January 2000
headlines and summaries

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January 31

Fear and ignorance and biotech -- Chicago Tribune editorial

Global pact on GMOs approved / On Saturday, after a week of talks, 130 nations ratified a trade treaty on engineered food -- Christian Science Monitor

A smell test for GM food -- Christian Science Monitor editorial

U.S. gives way on complex trade rules for GMOs -- Irish Times

Australian farm lobby to fight Montreal GMO treaty -- Reuters

No reliable test for GM-free food -- BBC

Greens and free-traders cheer GM crop deal -- Financial Times (London)

Anti-GM farmers start tour -- Telegraph (London)

Cornucopia of biotech food awaits labeling -- Los Angeles Times

Watchdog calls for freeze on genetic trade -- The Age (Australia)

Bio-crops under attack: Militants destroy test plots of genetically modified foods -- USA Today

Farm owners passionately defend crops / Brothers confront group as biotech corn is mowed down -- USA Today sidebar

Green lobby fears move to approve GM crop trials -- The Guardian (London)

January 30

U.S. accepts trade agreement for altered food -- Washington Post p. A1 coverage

Gene therapy run amok? -- Washington Post editorial

Montreal talks agree on rules for biosafety -- New York Times

Deal struck to regulate genetically altered food -- Los Angeles Times

Biotech treaty passed / Deal sets tough trade rules on genetically modified food -- Montreal Gazette

GM deal finds favor all around -- BBC

GM import ban breakthrough -- Independent (London)

Canada lacks caution on Frankenfoods -- Montreal Gazette opinion

America backs down on GM foods -- The Observer (London)

Corn growers believe results of biosafety protocol meeting in Montreal will demand segregation of all crops -- American Corn Growers Association press release

Farmers wonder about price of labeling genetically modified foods -- Agence France Presse

Summit agrees to block rogue crops as US drops its opposition -- The Sunday Telegraph (London)

Highlights of U.N. food biosafety pact -- Reuters

Moosa welcomes Montreal agreement on biosafety -- African National Congress press release

January 29

Countries agree on bio-safety trade pact -- Reuters (short)

Countries reach landmark GMO food agreement -- Reuters (long)

Deal reached on biotech foods -- AP

Few long faces, many sleepy eyes after biotech accord -- Agence France Presse

Controls agreed on GM imports -- BBC

Negotiators strike deal on rules for trade in genetically modified food -- Yahoo! Canada News

Pact sets out safety rules for biotechnology trade -- Agence France Presse

The bio-battle of words -- Montreal Gazette

All night talks in Montreal yield deal on genetically modified foods -- Nando Times

Protocol for diminished future -- National Post opinion

Biotech reaps what it sowed -- National Post opinion

France welcomes U.N. biosafety trade pact -- Reuters

January 28

Labels on biotech foods would raise prices - US industry -- Reuters

Frito-Lay doesn't want bioengineered corn -- Bloomberg News

Australia scientists plan measles-modified food -- Reuters

China, India lead Asia race on GM crops -- Reuters

Monsanto's name radically modified -- Guardian (London)

Pharmacia is new name of merged companies -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Thais resisting Monsanto's Bt cotton -- Reuters

Corn growers believe farmers are being deceived over the issue of genetically modified crops -- American Corn Growers Association press release

U. Virginia researchers use glowing frogs to investigate eye genetics -- Cavalier Daily (UVA paper)

Whole Foods loses its taste for genetically modified foods -- Austin Chronicle

January 27

Genetic engineering 'most menacing', says scientist -- Waikato Times (New Zealand)

Negotiators report progress toward international biosafety agreement -- AP

New food watchdog backs GM labeling -- The Guardian (London)

Some differences narrowed in bio-safety talks -- Reuters

Coming to grips with genes -- Montreal Gazette

Youth's death shakes new field of genetic experiments on humans -- New York Times

China triples its genetically modified crops -- Agence France Presse

Gov. Ridge proposes biotech fund / Would divert $60 million from tobacco settlement -- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 

Latin America divided on trade rules for genetically altered products -- Agence France Presse

Irradiated food items turn off the public / Shoppers fail to warm to the idea of nuclear technology, critics say -- Scripps Howard News Service

Promoting biotechnology becomes state business -- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Biotech company grows experimental cancer-killing compounds -- Nando Media

Scientists squeeze cancer killer from dirt -- Reuters

January 26

Corn growers believe farmers are being deceived over the issue of genetically modified crops -- American Corn Growers Association press release

Farmers seek genetic crop controls -- AP

Genetic food case goes to Supreme Court -- Santiago Times (Chile)

Biotechnology is the future wave -- AP

New food standards boss to chair GM food debate -- PA News

Food gets fed with meds -- Wired News

Go slow on genetic pact -- Los Angeles Times editorial 

January 25

Negotiators optimistic on protocol for trade in genetically altered organisms -- Canadian Press

Safety rules for genes and food -- Christian Science Monitor

Delegates polarized over genetically modified food -- CBC News

Biotech backlash could cost U.S. poultry, beef industry billions -- Bridge News 

British patent on cloned human cells raises ethics concerns -- Washington Post

Extraordinary conference of the parties: Biosafety protocol negotiations -- NGO position statement at Montreal conference

Transgenic fish could threaten wild populations -- Purdue University News Service 

Michigan State U. researcher rebut activists -- MSU State News

January 24

Talks to open on divisive issue of gene-altered foods -- Washington Post

In Japan, it's back to nature / Consumers add non-modified products to shopping carts -- Washington Post 

GM food clash looms -- BBC

Talks on biotech food day in Montreal will see U.S. isolated -- New York Times

South Africa sees genetically modified food policy soon -- Reuters

Greenpeace ends action against GM soy in Denmark -- Reuters

Delegates ready bio-safety food talks in Montreal -- Reuters

Double trouble: State panel grapples with ethics of human cloning -- San Francisco Chronicle

GE foods take root at center of next trade dispute -- Financial Times 

Engineered crops face barren season -- Chicago Tribune

Talks on global rules for genetically modified products resume today -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

U.S. Senator says misinformation blurs biotech food debate -- Reuters

Radical environmentalists claim university arson -- AP

America is pressed on its veto on GM foods -- The Herald

U.S. stands firm for its genetically modified goods -- Wall Street Journal

January 23

Canada growers watching the biotechnology debate closely -- AP

Informal talks wrapping up ahead of biotech treaty meeting -- Agence France Presse

Thai NGOs start fund to fight suits vs. GM food acts - paper -- AP

Greenpeace atop cranes in Denmark to stop GM beans -- Reuters

Tables are turned in talks on trade in altered foods -- Toronto Star

Secret deal will bring a flood of GM to Britain -- The Sunday Independent

January 22

Chairman gets taste of protest / Biotechnology conference to begin -- Montreal Gazette

Golden rice and superbugs -- Washington Post editorial

America 'set to oppose GM food deal' -- Associated Newspapers (London)

January 21

Biotech panel appointed in D.C. -- AP

U.S. to meet EU labels on GMOs -- Reuters

January 20

Biotech products face major rifts -- AP

U.S. opposes prior notice for GM crop shipments -- Reuters

Crop meeting draws protests by critics of genetically altered food -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

January 19

GM food: high-tech messiah to environmental vandal -- Australian Financial Review

Farmers blend interest with uncertainty about the unknown -- Australian Financial Review

Greenpeace wins first round in EPA lawsuit to ban Bt crops -- Greenpeace press release

Farmers already follow corn rules -- AP

Demand for healthier food grows in Hong Kong -- Reuters

Farmers told there is no escape from GM pollen -- UK Daily Mail

Federal appeals court affirms Pioneer's right to patent seeds -- Pioneer press release

U.S. says biosafety deal can be reached, despite differences with the EU -- AFP

Genetic engineering should be taken more slowly: professor -- Waikato Times (New Zealand)

Swiss cabinet opts to keep liberal stand on GMOs -- Reuters

January 18

Genetic food talks set for Montreal this week -- Financial Post

Wide testing of GMO corn, cotton in Asia - Monsanto -- Reuters

Flexibility needed in GMO talks, US says -- Reuters

U.S. food industry says biotech data should be made public -- Reuters

GM guidelines may be inadequate, government told -- PA News (UK)

Ag giant tries to calm market beset with GMO fears -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

January  17

U.S. limits GM maize to save Monarch butterfly -- Independent (London)

Environmentalists, farmers support EPA's restrictions on biotech corn plantings -- AP

Organic Trade Association calls for moratorium on using GMOs in agriculture -- OTA press release

Monsanto sees GM corn in China in 2001 -- Reuters

EU says GM safety agreement an 'absolute priority' -- Reuters

January 16

EPA restricts gene-altered corn in response to concerns -- Washington Post

The future of GM food: A former agriculture minister speaks out on advances in biotechnology -- Ottawa Citizen

January 15

U.S.: GM pact should not supersede WTO -- Reuters

January 14

U.S. farmers lean toward fewer GMO acres -- Bridge News

Seed firms rush to offset GMO negatives -- Bridge News

Genetically modified crops: To plant or not to plant -- The Economist

Canadian study questions high-yield theory on GE canola -- Montreal Gazette

Byrne promises tighter rules on GM labeling -- Irish Times

January 13

Survey shows French would shun GM foods even if safe -- Bridge News

POLL - U.S. farmers plan decline in biotech crops -- Reuters

Bio-foods backlash: U.S. renews debate over biotech foods -- USA Today

Wariness squashes pioneering tomato -- USA Today

Novartis plays down GMO crop sowing survey -- Reuters

Biotech talks to resume on January 24 -- Nation

Ecuador: Activists block ship carrying transgenic soy -- Comtex Newswire

Biotech rice could end vitamin A deficiency -- AP

Monsanto's $550M Brazil Roundup plant building starts Friday -- Dow Jones

Facts of life: 'All I know is that I can't drink milk ever again. That is, if I want to breathe' -- Globe and Mail (Canada)

Corn growers correct in their prediction of fewer acres planted to genetically modified crops -- American Corn Growers Association press release

A modern day food fight: Opinions on altered products are strong on both sides -- Spokesman Review (Spokane)

January 12

Company denies plans for 'human milk' cows -- PA News

Swiss government decides against GMO ban or moratorium -- Reuters

Organic farms 'in danger from weak rules on GM crops' -- PA News

European Union commission releases its plan for food agency -- Wall Street Journal

Governments to conclude biosafety agreement -- Comtex Newswire

January 11

USDA to spend $120 million on biotech, AG research -- Reuters

U.S.: Thailand should use GMO tech to boost crop production -- Reuters

U.S. consumers favor GM crops to curb pesticides -- Reuters

Politicians debate genetically engineered seeds -- Houston Chronicle

January 10

OPINION: Who Crippled Biotech Foods? The Culprits Are Myriad - Bridge News

U.S. unlikely to require labels on biotech foods -- Reuters

Editorial: Biotech food: Resistance to labels erodes confidence -- Minneapolis Star Tribune

Democratic candidates comment on GMOs -- New York Times

Montreal GMO talks likely to be difficult - USDA -- Reuters

Monarch butterflies deemed safe despite fears about genetic corn -- London Free Press

January 9

Window on Washington : Fight against labeling of biotech products may only delay its requirement -- St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Britons seek tighter controls on GM waste -- Reuters

Food for thought: Many shoppers say labels should include information on genetically engineered products -- Spokesman Review (Spokane)

January 8

Canadians distrust GE technology -- Calgary Herald

January 7 

Japan trading companies to hike non-GM grain imports -- Nikkei / Dow Jones

Tales of the tape: Seed companies may yet reap what they sow -- Dow Jones

Greenpeace still concerned over GM corn in feed -- Reuters

UK faces risk of GM contamination -- Reuters

January 6

Canola growers unsure about GM seed -- Western Producer (Saskatoon newsroom)

Analysis: Farmers gear for fight over GMO foods -- Reuters

Tesco rejects vegetables grown on GM-test sites -- PA News

Trading in biotech organisms: Can it be safe? -- ENS

Monsanto says doing all it can for GM foods -- Reuters

Monsanto remains committed to cotton despite Delta -- Reuters

Playing with nature in a high-tech future -- Washington Post

U.S. spring sowings vital for GMO crops - Sparks -- Reuters

Beltwide meeting: Public perception key to future of GMOs -- Bridge News

January 5 

European Union needs its own FDA, says USDA's Schumacher -- Reuters

Excitement mounts for Canadian biotech sector -- Reuters

Greenpeace's food fight / A former German journalist directs a global campaign against genetically modified food as it turns its sights on North America -- Ottawa Citizen

Backers of genetically altered seeds fight back -- Omaha World-Herald

Top chefs go organic -- Calgary Herald

Canada monitors anti-GMO campaign -- Ottawa Citizen

January 4

Uncertainty continues to plague genetically modified crops into the new year -- American Corn Growers Association press release

Genetically modified foods: The battle comes to Canada -- Ottawa Citizen

Birds do it, bees do it / Nature frustrates efforts to confine the spread of genetically modified plants -- Ottawa Citizen

Greenpeace targets chocolate bar -- South China Morning Post

Monsanto pays Delta $81 million breakup fee -- Reuters

GM-silkworms could become mini-chemical factories -- Reuters

The fear over 'Frankenfood' -- CBS Evening News

Retailers dropping bio-foods -- USA Today, p. A1

January 1

Farmers face tough choices on gene-altered crops -- Kyodo World Service

Science invades the pantry -- New York Times 

Prince Charles' millennium address on GM and nature -- BBC