Despite harsh criticism from opponents of agricultural biotechnology, the United States House of Representatives has approved an extension to a law allowing farmers to continue growing a GM crop while it is being challenged in court, Reuters reports.
“The extension, dubbed by critics the ‘Monsanto Protection Act’ in reference to the agricultural biotechnology giant, would prolong the law scheduled to expire at the end of the month,” writes Reuters. “The measure is contained in a 22-line rider to a stopgap bill to fund the government through Dec. 15.”
Though farm groups, like the American Soybean Association, support the provision as a way for farmers to have confidence that they will always be able to legally sell the crop they produce, critics claim that the provision “short-circuits court review of federal agencies.”
Read the full, original story here: “U.S. House votes to extend ‘Monsanto rider’ on GM crops”
Additional Resources:
- “Monsanto Protection Act? Separating the facts from the fury,” Genetic Literacy Project
- “There is no Monsanto Protection Act,” Ag Professional
- “Does the ‘GMO Crop Protection Act’ actually matter?” Huliq
