Ag, biotech and trade news of interest this week (Mai 16)

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Eitemau newyddion yn ymwneud â biotechnoleg gofy, trade ? and perhaps some other interesting items out there related to agriculture ? will be posted on this page throughout the week (newly added items will be in gwyrdd ar waelod yr adrannau). ?Be sure to check in regularly!

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On Tuesday, Mai 17 The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released an exhaustive report, Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects. ?Below are several articles based on the report:

  • Distinction Between Genetic Engineering and Conventional Plant Breeding Becoming Less Clear, Says New Report on GE Crops, The National Academies of Sciences
  • Genetically Engineered Crops Are Safe, Analysis Finds, Y New York Times
  • Are GMO crops safe? Focus on the plant, not the process, scientists say, Washington Post
  • Adroddiad: GMO crops not harmful to humans, but weed resistance is a problem, Chicago Tribune
  • Study finds no adverse heath effects from genetically engineered crops, The Hill
  • Modified Crops Not Seen Adding to Human Health Risks, Study Says, Bloomberg
  • U.S.. panel releases consensus on genetically engineered crops, Science
  • National Academy of Sciences Report Finds no Food Safety or Human Health Impacts from GE Crops, CSPI
  • NAS GM crops report will ‘provide fodder for friends and foes of GE,’ says plant scientist, Llywiwr Bwyd UDA

MASNACH:

Greece to block TTIP unless geographical indications are protectedEurActiv – Gan?Sarantis Michalopoulos (Mai 13)

The Greek government is ready to veto the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) between the US and the EU unless it ensures increased protection for key agricultural?geographical indicators.

Dolen:?http://www.euractiv.com/section/trade-society/news/greece-to-block-ttip-unless-geographical-indications-are-protected/

TTIP trade deal under threat over the Feta factoreuronews (Mai 16)

Dolen:?http://www.euronews.com/2016/05/16/ttip-trade-deal-under-threat-over-the-feta-factor/

Farmers need support to adapt to the TPP, say expertsViet Nam News (Mai 14)

Experts said the most important thing at present was raising awareness of farmers about the opportunities and challenges of the TPP, so that they will aim to increase productivity and product quality.

Dolen:?http://vietnamnews.vn/society/296757/farmers-need-support-to-adapt-to-the-tpp-say-experts.html

Africa urged to dismantle trade, movement barriers to spur growthDaily Mail (DU) / Reuters -?By Duncan Miriri and Clement Uwiringiyimana (Mai 13)

Dolen:?http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-3589098/Africa-urged-dismantle-trade-movement-barriers-spur-growth.html

EU defends US free trade deal amid growing oppositionLivemint (India) / AFP (Mai 13)

A historic free trade deal between Europe and the US could be reached if members states endorse it, says EU trade chief Cecilia Malmstroem

Dolen:?http://www.livemint.com/Politics/A7L6FihRkBikBDrBJK0TmL/EU-defends-US-free-trade-deal-amid-growing-opposition.html

Obama?s Pivot to Asia Staggers as Trade Deal Stalls in Congress – Bloomberg – By Angela Greiling Keane (Mai 15)

Defense Secretary Ash Carter has said he would prefer the trade agreement over another carrier battle group in the Pacific.

Dolen:?http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2016-05-15/obama-s-pivot-to-asia-staggers-as-trade-deal-stalls-in-congress

Trade policy issues are blurring old lines, turning politics in 2016 inside outKansas City StarBy Dave Helling (Mai 14)

Candidates and voters in both major parties appear to be switching long-held positions on trade policy: Free-trade Republicans are becoming protectionist, while some Democrats are moving the opposite direction on exports and imports.

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics-government/article77675362.html#storylink=cpy

Millennials Get Free Trade, Why Doesn?t Anyone Else?Investor’s Business Daily, Editorial (Mai 13)

A new survey shows that the so-called millennial generation is the only one that thinks free trade is a good thing. So why is it that both political parties are shunning this huge voting block?”

Dolen:?http://www.investors.com/politics/editorials/millennials-get-free-trade-why-doesnt-anyone-else/

Imports work for AmericaThe Hill (blog) – By Steve Lamar, contributor (Mai 13)

“Yn anffodus, the American public knows little about U.S. imports ? often overlooked in U.S. trade policy ? and the important role they play in our lives. Rather, lots of attention is devoted to U.S. exports and the jobs and opportunities they create

Dolen:?http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/finance/279788-imports-work-for-america

Why grain farmers support the TPP trade?dealNational Post (Canada) – By Levi Wood and Jim Wickett (Mai 16)

There might be protectionist rhetoric coming from both political parties in the U.S. today, but that?s no reason for Canada to not move forward and lead on this critical issue.

Dolen:?http://news.nationalpost.com/full-comment/why-grain-farmers-support-the-tpp-trade-deal

**Nodyn: Levi Wood is a member of the Rhwydwaith Byd-eang Farmer

Cloak of Secrecy Fuels Anxiety Over Trans-Atlantic Trade Talks – New York Times – By Celestine Bohlen (Mai 16)

Dolen:?http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/17/world/europe/ttip-eu-us-trade-deal.html

US beef arrives in South Africa?- GlobalMeatNews -?By Oscar Rousseau (Mai 17)

The first shipment of US beef has arrived in South Africa, after an ?intense? and long-running trade dispute between both nations was resolved in January.

Govt says domestic agriculture to ?go on offensive? under TPPThe Japan News / Jiji Press (Mai 17)

Japan will go on the offensive in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fisheries by taking advantage of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade pact, a government white paper on agriculture said Tuesday.

Dolen:?http://the-japan-news.com/news/article/0002952327

Trade Is a National Security Imperative – Cyfnodolyn Wall Street – By Robert B. Zoellick (Mai 16)

Abandoning the Pacific pact will tell America?s Asian allies that the U.S. is yielding to China. They will accommodate accordingly.

Dolen:?http://www.wsj.com/articles/trade-is-a-national-security-imperative-1463440063

Anti-trade rhetoric not denting U.S. trade chief’s hopes for TPP vote – Reuters – By Mitra Taj (Mai 17)

Dolen:?http://www.reuters.com/article/us-trade-tpp-froman-idUSKCN0Y82PC

ARALL:

Marketing Ploy May Mean Moving Ag Backwards?AgInfo.netBy KayDee Gilkey (Mai 12)

We make all of these amazing innovations and then we preclude them from being used. This is not helping with overall food productions? footprint ? it is going the wrong way.?

Dolen:?http://www.aginfo.net/index.cfm/event/report/id/Open-Range-34051

The Meaninglessness of ‘Healthy’ bwyd: Six Ways Labels Need to Change – Bloomberg – Gan Deena Shanker (Mai 12)

Dolen:?http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-12/the-meaninglessness-of-healthy-food-six-ways-labels-need-to-change

The Harm in Blindly ?Going Gluten Free?The AtlanticBy James Hamblin (Mai 16)

Dolen:?http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2016/05/celiac-vs-gluten/482676/

Zimbabwe DroughtFive Million Face Food ShortageallAfrica / Al Jazeera (Mai 16)

Dolen:?http://allafrica.com/stories/201605170129.html

Lessons from fighting a droughtLivemint (India) – By NS Ramnath (Mai 17)

Seven learnings on how droughts can be managed to take the sting out of the phenomena

Dolen:?http://www.livemint.com/Politics/HrOM4GiBI0vQJpCDfejhkN/Lessons-from-fighting-a-drought.html

**Nodyn: V.. Ravichandran in the article is a member of the Global Farmer Network?and recipient of the 2013 Gwobr Kleckner.

RHEOLWR, GOV’T:

EPA faces second U.S. lawmakers investigation into glyphosate review – Reuters – By P.J. Huffstutter (Mai 13)

A second group of lawmakers is investigating the U.S. Asiantaeth Diogelu'r Amgylchedd (EPA) over its review of glyphosate, questioning why it withdrew a report that said the chemical in the world’s most widely used weed killer was likely not carcinogenic.

Dolen:?http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-glyphosate-epa-idUSKCN0Y42GV

Congress Questions EPA on Glyphosate, Atrazine – AgWeb – By Alison Rice (Mai 13)

Members are also frustrated by the pace of EPA?s process. ?We are concerned that EPA has continually delayed its review of glyphosate,? the letter said.

Dolen:?http://www.agweb.com/article/congress-questions-epa-on-glyphosate-atrazine-naa-alison-rice/

Senate strengthens flood control, waterways infrastructure -?Delta Farm Press – Gan?Forrest Laws?(Mai 13)

Dolen:?http://deltafarmpress.com/government/senate-strengthens-flood-control-waterways-infrastsructure

Judge strikes down GMO ban in Oregon?s Josephine CountyCapital PressBy Mateusz Perkowski (Mai 16)

Dolen:?http://www.capitalpress.com/Oregon/20160516/judge-strikes-down-gmo-ban-in-oregons-josephine-county

Glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer: WHO/FAO committee?- Food Navigator -?By Niamh Michail?(Mai 17)

Monsanto Cancels Plan to Sell GMO Seed in Argentina – Cyfnodolyn Wall Street – By Jacob Bunge and Taos Turner (Mai 17)

“[T.]he government?s actions were ?not consistent? with its past promises to support intellectual property rights and private agreements.

Dolen:?http://www.wsj.com/articles/monsanto-cancels-plan-to-sell-gmo-seed-in-argentina-1463523453

Argentine farmers urge gov’t to clinch GMO deal with MonsantoSt. Louis Post-DispatchBy Hugh Bronstein, Reuters (Mai 18)

Dolen:?http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/article_04cdc8e2-ac23-550a-9315-6c6703106555.html

Errors, Bias And Conflicts Of Interest Make UN Agency Contender For Worst Regulator Ever – Forbes.com – By Henry I. Miller (Mai 18)

Because of its [glyphosate] association with genetic engineering, activists hate it and have long tried to raise safety concerns about the chemical.

Dolen:?http://www.forbes.com/sites/henrymiller/2016/05/18/bias-hidden-agendas-and-conflicts-of-interest-make-un-agency-contender-for-worst-regulator-ever/#565171bf609a

Stalemate at EU glyphosate talks, no vote taken?- Feed Navigator -?By Jane Byrne (Mai 19)

The glyphosate dossier is to be handed over to the Commission, following on from the PAFF committee’s failure today to generate a vote on the controversial herbicide.

Health Canada and Canadian Food Inspection Agency approve AquAdvantage Salmon?Government of Canada (Mai 19)

AquAdvantage Genetically Modified Salmon Found to be Safe as a Food and a Livestock Feed

Dolen:?http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?mthd=index&crtr.page=2&nid=1068309

BIOTECH:

Mysuru institute tests GM, disease-resistant silkwormsThe Times of India (Mai 15)

According to a textile ministry document, the genetically modified wormscan prevent the losses caused by the Grasserie disease, which is responsible for up to 20% crop loss in silkworm”.”

Dolen:?http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/Mysuru-institute-tests-GM-disease-resistant-silkworms/articleshow/52274681.cms

Smart Farming report urges axing of biotech prohibitionsThe Land (Awstralia) – By Colin Bettles (Mai 15)

The House of Representatives Agriculture and Industry Committee?s ?Smart Farming? report has recommended cutting duplicative State laws that frighten potential agricultural biotechnology investments and hinder farm productivity, by undermining federal food safety regulators.

Dolen:?http://www.theland.com.au/story/3908272/smart-farming-report-urges-axing-of-biotech-prohibitions/

Failed Greenpeace anti-GM campaign exposedThe Land (Awstralia) – By Colin Bettles (Mai 15)

The activist incident was outlined in detail in a report handed down by the House of Representatives Environment Committee last week which recommended sanctions against groups listed for tax deductions that break the law repeatedly.

Dolen:?http://www.theland.com.au/story/3907598/failed-greenpeace-anti-gm-campaign-exposed/

Are there GMOs in our moon dust? Gwyneth Paltrow demands to know!GristBy Eve Andrews (Mai 13)

Dolen:?http://grist.org/living/are-there-gmos-in-our-moon-dust-gwyneth-paltrow-demands-to-know/

GM potato field trials get the go-aheadFarmers Weekly (DU) – By Johann Tasker (Mai 12)

Dolen: http://www.fwi.co.uk/arable/gm-potato-field-trials-get-the-go-ahead.htm

National Academy of Sciences finds no evidence of GMO health effects?- St. Louis Post-DispatchBy Jacob Barker (Mai 17)

One of the nation?s premier scientific bodies says it has found no evidence of adverse human health effects after 20 years of genetically-modified crop adoption.

Dolen:?http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/national-academy-of-sciences-finds-no-evidence-of-gmo-health/article_a7ffbe9a-5848-5826-aa28-6b75b3c947d2.html

Keeping My Farm Sustainable With GMO Crops – Forbes.com – By Gene Stoel (Mai 17)

GMOs allow farmers to fight insects and weeds more effectively and enhance soil health.

Dolen:?http://www.forbes.com/sites/gmoanswers/2016/05/17/keeping-my-farm-sustainable-with-gmo-crops/#2cf202362c5c

Bt cotton adoption creates more employment opportunities in female laborers in PakistanCrop Biotech Update, ISAAA (Mai 18)

Dolen: ?http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=14416

Taller, stronger rice plantThe Daily Star (Bangladesh) – By Reaz Ahmed (Mai 15)

Bangladeshi scientists develop 2 modern, high-yielding varieties that can withstand tidal surge

Dolen:?http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/taller-stronger-rice-plant-1224073

Mitch Daniels Takes on ‘Callous, Heartless and CruelAnti-GMO ActivistsNational ReviewBy Julie Kelly (Mai 18)

?When you hold so many moral high cards on something that?s best for the environment and for humanity, you have to be willing to mix it up,? he told me. ?People with a direct self-interest are actively misinforming the public. We need to counter that in a more forceful way.?

Dolen:?http://www.nationalreview.com/article/435523/mitch-daniels-gmos-good

We must end our superstitious objections to genetically modified foodThe Telegraph (DU) – By Juliet Samuel (Mai 18)

“W.here does modern corn on the cob come from? Well-informed diners will know the answer: Latin America. But what they probably don?t know is that it never grew there naturally. Humans created it.

Dolen:?http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/2016/05/18/we-must-end-our-superstitious-objections-to-genetically-modified/

?GM crops ideal for drought-hit TS?The Hindu (India) (Mai 19)

Dolen:?http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/gm-crops-ideal-for-droughthit-ts/article8618594.ece

Scientists refute the scaremongering about GMOs – Washington Post, Editorial (Mai 19)

“[T.]he National Academies…?authoritative report?refutes the counterproductive scaremongering from the anti-genetically-engineered side.

Dolen:?https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/scientists-refute-the-scaremongering-about-gmos/2016/05/19/47607924-1c7a-11e6-b6e0-c53b7ef63b45_story.html

Gadewch Ateb

2 thoughts on “Ag, biotech and trade news of interest this week (Mai 16)

  1. · Mai 18, 2016 yn 4:34 pm

    Subject: On Tuesday, Mai 17 The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine released an exhaustive report, Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects.

    Questions:

    1. Is this another short-term 2 year study. What was the duration of the study. When was the design of experment (study) lansio, Where/who collected the data and over what period of time was it collected, Did the collected data meet the test protocol of the launched sudy.
    2. Where can one find the research test protocol in the referenced study; that is, the design of experiment. If you find it, let me know what page or chapter it is in.
    3. Where can I find the test(s) results for consistency of findings.
    4. Regarding “One of the nation’s premier scientific bodies says it has found no evidence of adverse human health effects after 20 years of genetically-modified crop adoption.” ————— does that mean there is/are no other evidence that would show/suggest that mechanically manipulated/engineered seeds that require the use of glyphosate are not safe or may may cause future collateral health/enviornmental impacts, i.e., tobacco, Agent Orange for examples.
    5. Would one want to bet his entire farm in assuring the public that the GMOs are safe based on this study?