Posted August 16, 2019
In mid-July, a bipartisan trio of U.S. senators — Democrats Dianne Feinstein of California and Jack Reed of Rhode Island and Republican Marco Rubio of Florida — introduced a resolution calling for the creation of an international commission to set ethical standards for gene-editing research. Read more.
Get Informed on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
Monsanto Keeps Riding a Path of Corruption
Posted August 16, 2019
“Monsanto operated a ‘fusion center’ to monitor and discredit journalists and activists, and targeted a reporter who wrote a critical book on the company, documents reveal.” Read more.
Revealed: how Monsanto’s ‘Intelligence center’ targeted Journalists and Activists
Posted August 9, 2019
Monsanto operated a “fusion center” to monitor and discredit journalists and activists, and targeted a reporter who wrote a critical book on the company, documents reveal. The agrochemical corporation also investigated the singer Neil Young and wrote an internal memo on his social media activity and music. Read more.
South Carolina Farmer Sounds the Alarm on the Arrival of the Pollinator Bee Crisis
Posted August 9, 2019
There is a time bomb ticking away that spells disaster for human beings and the quality of life on planet earth. We’ve been watching and waiting, covering this story for years, and the more time goes by the more bad news keeps rolling in. In truth, this issue is far more grave a threat than the stuff the mainstream news keeps your eyes on, even more serious than mass shootings. Read more.
“King of Weeds” Palmer Amaranth Resistant to Herbicides Used on GM Crops
Posted August 9, 2019
Agronomists in Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin are trying to contain the movement of Palmer amaranth, a member of the pigweed family. Read more.
First Human-Monkey Chimera Raises Concern Among Scientists
Posted August 9, 2019
While making monkey brains more human is a red line for some, in some ways it has already been crossed. In April scientists in China published a study in which they claimed to have introduced a human brain gene into monkeys, with the animals showing features including better short-term memory and shorter reaction times. These animals are not chimeras, but it is clear that new boundaries are being pushed. Read more.
GMO-Friendly USDA Ogling Organic
Posted August 9, 2019
USDA Under Secretary Greg Ibach recently made comments before the House Agriculture Subcommittee suggesting it is time to discuss the possible allowance of gene editing methods within organic production. Read more.
USDA to Biotech: Call Your Own Compliance
Posted August 2, 2019
The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants agribusiness to sell more genetically engineered (GE) seeds and food products all over the world, as soon as possible. This rule would go beyond already controversial genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to encompass hundreds of new products of new gene and genome editing techniques. The fastest way to do that? Propose a rule to let GE product developers declare that their products don’t need to be regulated. Read more.
Mounting Wave of Lawsuits Threatens Bayer’s Monsanto Bet
Posted August 2, 2019
One year after taking over US seeds and pesticides maker Monsanto in a US$63 billion gamble, the payoff for German chemicals and pharmaceuticals giant Bayer remains in question as it battles a massive wave of cancer lawsuits over a flagship weedkiller. The number of plaintiffs claiming Monsanto herbicide glyphosate – present in widely-used weedkiller Roundup – made them sick grew by early July to 18,400, the group said, up 5,000 on April’s total. Read more.
Just how Sustainable is that Synbio Startup?
Posted July 26, 2019
This article raises important questions about claims of the supposed sustainability of food produced with synthetic biology (synbio), a type of extreme genetic engineering that focuses on building new life forms. However, concerns about genetic engineering are not confined to “the nature of power relationships”, as one interviewee claims at the end of the article. Health and environmental risks are major factors. Read more.
