Farmers in South-west Victoria are keen to have genetically-modified canola tested before using it. This came after four year moratorium on the commercial cropping of GM canola ended.

 According to Southern Farming Systems, a non profit organization, about three quarters of the 700 SFS members, are in south-west Victoria and want research trials before they use the crops. Some GM canola varieties are said to require use of herbicides to control weeds in the crop.

Several dozen anti-GM protesters gathered on the steps of Victoria's Parliament House to rally against the lifting of the moratorium. Earlier the Victorian government had extended the moratorium on GM canola in Victoria for a further four years when it was ending in March 24. The move was then opposed by Victorian Farmers Federation and biotechnology company, Monsanto, who accused government of a breach of trust.

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World's first genetically modified phytase corn

Origin Agritech Limited, a leading a leading agricultural biotechnology company and supplier of crop seeds in China, announced it has licensed a new genetically modified corn to officially introduce the next generation  corn product into China. Origin's GM phytase corn is expected to be one of the first transgenic corns approved and sold commercially in the domestic market. GM phytase corn is expected to be commercially launched in 2009.

Phytase is currently used as an additive in animal feed to breakdown phytic acid in corn, which holds 60% of the phosphorus in corn. Phytase increases phosphorus absorption in animals by 60%. Phosphorus is an essential element for the growth and development of all animals, and plays key roles in skeletal structure and in vital metabolic pathways. Phytase, as an additive for animal feed, is mandatory in Europe, Southeast Asia, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan for environmental purposes.

Animal feed producers will no longer need to purchase phytase and corn separately and then mix the two. Thus saving time effort and money.  GM phytase-producing corn is expected to reduce the need for inorganic phosphate supplements as animals will directly absorb more phosphate from their feed..  Read more

Civil society groups keep tabs on South African field trials

Anti GM activists are keeping an eye on experimental field trials of GM crops in South Africa. According to African Centre for Biosafety (ACB), which campaigns against GM crops, almost two- dozen experimental field trials of GM potatoes, maize, cotton, groundnuts and sugar cane were held in SA in 2007. The information was intended to help the government monitor the environmental impact of GM crops, and assist farmers in case of environmental contamination. Details of the experiments were published by the government in advance in regional newspapers.

According to ACB, the field trials were conducted in all provinces except Eastern Cape by state-funded bodies, such as the Agricultural Research Council, and by seed companies such as Monsanto and Syngenta.

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