GMO

ISSUES

Genetically modified organism (GMO)

There are many different types of genetically modified organisms (animals, plants, bacteria and yeast) and various types of transformation technologies and objectives (medical, scientific, industrial, etc.) but the debate has often been centred on GM foods. These are the only ones examined in this summary which outlines the main points of this complex debate.
Inventory
Since the first GM plant was marketed in 1996 – a tomato -, the surface area of GM crops has continiously increased. In 2007, there were 114 million hectares of transgenic plants being cultivated worldwide. There are now 23 countries growing them. The United States produces the most GMOs in the world with 57,7 millions hectares (50% of the world surface area cultivated with GMOs). It is followed by Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India and China. In Europe, Spain is the country with the most GM crops 50 000 hectares of GM crops grown in 2007. (1)

NEWS

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FRANCE - STRASBOURG - Les élus Verts du Parlement européen ont dénoncé mardi à Strasbourg la "précipitation" du président de la...

INDIA - For the first time anywhere in the world, biotech agriculture giant Monsanto has admitted that insects have developed...

FRANCE - BRUXELLES - Les deux coprésidents du groupe des Verts au Parlement européen ont protesté jeudi contre la politique du...

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DEBATES

Fighting Biopiracy

Silvia Ribeiro et Kathy Jo Wetter

The bean for which Proctor was granted a patent is a farmers’ variety, originally from Mexico and in the public domain for...

Harvest of Suicide

These suicides are most frequent where farmers grow cotton,...

GM crops may reduce greenhouse gases

If 4 million cars were taken off the road in a single year,...

FOCUS

GM Foods

Will genetically modified organisms (GMOs) help feed the world? It is one of the principal arguments put forward in favor of their use in agriculture. As with most of the claims made about GMOs (and there are many), it is hard to prove.The first...

VIDEOS

13/12/2009	Pierre-Henri GOUYON tells us : 'What really frightens me are people who...	04/09/2009	Les excès de l’élevage intensif et ses dérives possibles racontés dans une...
22/05/2009	Pour sensibiliser le public aux projets gouvernementaux d’autoriser la...	23/02/2009	Dix ans après leur adoption en Argentine, les OGMs connaissent une succès...

GREEN TIPS

North-South solidarity

Development aid is a transfer of funds and skills to help poor countries and populations towards development....

INDICATORS

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