Prodigene's_Texas_biopharm_corn_project_Off

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> Subject:

Prodigene's_Texas_biopharm_corn_project_ " Off "

 

> " GM_WATCH " <info

> Sat, 4 Sep 2004 15:46:08 +0100

 

>

> GM WATCH daily

> http://www.gmwatch.org

> ---

> It's not just in countries like Thailand that things

> are going badly wrong for the biotech industry. As

> they desperately try and push GM crops into Africa

> and Asia, they keep suffering one set back after

> another back on their home turf.

>

> First GM pharmaceutical rice got blocked in

> California; then one county after another there

> started voting to go GM FREE; next the big food

> industry group, Grocery Manufacturers of America,

> spoke out against the open-field testing of GM

> pharma crops; and finally came headlines like

> 'Americans Win Disclosure Ruling Against Untested GM

> Crops', after a federal district court judge ordered

> the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

> to disclose the locations of open-air field tests of

> pharma crops in Hawaii. Disclosure, according to the

> USDA and the biotech industry, should not have been

> allowed because it could lead to " civil unrest. "

> http://www.progress.org/2004/gene104.htm

>

> And now leading GM pharma corp ProdiGene, whose

> pharma corn crops have previously caused mayhem in

> Iowa and Nebraska, is being reported as having

> abandoned its controversial Texan GM pharma corn

> project (see below).

>

> While confirmation of the ProdiGene pull-out is

> awaited, it is looking increasingly likely that the

> biotech industry will soon be forced to follow the

> example of a European pharma network and head for

> the developing world to test out its dangerous

> wares.

>

> The Europeans have selected laxly-regulated South

> Africa as an easy testing ground but they're running

> into increasing resistance. Peter Lowins, a South

> African farmer who represents the local grain

> growers, understands the game plan: " And that's why

> they try using Third World countries to do these

> experiments. If it's wrong or if it's a failure in

> the future, it doesn't affect them. "

> http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4285

>

> In the meantime, you can find out more about the

> Texan project via the US-based Campaign to Label

> Genetically Engineered Foods' pharma crops' website:

> http://www.pharmcrops.com

>

> They've also set up an ACTION ALERT on the site so

> you can instantly send comments on ProdiGene's

> permit requests to the USDA's Animal and Plant

> Health Inspection Service at:

> http://www.pharmcrops.com/prodigenealert.php

>

> Comments must be submitted no later than Tuesday

> night.

>

> A detailed letter from the Sierra Club, the US's

> biggest wilderness conservation group, to US Ag Sec

> Ann Veneman, objecting to the cretinous ProdiGene

> plan is at:

> http://www.gmwatch.org/archive2.asp?arcid=4232

> ---

> Fwd-

>

> Neil Carman <neil_carman

> Prodigene's Texas biopharm corn project is

> " Off "

>

> RE: Prodigene's biopharm corn project in Frio

> County, Texas put on hold.

>

> Good news!

>

> Elizabeth Allen, a Business reporter with the San

> Antonio Express News, called today asking questions

> about Sierra Club's concerns with Prodigene's

> biopharmaceutical corn project proposed for a secret

> location in Frio County, Texas (near San Antonio).

> Elizabeth obtained my contact information from the

> USDA Docket. I submitted comments on behalf of

> Sierra Club's GE committee to the USDA Docket on

> August 10, 2004 to oppose the project and we know

> that several

> hundred other comments were sent by people using

> Craig Winters Campaign to Label GMOs website.

>

> The good news is that, according to my conversations

> with Elizabeth Allen, she was told by a Prodigene

> spokesperson (the CEO was traveling and not

> available) at College Station, TX, this morning that

> Prodigene's Frio County biopharm corn project is

> definitely " OFF. " However, Elizabeth did not

> elaborate about where that means the Frio County

> biopharm project is permanently dead or postponed

> indefinitely. She told me that the SAEN will

> publish a story when she confirms what the status of

> Prodigene's Frio County project is

> from the USDA since there's still some uncertainty

> at this time.

>

> Anyway I think it's good news for the time being.

>

> Neil Carman, Ph.D.

> Vice chair

> Sierra Club Genetic Engineering Committee

> Austin, Texas

>