AgBioworld Blog: AstroBiotech, GM Growing Faster Than Organic and Glofish!
Compiled by C.S. Prakash, Ph.D.
September 12, 2007
AgBioworld is comprised of agbiotech experts who take a keen interest in the latest news and events important to ag-biotech. This blog aims to be a reflection of those events and news stories that have captured our attention. Please share your comments and feelings on the current climate for biotech with us as well.
Best regards,
C.S. Prakash
AstroBiotech
Abstract: Biotech has made its way to space!
One member commented that the Chinese have claimed amazing results from their project of shooting seeds into orbit.
A story on space watermelons ready to harvest can be found here:
Space watermelons ready to harvest
Angela Xu, Shanghai Daily, July 18, 2007
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/sp/article/2007/200707/20070718/article_323800.htm
GM Growing Faster Than Organic
Abstract: AgBioworld members offered several comments regarding an article about French GMO area.
One member noted that organic corn is hard to find in France because organic crops are more popular. While another commented that it would be nice if they could analyze the inflated organic claims next to the biotech acreage growth data.
See the article below, and the Guest ed. note which follows it (from AgBioView):
French GMO Area May Keep Rising Sharply - Growers
Sybille de La Hamaide, Reuters via Planet Ark, July 20, 2007
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/43181/story.htm
Glofish
Abstract: Glofish created quite a stir among members recently.
One member was so intrigued that he went out a bought a couple. He also noted that the site advertising the fish gives a background on the science behind it and also provides classroom resources with lesson plans for teachers. He also encourages other members to help local teachers to purchase GloFish for use in the classroom.
Another member pointed out a section of the Web site that explains why GloFish are not available in California. According to the Web site, California currently enforces a statewide ban on the sale, possession, and import of transgenic aquatic organisms. The makers of GloFish appealed this ban but were denied. They decided that going through the approval would be too costly and decided not to pursue it. Someone else in the group thanked this member for pointing this out and suggested that the GloFish example may be worthy of comment by Sense about Science, an independent charitable trust that responds to “the misrepresentation of science and scientific evidence on issues that matter to society.”
Here’s a link to the GloFish site: http://www.glofish.com/buy.asp
