http://www.whybiotech.com The CBI blog is focused on providing the latest news and information on agricultural biotechnology. Thu, 10 Jan 2013 16:02:59 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en [caption id="attachment_3633" align="alignleft" width="240" caption="Photo courtesy of The Globe and Mail"][/caption] In writing about the pro-biotech speech by British environmental activist Mark Lynas, during which he publicly apologized for years of anti-biotech activities, Canadian commentator Margaret Wente says the tremendous stir it caused may mark a turning of the tide of ... http://www.whybiotech.com/?p=3624 British author and environmental activist Mark Lynas has publicly apologized for his past role in "demonizing" genetically modified crops, saying that he has come to realize that they are safe to eat and are essential to feeding a growing world population. "For the record, here and upfront, I apologize for having ... http://www.whybiotech.com/?p=3614 Requiring labels on foods with genetically modified (GM) ingredients is unnecessary and presents no benefit for consumers, an editorial by the Hartford Courant—the nation's oldest newspaper—states. "The fight against genetically modified organisms is fueled more by fear and guesswork than by responsible evidence," the article says. No credible scientific studies have ... http://www.whybiotech.com/?p=3610 Crop biotechnology is desperately needed to meet problems of drought, saline soils, loss of farmland, rural poverty, and population growth, according to Neal Carter, an orchardist and bioresource engineer who has developed a non-browning apple. "It's a huge challenge, and biotech crops are leading the way in allowing us to address ... http://www.whybiotech.com/?p=3605 While innovation is recognized as an important element for America's manufacturing and information technology sectors, it also plays a critical role in advancing U.S. agriculture and making our farmers the most productive in the world. This was the theme of Agriculture: Growing Innovation & Opportunities, a conference hosted by the ... http://www.whybiotech.com/?p=3600 British Environment Secretary Owen Paterson voiced his support this week for the production of genetically engineered crops in the UK, stating that there were "real environmental benefits" to the technology, BBC News reports. In an interview with Britain's Daily Telegraph, he emphasized the potential role for ag biotech in advancing ... http://www.whybiotech.com/?p=3596 Last summer, as the United States faced the worst drought since 1988, the Council for Biotechnology Information shared stories of seed companies who were working with farmers across America's farm belt to conduct field trials of drought-tolerant corn varieties, including Monsanto's DroughtGardTM Hybrids, DuPont Pioneer's hybrid AQUAmaxTM, and Syngenta's Agrisure ... http://www.whybiotech.com/?p=3592 European scientists and food safety experts drove the final nail in the coffin on the controversial Séralini rat study this week, finding that it finding that it "does not meet acceptable scientific standards" and raises no valid questions about the safety of genetically modified corn. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) ... http://www.whybiotech.com/?p=3588 Physician and molecular biologist Henry I. Miller cautioned India against stifling the cultivation of biotech crops, pointing out that India has already reaped significant economic and environmental benefits by using the technology. "Following the adoption of the genetically improved varieties and intensive crop management practices of the Green Revolution, from ... http://www.whybiotech.com/?p=3584 Biotechnology is a fundamental part of the innovation in agriculture that has made America a breadbasket to the world, experts say. "We're a very productive country," says Dr. Thomas Carter, research geneticist at the USDA Agricultural Research Service. "We are a breadbasket for the world...we're seeing greater technological innovation, from the ... http://www.whybiotech.com/?p=3580