European Parliament strengthens draft laws to ban GM crops

European Parliament strengthens draft laws to ban GM crops

The European Union Parliament voted to give EU member states the power to restrict or ban genetically modified crops on environmental or health grounds.The draft legislation, which still has to be considered by EU governments, would enable member states to place

1.3 billion tons of food wasted every year

1.3 billion tons of food wasted every year

According to staggering new statistics from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), roughly one-third of the food produced worldwide for human consumption is lost or wasted, amounting to some 1.3 billion tons per year. In the developing world, over

New and old threats to soybean production

New and old threats to soybean production

University of Illinois researchers identified the top pathogens, pests and weeds affecting soybean production. Soybean aphid, soybean rust, soybean cyst nematode, Sclerotina stem rot and the exotic pathogen, red leaf blotch, were featured as some of the top biotic

Secret GM wheat experiments begin in Australia

Secret GM wheat experiments begin in Australia

Australia's first trial of genetically modified wheat and barley is under way near Narrabri, New South Wales in the south-eastern area of the country. The goal of the GM wheat is said to be more nutritious bread (http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/gm-wheat-…).How exactly t

China: Rain quenches thirst of areas hit by drought

China: Rain quenches thirst of areas hit by drought

Rain in Central and South China is expected to drench drought-hit regions over the next three days, which could help to ease the dry spell, but experts warned the local public to prepare for heavy rains and even floods.At least light to moderate rains would

Texas suffers from “exceptional” drought

Texas suffers from “exceptional” drought

A report released Thursday from a consortium of national climate experts said Texas saw the highest levels of drought over the last week — rated as "exceptional" — jump from 43.97 percent of the state to 50.65 percent of the state. Devastating drou

More problems with glyphosate for US rice growers

More problems with glyphosate for US rice growers

Adding to the natural rice industry’s woes after Bayer CropScience contaminated a third of the US rice supply with transgenic rice in 2006, the widespread application of Bayer’s glufosinate and Monsanto’s glyphosate is reducing crop yields, and burning and

Locust plague ravages NW China

Locust plague ravages NW China

Large swarms of locusts have laid waste to vast tracts of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with authorities expecting the plague to worsen as the weather heats up. The locust plague began in the pastureland of the Ili River Valley and Taer Basin in

Monsanto pesticide found to infect plants with AIDS-like disease

Monsanto pesticide found to infect plants with AIDS-like disease

When Dr. Don Huber, professor emeritus at Purdue University and internationally-recognized plant pathologist, wrote a letter back in January to US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack, warning him about a new mystery disease showing up primarily in