News items related to ag biotech, trade ? and perhaps some other interesting items out there related to agriculture ? will be posted on this page throughout the week (newly added items will be in green at bottom of sections). ?Be sure to check in regularly! ____ Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2015 The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA) released the "Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops: 2015" on April 13. ?This is the twentieth year of of successful commercialization of biotech crops, and there's a wealth of information to go through available at their website?- but let's give you a quick taste with their video 20 Years Global Commercialization of Biotech Crops and 2015 Highlights: [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36JEPR6tXxM#action=share[/embed]

BIOTECH:

Natural GMOs: the Sweet Potato - Biology Fortified - By Layla Katiraee (Apr 11) Link:?http://www.biofortified.org/2016/04/natural-gmos-sweet-potato/ Knocking technology is easy to do on a full stomach - Farm Weekly (Australia) - By Tony May (Apr 9) Link:?http://www.farmweekly.com.au/news/agriculture/general/opinion/knocking-technology-is-easy-to-do-on-a-full-stomach/2752179.aspx In biotech breakthrough, scientists discover reverse photosynthesis - Crop Biotech Update, ISAAA (Apr 6) Link:?http://www.isaaa.org/kc/cropbiotechupdate/article/default.asp?ID=14302 NZ will have to allow GM food to keep up with other countries - Stuff (New Zealand) - by Jill Gallowayy (Apr 11) Link:?http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/78586826/nz-will-have-to-allow-gm-food-to-keep-up-with-other-countries BBC dismisses anti-GMO activist complaints over Panorama film?s portrayal of Bangladesh Bt brinjal project - Mark Lynas (Apr 12) See more at: http://www.marklynas.org/2016/04/bbc-dismisses-anti-gmo-activist-complaints-bangladesh-bt-brinjal-project-featured-2015s-panorama-film/#sthash.xZP0UDDt.dpuf My genetically modified crops are everything an environmentalist should want - Financial Post (Canada) - By Bob Bartley (Apr 13) "These days, consumers want their products to be environmentally friendly and sustainable. So here they are..." Link:?http://business.financialpost.com/fp-comment/my-genetically-modified-crops-are-everything-an-environmentalist-should-want

Everything you think you know about genetically modified food is about to change - Yahoo!News / Business Insider - By Erin Brodwin (Apr 14)

Link:?http://finance.yahoo.com/news/first-time-usda-said-wont-192700246.html

Syngenta Within Reach, China Signals Speed on GMOs - Wall Street Journal, China Real Time Report - By Chuin-Wei Yap (Apr 14)

Link:?http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2016/04/14/syngenta-within-reach-china-signals-speed-on-gmos/

REGULATION, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, LABELS:

Hawaiian agriculture - Paradise sprayed - The Economist (Apr 9) Link:?http://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21696575-poisonous-debates-rage-around-pesticides-and-those-using-them-paradise-sprayed

Water decision another nail in agriculture's coffin - Western Farm Press - By Todd Fitchette in Farm Press Blog (Apr 6)

Link:?http://westernfarmpress.com/blog/water-decision-another-nail-agricultures-coffin

In Iowa corn fields, Chinese national's seed theft exposes vulnerability - Reuters - By Julie Edwards (Apr 11)

Link:?http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-seeds-idUSKCN0X80D6

GMO food labels are meaningless - Los Angeles Times - Op-ed by Henry I. Miller (Apr 12)

Link:?http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0412-miller-gmo-labels-unscientific-20160412-story.html

MEPs give glyphosate green light ? with caveats?- Food Navigator -?By David Burrows (Apr 13)

The European Parliament has voted in favour of re-authorising the use of glyphosate ? the weedkiller that almost two thirds of consumers want to see banned - but have limited this approval to seven years.

Link:?http://www.foodnavigator.com/Policy/MEPs-give-glyphosate-green-light-with-caveats

Six real consequences of GMO labeling ? you may be shocked by #5! - Biology Fortified - by MaryM (Apr 12)

Link:?http://www.biofortified.org/2016/04/six-consequences-of-gmo-labeling-you-may-be-shocked-by-5/

EFSA dismisses Austrian data on GM trait, calls for wider EU debate - Food Navigator -?By Jane Byrne, 14-Apr-2016

EFSA has once again rejected data provided by Austria to support that country?s imposed ban on the use of genetically modified oilseed rape, GT73, in food and feed.

Link:?http://www.feednavigator.com/Regulation/EFSA-dismisses-Austrian-data-on-GM-trait-calls-for-wider-EU-debate

Gene-edited CRISPR mushroom escapes US regulation - Nature - By?Emily Waltz (Apr 14)

A fungus engineered with the CRISPR?Cas9 technique can be cultivated and sold without further oversight. Link:?http://www.nature.com/news/gene-edited-crispr-mushroom-escapes-us-regulation-1.19754?

Bounty hunters could come after you from day one if you are not compliant with Vermont GMO labeling law, warns attorney - Food Navigator USA -?By Elaine Watson?(Apr 15)

Private litigants, or so-called ?bounty hunters?, may start targeting food manufacturers over alleged violations of Vermont?s new GMO labeling law from day one (July 1), lawyers at Hogan Lovells have warned.

Link:?http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Regulation/Private-litigants-could-aggressively-enforce-Vermont-GMO-labeling-law

ZIKA:

Mosquito vs. Mosquito in the Battle Over the Zika Virus - The New York Times - By Nina Federoff and John Block (Apr 6)

Link:?http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/06/opinion/mosquito-vs-mosquito-in-the-battle-over-the-zika-virus.html

Genetically Modified Mosquitoes Probably Headed to Florida Keys to Fight Zika - Miami New Times - By Tim Elfrink (Apr 11) Link:?http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/genetically-modified-mosquitoes-probably-headed-to-florida-keys-to-fight-zika-8381757

TRADE:

Uruguay in Brussels to begin a crucial round of Mercosur/EU negotiations - MercoPress (Apr 12) Link:?http://en.mercopress.com/2016/04/08/uruguay-in-brussels-to-begin-a-crucial-round-of-mercosur-eu-negotiations 'Last chance' for transatlantic trade pact - Politico Europe - By Hans von der Burchard (Apr 11) "Concern grows that deal could be delayed ? or completely fall apart." Link:?http://www.politico.eu/article/ttip-last-chance-for-transatlantic-trade-pact-michael-froman-angela-merkel-cecilia-malmstroem/

Protectionism was a mistake 80 years ago. Is the world now set to repeat it? - The Guardian (Apr 10)

Link:?http://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/apr/10/protectionism-mistake-80-years-ago-world-set-repeat-imf

Defense Sec Carter calls on Congress to pass TPP this year - The Hill - By Vicki Needham (Apr 9)

Link:?http://thehill.com/policy/finance/275744-defense-secretary-carter-calls-for-congress-to-pass-tpp-this-year

Copa-Cogeca slams ?unacceptable? EU-Mercosur deal?- GlobalMeatNews.com -?By Oscar Rousseau (Apr 12)

Farming body Copa-Cogeca tells EU ministers to oppose a deal with South American trade bloc Mercosur that would pave the way to lower tariffs, leading to a ?catastrophic impact? on beef

Link:?http://www.globalmeatnews.com/Industry-Markets/Copa-Cogeca-slams-unacceptable-EU-Mercosur-deal

Australia Says First Trade Deal With India's Modi Is Very Close - Bloomberg - by ?Jason Koutsoukis ?and?Shruti Srivastava?(Apr 12)

Link:?http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-12/australia-says-first-trade-deal-with-india-s-modi-is-very-close

Mexican president says wants to adopt rules from EU-US trade deal - Reuters (Apr 12)

Link:?http://www.reuters.com/article/eu-usa-trade-mexico-idUSL5N17F3YG

  OTHER:   Okay, now this piece below out of Australia truly shows activists will just about do and say anything...  

Half-cocked PETA chicken meat claims refuted - The Land (Australia) - By Colin Bettles (Apr 12)

"A video posted on PETA?s official Facebook page - accompanied by links to free vegan starter kits - said, ?Eating chicken can make your kid?s dick small?."

Link:?http://www.theland.com.au/story/3843850/half-cocked-peta-chicken-meat-claims-refuted/

UK farmers to test hi-tech beans that could prevent food waste - The Guardian - by Jesse Hirsch (Apr 15)

Link:?http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/apr/15/uk-farmers-to-test-hi-tech-beans-that-could-prevent-food-waste