Potato at heart of new debate on GM crops

HE humble potato looks like causing a showdown in the European Commission over biotech foods and crops. Since July, the biotech industry has been waiting for the commission to authorise an application by German chemicals group BASF for a genetically modified (GM) potato for use in industry, rather than as food.

Full story

Patata OMG tolerante al frío

Investigadores norteamericanos y coreanos han desarrollado una patata transgénica, transformada con el gen AtBCF de la planta Arabidopsis thaliana que induce resistencia al frío, así como otro gen promotor que aumenta la expresión de este gen. Las plantas OMG así obtenidas pueden soportar temperaturas de hasta 5 grados bajo cero y mantienen buenas aptitudes agronómicas.

Los esfuerzos anteriores para obtener patatas tolerantes al frío mediante métodos genéticos convencionales no habían tenido éxito o habían resultado en patatas con características indeseables, como retrasos en el crecimiento o en la floración.

Esta misma biotecnología podría ser empleada para inducir tolerancia al frío en otras especies agrícolas.

Ampliación de la noticia

Return of GM: ministers back moves to grow crops in UK

Government ministers have given their backing to a renewed campaign by farmers and industry to introduce genetically modified crops to the UK, the Guardian has learned.

They believe the public will now accept that the technology is vital to the development of higher-yield and hardier food for the world's increasing population and will help produce crops that can be used as biofuels in the fight against climate change.

"GM will come back to the UK; the question is how it comes back, not whether it's coming back," said a senior government source.

Full story

Genetically Modified: how the EU embraces “frankenstein foods”

Europe has been resistant to products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs), insisting on the worlds toughest labelling regime and outraging the US who accuse them of violating free trade agreements over the products.

Full story

Views and Analysis

Professor Howard Davies, Director of Science Co-ordination at SCRI, was recently interviewed on the subject of GM crops in Scotland. The interview coincided with the announcement that scientists at SCRI had won a share of a £400,000 project to research techniques relevant for the safety assessment of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organisms). The research is being funded by the Food Standards Agency.

Full story

Patata transgénica: una nueva amenaza para Europa

Se plantean nuevas amenazas para los consumidores europeos. La Comisión Europea está decidida a ignorar su opinión y seguir introduciendo nuevos cultivos modificados genéticamente (MG) en Europa. No es suficiente con el maíz, ahora la Comisión se dispone a imponer, sin el apoyo de los países miembros, el cultivo de una patata transgénica. Su aprobación supondría el primer cultivo transgénico autorizado en la Unión Europea (UE) desde hace diez años.

Ampliación de la noticia

Europe opposes the entry of GM potato

European environmental groups are critical of Amflora potatoes, saying they could release dangerous genes into the environment.

Full story