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Swiss go-ahead on field trials
Posted: Thursday, February 19, 2009 3:00 pm
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Switzerland's Federal Environment Office says that tests of GM maize, currently underway in Zurich, may continued, with the office satisfied that the tests are being conducted safely. However, a number of changes must be introduced and researchers have been instructed to lay a protection net over test fields, to stop birds feeding on seeds and subsequent crops. They've also been told to use weedkiller extensively, to remove traces of last year's GMOs.

Switzerland was home to some of the most inventive genetic research with plants prior to the Gen-Lex initiative and then a people's initiative in the fall of 2005 that led to a five year moratorium on the use of transgenic agriculture. Although over 200 Swiss researchers condemned the people's initiave, it still passed and the research community has felt the effects ever since.

However, research and progress is still taking place, especially at the ETH Zurich - the birth place of Golden Rice - which was a joint project that also involved the University of Freiburg in Germany. The two research teams from Dr. Ingo Protrykus and Dr. Peter Beyer transferred naturally existing genes into rice varieties so that the resulting varieties could produce vitamin A.

The Swiss moratorium is largely symbolic, and would mostly ban such things as, for example, using a GM ox to pull a plow.
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GMO (noun) 1. An acronym for the term, 'Genetically Modified Organism'. 2. A plant, animal or microbe with a genetic code which has been intentionally altered, such as through forced evolution (see selective breeding); through random mutations induced with radiation or chemicals (see mutagenesis); or through the selective transfer, promoting or silencing of specific genes (see genetic engineering). 3. Most generally, any descendant of a primordial urbiote. (See evolution.)

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GMObelus (noun, proper) A publication directing the attention of readers to the latest news and commentary regarding the development and use of genetically modified organisms in agriculture and related fields.

peer (noun) 1. One of two or more computers sending data to each other over the same network. 2. One of two or more persons sharing information with each other over such a network. (See also, 'remote peer'.)

peer review (noun phrase)  A process by which peers review information shared over a network, rather than each other. (Compare, argumentum ad hominem.)

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