Poland escapes feed ban, punishes crop growers instead Perhaps taking a clue from the devastation of the poultry and livestock industries in Western Europe wrought by bans on GM animal feed, Polish decision makers, industry, scientists, producers, and regional political leaders worked together to postpone a ban on animal feed derived from biotech crops until the end of 2012. However, Poland's Ministry of Environment is pushing forward on their anti-GMO position with a new draft of a cultivation law, which legislators hope to put into effect by the beginning of 2009. More†

Legal

EC approves new GM soy In one of the fastest approvals on record, the European Commission has approved Monsanto's Roundup Ready 2 Yield for import into the European Union. Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybeans have been approved as safe for food and feed in nine countries and regions -- the United States, Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand and China. These countries import more than 70 percent of U.S. soybean exports, providing U.S. farmers access to a broad market. The EC's failure to add its approval would further have isolated the trading bloc from lower-priced international commodities. More†

Tasmania extends ban The Australian state of Tasmania has extended its ban on the commercial release of GM food crops to continue until November 2014. Its Minister for Primary Industries and Water, David Llewellyn, said: "The decision by some other Australian States to relax their GM bans has actually increased the value of Tasmania's GMO-free status and that creates opportunities for even better access to prime markets across the globe." Really? Consistently, importers who demand non-GM don't want to pay a premium. More†

Development

Solution for Africa: buy it (redux) On Oct. 4, 2008, GMObelus reported that "some of the world's richest nations are coming to Africa to farm, hoping to turn the global epicentre of malnutrition into a breadbasket for themselves." This may be turning into an international land rush. New Scientist reports countries including China, Kuwait and Sweden are snapping up vast tracts of agricultural land in poorer nations, especially in Africa, to grow biofuels and food for themselves. More†