News

Moscow mayor going to exclude transgenes from Muscovites’ ration

Jury Lushkov has proposed to completely ban the sale of GMO containing products in Moscow. He pointed out that about 6 per cent of products in sale in Moscow contain GMO. Indicating that such products are prohibited in many countries and cities. .Moscow mayor insists this dangerous and still not fully investigated component to be expelled from the capital.

Over 12,8 thousand titles of products have been checked. The GMO level exceeding the 0.9 per cent mark was revealed in 750 articles, mostly diary products.

The bans and limits for transgene cultures in several EG countries are linked to the ecologists' doubts that their uncontrolled dissemination can endanger the ecology balance in Europa.
At the same time the representatives of Institute of Nutrition, Moscow State University, Gamaleja Institute of microbiology and epidemiology stress, that there exists no study proving the GMO danger for the human health.

Source: AMI TASS

Uzbekistan: the country upgrade leads to social and ecological prosperity

On February 15 the Uzbekistan Academy of Sciences held a youth ecological forum "Competitiveness of the youth as a factor of success in conditions of globalization and ecological problems", which underlined the growth of ecological problems and threats interfering with positive effects of the contemporary world globalization. Such ecological problems as climate change and soil degradation, water supply and loss of biological variety, air fouling and environmental pollution became more vital.

Ecological problems became very urgent for the Central Asia states, where the Aral sea drying problem sped up the process of desert origination, loss of biological variety. Such problems as trans-frontier environmental pollution and complex control of water supply became the most urgent ones here. Development of ecological innovation becomes one of the most profitable and fast-growing sectors of world economy. Implementation of advanced and environmentally safe know-how, resources- and power-saving programs, alternative power supplies, environmentally safe food production and industrial production facilities upgrade are very important.

Moscow region industry has increased a volume of production output by a third

The results of social and economic development of Moscow region in 2007 have been summarized and new targets for the year of 2008 have been discussed. Mr.Boris Gromov, the Moscow region Governor underlined that Moscow region took the third place in Russia as to gross regional product growth and its industrial production played a leading role in the regional economy as usual. Its industrial factor, being equal to 113.4%, is a half higher than the average Russian datum.

The Moscow region industry successful growth creates an economic basis to achieve the goals aimed by the Moscow region social and economic development Strategic Plan till the year of 2020. 10600 companies of the region, including 3438 big and mid-sized ones, are involved in industrial production. Their volume of dispatched commodities within the year amounts to 969 bln. RUR (within the last year - 737.1 bln. RUR). The Moscow region industry, being usually the second one in the central federal region, gives work to more than a third of the regional manpower and more than a half of the profit gained by all local organizations and companies.

Russian first deputy premier calls for development of nanotechnologies

Medium-sized and small businesses should take part in the development of nanotechnologies in Russia, First Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov said during the government's hour in the Federation Council today. He said that, besides the State Nanotechnologies Corporation [Rosnanotekh], a whole network of companies should appear in the country to deal with hi-tech production. Now they are operating in the trade and services sector mainly.

The RF policy basics: authorities, infrastructure, innovations, investments

On February 15 Mr.Dmitry Medvedev, a candidate for the RF President and the RF Government First Vice-President announced a home economy development program for the nearest 4-5 years at the V-th Economy Forum in Krasnoyarsk. It is based on the RF development goals, specified by Mr.Vladimir Putin, the RF President in his "Strategies till 2020".

"A week ago the RF President announced home development key goals till 2020 like establishment of a society with better life standards and equal opportunities for independent implementation of the individuals' talents and skills, innovation-type home economy development and its efficiency substantial growth as well as generation of numerous middle-class. These goals, being rather ambitious, are, in my opinion, absolutely feasible," - told Dmitry Medvedev and announced his position on the RF political basics and highlighted 4 main trends to follow during the nearest 4 years: "While completing the projects initiated 2-3 years ago, we are to concentrate on the 4 the so-called I's: authorities, infrastructure, innovations, investments".

(AESLA) Solagran to open first Bioeffectives facility in Tomsk

Solagran (ASX:SLA) has finalised a co-operation agreement with the Tomsk regional government in Russia with the first commercial Bioeffectives production facility to be opened on March 20. Tomsk is a scientific and research hub and home to eight universities. The agreement with the Tomsk government, to be signed next week, provides for co-oerating in a range of activities in the biotechnology sector.

Moscow region industry increased a volume of production output by a third

The results of social and economic development of Moscow region in 2007 have been summarized and new targets for the year of 2008 have been discussed. Mr.Boris Gromov, the Moscow region Governor underlined that Moscow region took the third place in Russia as to gross regional product growth and its industrial production played a leading role in the regional economy as usual. Its industrial factor, being equal to 113.4%, is a half higher than the average Russian datum. The Moscow region industry successful growth creates an economic basis to achieve the goals aimed by the Moscow region social and economic development Strategic Plan till the year of 2020.

10600 companies of the region, including 3438 big and mid-sized ones, are involved in industrial production. Their volume of dispatched commodities within the year amounts to 969 bln. RUR (within the last year - 737.1 bln. RUR).

The Moscow region industry, being usually the second one in the central federal region, gives work to more than a third of the regional manpower and more than a half of the profit gained by all local organizations and companies.

Environment Saving Know-How

Students of Tyumen State University can study environment saving technologies and their smart application, environmental protection and ecological safety. The program subjects, being aimed at regional application, are to be studied for 2 (two) years. This study is to be financed from the Federal budget. Moreover, the University is to spend about 103.2 mln. RUR from its own non-budget funds.

By mid of this year they plan to complete a testing ground "Priobskiy" on the territory of the deposit with the same name in a few kilometers from Khanty-Mansijsk to create nature-saving technologies to eliminate toxic waste.

Tyumen State University is an active participant of the program on development of nanotechnologies. The Federal budget financing, aimed to implement the program innovation and education parts, has duly enhanced material and technical base of the University needed for scientific and research projects. For instance, a set of the unique equipment, being purchased for molecular and genetic analysis, is to be applied in research on stability and modification of rare and dying away species of plants and animals in the areas of intense human activity.

Program for innovation activity development in Penza region

The Penza region officials adopted a draft law "On regional comprehensive program on development of innovation activity in Penza region in 2008-2010" on February 15.
The estimated financial costs for the above program implementation are to be 5 bln. 634.5 mln. RUR, i.e. 3 bln. 261.2 mln. RUR in 2008.

Total financing split calculation of the foreseen costs is to be as follows:
- 1 bln. 139 mln. RUR are to be obtained from the Federal budget;
- 1 bln. 234.6 mln. RUR are to be obtained from the regional budget;
- 3 bln. 261.2 mln. RUR are to be obtained from the non-budget funds.

The main program items are as follows: the Penza region Hi-Tech technological park foundation and operability support, foundation and development of business incubators' network, as well as foundation and development of investment projects' venture financing.

Russian First Vice-President Dmitry Medvedev to show great interest in establishment of pharmacological substances production facilities in Novosibirsk

Mr.Victor Tolokonskiy, the Novosibirsk region Governor displayed an advanced project to the First Deputy the RF Government Chairman.
Summarizing the results of bilateral meeting with the First Vice-President, the Governor informed the reporters of his keen interest in this field of research of the Novosibirsk scientists.

"Moreover, Dmitry Medvedev has given the assignments to the ministries, departments and state federal bodies concerned to pay due attention to this research. Having obtained the state help, we could implement this advanced trend in science and industry much faster and wider,"- told Mr.Victor Tolokonskiy.

He meant the Siberian pharmacological and biotechnological Center unique know-how, being used for trombovazim production. The regional Principal announced his hope for state support of the progressive research of the scientists of the Siberian branch of the RF Academy of Sciences on manufacture of the drugs based on nanotechnologies.