Posted April 23, 2021
On August 18, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a petition by researchers at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) seeking federal approval to release their genetically engineered (GE) Darling 58 (D58) American chestnut tree into U.S. forests. Researchers claim the transgenic D58 tree will resist the fungal blight that, coupled with rampant overlogging, decimated the American chestnut population in the early 20th century. In fact, the GE American chestnut is a Trojan horse meant to open the doors to commercial GE trees designed for industrial plantations. Read more.
Get Informed on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
Growing Opposition to the Bayer Monsanto Roundup Settlement
Posted April 22, 2021
EXCERPT: “[Under the proposed settlement,] At the end of four years, every single person in the United States who has been exposed to Roundup can never sue Monsanto for punitive damages or medical monitoring.” Read more.
First GMO Mosquitoes to be Released in the Florida Keys
Posted April 22, 2021
THIS SPRING, the biotechnology company Oxitec plans to release genetically modified (GM) mosquitoes in the Florida Keys. Oxitec says its technology will combat dengue fever, a potentially life-threatening disease, and other mosquito-borne viruses — such as Zika — mainly transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. While there have been more than 7,300 dengue cases reported in the United States between 2010 and 2020, a majority are contracted in Asia and the Caribbean, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Florida, however, there were 41 travel-related cases in 2020, compared with 71 cases that were transmitted locally. Read more.
Results from Months of Monitoring Following the First Release of Non-gene Drive Genetically Modified Mosquitoes in Africa
Posted April 22, 2021
On July 1, 2019, Target Malaria in collaboration with the National Institute of Health Sciences (the Institut de Recherche en Sciences de la Santé-IRSS) proceeded with the small-scale release of non gene drive genetically modified sterile male mosquitoes in the village of Bana, in Burkina Faso. Read more.
“Small” Gene Changes Lead to Severe Deformities in Plants
Posted April 8, 2021
The new paper reviews previous research in CRISPR-edited camelina lines engineered to have an altered fatty acid profile. Unintended mutations were identified and the plants showed “drastic developmental defects” – including impaired growth, twisted leaves, and delayed bolting. Dr Kawall comments that this shows “the importance of a well-balanced fatty acid profile for the development of the plants”. Read more.
Dicamba Kills Plants in Neighboring Fields
Posted March 26, 2021
What used to be called “The Green Revolution” has, over the past 50 years, radically improved crop yields and lowered farmers’ costs by marrying seeds and herbicides. Agri-industrial giants like Dow, DuPont, Monsanto and BASF genetically engineered seeds that could survive herbicides like glyphosate that killed all the weeds around them. Read more.
New Analytical Tool Reveals Massive DNA Damage Caused by CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing
Posted March 26, 2021
New research from Chinese scientists shows that CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing causes massive damage to the genome, much of which would have been missed by the analytical tools used so far. Read more.
GE Salmon is Coming
Posted March 19, 2021
AquaBounty, the purveyor of the genetically engineered (GE) salmon, said the fish could reach store shelves by April of 2021. Action Alert! In a recent online press conference, a chief executive for AquaBounty said that its genetically engineered salmon would be on sale to the US public in April, adding that seven out of ten consumers might buy GE salmon, presumably once they learned more about it. This underscores the necessity of passing into law legislation that mandates the labeling of these fish telling us that they are GE. Read more.
The Next Neocolonial Gold Rush?
Posted March 12, 2021
Planning documents for the 2021 United Nations Food Systems Summit shed new light on the agenda behind the controversial food summit that hundreds of farmers’ and human rights groups are boycotting. The groups say agribusiness interests and elite foundations are dominating the process to push through an agenda that would enable the exploitation of global food systems, and especially Africa. Read more.
Gates Foundation’s plans to Remake Food Systems will Hurt the Climate
Posted March 6, 2021
In his new book on how to avoid a climate disaster, billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates discusses his plans to model African food systems upon India’s “green revolution,” in which a plant scientist increased crop yields and saved a billion lives, according to Gates. The obstacle to implementing a similar overhaul in Africa, he asserts, is that most farmers in poor countries don’t have the financial means to buy fertilizers. “If we can help poor farmers raise their crop yields, they’ll earn more money and have more to eat, and millions of people in some of the world’s poorest countries will be able to get more food and the nutrients they need,” Gates concludes. Read more.
