Genetix RoundUp ™

Resistance is Fertile!
On Tuesday, activists occupied the European Patents Office in The Hague as part of protests around the COP 6 summit on the Convention on Biodiversity. A samba band occupied the lobby of the building and climbers hung banners higher up. Read the full story, and more on what's going on in The Hague at: http://www.resistanceisfertile.com/english/articles/20020409_epo_eng.html

Action alert on National Seed Listing for GM maize variety
In 2000, the UK government attempted to give the first authorisation for a genetically modified crop (Chardon LL, a GM maize seed) to be sold commercially to farmers. Thousands of members of the public objected and demanded a public inquiry and so far Chardon LL has not been approved. Now it wants to try again with a second, very similar, GM maize variety called Sheridan, also owned by Aventis.

Both Chardon LL and Sheridan have been banned in Austria. Both are strains of T25 maize with the same genetic modification.

In order to be sold commercially, the seed must be added to the National Seed List. Members of the public have a right to object to additions to the seed list - the only time in the GM approval process where there is direct public input.

Friends of the Earth is gathering objections to the licensing of Sheridan. A briefing is available in pdf format from lizw@foe.co.uk which explains the process in more detail, and explains how to use the National Seed List rules to object to Sheridan.
Contact: Liz Wright, Real Food Campaign, Friends of the Earth, Tel: 0113 242 8153

Bayer/Aventis takeover
German based chemicals and pharmaceuticals company Bayer AG look set to complete their purchase of Aventis CropScience within weeks. The 7.25 billion euro deal is being given the green light by a European Commission anti-trust enquiry, subject to Bayer selling off several key parts of the combined Bayer and Aventis crop science businesses. German chemical company BASF look likely to snap up any juicy tit bits that Bayer have to get rid of. French unions representing employees of Aventis claim that more than 1000 jobs are at risk because of these sales, and that the partial break-up of the Aventis CropScience business is in breach of agreements made with the management of Aventis and Bayer. As yet it is unclear whether UK facilities owned by Aventis CropScience face closure as a result of the Bayer purchase. It seems certain that the controversial agricultural-biotechnology division of Aventis CropScience will be part of the new Bayer CropScience when it is launched within the next few weeks. It is interesting to note the financial press talking of the Aventis CropScience purchase as a 'limiting burden' on Bayer AG rather than a deal with exciting prospects.