Climate change
Jabal: a non-GMO wheat more resistant to drought
Jabal, a non-GMO drought-resistant wheat variety, will soon be grown commercially in Morocco. At a time when it is mentioned to adapt new plant varieties to climate change, particularly through genetic modification, we thought it would be interesting to show that other ways are possible, even if they are not farmers’ seeds and even if […]
Agrofuel
Rapeseed: The Anses asks to reinforce the monitoring of GMOs
In February 2022, Inf’OGM discovered transgenic rapeseed growing illegally in the port area of Grand-Couronne (near Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France). In July 2022, despite measures taken by the Ministry of Agriculture, new GMO rapeseed plants were found in the same area. The association also discovered transgenic rapeseed in Sète (Hérault, France). In both cases, the Saipol […]
FSC label: towards acceptance of GMO trees?
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is one of the world’s largest certifiers of ’sustainably harvested timber’. Since 1995, it has banned genetically modified trees, which limits de facto their development and marketing. Indeed, this label covers very large areas of forest and involves the main companies in the timber industry. However, the FSC has been […]
Journal
New genomic techniques (GMO/NGT)
A minority of states support deregulation of new GMOs
Many States currently reflect on the legal status of GMOs resulting from new genetic modification techniques, and some have already decided. It is not easy to give an exhaustive picture of all the positions and legislation adopted : it is sometimes difficult to have access to national legislation, national positions may be unclear at this stage, […]
Journal
Patents on life, a US ” invention ”
Historically, the protection of living organisms through patents has been developed in the United States and Europe. Abandoning a then conservative position, the US Supreme Court validated a patent on a genetically modified (GM) bacterium in 1980 [1]. This institution defined the micro-organism as a « composition of matter », opening up the field of patentability of living […]
Economy
Crispr
Crispr/Cas9: access to a minefield?
To modify genomes, new techniques of genetic modification are increasingly available. The Crispr/Cas9 system, mentioned on several occasions by Inf’OGM, is today by far the most widely used. Although this technique is less expensive, the patent law means that it does not lead to a diversification of the economic actors… The global seed market is […]
Health
Sciences
Burkina Faso – The Target Malaria project continues despite irregularities
In July 2021, the National Biosafety Agency (ANB) of Burkina Faso authorized Target Malaria, a project that fights against malaria, to import transgenic mosquito eggs. A first release took place in 2019, in the locality of Bana. This article intends to show the numerous regulatory irregularities of the project first phase. On October 21, 2021, […]
Economy
Biopiracy
Digitalized living in open access? The WTO enters the dance.
Since the end of 2020, the World Trade Organisation has been debating about a possible legislation on the circulation of electronic data. These talks, which are taking place within the framework of broader negotiations on e-commerce, will have a direct impact on the issue of the living’s digitalization. To understand what is at stake, Inf’OGM […]
Journal
The appropriation of living organisms: can we still control digitalization?
For the time being, digital sequence information allows certain stakeholders, including companies, to use digitalized sequences without needing the prior consent of the states and communities connected with this biodiversity. Discussions are underway in order to regulate – or not – practices which contravene the Convention on Biological Diversity. Countries allowing free access to the […]

