Growers for Biotechnology Changes Name, Broadens Focus

Growers for Wheat Biotechnology Inc. has currently changed its name to Growers for Biotechnology Inc. The leaders say this change reflects a broader mission of having a grower voice to support the research, development, and market acceptance of biotech crops. There are three main objectives for Growers for Biotechnology Inc. First is to spread factual information dealing with the benefits of biotechnology in crops and to prove to the public that biotechnology in agriculture is safe, abundant and an environmentally sound food production system. Second is to advocate the advancement of research and development of biotechnology applications in agriculture. Third is to insure that the important decisions regarding the adoption of biotechnology applications are based on sound science and realistic business principles.

“The biotech success stories in many of the crops we already grow will ultimately help pave the way for biotech development and market acceptance for other crops in our rotation, including wheat……. This technology offers so much opportunity in several if not all crops grown in the region, and we support the producer option to access the technology wherever possible,” says Al Skogen, chairman of the company.

This year marks the 10th harvest of biotech crops, and 1 billion acres of commercial biotech crop production across the world, according to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications. Until now, soybeans were 56 percent of all biotech crops produced, followed by cotton at 28 percent. But now, many more products such as sugarbeets, sweet corn, and potatoes have been commercially approved.

Also, the profits for the farmers have been increasing. According to the UK-based PG Economics Limited estimate, farmers have gained $27 billion in incremental net income from biotech crops since they were first introduced. The farmers are benefitting greatly because they do not have to acquire toxic pesticides for their crops. Farmers say that this saves a lot of money and that this is safer for the crops.

Monsanto: The Microsoft of Biotechnology Corn Seed?

On August 2, 2004, Swiss biotech giant Syngeata filed a lawsuit against Monsanto of having a monopoly on the biotechnology corn seed in America. The lawsuit was followed by another lawsuit from Monsanto seeking damages and termination of the Roundup Ready license that Monsanto granted to Ciba-Geigy Corp, which was one of Syngeata’s predecessors. Syngeata claims that Monsanto was "engaged in a pattern of illegal and improper activities to maintain its monopoly in key corn traits in the US, including Monsanto's attempts to prohibit Syngeata from competing with GA21, an established and proven glyphosate-tolerant corn trait.” If proven true, Monsanto could be discredited as a biotechnology firm and lose its well-established lead over other biotech firms trying to create genetically-modified crops. To counter Sygeata’s claims, Monsanto is trying to discredit Sygeata by expanding their original breach-of-contract lawsuit from May 10th, 2004.

The conflict between these two giants over an extremely profitable market displays how big the market can be for certain genetically-modified crops. The profit of hundreds of millions, or perhaps billions, of dollars can shift between these two giants if either of these court cases are resolved and show a clear winner.

The Fight for (or Against) the Farming of GM Foods in California

The counties that encompass California's vineyards and most productive farms are currently the battle field on which the right to implement biotechnological methods in growing food is being sought or denied. The main county in which the debate presently rages is Sonoma County, a region notorious for its vineyards. Thus far three other counties have approved bans on GM crops and three have revoked them. Though the subject has been considered a pressing matter in other states, notably Hawaii and Vermont, only California has actually had counties effectively ban GM crops. Since California is widely regarded as being at the crux of change, farmers nationwide are particularly concerned with the issue.

The major fear amongst farmers who are opposed to the use of GM foods is the potential loss of the right to chose which type of plants of they want to grow. The fear of having to keep up with GM crops by having to simurlarly adopt GM foods is a major concern but even more pressing is the notion that bees and other natural means could potentially cross fertilize the variety of plants, GM and otherwise. What this theory stipulates is causing farmers to look at the introduciton of GM crops into the local environment as the harbor of a pandemic ecosystem crash. Said local, small time farmer of non-GM crops Shelley Arrowsmith, “The bees have no boundaries. They can go wherever they want.”

These farmers' concerns are countered by about as many other farmers' concerns. Many of these farmers argue that GM foods are much cleaner than normal crops, that they don't require as many pesticides. Said Art Lafranchi, who farms 45 acres of genetically modified feed corn on his 255-acre Sonoma County dairy farm, “We’re using less chemicals, we’re using chemicals that have far less impact, and it costs less and it does a much better job. “What they (supporters of a ban) want flies in the face of what environmentalists want — having an environment that’s less toxic to us.”

Whatever the outcome of Sonoma County's ballot fight, where the combined budget of both sides int eh campaign has reached a record $850,000, it will certainly set a precendant that the rest of the nation will likely follow.

New Business Investments reinvigorated Biotech Sector

William Blair and Co. An important global business firm, has recently initiated coverage of four leading Biotechnology Companies and commenced its coverage of another. The Companies are Amgen Incorporated, the Genzyme Corporation, Gilead Sciences Incorporated, MedImmune Incorporated, and Genentech, Incorporated. Amgen is typically regarded as the largest Biotechnology Company in the world, has the most exciting late-stage product pipeline in the industry, with many drugs in Phase III of their development and testing and an even greater variety already in existence.

The biotechnology Industry has validated itself over the past five years with many successful breakthrough drugs, thus establishing itself for long-term growth. Said Analyst John Sonnier, in a comprehensive report on the broader biotechnology universe, "We expect innovation to continue to fuel growth of the sector's product pipeline, which should in turn drive top-line growth, profitability expansion, and increased shareholder value," he added. "We also believe that the biotechnology pipeline should become increasingly appealing to the pharmaceutical industry, which seems strained for organic growth in many instances."

Genzyme, which covers orthopedics, renal disease, transplant/immunology, was positively assessed by Sonnier, saying Genzyme ""has a global and diversified platform that should position the company to achieve its long-term earnings growth goal of 20%." MedImmune, whose focus is infectious disease and cancer has an even stronger array of products ready to be released. "In total, we count 4 marketed drugs and 12 clinical candidates, 4 of which are in Phase II or higher. We expect the late-stage product candidates to drive a significant level of visibility over the coming year, and expect the progression of the company's mid- and early-stage initiatives to gain increased visibility during the same period," said Sonnier.

Newly Discovered Gene Can Protect Crops From Freezing

Researchers in California managed to extract a gene from the mustard plant, or Arabidopsis, that helps other genes in the plant withstand low temperatures. Although the researchers have not been able to implant the gene into other plants such as fruits and vegetables, the extracted gene can have a major impact on the growing of crops because the tolerance to sudden temperature drops allows crops to survive weather phenomena that would normally kill crops in a freeze. Transporting crops would also be affected because the crops could be stored in cold temperatures to prevent the spoiling of fruit. Scientists from Mendel Biotechnology say that they will first test the gene on canola and soy crops. The importance of the success of the project is spurred by the loss fifty percent of the crops of orange growers, or at least half a billion dollars, in California during December of 1998.

If the tests are successful and Mendel Biotechnology can implant the gene into other crops, farmers can rejoice in the assurance that their crops will no longer be wiped out by an early freeze. The gene can be used in any country that is affected by sudden temperature drops and can hopefully be used for all crops grown in the United States, such as the Midwest which is also affected by sudden temperature drops. Farmers can expect to be able to use the new technology in the next four years if the tests are successful.

Research and Markets Announces Biotechnology The Strongest Sector In Pharmaceuticals

Since the introduction of the first biotech drug, human insulin, back in 1982, the Biotechnology sector of the Pharmaceutical drug industry has grown by leaps and bounds with marked periods of inactivity. However a recent study and survey of the field speculates that this period of "boom and bust" growth may be at an end, primarily because the industry is reaching maturity, that is, becoming a more stable industry as the data is amassed, the result of twenty years of research and mistakes.

In the last five years, the Biotechnology Sector has grown at an increasingly rapid rate; global revenues has risen from $22.7bn to $44.3bn. This is presently the largest growth for a sector in the whole of the pharmaceutical market and it shows in the number of drugs presently being developed which are biotechnology, approximately 27% of all new medicines, although biotech is still significantly small relative to the drug market on the base of new sales, making up only 8% of the global market. Speculation on the future of biotechnology is hopeful with one out of every two pharmaceutical executives questioned in this recent survey professing a belief that biotechnologically developed drugs will show an annual growth of over 10% for the next five to ten years.

Despite the what the statistics above might demonstrate there are still nay-sayers of the industry, however these claims are based mostly on job growth and stock market standings. The NASDAQ Biotech Index dropped 40% last year.

Job growth has been slow with only 17,000 jobs added in 2001 and then 3,600 in 2002. "This is the worst employment situation in 15 to 20 years in the biotech industry," says David Jensen, a biotech and pharmaceutical career-development consultant. For more information on jobs in the Biotechnology sector of teh Pharmaceutical Indutry, click here

Biotech Giant Monsanto Ends European Cereal Line

The Biotech giant Monsanto, which pioneered GM crops in the United States, decided to end its seed cereal business in Europe because of a lack of growth in the hybrid wheat seed market. The closing of the European branch happened after the release of the British report on how GM crops affect the environment and wildlife. The closing may also result in up to eighty jobs lost in their main research program in Cambridge. Other branches around Europe, such as in France and Germany, will be affected by job loss as well. Anti-GM campaigners celebrate the move because of the controversy about Monsanto trying to create GM cereals. Monsanto Northern Europe manager Jeff Cox denies the rumor and reports that revenues were declining from cereal seed and that Monsanto decided to cut the project. The British report, called Farm Scale Evaluations, reported that although GM herbicide-tolerant beet and spring rape is worse for wildlife than conventional crops, GM corn was much better for many wildlife than conventional crops.
The actual report shows that certain GM crops do not have negative effects on the environment and are sometimes better than conventional crops. The report is used by both proponents and opponents of agricultural biotechnology because the report offers evidence for both sides. While the report does not resolve any conflicts, the report is the first of its kind to offer such detail and large-scale testing on the effects of GM crops. Also researchers say that the differences found were not because of the way the crops were modified but how different herbicides were applied to the crops.

Can Genetically Modified Chickens End the Avian Flu?

The avian flu has become a serious issue that has become the highlight of newspapers. It started as mild cases in parts of Asia such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand, but it has rapidly spread to Europe. In Vietnam, there are 55 recorded deaths- the greatest number of people in any country who have died from this virus (H5N1 strain of avian influenza). Many poultry farms have started slaughtering millions of chickens, but this virus continues to spread. Will this be the next pandemic? Can this crisis be ended through genetically modified chickens?

British scientists at Cambridge University started to develop genetically engineered chickens that can protect themselves from the H5N1 virus. This technique offers protection also from the H7 virus that was responsible for the outbreak of avian flu in Dutch poultry in 2003. These scientists believe that if the whole population of birds were replaced by transgenic birds, it would be extremely hard for the virus to spread to other birds and humans. The researchers have already found a technique to protect chicken cells from the flu, by inserting small pieces of genetic material. There are great signs of progress in their research, however, it may take a long time to finalize the experiments and receive regulatory approval. By the time these genetically modified chickens go through several stages of testing and are approved, it will be too late for these chickens to have an impact on the present outbreak of the H5N1 virus. However, these genetically modified chickens may stop different outbreaks of avian flu in the future. Professor Tiley, one of the researchers at Cambridge University states that, “Once we have regulatory approval, we believe it will only take between four and five years to breed enough chickens to replace the entire world population. Developing flu-resistant chickens has clear benefits for human health and animal welfare, as we wouldn’t have to slaughter chickens around the world.”

The research team has two different approaches to creating genetically resistant chickens. The first approach involves inserting a copy of a gene that makes an antiviral protein called Mx, which helps their ability to fight off H5N1 and other strains. The second approach is inserting fragments of the genetic signaling chemical RNA to stop the spread of the flu virus.

Concerns about Genetically Engineered Foods

On September 26, 2000, Kraft Foods pulled millions of taco shells off the market because they used genetically engineered corn created by Aventis CropScience. The corn used contained a gene that makes the corn toxic to the corn bore pest. Although the corn was approved for animal feed only, Kraft Foods mistakenly used the corn for the production of taco shells. The incident raised some concerns regarding genetically modified foods entering into the commercial market. U.S senator Barbara Boxer reported that, "we simply don't have a system to catch the illegal use of genetically engineered ingredients." She also stated during a Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing that a system that requires mandatory safety tests to make sure genetically modified products are safe when used correctly.

The risks of using genetically modified products are that humans may be allergic to such products because of their modifications. Kraft Foods pulled their products off the market because of such a concern. Although Aventis did not authorize the corn for human consumption and was testing to see whether the corn was safe for humans, Kraft Foods and Taco Bell have used the corn as an ingredient for their taco shells.

The incident also emphasizes another major risk: the lack of federal oversight. Although the EPA have tested and approved a large selection of bioengineered ingredients contained in most processed foods, federal oversight of genetically modified foods is still "full of holes." Because of the risks of genetically modified foods, there needs to be more federal oversight of the testing, producing, and selling of these bioengineered foods.

GM Food Foes Turn to Film

GM Food Foes turn to film to voice their opposition. A new film, “The Future of Food,” by Doborah Koons Garcia and the food-safety organization GMO Free Mendocino is the first film to target GM foods. GMO Free Mendocino is the first group ever to use film to persuade audiences to oppose GM foods. “The Future of Food” uses detailed interviews with farmers and experts in the agricultural industry to argue that genetically modified foods pose harm to food safety. The film also states that these new biotechnological techniques undermine the traditional farming techniques that were refined over thousands of years. The film explores issues dealing with the lax food-safety enforcement laws and the effects of these flaws. The film delves into the health implications, government policies and push towards globalization. The film is not popularized yet but it is currently touring festivals and other events, including an upcoming screening in San Francisco. Garcia states "My goal was to make a film that gave the average person a clear
understanding of how genetic engineering works, from the cellular level to the global level, I'm hoping this film can be a combination of Silent Spring and The Battle of Algiers. Once you see it you'll feel compelled to act, even if that means just changing the kind of food you
eat." The film will undoubtedly be influential if it is anything like Rachael Carson’s “Silent Spring,” which dealt with the effects of insecticides and pesticides on songbird populations throughout the United States. Even if the facts in Carson’s book might have been exaggerated, twisted and false according to The Fly in the Ointment: 70 fascinating commentaries, Carson’s argument is convincing to many.

FAO's Sixtieth Birthday Party Present: Massive Collective of Complaints from Asia

This week 17 Asian Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) have petitioned to global authorities in an effort to ban the efforts of a few small companies tthat are responsible for the introduction of GM rice into the market. The efforts of these NGOs, which mainly represent the third world nations of Asia, insist that these efforts are substantially detrimental to the workers of the world as "Rice is the world's most important staple food crop," said Varoonvarn Svangsopakul of Greenpeace Southeast Asia.

The argument in this case is that GM food, like rice, is mostly the result of efforts of companies to get rich and these efforts do not reflect a global conscience which is benevolent or considerate. Continued Mr. Svangsopakul, "GE rice is not a solution to world hunger. It poses unacceptable risks to health and the environment, as well as people's livelihoods."

This campaign has included the ‘GE-Free Rice Declaration’ which was given to the UNFAO headquarters in Bangkok. It was delivered by representatives from ten of the world's primary rice growing countries. This counter-measure is acted in response to an aggresive assault from a variety of biotech corporizations which seek to dominate the market in Asia, according to the Greenpeace web article which concerns this matter. The main complaints are "concerned about negative impacts on farmers, on the environment, health and the agricultural sustainability" of the farmers which the companies are typically seen as not being genuinely concerned with. (Quoted from the Greenpeace website.)

This new wave of protest coincides with World Food Day 2005, which falls on the 16th of October. World Food Day is the FAO's celebration of the date of its own inception, which oocured 16 October 1945. While the FAO's website makes no mention of the massive hoard of complaints that was placed on its doorstep it does speak in corny and preachy tones of the wonders of Agriculture and a Middle Textbook-esque history of Agriculture. It would seem no immediate action is being taken.