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GE - GMO News 03/30

GMO News 03/30 
1) Biotech Revolution To Reshape E.U. Seed, Pesticide Indus 
2) Rhone-Poulenc Agro and the Institute of Molecular Agrobiology (IMA) Sign a
Research Collaborative Agreement in the Field of Rice Biotechnology 
3) Govt called on to start GM working group for consumers 
4) JAPAN'S TAKARA SHUZO TO CHECK FOOD FOR GENETIC ENGINEERING 
5)  Mitsubishi Chemical: Focusing on Info, Electronics and Biotechnology 
6) Meeting Africa's agricultural needs 
7) [Somerfield] Superstore tells public to eat GM foods ... or starve 
8) A  BUMPER crop of creative uses for genetically Monsantified tomatoes. 

> DJ 03/30 
1) Biotech Revolution To Reshape E.U. Seed, Pesticide Indus 
By Daniel Balint-Kurti LONDON (Dow Jones)-
-Farming's biotechnology 
> revolution is pitting farm supply firms against a new breed of life 
> science 
> company that promises farmers a one-stop shop for gene-modified seeds 
> and 
> matching herbicides. If genetically modified seed sales take off in 
> the 
> European Union, industry experts said they expect the biotechnology 
> giants 
> to increasingly target smaller seed and pesticide companies for 
> acquisition. Life science firms hope to boost sales of 
> gene-modified 
> seeds resistant to their own non-selective herbicides. That could cut 
> out traditional pesticide manufacturers and enable life science 
> firms to profit by selling seeds and pesticides as a package. 
> Biotech companies argue that crops modified for resistance to 
> non-selective herbicides - so called because they offer blanket 
> protection against weeds - are typically healthier and better 
> yielding than traditional varieties. The new seeds include 
> soybeans and cotton engineered by Monsanto Corp. (MTC) for 
> resistance to its Roundup herbicide, and rapeseed seed produced 
> by Hoechst Schering AgrEvo GmbH that is resistant to its 
> herbicide Liberty. AgrEvo is a joint venture between Hoechst AG 
> (HOE) and Schering AG (G.SCH). Analysts said makers of 
> selective pesticides, such as Bayer AG (G.BAY) and BASF AG 
> (G.BAS), could lose out if the new seeds prove as popular in the 
> E.U. as in North America, where around 38% of soybeans harvested 
> last year were resistant to Roundup. 
> Competition over herbicide-resistant crops has encouraged 
> pesticide companies such as Monsanto and Dupont & Co. (DD) to 
> move into the genetically modified seeds business. Now, their 
> ownership of key patents on methods of genetic engineering is 
> making them natural leaders in the seeds market. "I think even 
> the small plant breeding companies will go over to the big 
> groups in some way," said Paul Vigra, chief spokesman for 
> Swedish agribusiness Svalof Weibull AB. 
> Life Science Firms Seen Dominating Bio-Crop Industry 
> Svalof Weibull's recent history shows how seed companies can 
> be sidelined if they don't embrace genetic engineering. 
> In 1994, it was supplying up to 70% of seed to Canada's 
> rapeseed farmers. By the end of 1998, its share had plummeted to 
> around 20%, because of the availability of new genetically 
> modified rapeseed varieties. "We lost market share in Canada 
> ... because we were two years late with Roundup-Ready herbicide 
> varieties," Vigra said. "We listened to the European discussion 
> and were not updated with the Canadian one." 
> The E.U. has adopted a much more cautious approach to 
> genetically modified crops than Canada or the U.S., imposing 
> tighter restrictions on the development and sale of gene- 
> modified seeds. 
> The downturn in Svalof Weibull's fortunes helped pave the way 
> for its recent acquisition by BASF and Swedish agribusiness 
> Svenska Lantmannen. Now, said Vigra, the firm is set to make a 
> comeback. 
> Licensing technology from AgrEvo and Monsanto, Svalof Weibull 
> has developed two herbicide-resistant varieties of rapeseed. It 
> also plans to market a potato genetically engineered to produce 
> starch for use in the paper industry. Whether Europe's other 
> seed companies will be forced to join up with the big life 
> science firms depends largely on the commercial success of 
> genetically modified seeds in the E.U. That is in the balance 
> because of consumer concerns over the safety of genetically 
> modified food. 
> AgrEvo spokesman Michael Oelck said industry consolidation 
> could swallow up some of the largest firms in the sector. 
> "Our view is we will have four to five worldwide companies 
> (selling genetically modified seeds)," he said. 
> The biggest life science firms that sell both genetically 
> modified seeds and pesticides include AgrEvo, Dupont, Monsanto, 
> Swiss firm Novartis AG (Z.NOV) and the U.K.'s Zeneca Group PLC 
> (ZEN). 
> Bayer Keeps Genetic Modification At Arm's Length 
> One pesticide firm keeping the science of genetic modification 
> at arm's length is Bayer, which prefers to bet its future on the 
> continuing market dominance of selective pesticides. 
> While the market for herbicide-resistant seeds is expected to 
> grow, selective herbicides are likely to account for 80% of the 
> global crop protection market in five years time, said Bayer 
> spokesman Jorgen Frohling. 
> "It's our conviction that biotech will play a role within the 
> next five years but we see that this role will not become a 
> dominant role," he said. "From my point of view there's not a 
> severe restructuring needed." The increased use of genetically 
> modified crops could even benefit the chemical crop protection 
> business, said Frohling. 
> As genetic engineering is applied more to improving plants' 
> output traits, such as the milling quality of wheat or the 
> starch content of potatoes, crops will become more valuable to 
> farmers, leading to greater investment in crop protection 
> chemicals, he said. 
> Bayer is forging ahead with new acquisitions. Last year, it 
> purchased Zeneca's U.K. cereal seed treatment business, as well 
> as a 50% stake in Crompton & Knowles Corp's (CNK) Gustafson seed 
> treatment business in the U.S. But Bayer will have to fight 
> for market share with the world's other big pesticide 
> manufacturers that are spearheading the biotechnology 
> revolution. Monsanto and Dupont have undergone the most rapid 
> expansion of all. While Monsanto had no direct involvement in 
> the seed business until 1993, it has since invested billions of 
> dollars in acquiring seed businesses such as Cargill Inc.'s 
> international seed operations and Unilever PLC's (UL) U.K.-based 
> Plant Breeding International Cambridge Ltd. 
> Similarly, Dupont recently agreed to buy Pioneer Hi-Bred 
> International Inc. (PHB), a seed company with an estimated 45% 
> share of the U.S. corn market. -By Daniel Balint-Kurti 
> 44-171-832-9561; 
> daniel.balint-kurti@cor.dowjones.com 
> (END) DOW JONES NEWS 03-30-99 

> ======#====== 
> PR Newswire March 30, 1999 
2) Rhone-Poulenc Agro and the Institute of Molecular Agrobiology (IMA) Sign a
Research Collaborative Agreement in the Field of Rice Biotechnology 
DATELINE: LYONS and SINGAPORE, March 30 
Rhone-Poulenc Agro and the Singapore-based Institute of Molecular 
> Biology (IMA) will today sign a Collaborative Research Agreement on 
> genetic engineering of disease resistance in rice and functional 
> genomics 
> of rice. The agreement The objective of this agreement is to 
> discover 
> new genes for resistance to fungal and bacterial diseases in rice, 
> which 
> are the main causes of yield loss in rice cultivation. Research 
> will focus on isolating key resistance genes and understanding 
> the interactions between plants and pathogens. Functional 
> genomics will enable researchers to develop tools to enhance the 
> yield potential and the agronomic and nutritional qualities of 
> rice. The use of new rice varieties designed by genetic 
> engineering techniques will reduce reliance on conventional crop 
> protection products. The products resulting from this agreement 
> will be commercialized by both parties, through a joint venture 
> company to be established and based in Singapore. 
> The production of new rice varieties, which are disease 
> resistant and have higher yield potential, will meet growing 
> demand for rice in Asian countries. With planted acreage 
> stabilized at 150 million hectares, Asian countries account for 
> 90% of rice consumed worldwide. Current consumption is 
> estimated at 550 million tons and is expected to increase to 700 
> million tons by the year 2010. 
> In terms of value, rice is by far the leading crop in the 
> Asian plant protection market. Its estimated market is $2.8 
> billion and ranks fourth on the global market. 
> For Rhone-Poulenc Agro, this agreement marks a key milestone 
> in the development of its plant biotechnology policy. It 
> reflects the strategy adopted by the company which is aimed at 
> strengthening its presence and role in Asia, both in the field 
> of conventional crop protection products and in plant 
> biotechnology which is currently taking off in Asia. The 
> development of this strategy has led to the establishment of 
> local partnerships to promote the development of customer- 
> focused distribution networks, as well as to access local 
> expertise and innovation. 10% of Rhone-Poulenc Agro's 1998 
> turnover came from the Asia-Pacific countries, which account for 
> 26% of the global plant protection market. With operations in 
> 15 countries, Rhone-Poulenc Agro has 7 formulation plants, the 
> most recent of which was inaugurated in Vietnam in 1998 and a 
> rice research center in Japan. In 1998, Rhone-Poulenc Agro 
> posted a global turnover of FF 12.697 billion. 
> This agreement which comprises R & D programs and 
> facilitates the commercialization of R & D results exemplifies 
> the focus of all R & D projects undertaken by IMA, which is to 
> select projects based on their long-term economic impact. 
> Future commercialization of the products will give value to R & 
> D results derived from the projects undertaken and will fulfill 
> key objectives set by the institute. This agreement without any 
> doubt marks a key milestone in the institute's short history of 
> only 3 years. Rhone-Poulenc S.A. (NYSE: RP) is a leading 
> life sciences company growing through innovations in human, 
> plant and animal health and through its specialty chemical 
> subsidiary Rhodic. With sales of FF 86.8 billion in 1998, the 
> company employs 65,000 staff in 160 countries worldwide. Note to 
> Editors: This press release was issued earlier today in France 
> by Rhone-Poulenc S.A. (NYSE: RP). 
> SOURCE Rhone-Poulenc Agro 
> CONTACT: Nicole GUIDICELLI of Rhone-Poulenc Agro, (33) (0) 
> 4 72 85 27 64, or Chin LAI KENG of Institute of Molecular 
> Agrobiology, (65) 872 7024 
> ======#====== 
> FED: 
3) Govt called on to start GM working group for consumers 
> CANBERRA, March 30 AAP - 
The New South Wales Farmers' Association  today 
> called for a federal government working group to inform consumers 
> about  genetic modification (GM) of food. NSW Farmers' grains director 
> Glenn 
> Dalton said consumers must be able to make choices based on a solid 
> understanding of issues about GM's benefits and safety before new 
> labelling 
> changes come into effect in May. "The new GM labelling 
> regulations will 
> have no meaning to consumers, particularly the 
> label that says "may contain" genetically modified organisms," 
> Mr Dalton said in a statement. 
> "The rapid expansion of GM research means that before long 
> just about every processed food product "may contain" 
> genetically modified organisms." His call follows growing 
> food and agricultural industry concerns that consumers could 
> reject genetically modified products because of a 
> misunderstanding about the dangers and benefits the products 
> could hold. Mr Dalton said his group had asked parliamentary 
> health secretary Grant Tambling to convene a working group that 
> would include the Australian Consumers Association, the 
> Australian Food and Grocery Council, the Australia-New Zealand 
> Food Council and farmers. 
> He said the working group should look at all issues of 
> consumer education, including the costs and practicality of 
> labelling products. "There is a growing tendency among some 
> politicians and in some of the anti- genetic movements to want 
> consumer choice without mentioning the cost of consumer choice," 
> he said. 
> "It would be very expensive to segregate GM and non-GM 
> ingredients throughout the food chain to give 100 per cent 
> accuracy to labelled processed foodstuffs on the supermarket 
> shelf. The cost of doing so will inevitably be passed on to 
> consumers." 

> ======#====== 
> ASIA PULSE 
4) JAPAN'S TAKARA SHUZO TO CHECK FOOD FOR GENETIC ENGINEERING DATELINE: TOKYO,
Mar 30 
The Takara Shuzo Co. 
> (TSE:2531), Japan's top manufacturer of distilled spirits, would 
> undertake inspections to determine whether soybeans imported by 
> Mitsubishi 
> Corp. (TSE:8058) were genetically engineered, the company announced 
> Monday. The inspections would start with soybeans to be imported 
> from the 
> U.S. in June, Takara officials said. A joint firm to be set up by 
> the two 
> companies would issue 
> a " genetic engineering-free" certificate for imported soybeans, 
> with genetically engineered content of no more than 5%. 
> The partners might extend such inspections to other kinds of 
> imported agricultural produce such as corn and rapeseed in the 
> near future. They may also offer the service to a broad 
> range of outside companies, such as manufacturers and trading 
> houses, the officials said. 
> Mitsubishi imports 350,000 tons of soybeans a year from the 
> U.S. The trading giant hopes that commissioning the 
> inspection work to a third party such as Takara will demonstrate 
> the safety of its imported farm products. (Nikkei) 

> ======#====== 
> COMLINE Daily News Chemicals and Materials March 30, 1999
5)  Mitsubishi Chemical: Focusing on Info, Electronics and Biotechnology 
> BODY: Mitsubishi Chemical Corp. will start a new managerial 
> structure in 
> June 1999, by introducing an executive director system in 
> preparation for 
> transformation to a holding company. At the same time, the company 
> needs 
> to reform its R&D unit in line with this basic policy. Currently, 
> the 
> company is discussing the new structure, including the position of 
> the R&D 
> organization, co-operation with group companies, and selection of R&D 
> themes. The company intends to make a decision regarding them, and 
> put them 
> into practice as quickly as possible. 
> At present, the R&D unit is responsible for company-wide R&D 
> activities based on the company's strategies. From now onwards, 
> research to support group companies will be added as its new 
> role. Of course, each group company will maintain the minimum 
> necessary R&D functions, but it is the role of the company's R&D 
> team to coordinate them. 
> To be more specific, the R&D unit could become an independent 
> company. The ideal form of the unit, according to the company, 
> is that it gives support to group companies' R&D activities and, 
> on top of this, tackle basic research beyond the framework of 
> the group and companies. 
> What is important here is selection of R&D themes. It would 
> be difficult to determine which themes are to be stressed and 
> allocated more R&D resources. It will also be an important 
> factor to tighten co-operation with group companies, including 
> the exchange of human resources. It will also be necessary to 
> introduce the performance-based pay system to improve 
> efficiency. One of the strategic targets for fiscal 1999 is 
> R&D for business expansion in the information electronics field. 
> This includes expansion of memories, electronic chemicals and 
> compound semiconductors and toners for printers and copiers. In 
> addition to them, the company also stresses displays, 
> communications equipment, batteries and other fields where it 
> can exploit its material development ability as a chemical 
> manufacturer. 
> In the biotechnology field, the company will reinforce its 
> ties with Mitsubishi Kasei Institute of Life Sciences, 
> Mitsubishi Chemical Safety Institute, and Biotechnology 
> Laboratory. The company intends to approach life sciences 
> mainly by means of combination between biotechnology and 
> organic synthesis. For the purpose of risk hedging and business 
> expansion, the company will also emphasize ecology. 
> Amid the company-wide restructuring, the company will 
> allocate JPY54 bn ($ 450 mn), down 10% year-on-year, to R&D 
> (including the pharmaceutical field) in fiscal 1999. By 
> narrowing R&D themes according to actual demand, the company 
> intends to seek the most efficient use of financial and human 
> resources. Ref: Japan Chemical Week, 03/25/99, p. 04 

> ======#====== 
> Financial Times (London) March 30, 1999, 
 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

6) Meeting Africa's agricultural needs 
BODY: From Mr Philip S. Angell. Sir, Dr Hans Herren, 
> director general of the International Center of Insect Physiology 
> and 
> Ecology in Nairobi, states that "too narrow an approach to food 
> security 
> is dangerous" about using genetically modified foods in African 
> agriculture (" Genetic engineering will not feed hungry, say 
> Africans", 
> March 16). At Monsanto, we completely agree. No life sciences company 
> claims genetic engineering is the solution to the 
> developmental challenges facing African agriculture. Rather, we 
> have only ever claimed that biotechnology is one tool in a 
> comprehensive, integrated and culturally sensitive solution to 
> African agricultural challenges. 
> More research must be done on food and cash crops grown 
> commonly in the developing world - and we are doing that. In 
> Kenya, for instance, we have developed sweet potato strains 
> resistant to diseases now destroying up to 50 per cent of the 
> crop. We are also working on improving yields, pest and disease 
> resistance for African crops such as rice, cassava and maize. 
> When integrated, managed and implemented in ways sensitive to 
> African circumstances, these crops may help meet African food, 
> environmental and economic development needs. One example 
> demonstrates how biotechnology can help meet critical world 
> health needs. Monsanto has developed a method for enhancing beta 
> carotene, a precursor of Vitamin A, in a variety of oil seed 
> crops. A teaspoon of oil from these plants will provide the 
> daily adult requirement of Vitamin A. We recently donated this 
> technology to a partnership comprised of the US Agency for 
> International Development and other non-governmental agencies 
> for use in the developing world. 
> This is important because tens of thousands of children in 
> the developing world today go blind and suffer other related 
> health problems from a vitamin A deficiency. Using this 
> technology, farmers can grow crops they have always grown using 
> traditional methods for foods that contain sufficient vitamin A 
> to dramatically improve the lives of millions. Also, these seeds 
> can be sustainably farmed without new and costly healthcare, 
> transportation and processing infrastructures. 
> Finally, no farmer anywhere is forced to buy genetically 
> modified seeds. Unless they deliver benefits - yield, cost, 
> environmental and so on - beyond current agricultural 
> practices, why would a farmer buy them? In the end it is a 
> matter of choice and who makes choices about quality, yield and 
> potential profitability. We think farmers are most qualified to 
> make this choice. Philip S. Angell, director, corporate 
> communications, Monsanto, Washington DC, US 

> ======#====== 
> Herald Express (Torquay) March 30, 1999 
SECTION: Agriculture: Genetically Modified Food, 

7) [Somerfield] Superstore tells public to eat GM foods ... or starve 

BODY: SOMERFIELD store bosses are refusing to back down over an 
> "eat GM or starve" warning which has left South Devon's anti-genetics 
> campaigners irate. The supermarket chain's quality assurance boss 
> Stephen Ridge sparked off a row after he wrote to West Alvington 
> parish  councillor Jean Evans telling her that if she tried to avoid 
> genetically  modified food she would starve. And a spokesman for the
chain - 
> which  has stores throughout most South Devon towns - has stood by his
claim 
> and  said: "To  put it in plain English this is what the case is." 
> She said GM and non-GM soya and maize are so intermingled that 
> it is impossible to guarantee GM-free status. 
> Somerfield planned to label all food containing GM additives 
> - but admitted that could end up including virtually everything 
> on the stores' shelves. Mrs Evans, who lives in Lower Street, 
> West Alvington, said she had been "absolutely gobsmacked" when 
> she had received Somerfield's reply to her letter asking about 
> the store's policy over GM food. 
> The letter from Mr Ridge said: "Whilst I have every sympathy 
> with the position you have decided to take, i.e. avoiding eating 
> any genetically modified ingredients or foods, I regret to say 
> in the near future you will starve." 
> Mrs Evans, 53, is co-ordinator of Kingsbridge Action on 
> Genetic Engineering and had written to the Bristol-based store 
> chain with 1,300 supermarkets across the country as part of the 
> group's campaign. 
> She said she and other campaigners were fighting for a choice 
> to eat GM food or not. 
> She explained: "I was so annoyed that it had come in the back 
> door that way and I was eating it and I didn't know it." 
> The Somerfield spokesman said Mr Ridge's message had been 
> "blunt" but it was a fact, and unless people ate only 
> organically-grown vegetables they would have to risk consuming 
> GM food. 
> "We are over a barrel," she added as she said that the store 
> had pressed the Government year ago to ensure that GM additives 
> were segregated, but nothing happened. 
> She said the store is asking its suppliers wherever possible 
> to use non-GM food and label any that has even the smallest GM 
> ingredients. 
> ======#====== 
> The Independent (London) March 30, 1999  
 INDEPENDENT PURSUITS: 
CREATIVITY BYLINE: Loki 
BODY: 
 
8) A  BUMPER crop of creative uses for genetically Monsantified tomatoes.
Cook 
with 
> Lucrezia Borgia - boeuf a la BSE, lait au E coli, et tomates 
> Monchante 
> (Sue Johnson). Self- cooling gazpacho (Alan Brooker). Prizes for a 
> three-legged race (Joan Vinnicombe). Feed Wyatt & Morgan at the OK 
> Corral, 
> make Two-Martyrs Earp (BB); Agent Tomato, born-again military 
> defoliant 
> (Derek Holmes). Lone Ranger and Tomto (Peter Thomas); Redskins 
> starring 
> opposite John Wayne. If skinless, serve at bar mitzvahs (Tony 
> Brandon). 
> Skins for tom- toms (Harold Smith). Bulbs for red-light 
> districts (Tony McCoy O'Grady). Book marks for pulp fiction 
> (JV). Red noses for elephants (Peter Houghton). Bomb Salad 
> Hussein (James A Kelly). Paint pillar boxes, phone booths and 
> London buses (Octavia Leigh). Make tomato fetchup (JR Gore). 
> Sentence to life in the can (JAK). Use Alsatian genes to get 
> Rin-Tin-Tinned tomatoes; mountain goat genes to get a 
> tomatahorn; bullfighter genes to get a tomatador; 
> palaeontologist genes to get a Tomatosaurus rex (PT). Cross with 
> a kipper to breed red herrings (Colin Archer). Splice in 
> cannabis DNA for "salad daze" (Max Beran). Polymerise with a GM 
> lemon and a GM lime to make insect-repellent traffic lights 
> (SJ). Cross with GM soya to make Huckleberry Finn (JRG). Force- 
> feed robots to get automata (Mike Gifford). Tomato Computers - 
> a rival for Apple and Apricot? (John O'Byrne). Throw at 
> unmodified geneticists in the stocks on village greens (BB). 
> Programme to throw themselves at the stock in country kitchens 
> (Susan Tomes). Grow contoured, to fit comically relieved noses 
> (Eric Bridgstock). Use to transfuse victims ready for vegetarian 
> vampires' visits (AB). Cook with cloned lamb; call it Dolly 
> mixture (Matthew White). Edible earmuffs (Shirley Edmundson). 
> With added nuclear strike capability, enable arms 
> manufacturers to qualify for EU farming subsidies (Martin 
> Brown). In nuclear warheads, 2lb is a critical mass (Andrew 
> Duncan). Employ as saucy comedians, pureetan ministers or 
> stalkers (PH). As snooker balls with six open-mouthed Monsanto 
> executives as pockets (BB). As tennis balls for unseeded players 
> (JV). Serve at Wimbledon; sip a tomato deuce at 40 -40 (ST). 
> And finally: Drew Barrow notes that the BBC has been using 
> six-pip GMT on the hour for years. Peter Thomas, Alan Brooker, 
> Matthew White take home a Chambers Dictionary of Quotations. 
> Three more for suggestions for appropriate collective nouns. A 
> gaggle of geese, but how about accountants, Creativity 
> contributors, deep-sea divers...? e-mail Loki.Valhalla@ 
> btinternet.com or write to Creativity, Features, The 
> Independent, 1 Canada Square, London E14 5DL by 8 April. On 6 
> April, automated phone scripts. Readers' meetings may be set up. 
> Please say if you would like to attend. 

> ======#======