January 20, 2005
Designed to provide a one-stop,
web portal for agricultural biotechnology news and events,
Checkbiotech has exceeded all expectations and is currently
seeking out new partners for the next five years.
Scientists know them as transgenic
crops, while consumers often refer to them as GM (genetically
modified) food or GMOs. However you prefer to call them,
Checkbiotech has delivered you news pertaining to agricultural
biotechnology from sources around the world—first.
Substantial attention has been drawn to the first generation of
GM crops. Researchers designed these varieties to have new,
built-in resistance to diseases and insects to help prevent the
destruction of a farmer’s crop. Likewise, through genetic
engineering, researchers have been able to produce
genetically engineered crops that reduce the
use of pesticides.
Not everything is perfect, however, and it has always been
Checkbiotech’s goal to offer balanced news coverage. Some
insects and weeds have been able to
build up resistance of their own, and overcome the benefits
of some transgenic crops. However, that has not stopped
scientists from fighting back and coming up with new solutions
to
overcome resistance.
The world of agriculture has so much in store for us in the
future, and Checkbiotech reporters have brought you the future.
Christof Fellman showed how work is being down to use
genetically enhanced corn to fuel hydrogen fuel cells of the
future. And as bio-attacks became the topic of the day,
Checkbiotech writers showed how transgenic plants can eliminate
the threat of
ricin,
anthrax and even be used as an
early warning system in the event of a bio-attack.
A hot topic for 2005 and beyond is sure to be
plant-based pharmaceuticals, otherwise often referred to as
pharming or biopharming. This evolving field offers the
opportunity to produce
vaccines,
disease curing medicines and
preventative health care solutions—and Checkbiotech will
continue to cover this emerging area.
Currently, Checkbiotech is housed and operated by the University
of Basel in Switzerland. The University of Basel provides
Checkbiotech with a neutral setting, which has fostered new
relationships and has provided more resources for the website.
The existing infrastructure of the University provides a
sustainable environment that will allow Checkbiotech to be the
leading internet source for AgBiotech and genetic-based plant
research news.
A program offered at the University of Basel called Access,
offers much of the work force for Checkbiotech. It offers
undergraduates, graduates and post-docs the opportunity to gain
career experience before they finish their university studies.
For more information about how your academic institute can
participate, contact Checkbiotech’s Director,
Robert Derham.
If your company, academic institute, organization or government
benefits from Checkbiotech and would like to ensure its
continued growth, the University of Basel invites you to become
a partner. It has also established a tax deductible account for
all contributions to Checkbiotech. For more information on how
you can become a partner with Checkbiotech, please contact the
Director, Robert
Derham directly. Checkbiotech looks forward to bringing you
the future of agricultural biotechnology.
Contact:
Robert Derham,
Director
Tel: ++41 61 267 0447
Email:
robert.derham@unibas.ch
University of Basel
Petersplatz 1, Postfach
CH-4003 Basel
Switzerland |