The Egyptian scientific community is having mixed reactions, with some scientists expressing concerns of health, environmental, socioeconomic and ownership-related issues over approval of the first GM corn crop in the country. Egypt's approval of the cultivation and commercialisation of a pest-resistant corn variety owned by biotechnology company Monsanto had marked the first legal introduction of GM crops into the Arab world. Recommendation for approval was made by the Egyptian National Biosafety Committee and Seed Registration Committee as a result of experimental field trials. These trials results had revealed that the infestation of three corn pests was “negligible or completely prevented in Bt plants throughout the whole season and the different times of sowing dates.      Approval document:

No definite definition of damages due to GMOs --

Indian Genetically modified organisms have no negative impact on bees, worms, snails or fly larvae, according to a Swiss national research programme. But experts say there is no standard definition of what is considered "damage to the environment". The findings were presented by the Swiss Federal Environment Office and are part of a series of eight studies into biosafety in non-human gene technology. The Environment Office said the research provides capacity to authorities for monitoring of the long term impact of GMOs. A ban on growing GMOs in Switzerland runs out in 2010.

Monsanto for data confidentiality

The seed multinational, Monsanto has suggested inclusion of the provision for maintaining data confidentiality in the draft National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority Bill-2008. According to Monsanto India data confidentiality is necessary in the IPR regime as companies cannot afford to stand the risk of making such sensitive data public. The department of biotechnology has drafted a Bill, which would allow setting up of a autonomous National Biotechnology Regulatory Authority as a single window clearance for GM products. 

Africa’s Green Revolution under fire

According to a report by Canada based Erosion Technology and Concentration Group — a research and conservation organisation, due to lack of a co-ordinated approach, the push for a Green Revolution in Africa will bring no benefit to farmers rather it will only benefit biotech corporates. The report predicts that the mistakes made during the first Green Revolution will be repeated in the second one. It criticises the introduction of “simplistic” strategies and policies where all the emphasis is given to cultivation of biotech crops. “…there is a real danger that the Green Revolution will turn into a corporate biotech boom and the destruction of rural resiliency — and diversity — in Africa,” says the report titled “Green Revolution 2.0 for Africa?”