BIOTECH, LABELING, REGULATORY, OTHER ISSUES:

Politico - GMO labeling bill divides, torments Democrats - By Helena Bottemiller Evich and Catherine Boudreau (4 Mar)

But even as the lawmakers crossed over to vote for the measure, they expressed serious reservations about voluntary labeling...

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/gmo-bill-highlights-division-among-democrats-220250

Food Navigator USA -?Sen. Pat Roberts' GMO labeling bill passes ag ctte: 'What we?re facing is not a safety or health issue, it's a market issue'?-?By Elaine Watson?(1 Mar)

A bill that would pre-empt state laws that mandate GMO labeling (such as Act 120 in Vermont)?and set up a federal voluntary labeling system instead, has passed in the Senate Agriculture Committee 14:6, but faces an uphill battle when it goes to the Senate floor for a vote.

http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Regulation/Sen.-Pat-Roberts-GMO-labeling-bill-passes-ag-ctte

Agri-Pulse -?Senate panel OKs GMO labeling bill with Democrat backing - By Philip Brasher (1 Mar)

The Senate Agriculture Committee approved a bill to preempt state GMO labeling laws, and there were signs there may eventually be enough Democratic support to get a version of the legislation enacted. http://www.agri-pulse.com/Senate-panel-OKs-GMO-labeling-bill-with-Democrat-backing-03012016.asp   Food Navigator USA -?Sen. Merkley introduces new GMO labeling bill backed by Campbell Soup, Amy's Kitchen, but critics say it ?can?t pass??-?By Elaine Watson?(3-Mar)
Two days after Senator Pat Roberts? voluntary GMO labeling bill got the green light from the Senate agriculture committee, Senator Jeff Merkley* (D-OR) has introduced a ?common-sense? alternative he claims will please supporters of mandatory GMO labeling, but offer the food industry a more palatable means of presenting this information.

http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Regulation/Sen.-Merkley-unveils-new-GMO-labeling-bill-backed-by-Campbell-Soup

MPR News / Marketplace - Farmers feel thrown under the buss as Big Food changes - By Annie Baxter (29 Feb)

"We're going to change how we ask you to farm, and we're not going to ask you whether or not you can or you can't, either from a physical or a fiscal standpoint," said Bob Young, senior economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation. "Can you do it in the real world and can you pay for it? We don't really care ? we're just going to demand that you do it."

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2016/02/29/test  

Food Navigator -?Scientists unlock key to drought-resistant, nutrient-boosted beans?-?By Will Chu (2-Mar)

Sequencing the common bean?s genetic make-up is set to reap nutritional benefits as well as making the pulse resistant to drought, expanding its use beyond the food industry, a study has stated.

http://www.foodnavigator.com/Science/Scientists-unlock-key-to-drought-resistant-nutrient-boosted-beans

Daily Monitor (Uganda) -?Counting potential benefits of biotechnology to Uganda - By Lominda Afedraru (2 Mar)

Findings indicate that high expected potential will accrue to producers, consumers, private seed companies and the economy as a whole.

http://www.monitor.co.ug/Magazines/Farming/Counting-potential-benefits-of-biotechnology-to-Uganda/-/689860/3098968/-/bq5gvr/-/index.html   The Irish News -?United States and Europe disagree on GM crops - By Gary McDonald (2 Mar) They insist Europeans are not aligned to the science which proves there is absolutely no risk to consuming genetically-modified food.?But that single emotive issue could potentially bring down the ?4 trillion (?3.1 trillion) Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). http://www.irishnews.com/business/2016/03/02/news/united-states-and-europe-disagree-on-gm-crops-435897/

Livemint (India) - Monsanto threatens to exit India over royalty fees - By Sayanta Bera, Shreeja Sen (4 Mar)

Monsanto says if the panel recommends imposing a sharp, mandatory cut in the trait fees, we will have no choice but to re-evaluate every aspect of our position in India.

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/ZYw7lBgR9FFT7VXGZXVYTI/Monsanto-threatens-to-exit-India.html   The Southern Times (Southern Africa) - Call to adopt BT cotton production - By Brian Tomo (3 Mar) As debate on production and consumption of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) rages on, Zimbabwe needs to make a decision as other countries in Africa are either carrying out controlled trials or have already gone commercial. Call to adopt BT cotton production  

Food Navigator -?Campaigners file formal complaint against EU over glyphosate?-?By Kizzi Nkwocha (4-Mar)

Six environmentalist groups have filed a formal complaint against EU regulators for denying the link between the controversial herbicide glyphosate and cancer.

http://www.foodnavigator.com/Policy/Campaigners-file-formal-complaint-against-EU-over-glyphosate

TRADE ISSUES:

ABC Rural (Australia) - Trade deals 'not as popular as they were', as US presidential election campaign ramps up - By Anna Vidot (2 Mar)

A heated political climate in the United States is contributing to a rising tide of anti-trade sentiment, a former USDA chief economist says.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-03/us-elections-tpp-and-agriculture/7217594   Forbes.com -?Why Is Trade Such A Big Deal In The Election Campaign? - By John Brinkley (3 Mar) Did you ever think you?d see a day when international trade was a central issue in a U.S. presidential election? http://www.forbes.com/sites/johnbrinkley/2016/03/03/why-is-trade-such-a-big-deal-in-the-election-campaign/#7cb61a07585a     Business Day Live (South Africa) - Chicken imports end AGOA impasse - By Simon Barber (3 Mar) The announcement puts an end to a long-running dispute that came to a head in November when US President Barack Obama gave SA 90 days to open its market to US chicken, beef and pork or lose duty-free access to the US market for its own agricultural products. http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/trade/2016/03/03/chicken-imports-end-agoa-impasse   ICTSD Bridges News -?Services Trade in Focus as TISA, TTIP, RCEP Aim for 2016 Conclusion (3 Mar) Services trade governance could see some significant developments in the coming year, as various major trade initiatives confirmed separately last month that they hope to reach conclusion in 2016. http://www.ictsd.org/bridges-news/bridges/news/services-trade-in-focus-as-tisa-ttip-rcep-aim-for-2016-conclusion