Vietnam´s perspective on GMF

The Government in 2007 approved a GM food management project under which Vietnam aims to have 70% of the country’s plant cultivation area using biological technology in 2020. Of this, plants with genetic modification will account for 30 to 50%.

Vietnam’s biotech scientists said that the country was working on a pilot scheme for using biotech to grow corn, soybean and some other crops, so the country would need to develop a GM food labeling law.

Vietnam’s Government is drafting a decree governing the safety of biotechnology-based foods, so the labeling of genetically modified foods is expected to start from 2015, according to the HCMC Biotechnology Center.

Genetically modified food is almost everywhere, vietnam net bridge, 21 September 2010-10-04

Full link for the complete Article: http://english.vietnamnet.vn/social/201004/Genetically-modified-food-is-almost-everywhere-905736/

Vietnam to grow genetically-modified corn

Vietnam intends to plant genetically-modified corn in 2011 after successfully completing an experimental project.

The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bui Ba Bong, said the project showed that genetically-modified corn can adapt to the weather and land in these areas.

It also showed that this corn is resistant to pests, diseases and could help Vietnam reduce it imports of maize for making animal fodder.

Vietnam produces between 1.1-1.2 million tons of maize a year while it needs 1.5 million tons.

The genetically-modified corn will be planted on a large scale from 2011, if it passes a final test, said Bong.

Vietnam to grow genetically-modified corn, Tuoitre news, September  21, 2010.

Full Article Link: http://tuoitrenews.vn/cmlink/tuoitrenews/society/vietnam-to-grow-genetically-modified-corn-1.11727

Current issues, International news on topic 1 (GMF)

Resisting Roundrup

A vast majority of soybeans and corn planted in this country, and in much of the world, are genetically engineered, and the technology is rapidly pushing its way into many more crops.

For farmers, the benefits are real — with these seeds they can spend less time plowing and cultivating and can use more benign agricultural chemicals to kill weeds. But according to a recent report from the National Research Council, there are also signs of trouble, chief among them the appearance in various parts of the country of herbicide-resistant weeds.

Resisting Roundrup, NY TIMES, Genetically Modified Food (GMF), May 16, 2010

Full Link for the complete Aricle: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/17/opinion/17mon3.html?ref=genetically_modified_food

Genetically Engineered Distortions

More than 80 percent of the corn, soybeans and cotton grown in the United States is genetically engineered, and a report by the National Research Council, details the “long and impressive list of benefits” that has come from these crops, including improved soil quality, reduced erosion and reduced insecticide use.

It also confirmed predictions that widespread cultivation of these crops would lead to the emergence of weeds resistant to a commonly used herbicide, glyphosate. Predictably, both sides have done what they do best when it comes to genetically engineered crops: they’ve argued over the findings.

By Pamela C. Ronald and James E. McWilliams, Genetically Engineered Distortions, NY Times, May 14, 2010.

Full link for this Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/15/opinion/15ronald.html?ref=genetically_modified_food