Farmers and activists are protesting against the Bt brinjal field trials held at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. They allege that the field trials were held in association with Monsanto Mahyco, the Indian arm of the American company to enable them to fulfill the mandatory requirements for commercial release of GE crops. More than 100 activists of farmer and other groups raised slogans demanding stoppage of all GE field trials. They argued that GE foods should not be allowed into the market before adequate research into their effects on the health of human beings and livestock.. Read more:

German biotechnology law amended to address safety concerns

The German Parliament, the Bundestag, has amended its biotechnology law to allow labeling of "GMO free" animal products and the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) maize. Under this law animal foods like meat, milk and eggs can be labeled as "without gene technology" if their feed is GM free.  However, animals may have been fed with additives such as vitamins or enzymes that were produced with genetically modified organisms. The label "without gene technology" can be used on a voluntary basis.

Another amendment protects conventional and organic maize from cross-pollination by providing for a minimum distance of 150 meters between GM maize and conventional maize farms, and 300 meters between GM maize and organic maize farms. Beside that the farmers who intend to cultivate GM maize must sign  agreements with their neighbors  three months before sowing. While German Farmers Association and the food industry rejected  the new labeling rules, the consumer and environmental groups applauded the GMO free labeling. Read more

Bacteria resistant rice variety

Scientists at the Indian Agricultural Research Institute New Delhi have developed an improved variety of its Pusa Basmati-1 rice  which will be resistant to leaf blight causing  bacteria.. An infected leaf has yellow water soaked lesions at the margin of its leaf blade. Bacterial discharge appears on young lesions early in the morning. As the disease progresses, the leaf dries-up. "As the Pusa Basmati-1 developed by us was not resistant to bacterial leaf blight, we developed Pusa-1460 which has the same agronomic features of Pusa Basmati-1 in addition to being resistant to bacterial leaf blight," S A Patil, IARI director, said to the media. Read more