Agriculture & Food
We eat to live. Humans use approximately 11% of Earth’s land for the cultivation of crops for food, but also for clothing, medicine and biofuels. Globally, major crops include sugarcane, pumpkin, maize (corn), wheat, rice, cassava, soybeans, hay, potatoes and cotton.
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Natural crops untouched by human tinkering? Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and brussels sprouts are genetically-altered variants of the Brassica family
The cruciferous vegetable family, also known as the Brassicaceae or Cruciferae family, originally hails from the Mediterranean and Central Asia ...
Here is how agriculture has evolved over the centuries… and how the science of farming continues to change
Crop production evolved independently in several regions of the world. However, historians believe the first instance of agriculture took place ...
GLP podcast and video: Universities host anti-science quack Vandana Shiva (again); Communist Cuba is pro-GMO; 1 year of ‘bioengineered’ food labels
Dozens of researchers recently blasted two universities for inviting anti-vaccine, anti-GMO activist Vandana Shiva to speak. Why do America's academic ...
Viewpoint: Why leftist GMO rejectionists should take notice of Cuba’s emergence as biomedicine and ag-biotech innovator
This past Christmas was not the best of times for Cubans. It was difficult to find food such as chicken, ...
Cuba poised for production of wheat modified by radiation mutagenesis that adapts to extreme heat and climate fluctuations
The history of Cuban science is full of the challenges faced by daring, diligent and, above all, persistent researchers. An ...
Europe’s sugar beet crop faces potentially devastating consequences in wake of EU court ruling blocking countries’ ability to grant neonicotinoid pesticide use exemptions
A European Union court ruling reinforcing a ban on neonicotinoids — a type of pesticide considered harmful to bees — ...
67 tons: Harvest of first commercial-quality GMO beta carotene-enriched Golden Rice nears completion in Philippines
More than 67 tons of fresh paddy of beta carotene-enriched rice have been harvested in 17 Golden Rice production sites ...
Viewpoint: Could crop biotechnology mitigate dislocations from climate change? Anti-GMO activists say ‘no’. Here’s why they are wrong
We’ve heard a lot about climate change, and its impact on crops, especially in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the ...
Part I: With Kenya poised to embrace growing and importing genetically modified crops, Ugandan farmers and scientists bemoan their country’s inaction
The decision last fall by newly-elected Kenyan President, Dr. William Samoei arap Ruto to lift his country’s 10-year ban on ...
GLP’s Jon Entine on Seed World: How the Ukrainian war and African famine are changing public perceptions about genetic modification of crops and agricultural gene editing
There are many questions and misunderstandings that surround gene editing, especially as the world still works to understand the technology. In ...
Viewpoint: Has the organic trend gone stale? After 10 years of growth, organic food sales have started to fall in the UK
After 10 years of slow but steady growth, sales of organic food and drink in UK supermarkets have fallen by ...
Insect food? Public skepticism remains a major hurdle but here is the sustainability case for including them in our diet
The consumption of insects has slowly increased as the benefits become widely discussed. More than 2,000 edible species have been identified ...
Philadelphia Cream Cheese launches plant-based version
Philadelphia Cream Cheese is launching a plant-based version of its original-flavored spread. This is the first time a big brand ...
Reversal: As Kenyans face escalating threats of hunger, country’s High Court temporarily suspends import of GM corn
The High Court in Kenya has temporarily suspended the government’s plan to allow importation and distribution of genetically modified organisms ...
India’s highest court weighs approval of GM mustard, its first biotech food crop
The row over transgenic crops in India is back. On 18 October, India’s Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) approved the ...
‘Sustainable fondue’: Cattle and dairy farming produces billions of tons of CO2 each year. Here’s how climate-friendly lab-grown cheese can change that
Hi, I’m Will, and I have a cheese addiction. My partner regularly catches me swiping slices when I am cooking, ...
Genetically modified crops and sustainability: 25 years since their widespread introduction, yields are higher and the environmental footprint is smaller
Genetically modified (GM) crops have increased global food, feed and fiber production by nearly 1 billion tonnes (1 tonne equals ...
More than 3,000 plants — including some organic crops — developed by mutating seeds using radiation or chemicals. Here’s an explainer
Plant mutation breeding, also called variation breeding, is a method that uses physical radiation or chemical means to induce spontaneous genetic variation in plants ...
Poultry meat and eggs are the most common sources of Salmonella infections. Here’s how CRISPR could address the problem and keep you from getting sick
The poultry industry is under intense scrutiny right now when it comes to Salmonella control, but a new next generation sequencing technique ...
Podcast: Seralini’s infamous rat study 10 years later — Looking back at the retracted research linking GM corn and glyphosate to cancer
Ten years ago the biotech world froze and horrific images of three tumor-ridden rats penetrated the media. Social media erupted ...
Precautionary Politics: Europe Moves Backward into a Fear-Based ‘Dark Ages’ in Regulating Agriculture and Cancer Risks
David Zaruk, Founder of GreenFacts, Environmental-Health Risk Governance Analyst, Professor at Odisee University College | July 25, 2018 Highlights: The ...
Viewpoint: Anti-GMO activists, from Organic Consumers Association to Joe Mercola to Vandana Shiva, formed an alliance. Why this is good news for biotech and science supporters
Alliances and networks is the new game plan among anti-GM activists. Recently, Organic Consumers Association [read GLP profile head Ronnie ...
Australia approves trial run of high-yield herbicide-resistant GM canola and mustard seeds
Australia's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has issued license DIR 188 to Nuseed Pty Ltd., for the limited ...
Biofortification of staple crops: How the mundane pearl millet grain was transformed into a ‘hunger fighting’ gladiator
Pearl millet has long made up the bulk of diets of rural communities in drought-prone regions of India and Africa ...
Viewpoint: ‘Chaos is coming’ — Cost of food staples like tortillas, chicken and eggs will skyrocket if Mexico follows through with its GM corn ban
If the food shortage is already high, hold on because it will get worse — because chaos is coming with ...
Viewpoint: Why Washington should sharply increase funding for intensive agricultural to address climate change, spur sustainability
The 20th century was a time of massive changes in US agriculture. From farmers scraping a living out of the ...
Viewpoint: Ideology not science — Here’s why NBC News’ factually inaccurate reporting on the ‘dangers’ of the weedkiller glyphosate sets a dangerous precedent
What happens when an online information resource leans into clickbait? It’s annoying but generally harmless entertainment. When it’s a resource ...
