Please read on for links to articles on the following:

• Monsanto looks to develop new GM vegetables
• Biodiversity tastes better
• US court injunction against Monsanto
• EU Countries ban GM crops
• Doctors Warn: Avoid Genetically Modified Food
• Former Canadian Senior Health Regulator says NO to GM food
• Former Australian Chief Scientist says YES to GM food
• Quality Low Input Food Project
• Can GM Food Save the World?
• Register of GM-free farms launched

If you are conducting, or know of, any upcoming events that may be of interest to other NDSA newsletter subscribers, and are in line with the NSDA vision, we are happy to include a mention in our monthly newsetter.  Please forward details of the event with contact details for further enquiries to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Events may include forums, workshops, field trips, exhibitions, lectures, etc.

The NSDA newsletter is emailed generally in the first week of every month.  The inclusion of any upcoming events, is a chance to let other subscribers know of new opportunities for sharing and aquiring knowledge and skills.

We look forward to your responses.

The workshops will be held on 13 and 20 August 2009 at the Mt Quincan Retreat near Yungaburra .

There is only room for 40 people at the workshop, so apply early and prior to 20 July to ensure a place. Click here to obtain further information and an application form.

The Australian (online) reported on 14 May that "Retail giant Woolworths has bought organic food chain Macro Wholefoods in order to fast-track its expansion into the high-margin gourmet grocery sector." View the full news article.

The Rural Industries Research and Development Corportation (RIRDC) has recent released two very topical reports that may be of interest to Far North Queensland food producers and consumers.

The first report investigates the potential impacts of the federal government's proposed Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) on the "average" farm business. Please read on for a summary of the key findings reported by RIRDC and links to a full copy of the report. This report is just one of many views being presented by all sides of the "argument" prior to the proposed implementation of the the ETS.