A peer review expert group composed of scientists from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and representatives of risk assessment bodies in EU Member States have finalized the reassessment of glyphosate. The report concludes that glyphosate is unlikely to be genotoxic (damaging to DNA), or to pose a carcinogenic hazard to humans, and proposes a new safety measure that will tighten the control of glyphosate residues in food. Continue reading…

Source: Crop Biotech Update (Nov 18 2015 Issue)

In spite of the rapid adoption of genetically modified (GM) crops in some countries, the use of this technology remains contentious. Public opposition and overregulation have become real threats to further developments in modern plant sciences. It is widely believed that GM crops are bad for human health, damage the environment, and hurt smallholder farmers in developing countries, but research shows that the opposite is true. Continue Reading…

Source: Crop Biotech Update (Nov 18 2015 Issue)

Researchers from The University of Queensland in Australia have identified a keygene in barley that allows the plant to get water stored deep in the soil duringdrought. Dr. Lee Hickey from the Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation said that the gene promoted narrow root growth, which allowed the plant to grow roots that penetrate down to water stored deep within the soil. Continue reading…

Source: Crop Biotech Update  (www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate)

A draft amendment to China’s Seed Law was submitted to the legislature for a second reading at the start of the bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the 12th National People’s Congress on October 30, 2015. The amendment removes the barriers for those applying for a seed production and trade license as the government hopes to stimulate innovation at the industry-level so China can compete with other countries. Continue reading…

Source: Crop Biotech Update  (www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate)

The European Parliament rejected the draft EU law that allows any EU member state to ban or restrict the sale or use of EU-approved GM product in its territory. Members are concerned that if the law is approved, it would lead to reintroduction of border checks between pro- and anti-GMO countries. They asked the Commission to draft a new proposal about the issue. Continue reading…

Source: Crop Biotech Update  (www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate)

Source: Crop Biotech Update

The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) has requested to withdraw the backup seeds that they deposited in the Svalbard Global Seed Vault to restart their collection away from the ongoing conflict in their previous home in Aleppo, Syria. ICARDA is currently based in Beirut, Lebanon, and requesting seeds from their gene bank in Aleppo is getting more and more difficult.

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