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Union of Concerned Scientists Wants Biopharm Crops Banned

WASHINGTON, DC, December 16, 2004 (ENS) – The Union of Concerned Scientists today called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to immediately ban the field production of corn, soybeans, and other food crops genetically engineered to produce pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals. After commissioning a technical analysis, the scientists conclude there is no sure way to keep these biopharm crops from contaminating human food or animal feed. "It is sobering that drugs and industrial chemicals could have so many routes to the food supply," said Dr. David Andow, editor of the technical report and a professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Minnesota. "Pollen can be carried to fields with food crops by the wind or insects, seeds lodged in the crevices of harvesting equipment could come loose while harvesting food, and plants can come up as volunteers in the middle of a food crop," Andow said. "To protect the food supply, each potential route has to be blocked." The organization of scientists recommends that the USDA establish a major campaign to encourage and fund safer alternatives like non-food crops or growing pharmaceutical food crops indoors. "Nobody wants drugs in their cornflakes," said Dr. Margaret Mellon, director […]

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Power Integrations Should Benefit from new CA. Equipment Energy Standards

Power Integrations, Inc. (Nasdaq:POWI), a leading supplier products that vastly reduce wasted energy when appliances are turned off (vampire power) should benefit from California's new stringent energy standards for appliances. POWI's products can be used by electronics manufacturers to comply cost-effectively with the standards. The standards apply to an array of electronic products including cell phones, cordless phones, portable music players and game systems, toys, tools and many more. "These new standards are an acknowledgement that proven, readily available technologies, such as our EcoSmart integrated circuits, are a highly cost-effective way to make power supplies more efficient," said Balu Balakrishnan, president and CEO of Power Integrations. "Our ICs enable manufacturers to meet all current and proposed energy standards worldwide, and are already being used to meet the requirements of Energy Star, the European Commission Code of Conduct, the U.S. One-Watt Executive Order, and many other regulations and standards around the world." Ecos Consulting, an environmental consulting firm, estimates that there are at least 145 million external power supplies in service today in California, with an additional 28 million sold in the state annually. "Improving the efficiency of external power supplies offers a tremendous opportunity for energy savings," noted Chris Calwell […]

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