Articles

Our right to know if it’s GMO is officially under attack—again. On June 6, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proposed to overhaul longstanding regulations governing genetically modified organisms (GMO). The proposed new rule would revise the agency’s current method for regulating genetically modified plants, and would exclude newer so-called “gene-edited” GMOs. In a statement, […]

Biotech developers in the EU are lobbying hard to rewrite or remove regulations intended to protect consumers and the environment. With a little ‘help’ from the White House and – thanks to an apathetic mainstream media  – a lack of public awareness, they could succeed. Tied up in a pretty bow of feeding the hungry […]

If the biotech industry has its way, the meat, eggs and milk on your plate could soon come from genetically engineered farm animals—and without laws requiring these products to be labeled, you’ll never know. Just a few years ago the idea of genetically engineered farm animals seemed like science fiction to most consumers. But it’s […]

Glyphosate, the world’s most widely used herbicide, was once hailed as a kind of miracle solution to the problem of weeds. Today, glyphosate-based weedkillers like Monsanto’s Roundup are a disgraced product, associated with a shocking and increasing number of health and environmental problems. Glyphosate has long been promoted as a fast-acting weedkiller, as effective in small […]

In the world of food and farming, the debate between organic and genetically modified is sometimes portrayed as a lifestyle choice versus rational science. Nothing could be more wrong, writes Pat Thomas For nearly 30 years genetic modification (GM) has been promising to raise yields, lower pesticide use, protect the environment and improve the nutritional […]

Throughout the U.S., major food brands are trying to get rid of GMO ingredients—not necessarily for the right reasons, but because nearly half of consumers say they avoid them in their food, primarily for health reasons. But the CEO of Impossible Foods, purveyor of the Impossible Burger, is bucking that trend. The manufacturers of the […]

Synthetic biology – altering or redesigning genes to meet human objectives – is a fast-developing field. So far mostly applied in agriculture and medicine, synthetic biology could have substantial knock-on effects on conservation – including modified genes spreading to non-target species and affecting broader ecosystems. But, according to a new report Genetic Frontiers for Conservation […]

Avocados contaminated with listeria. Romaine lettuce recalled for E. coli contamination. It’s no wonder consumers are concerned about getting sick from the very food health experts recommend they eat more of: fresh fruits and vegetables. The latest statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) serve only toreinforce consumer wariness. The CDC estimates that 48 million people become ill due […]

The EAT Lancet Commission report, Food in the Anthropocene, has proclaimed itself a blueprint for a “great food transition”; but instead of creating clarity it has sown only confusion and controversy The authors of the EAT Lancet Commission report, Food in the Anthropocene, may not have intended their work to be a polemic, but polemic […]

How do we regulate gene-edited animals? It’s not a new question but it’s one that is gaining urgency as biotechnology companies turn their attention to intentional alterations in animal genomes. This week, in a comment published this week on The Conversation and quickly picked up by Newsweek and multiple other outlets, the question was posed: […]