Pesticide Action Network Updates Service (PANUPS)

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Resource Pointer #250
February 6, 2001

For copies of the following resources, please contact the appropriate publishers or organizations directly.

*Safety First: Active Governance of Genetic Engineering for Environment and Human Health Worldwide, March 2-3, 2001* Minneapolis, MN. Workshop launching new initiative aiming for practical steps to achieve more effective safety governance of genetic engineering in a global economy. Participants include leaders from public interest groups, academia, government, media and industry, and will craft guidelines to achieve industry-wide genetically modified organism (GMO) safety. Promotes industry-led approach incorporating government and consumers in establishing a reliable and credible process for monitoring industry. US$200. Contact Claudia Shores-Skue, Safety First Workshop, c/o ICGC-MacArthur Program, University of Minnesota, 214 Social Sciences, 267 19th Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55455; phone (612) 625-1329; email c-shor@tc.umn.edu; Web site http://www.icgc.umn.edu/ConsortiumArchives/Safety%20First.htm.

*Genetically Modified Pest-Protected Plants: Science and Regulation, 2000* Committee on Genetically Modified Pest-Protected Plants, Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources. Explores risks and benefits of crops genetically modified for pest resistance, the urgency of establishing an appropriate regulatory framework for these products and public understanding of biotechnology issues. Includes review of federal policies towards transgenic products and rules proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency for regulation of plant pesticides. 263 pp. US$44.95. Contact National Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Ave. NW, Lockbox 285, Washington, DC 20055; phone (888) 624-8373; fax (202) 334-2451; email zjones@nas.edu; Web site http://www.nap.edu.

*National Agricultural Biotechnology Council Conference–High Anxiety and Biotechnology: Who’s Buying, Who’s Not, and Why? May 22-24, 2001* Chicago, IL. Industry forum brings together agricultural biotechnology researchers, teaching institutions and industry to discuss biotechnology issues. Key topics include how consumers are influenced, how food technologies are accepted, how food technologies are presented and consumer, producer and public policy issues facing the agricultural biotechnology industry internationally and their impact on U.S. agriculture. US$250. Contact NABC 2001 1101 West Peabody, Room 168, Urbana, IL 61801; phone (217) 244-1706; fax (217) 244-1707; email nsrl@uiuc.edu; Web site http://www.aces.uiuc.edu/research/nabc2001/index.html.

*Hungry for Profit: The Agribusiness Threat to Farmers, Food, and the Environment* Fred Magdoff, John Bellamy Foster and Frederick H. Buttel, editors. Presents historical analysis and overview of issues and debates surrounding global commodification of agriculture. Addresses growing public concern over food safety and controversial developments in agricultural biotechnology. Examines extent to which environmental, social and economic problems are intertwined with current structure or global agriculture. Highlights ways in which farmers, farmworkers, consumers, environmental and sustainable agriculture groups are engaged in the struggle to create a just and environmentally sound food system. 248 pp. US$19. Contact Monthly Review Press, 122 W. 27th St., New York, NY 10001; phone (800) 670-9499 or (212) 691-2555; fax (212) 727-3676; email promo@monthlyreview.org; Web site http://www.monthlyreview.org.

*The Biotech Century: Harnessing the Gene and Remaking the World, 1998* Jeremy Rifkin. Explores ethical and social issues surrounding fusion of information and life sciences. Discusses implications for humans and the environment of patents on genes, animal and human cloning, eugenics, xenotransplantation, biological warfare, release of transgenic organisms into Earth’s ecosystems, changes in global agriculture and more. 271 pp. US$24.95. Contact Penguin Putnam Publishing Group, 405 Murray Hill Parkway, East Rutherford, NJ 07073; phone (800) 788-6262; Web site http://www.penguinputnam.com.

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