British plant scientists plan to field test a new variety of barley that is designed to co-operate with beneficial fungi in the soil. If the tests are successful, it could pave the way for wheat, oats and other crops that pull more nitrogen and phosphorus from the soil. This month in England, researchers from the […] Read more
Tag Archives GM technology — page 2
Racing to be China’s Monsanto
BEIJING (Reuters) — As China prepares to open its $120 billion corn market to genetically modified seed, little-known Dabeinong Biotechnology hopes to reap the benefits of early biotech investments and a law keeping foreign firms on the sidelines. The long-anticipated commercialization of GM corn in the world’s second largest producer is set to significantly boost […] Read more
China plans to focus on growing GM crops
SHANGHAI/BEIJING (Reuters) — China will industrialize biotech breeding as part of a campaign to improve food security, top leaders said in a recent policy statement, signalling Beijing could soon take a further step toward commercializing genetically modified crops. According to a statement issued after the annual Central Economic Work Conference held on Dec. 16-18, China […] Read more
Percy and me
This isn’t a post about Percy Schmeiser, the real-life Bruno, Sask. farmer, and me, the Western Producer reporter. This is about Percy the Myth, now of Hollywood movie fame (played by Christopher Walken,) and me, the Western Producer reporter. I’ve never much engaged with the mythology of Percy, who became a cause celebre for anti-genetically […] Read more
U.K. farmers want GM tech: poll
British farmers want genetically modified technology. But do British consumers want GM food? A poll by Farmers Guardian, an agricultural newspaper in the United Kingdom, found that three-quarters of British farmers want to use GM technology for their crops and livestock. The newspaper asked the following question to 750 producers: Would you use GM crop […] Read more
Analysis: Public must support gene-editing revolution
Gene editing has the potential to change agriculture, but only if consumers believe it’s a beneficial technology
Experts believe gene editing of crops has more potential than genetic modification or conventional plant breeding. That’s the finding of a University of Saskatchewan research paper, published March 4. It’s important that experts, academics, government officials and agri-business professionals believe in the power of gene-editing technology, but their opinion really doesn’t matter. Gene editing will […] Read more
New GM technique promises to speed new crop development
Scientists in the United States say they have found a new method for inserting genes into crops that could speed up development of new varieties. “Making genetic improvements that were difficult or impossible before will be much easier because we can now insert not just one or two genes, but multiple genes into a plant […] Read more
Monsanto appeals to India’s top court over GM cotton patents
NEW DELHI (Reuters) – Monsanto Co has appealed to India’s Supreme Court against a ruling by the Delhi High Court which decreed last month that the world’s biggest seed maker cannot claim patents on its GM cotton seeds, a company spokesman said on Friday. The Delhi High Court last month concurred with Indian seed company […] Read more
U.S. scientist sues New York Times over Monsanto allegations
Kevin Folta, a University of Florida horticultural scientist, is suing the New York Times for libel. Folta, a vocal defender of pesticides and genetically modified technology, filed the lawsuit in early September at a U.S. District Court in Florida. The libel case stems from a front page New York Times story, published Sept. 6, 2015. […] Read more
UK royals in sibling rivalry? Princess Anne touts GMO benefits
LONDON, U.K. (Reuters) — Britain’s Princess Anne may have sparked a royal sibling rivalry after saying genetically modified crops had real benefits to offer, putting her at odds with her older brother Charles, who says they would be an environmental disaster. In an interview with BBC radio, Anne said she would grow GM crops on […] Read more
