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October
2005 International Biotechnology Information Conference
Dates: October 10-15, 2005
Locations: Iowa and Nebraska
This conference marked the fourth installment of an event that the Council and its partners have identifed as an opportunity for showcasing the realities of the agricultural infrastructure of the United States to international decision makers and opinion influencers.
The 2005 International Biotechnology Information Conference was held in the Mid-West grain belt, and brought together 105 decision makers and public opinion leaders from key U.S. markets, countries active on the issue of agricultural biotechnology, and important international forums.
2005 Biotech Harvest Media Tour
Dates:October 17-21, 2005
Locations: Illinois, Indiana and Ohio
A team of international journalists visited the United States for the Biotech Harvest Media Tour to learn more about the use of biotechnology in agriculture. The U.S. Grains Council sponsored the team as part of efforts to provide scientifically-based information on biotech crops to the international community.
Articles
American cereal growers celebrate their tenth harvest of GMOs
Marc Mennessier, Le Figaro, France
The very sight that greets the eye is sure to make any grassroots level anti-GMO activist tremble with sheer fright. On both sides of the short asphalt road leading up to Ron Fitchhorn's farm, located in the vicinity of Bloomington (Illinois), 200 km to the south of Chicago, fields of genetically modified corn, yellowed by the scorching sun of an Indian summer, stretch over thousands and thousands of hectares. As far as the eye can see.
American cereal growers celebrate their tenth harvest of GMOs - English translation
American cereal growers celebrate their tenth harvest of GMOs - French
Children of the Transgenic Corn
Boris Zhukov, Newsweek Russia, Russia
"...We asked scientists, university professors. They say there is still not a shred of evidence that GM crops are in any way more harmful to humans or environment than the conventional crops. We trust in the science, and as long as this is so, we shall be growing this corn. And if somebody is against GM foods as a matter of principle – they are welcome to it, but let them pay our guys for extra treatments, for the risk of losing the crops, for storing them separately from others…"
Children of the Transgenic Corn
Interview of Mr. Zlochevsky, President of the Russian Grain Union
Alex Belyaev, AiF. Na dache, Russia
Agriculture is a very conservative sector. In the entire history of mankind it has witnessed but two revolutions. The first one took place in the early 20th century when the tractor made its appearance in the field to replace the horse. The output rose, but an entire industry, horse breeding, was no more. Now we are in the throes of another revolution, with certain parties sustaining losses again. The farms that grow GM crops need far less chemicals, if any. You think those who in the early 20th century made their living by raising horses were happy to see the arrival of tractors?
See full interview
Other articles
Eiko Nakano, Nikkei Business Publications, Japan
Alex Chubenko, cbio.ru, Russia
Biotechnology for Dummies - Part 1
Biotechnology for Dummies - Part 2
Biotechnology for Dummies - Part 3
Biotechnology for Dummies - Part 4
June
2005 International Media Biotechnology Study Tour
Dates: June 19-29, 2005
Locations: Iowa and Nebraska
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; St. Louis, Missouri; Des Moines, Iowa; Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Bloomington, Illinois; Chicago, Illinois; Nashville, Tennessee
With research in the ag biotech sector burgeoning around the world, the U.S. Grains Council works to sponsor opportunities for foreign media to make firsthand observations of the management and science of agricultural biotechnology through direct contact with U.S. growers, regulators, academics, researchers and industry.
Articles
Biotechnology Opens the Door for Disease Resistant Crops
Ashraf Amin, Al-Ahram newspaper, Egypt
(Translated excerpts)
"Food may be considered as one of the most important issues to developing countries facing disease spread and population growth... Due to the decrease in agricultural land area and water shortage, modern technology must be used to rescue the world population from the ghost of starvation...
"In addition to limited arable land and water, there are health problems associated with the heavy usage of chemicals. The research centers intended to modify seed characteristics by adding some proteins which had an effective role in destroying psts and diseases without having any effect on consumers or even soil...
"The increasing interest in GMOs in the last ten years resulted in the increase of the share of new products, and there are now 8 million farmers in 17 countries using GMO grains to insure the quality of their crops."
See article in Arabic
Biotechnology for the Production of Medicine and Food
Ashraf Amin, Al-Ahram newspaper, Egypt
(Translated excerpt)
"Technology offers several scientific solutions and innovations that benefit the whole world. As such, much interest at [BIO 2005] was focused on the importance of allowing developing countries to benefit from biotechnology and transferring this important knowledge, especially in the field of preparation and manufacturing of medicine and the field of agricultural and environmental sciences..."
See article in Arabic
Corn in the USA
Julian Gairdner, Crops magazine, United Kingdom
[In 2005], the billionth acre of genetically modified crops will be harvested. Julian Gairdner sizes up the arguments for transgenic crops in a series of articles from the United States.
"I feel almost embarrassed to be unable to locate the logic that says we should resist GM cropping. But I find myself searching for it all the same. I'm suspicious. Perhaps it's the climate of fear that seems to be embedded in my psyche, a fear the Americans tell me is irrational..."
Biotech bullies or robust rationale?
GMOs take a hold on Uncle Sam
Future hinges on biotech
The hidden promise
Thomas Preusse, Agrifuture magazine, Germany
"The discussion over green gene technology has long adopted the character of a religious war. There's black and there's white, and the grey tones are fading out fast. On the front line stands the USA..."
The hidden promise
A leaner Farm Bill ahead
Europe is afraid of genes
Slawomir Zagorski, Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland
After 10 years from the moment genetically modified food was introduced to the market, researchers didn’t notice any negative influence of GMO on the human health. Despite that, Europe said “no” to the modified crops planting and according to its wish became its consumer, not producer
Europe is afraid of genes - Polish
Europe is afraid of genes - English translation
Dissident of Greenpeace defends GMO
Lucia Kassai, Gazeta Mercantil, Brazil
"The Canadian, Patrick Moore, is in favor of transgenic farming and the use of agro-chemicals, nuclear energy and biotechnology. This would be fine if Moore had not been one of the creators of Greenpeace and presided over it during the 1970’s....
Moore, who holds a Ph.D. in Ecology, participated in the 2005 International BIO Conference in Pennsylvania , where Kassai conducted an interview.
Dissident of Greenpeace defends GMO - English translation
Dissident of Greenpeace defends GMO - Portuguese
Additional articles written by Lucia Kassai:
DuPont uses corn to produce bio-fiber - English translation
DuPont uses corn to produce bio-fiber - Portuguese
The US is close to beating Brasil in Ethanol - English translation
The US is close to beating Brasil in Ethanol - Portuguese
Monsanto Bets on Barket Turnaround - English translation
Monsanto Bets on Market Turnaround - Portuguese
Combat to transgenic piracy - English
Combat to transgenic piracy - Portuguese
Africa told to promote GM foods
Dann Okoth, The Standard, Kenya
"African governments have been urged to promote biotechnology as a means to attaining food security. Speaking at the start of BIO 2005 Program in Philadelphia, Jocelyn R. Webster, the executive director of AfricaBio said lack of clear-cut legislation on agricultural biotechnology, weak linkage between scientific research and agricultural production and the myths associated with biotechnology had slowed down agricultural biotechnology introduction in the continent."
Africa told to promote GM foods
Where conventional, organic, GM farms co-exist
M.R. Subramani, The Hindu Business Line, India
"Mr. Jim Petersen, a fourth-generation farmer, can be a David or Goliath, depending on which side of the argument you are. He is neither an advocate of genetically modified (GM) organism nor for organic crops or for that matter conventional agriculture. In fact, he is a man who practices all three forms of cultivation in his huge farm of 600 acres in Knoxville, Iowa."
Where conventional, organic, GM farms co-exist
Additional articles written by M.R. Subramani:
Pioneer to breed hybrid rice strains for Indian conditions
Keen interest in bio-based materials
It's for consumers to decide on GM food: EU
It pays to grow non-GM crops
Focus shifts to drought-tolerant, health providing GM crops
Draft biotech policy aimed at reducing research time
A journey in the heart of the world of biotechnology
Lazhar Djeziri, The Nation, Algeria
The Philadelphia Convention Center welcomed, between 19 to 22 of June 2005, the annual international Convention of the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO 2005). This leading event and the inescapable appointment of the professionals of the biotechnology from all over the world, chose for its 2005 version, three slogans,: "Imagine, collaborate, innovate ". In what follows, the notes of a journey in the heart of the world of the biotechnology
A journey in the heart of the world of biotechnology - French
Additional articles written by Lazhar Djeziri:
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) - Between Myths and Realities - French
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) - Between Myths and Realities - Abstract
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