In an opinion piece for The New York Times, science journalist Emily Anthes describes how politics—not science—has slowed the approval process for AquAdvantage’s genetically modified salmon. The article gives a shout-out to GLP and our executive director, Jon Entine, for his investigative reporting which revealed last fall that the White House intentionally delayed the approval process for the salmon. Now the FDA has extended the deadline for the public to comment on the salmon, further delaying its decision, which it has so far has taken two decades to reach.
Anthes urges the FDA to approve the GM salmon, pointing out that independent scientists have found the fish poses no threat to consumers or the environment. Instead, she writes, genetic engineering could make this heart-healthy fish more affordable for consumers, and take the strain off of wild fish stocks.
Failure to gain approval wouldn’t just affect consumers. It could also be devastating for biotechnological innovation in the U.S., Anthes writes, potentially driving top scientists into China, Argentina, or India.
If a company that has done everything right can’t get its product approved, who else will be foolish enough to embark upon this kind of research? Who will finance it?
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Of course, all this would be just fine with some anti-biotech groups, which traffic in scare tactics rather than science. But it shouldn’t be fine with the rest of us.
Read the original article here: Don’t Be Afraid of Genetic Modification
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