Source: Cornell Alliance for Science (via Genetic Literacy Project) – 22 May 2020 

Though only a few African countries are now growing genetically modified (GM) crops commercially, governments across the continent are increasingly recognizing the crucial role that biotechnology can play in improving food security.

In response, African governments are moving to establish an enabling policy framework to support adoption of biotechnology, including GM crops and derived products…

Currently, only farmers in South Africa, Swaziland and Sudan are growing GM crops commercially. Ethiopia, Malawi, Nigeria and Kenya have approved the release of GM crops, but just the latter two countries have begun the rollout to farmers. About a dozen other African countries have GM crop research projects under way, with some of the experiments ongoing for more than a decade now.

Case studies from Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria and Uganda highlighted in the paper show broader agricultural policies in these countries are encouraging support for GM crops on the continent because the policies are science focused.

Source: Stock Journal – 22 May 2020

While this year’s crops are only just going in, grain growers are being advised to start preparing for the 2021 season if they want to use GM technology.

Grain Producers SA’s Adrian McCabe says croppers need to start researching GM varieties and trial data because they may need to give pre-order indications to seed companies as early as next month…

14 May 2020. Source: Grain Producers SA Media Release

After 16 long years, South Australian growers are one step closer to having the freedom of choice to grow the same crops as their mainland interstate counterparts.

This follows the passage of the Genetically Modified Crops Management (Designated Area) Amendment Bill through State Parliament today, which Grain Producers SA has welcomed.

The Bill will enable growers on mainland SA to access GM crop varieties while allowing a path for those councils which believe they derive a premium the ability to apply to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development in the next six months to retain the moratorium for that council area.

The final decision on whether that exemption is granted will reside with the Minister.

GPSA CEO Caroline Rhodes said the passage of the Bill reflected GPSA’s strong commitment to restoring grower choice in South Australia.

“This Bill establishes a level playing field for South Australian growers with their mainland interstate counterparts,” she said…

See also:

GM Crops Bill Passes Parliament – Tim Whetstone, SA Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development Media Release

Science finally prevails with GM cropping getting the green light in South Australia – CropLife Australia Media Release

28 April 2020 – Source: Stock Journal

The state government is confident it will be able to legislate to lift the Genetically Modified food crops moratorium, after reaching an agreement with the opposition.

Primary Industries and Regional Development Minister Tim Whetstone said the government has negotiated with the Opposition in good faith about amendments that would enable legislation to pass…Mr Whetstone [is] calling the agreement a win for SA farmers.

“This agreement is a great outcome for South Australian famers who will have the opportunity to reap the benefits of growing GM where that is best for their business,” he said.

Source: Genetic Literacy Project – 09 April 2020

GMO and organic crops can coexist with minimal risk of contamination, multiple studies confirm

In 2020, the world accommodates nearly 7.8 billion people. By 2050, world population is expected to reach 9.8 billion. With the exponentially growing population, decreasing resources, and intensifying climate change, it is compelling to adopt various production systems to attain food security. Thus, coexistence of different production systems has become a viable option for some countries according to ISAAA…

The North American experience in coexistence has shown that even if the greatest share (60%) was devoted to GE crops, the majority (96% of those surveyed) of organic farmers have not incurred economic losses due to the presence of biotech crops.

Source: GMOinfo.eu – 19 June 2019

A special Eurobarometer survey report on food safety was published this month. It shows once again that the regularly promoted narrative that “90 per cent of Europeans are against GMOs” is bogus.

Source: ABC News, Rural – 19 June 2019
Scientists are exploring taking crops out of the field and growing them in warehouses to develop new varieties capable of feeding 10 billion people by 2050.

This research from The University of Queensland was featured in the journal Nature Biotechnology on 17 June 2019.

07 June 2019. Source: Reuters

The US is planning to revise its regulations on importing, transporting and releasing GMOs, it told the World Trade Organization in a filing published on Friday. The proposal from the U.S. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), the first comprehensive revision of the regulations since they were established in 1987, aims to reduce the regulatory burden to reflect advances in genetic engineering and better understanding of plant pest risks, it said.

05 June 2019. Source: The Leadership Newspaper (Nigeria)

Dr Issoufou Kollo Abdourhamane, the project manager of African Agricultural Technology Foundation (AATF) is interviewed on the health and environmental impact of GM crops and the economic importance of Pod-Borer Resistant (PBR) cowpea. The PBR Cowpea Project is a public private partnership coordinated by AATF to promote technological interventions that will optimise cowpea productivity and utilization in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

30 May 2019. Source: ISAAA

A healthy agricultural production system cannot exist without healthy soils. Aside from being the habitat of diverse organisms that contribute to carbon sequestration, the soil plays a vital role in food production as well as in climate change mitigation. With biotech products such as herbicide tolerant crops, conservation practices have been used not just to the farmers’ advantage, but also to preserve soil health.

21 May 2019. Source: Healthcare IT

The country’s regulations on gene technology are being updated to clarify the regulatory status of new genome editing techniques and provide additional benefits to cancer patients and the medical research community. The amendments will make it quicker and easier for medical researchers to do early proof of concept work and progress to clinical trials with patients, including work to identify genes involved in diseases. The regulation amendments had been made on behalf of the Legislative and Governance Forum on Gene Technology to make the legal position of genome editing clearer.

14 May 2019. Source: YouTube via Genetic Literacy Project.

Many Americans know the sad tale of how the American chestnut tree was driven almost to extinction in the 20th century. More important, chestnuts were food. An old rule of thumb was that the nuts from a single big chestnut tree could feed a family of four for a year. …The American Chestnut Foundation has been trying to revive the species since 1983 and plant scientists at the State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science & Forestry, in Syracuse, have used genetic engineering to splice a blight-resistance gene into American chestnut DNA. The result – a highly resistant American chestnut with many fewer “foreign” genes than the Chinese-American hybrids. These plants are intended to be released into forests as wild trees, so of course people want them to be as “natural” as possible. But agricultural chestnuts, meant to be grown in orchards, are another matter.

16 May 2019. Source: Big Ideas, ABC Radio National

Genetic changes can make food crops more resistant to drought, pests and disease but some consumers will go out of their way to avoid genetically modified produce.Despite reassurance from GM scientists, the debate about GM food goes on. Tasmania has a moratorium on GM crops which is up for review in November. A scientist, a lawyer and an environmental advocate debate the pros and cons of GM agriculture.