28/February/22

 

China's salt-tolerant "seawater rice" has once again made headlines, with assertions that it could feed 80 million people. GMWatch readers have questioned whether this salt-tolerant rice is GM. But in fact, it is the product of a successful conventional breeding programme. In an important caveat, however, researchers are reportedly attempting to introduce GM into the programme. GMWatch

 

 

Researchers in Brazil have published a paper documenting the escape and successful reproduction of GM aquarium fish in the wild. The escape of the "Glofish", which contain a gene from the jellyfish family to make them fluorescent, has unknown consequences for freshwater systems in Brazil. This is the first documented case of a genetically engineered animal breeding in the wild. “The escape of Glofish should be a big wake-up call for Canadian regulators”, says Mark Butler, senior advisor with Nature Canada. “Nature Canada is calling on Canada to strengthen our law that regulates genetically engineered animals.” Nature Canada

 

 

Yesterday, activists from Greenpeace France led an action in front of the doors of the Paris International Agricultural Show to ask the candidates to the presidential election to demand a strict and unique regulation of all GMOs. They announced that the future French president, if he or she wants to be credible in their will to promote sustainable agriculture, must commit to hold a firm position in the coming European negotiations, in favour of strict regulations for all GMO, both old and new style. Otherwise, new GMOs could tomorrow invade our fields and plates, without traceability, endangering public health and the environment. Confédération paysanne supported the action. At the entrance to the Exhibition Centre where the show was held, two activists unfurled a giant banner nearly 10 meters long on which was written "For a sustainable agriculture - No to new GMOs". @GMWatch on Twitter