Aussie grain handlers confident they can segregate Australia's ABC News reports that grain handling companies are confident about segregating GM canola from the conventional crop. This would be great news for everyone in the food chain if the GM canola were a "value-added" specialty crop -- but it's not. There's no need to segregate the canola, nor any value in doing so. By assuaging the critics of biotechnology with a segregation scheme, the industry has only set itself up for a political "contamination" fracas. More†

Pharming and Aslan Group sign lactoferrin agreement Netherlands-based Pharming Group NV has signed an agreement with the Aslan Group, of Istanbul, Turkey, to develop, manufacture and market Pharming's human lactoferrin product (hLF). Lactoferrin is a protein naturally present in different mammalian secretions especially in human breast milk, saliva and tears. The protein has several properties related to the human immune system, including anti-infective and anti-inflammatory protection. It has also been shown that the product has a positive effect on the growth of cells that protect the intestinal tract. Under this agreement, the lactoferrin will be produced by GM cows. More†

Development

India approves field trials of GM maize India's Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) has given Monsanto India, Ltd. permission to conduct limited field trials of maize genetically modified to resist the corn borer insect pest, and to tolerate the application of Roundup herbicide. That's according to Harish Damodaran of Business Line, who quotes "highly placed sources." More†