Biotech Breakdown

• Extreme Genetic Engineering: Introduction to Synthetic Biology January 16, 2007.
  Brought to you by the ETC Group, which has an international scope. They have many other publications with issues ranging from Human/Farmer's Rights, Biotechnology, Geoengineering, and Corporate Concentration. A wealth of quality information and available in other languages including French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish.

• 'Alien' genes escape into wild corn February 21, 2009.
  NOW it's official: genes from genetically modified corn have escaped into wild varieties in rural Mexico. A new study revealed in New Scientist resolves a long-running controversy over the spread of GM genes and suggests that detecting such escapes may be tougher than previously thought.

• Genetically-Engineered Trees Can Dissolve Themselves into Fuel August 15, 2008.
  Eddy Rubin, director of the Department of Energy's Joint Genome Institute in California published a paper in Nature about how trees can be genetically-engineered to be biofuel-ready. Merging fungus genes into poplar so that the tree can rapidly ferment itself as soon as it's chopped down. Follow this link to find out more on which species of trees are being modified and who is backing the projects - U.S. focused.

• 'Self-digesting' biofuel plants could ease food crisis May 16, 2008.
  A not so critical look into self-digesting dedicated energy crops. This newscientist article also links to another article of theirs on the self-digesting spartan corn being developed at Michigan State University.

• Food security and global warming: Monsanto versus organic February 16, 2009.
  Posted by Meredith Niles. Organic farming beats genetically engineered corn as response to rising global temperatures.

• 'Suicide Seeds' Could Spell Death of Peasant Agriculture, UN Meeting Told January 26, 2006.
  Posted by Haider Rizvi. Adresses issues around Monsanto's Terminator seed technology. Here is a trailer for the excellent documentary titled, The World According to MONSANTO.

• Monsanto vs. U.S. Farmers Report November, 2007.
  Published by the Center for Food Safety. The report documents Monsanto's lawsuits against American farmers, revealing thousands of investigations, nearly 100 lawsuits and numerous bankruptcies. Also provided is a toll-free hotline established for farmers facing lawsuits or threats from Monsanto to get guidance and referrals.

• The True Cost of Agrofuels: Impacts on Food, Forests, People and Climate 2007.
  This report is one of the most complete analysis of the multiple aspects of Agrofuels covering issues of soil, corporate control and consolidation, water, plantations and pulp mills, fertilizer usage, Genetic Engineering, transportation, and climate change. The conclusion fleshes out pathways and solutions to meeting the challenges for which agrofuels are a false solution.

• How GM Crops Destroy the Third World April, 2004. Written by Lim Li Ching and brought to you by the Independent Science Panel (ISP), a panel of scientists from many disciplines, committed to the Promotion of Science for the Public Good. This page has case studies from Argentina, Indonesia, and India.

http://www.energyjustice.net/ethanol/cellulosic/biotech