| | 15/April/24
| | Patents block breeding of tomatoes resistant to harmful virus Research carried out by No Patents on Seeds! shows how CRISPR/Cas technology is being used to take exclusive control of conventionally bred tomatoes: there are currently more than 20 pending international patent applications for tomato plants with resistance to the aggressive Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV or TBRFV, also called Jordan Virus). The filed patent applications cover both genetically engineered and conventionally bred plants, and may significantly hamper or block the work of European breeders. The patents were filed by ten companies, including BASF, Bayer, Rijk Zwaan and Syngenta. Several naturally occurring gene variants which may confer resistance to the virus have already been found. Therefore, there is no need for genetic engineering, as new varieties with the desired trait can be obtained from conventional breeding methods. Nevertheless, the patent applications include examples of random mutagenesis and new genomic techniques (NGTs), e.g. CRISPR/Cas, raising the impression of technical inventions. The problem: The patent applications filed for the virus-resistant tomatoes are not restricted to GM plants, they also cover plants inheriting genetic variations resulting from non-targeted processes. In fact, random mutations are being used as a kind of Trojan Horse to expand patent monopolies to conventionally bred tomatoes. No Patents on Seeds! Food Sovereignty Ghana fights approval of 14 GMOs Food Sovereignty Ghana has filed an injunction against the approval of 14 GMOs (mostly Bayer GMO maize and soy varieties) not previously allowed into Ghana. They are holding a press conference today, April 15, to set out their opposition. Food Sovereignty Ghana on Facebook Ghana: Peasant Farmers Association urges rejection of genetically modified seeds (video) The Peasant Farmers Association is asking its members to reject any GM seeds. The Association has condemned government interests in promoting the GM seeds of multinationals. JoyNews Listen to the concerns of peasant farmers on GM foods – museum founder Kojo Yankah, the founder of the PanAfrican Heritage Museum (PAHM), has expressed support for peasant farmers in Ghana who are against the use of GMOs in agriculture. In a post on his Facebook page, Yankah emphasised the importance of listening to the concerns of farmers who play a vital role in feeding the nation. He highlighted the preference of peasant farmers for natural seeds over laboratory-modified GMO seeds, citing concerns about the loss of fertility in farming lands due to chemical use and the increase in health problems associated with GMO crops. Ghanafuo.com IARC leader honoured The integrity of the scientists of IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) has been confirmed yet again — despite the endless attacks by Bayer/Monsanto and its supporters. IARC's Kurt Straif has received the Research Integrity Award of ISEE (International Society for Ecological Economics). Kurt has led the IARC Monographs Program in Lyon for more than a decade, always assuring that scientific evidence held sway over industry interests. Notably, in 2015 IARC classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen. GMWatch @GMWatch on Twitter/X We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible by readers’ donations. Please support our work with a one-off or regular donation. Thank you! __________________________________________________________ Website: http://www.gmwatch.org
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