China opens up for Monsanto GM soybean seed  THE CONNECTION BETWEEN US MARKETAND CHINA APPROVAL NOT CLEAR 

Monsanto, crop biotech giant has received regulatory approval in China for  importing soybeans grown from the seed strain Roundup Ready 2 Yield. The company sees it as a "significant step forward" in commercializing the technology in the United States. The Roundup Ready soybeans are designed to be resistant to the Roundup herbicide- also manufactured by Monsanto and one of its most profitable products. Although environment groups see Roundup Ready seeds as a problem, Roundup Ready biotech-enhanced seeds have become widespread  in the US. Entry into China will provide them with a export markets as well.

Sept 3: Germany wants EU member states to have the power to block GM crops in their countries. Currently it is the EU Commission that takes the decisions regarding GMO safety  and has controversially approved several GMO crops for commercial farming. But some EU states including France and Austria have banned cultivation of EU-approved GMO crops because of safety concerns.though the legality of bans can be  questioned. The German environment minister has been under pressure to ban GMOs in environmentally sensitive areas of Germany but according to him it would not be legally possible to ban crops which have been approved by the EU..     

Syngenta to develop heat-tolerant broccoli varieties

Sept 4: Syngenta, the crop biotech giant, has entered into an agreement with an R&D company for development of heat-tolerant broccoli varieties. This would enable growers to increase the acerage under broccoli. Traditionally broccoli is a cool weather crop and  its commercial production is limited to specific geographical regions and planting seasons. Under the agreement, Syngenta will get research rights as well as exclusive, global marketing rights for the broccoli developed from R&D Ag’s heat tolerant germplasm. Broccoli is among the top five vegetable crops in the US in terms of acreage and value. In 2006, broccoli worth  $615 million was harvested . 

Herbicide-resistant grain sorghum on the way 

Weed management is one of the biggest concerns of grain sorghum producers, but Kansas State University scientists are finding ways to remedy the problem. The researchers have developed a herbicide-resistant grain sorghum line which is tolerant to acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibitor herbicides such as Steadfast, Accent, Resolve, and Ally. This will make it  possible to control broadleaf and grassy weeds in sorghum, using post-emergence herbicides. However it is expected toFILL IN THE BLANK herbicide consumption as happened in the case of  Monsanto’s Roundup Ready crops.

First All Africa Biotechnology conference in Kenya

Kenya, one of several African countries developing GM technology to increase food production, is hosting the first All Africa Biotechnology conference. The Conference will provide a platform for biotechnology scientists to break down  the resistance to GM foods in Africa. The keynote speakers also include some from countries where the technology is an anathema.

EU approves Bayer GM soy imports 

The European Union recently approved imports of GM soybeans developed by Bayer Crop Science, to ease the shortage of animal feed. The approval is valid for a standard ten years and was granted by the European Commission, on September 8. Bayer's soybean, developed to resist glufosinate herbicides, is known by its codename A2704-12 and will be imported into EU markets either as whole soybeans, oil or meal, and then be processed by European companies for use in food and animal feed. However its EU authorization does not permit its cultivation in Europe. The soybean is of particular interest to Europe's livestock and feed manufacturing industries since they depend heavily on imported soy products -- beans, meal -- for protein-rich and high-quality feed. 

Revisiting conventional soybean 

While crop biotech companies are trying hard to introduce GM soybean in the market, conventional soybean varieties are making a comeback. The reason, the experts say is the lower seed and weed-control costs and price incentives at the grain elevator. In the 1990s, Monsanto introduced soybeans and genetically modified plants which could tolerate its popular herbicide Roundup (glyphosate). Overseas demand for non GM soybeans and the tripling of costs for glyphosate herbicide have made conventional varieties more appealing to many growers.