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Biotech / Medical : Monsanto Co. -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Dan Spillane who wrote (1617)	3/15/1999 8:18:00 AM
From: jopawa	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2539

Dan, FWIW 03:48 [MTC] MONSANTO ADMITS PROMOTION OF MODIFIED FOODS HAS BACKFIRED: FT.

To: Dan Spillane who wrote (1617)	3/15/1999 11:05:00 AM
From: Anthony Wong	Respond to of 2539

Dan, 80% of Pioneer is 7.6 billion, so the whole co. cost something like 9.5 billion, or even more as I haven't checked how much DD paid for its 20% stake of Pioneer. <The transaction is valued at about $7.6 billion based on the 190.5 million shares outstanding that DuPont doesn't now hold>

To: Dan Spillane who wrote (1617)	3/15/1999 11:10:00 AM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 2539

03/15 07:29 UK govt denies pressure for genetic crops freeze (adds comment from Downing Street) LONDON, March 15 (Reuters) - The British government on Monday denied asking companies producing genetically modified crops to wait another three years before commercial plantings, but did not dispute reports that a voluntary moratorium would go ahead. "There has been no secret deal. We have always said that before full-scale commercialisation of GM crops takes place we have to be sure that there is no harm to the environment," a spokesman for Prime Minister Tony Blair told reporters. "There is already an agreement with the industry that farm-scale trials are essential and we remain in discussions with the industry on how those trials should be conducted," he said. "Should the industry decide to go ahead with a three-year voluntary moratorium that is a matter for them. We are interested in ensuring there is full proper environmental assessment before full-scale commercial planting." The spokesman said it was incorrect to say the government had asked the companies for a further delay in commercial planting. Newspapers reported on Monday that the companies were ready to bow to pressure from the government and halt commercial growing for three years following a wave of public concern. According to an earlier agreement commercial planting would have begun in 2000. Government officials -- acting in the wake of a media scare about the possible dangers of GM crops -- have held confidential talks with the firms at the centre of the controversy including Monsanto <MTC.N>, Novartis <NOVZn.S> and Zeneca <ZEN.L>. Blair's government has also said it will introduce new rules on labelling of GM products sold in shops and restaurants. Lord Sainsbury, the science minister who sits on the Cabinet's sub-committee on biotechnology, on Sunday welcomed the prospect of a voluntary ban. Agriculture Minister Nick Brown on Sunday condemned the media for running a "series of scare stories" about GM foods. "But I am strongly in favour of making sure that consumers are properly informed and that they can make their own choices," he told Sky TV. Some scientists fear GM crops could threaten biodiversity and they also cite implications on wildlife and the environment, a build-up of antibiotic resistance and possible genetic damage to animals and humans. But other researchers believe the dangers are exaggerated. They say the possible benefits -- including pest-resistance and hardier plants that are cheaper, more nutritious and tastier -- as well as higher crop yields outweigh any drawbacks.

To: Dan Spillane who wrote (1617)	3/15/1999 11:35:00 AM
From: Anthony Wong	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 2539

03/15 11:13 Experimental GM crops grown in Portugal LISBON, March 15 (Reuters) - Portugal has approved applications to grow genetically modified (GM) crops experimentally, a government spokesman said. The Environment and Health Ministries approved applications last year from a Portuguese laboratory to grow GM potatoes experimentally, as well as requests from some foreign biotechnology companies to grow GM maize, the spokesman said. Jorge Fernandes of the Environment Ministry told Reuters that the Portuguese laboratory had cultivated GM potatoes at an agricultural college in Santarem, north of Lisbon. He added that GM maize resistant to herbicides and insecticides had been cultivated by companies including Monsanto <MTC.N>, Novartis <NOVZn.S>, Pioneer and AgrEvo in various locations in mainland Portugal. Fernandes said the experiments had been completed and that the Portuguese government had not received any applications this year to grow GM crops experimentally.