that suddenly no one wants is sitting at an Auckland food manufacturer's plant while an investigation swings into action to trace its origins.
Agriculture supply company Wrightson contracted farmers to grow the grain and is stuck with it, forced to take any financial hit if further tests show it's GM.
"Everyone has been shocked and stunned because (the positive test for GM) was just so foreign to what we thought would happen," said spokeswoman Annette Campbell. Wrightson now had the massive job of trying to trace every potential seedline that went into the silo and from there back to every individual farmer who grew it. "It's pretty stressful. The track and trace problem is initially going to be expensive. It's a huge task," she said.
Food manufacturer Penford's contract to buy the maize was now invalid, said national sales manager Martin Brayshaw. "We don't want it... We would expect to receive GM-free corn. That's what we undertake to supply to our customers."
Federated Farmers Maize Growers Committee member Colin MacKinnon said it was critical New Zealand remained GM-free.
Full item: http://www.GEinfo.org.nz/082005/02.html

Sixth Bt10 shipment found; Syngenta to pay
Bridges Trade BioRes, Vol. 5 No. 14, July 22, 2005 (Japan)

On 13 July the Japanese government found a sixth import shipment of US grain feed that was contaminated with unapproved GM corn strain Bt-10. Japan has a zero-tolerance policy for unapproved GM imports and any shipments found with Bt-10 must either be destroyed or shipped back to the US.
Japan has been testing imports of US grain feed since 23 May as a result of the discovery in March that US exports of approved GM corn strain Bt-11, created by biotech company Syngenta, had been unintentionally contaminated by the company's unapproved Bt-10.
The same day, Syngenta agreed to pay additional costs incurred by US grain exporters and Japanese importers to test cargoes for Bt-10.
Full item: http://www.GEinfo.org.nz/082005/03.html

Conference proceedings on GM insects
Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology, July 11, 2005 (USA)

In September 2004 the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology hosted an international conference to explore the scientific and public policy issues surrounding the potential release of genetically modified insects. Participants and attendees included some of the leading experts working in the field including scientists, policy makers, public interest groups, journalists and others interested in the application of genetic engineering technology to insects.
Over the course of two days, the assembled group shared information about ongoing research, outlined regulatory processes or (in many cases) the need for regulatory clarity and the many ethical concerns which will need to be considered before GM insects can be released.
Proceedings and highlights from the conference can be viewed at: http://pewagbiotech.org/events/0920/
Full item: http://www.GEinfo.org.nz/082005/04.html

GM canola creates foreign customer concerns
ABC Queensland, July 18, 2005 (Australia)

Australian canola crushers are fielding a large number of inquiries from concerned overseas customers since the identification of GM canola in an export shipment.
Grain exporter ABB Grain Limited detected low levels of GM seed in a small consignment of canola sourced from Victoria.
Pete Macsmith from Macsmith Milling in New South Wales says the Japanese in particular have been sending a lot of emails. "A mountain of it would maybe be the best way to describe it," he said. "What this is all about is that whatever part in the supply chain you fulfil, it's about giving them what they want, otherwise none of us have a market."
Full item: http://www.GEinfo.org.nz/082005/05.html

Ghana stops importation of GM foods
Ghanaian Chronicle (Accra), July 28, 2005 (Ghana)

Ghana has taken a strong stance against the importation and cultivation of GM foods in Ghana.
The Food and Agriculture minister, Mr. Ernest Debrah said the country would reject, without hesitation, the importation of any GM foods, crops and materials into the country although it might solve the famine problems being experienced.
Full item: http://www.GEinfo.org.nz/082005/06.html

Brazil GMO sales start slowly; royalties cited
Reuters, July 25, 2005 (Brazil)

Sales of GMO soybean seeds for next harvest, which were legalized earlier this year in Brazil, are very slow, industry sources said. Farmers' financial difficulties and royalties charged by Monsanto Co. are seen as the main reasons.
Coodetec, Brazil's biggest producer of GM seeds has sold less than 10 percent of its seeds, compared with 90 percent at the same time last year, said Ivo Carraro, executive director of Coodetec, adding that low soy prices, weak dollar and crop losses due to drought had squeezed farmers' purchases.
Full item: http://www.GEinfo.org.nz/082005/07.html

Science blase on terror
Times Higher Education Supplement, July 15, 2005 (UK)

Group interviews with more than 600 life scientists from 26 UK universities indicated that the majority of academics believe that terrorism is not their problem and research should not be restricted because of potential misuse.
Dr Brian Rappert, a sociologist from Exeter University who conducted the interviews, said that many scientists were insulted to be asked about bioterrorism. Focus groups suggested that the "classic" scientist type saw little indication of threat from bioterrorism and biological weapons, and did not feel that life sciences developments contributed to increased risks. [He] said: "Research into infectious disease should prompt security questions. Could that information become useful in spreading disease?"
Government chief scientific adviser Sir David King has begun trialling a seven-point code of conduct for all scientists - an extra layer of bureaucracy likely to spark resentment in the science community. The code, a "Hippocratic oath" for scientists, stresses "rigour, respect and responsibility".
Full item: http://www.GEinfo.org.nz/082005/08.html

UN body urges caution over GM trees
SciDev.net, July 23, 2005 (UN)

Increasing use of biotechnology in the forestry sector has led the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to call for an international framework to assess the safety of GM trees before they are commercialised. Overall, genetic modification activities in forestry are taking place in at least 35 countries, with the vast majority of research still restricted to the laboratory, said the FAO.
Both the timber and paper industries could benefit from such research, says the FAO. It warns, however, against rushing to commercialise GM trees before conducting environmental risk assessments according to protocols agreed upon nationally and internationally. "The issue goes beyond the country level, since pollen flow and seed dispersal do not take account of national boundaries," says Pierre Sigaud, a forest genetic resources expert at FAO.
Sigaud adds that a lack of reliable information makes it difficult to reach conclusions on the potential impacts of GM forests. "The economic value of forest products in global trade is far less than that of agricultural products, and an economic rationale for employing biotechnology in forestry has not yet been clearly demonstrated."
Full item: http://www.GEinfo.org.nz/082005/09.html

US - Cyprus ties could suffer over GMO plan
Reuters, July 6, 2005 (Cyprus)

A plan by Cyprus to put GM food on separate supermarket shelves angered the United States on Wednesday, as Washington warned the move could harm bilateral ties.
The US had sent a letter to the Cypriot parliament warning that the move by the EU country would stigmatise biotech goods and could contravene Cyprus' obligations as a World Trade Organisation member, deputies said. Under EU legislation, each state is free to display biotech food as it wishes.
Full item: http://www.GEinfo.org.nz/082005/10.html