Swiss allowed to use GM wheat in studies
The Swiss Federal Department of the Environment (Bundesamt fuer Umwelt – “BAFU”) has approved that GM wheat can be sowed experimentally in the spring at the Agricultural Research Institute of Zurich-Reckenholz.
required evidence that antibiotic-resistance genes are not found in the two
varieties of wheat. In addition, emergency planning has been
completed.
Powdery mildew
The
applications made by the University of Zurich pertain to the investigation of
wheat plants with increased specific resistance to powdery mildew fungal disease
as well as to crosses of wheat with the wild grass, Aegilops cylindrica. The ETH
wants to experimentally plant wheat with increased fungal
resistance.
Critisism
Greenpeace levelled
the criticism that, “We only know a part of what they are approving. The
approval that BAFU has now definitely granted is based on information that is
incomplete. ‘Important data’ were missing when the application was submitted
this past May.” Greenpeace has received support from the Small Farmers
Association.
(Source: checkbiotech.org)
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