Food & Agriculture Features
The GLP explores the role of genetic engineering in food production and the polarized debate surrounding it. We highlight the work of our own writers, as well as that of contributors from around the Web. The GLP does not take a position on genetics-related issues; any opinions expressed belong to the authors.
Categories include:
- Chemicals and pesticides
- Organics
- Conventional crops
- New breeding technologies
- Animal biotechnology
- Food systems
- Sustainability
- Regulations
- Politics
- Ideology
11 GMO Myths, Part I: Frankenfoods and Franken-corporations
Part one of a two-part series debunking myths about GMOs , deals with myths about the technology and the companies ...
Stopping global hunger will require mix of high-tech, GM, organic methods
As the world's population booms, leaders are looking for solutions for feeding an additional 2 billion humans. Can organic and ...
Future of crop biotechnology in Brazil, China and other BRIC nations
How has biotechnology fared and what is its future in agriculture of the BRIC nations—Brazil, Russia, India and China? ...
USDA: GMOs represent cost savings for consumers and benefits for farmers, environment
USDA report examines the costs for farmers of producing only organic, GMOs, or non-GMOs. Its conclusions are questionable ...
Genetic tests help companies fight fabric fraud
Cotton undergoes a convoluted route from farm to store, which makes sourcing the cotton difficult. But one company is making ...
I feed my kids GMO foods and not organics–That doesn’t make me a ‘bad mom’
I’m a registered nurse who lives in Alberta and loves a farmer. I feed my kids only the most nutritious ...
I feed my kids GMO foods and not organics—that doesn’t make me a ‘bad mom’
I’m a registered nurse who lives in Alberta and loves a farmer. I feed my kids only the most nutritious ...
Bee health update: Latest field studies conclude neonicotinoids not key problem
A spate of recent studies appear to show potential links between neonic usage and bee health--until you look into the ...
Monarch continued sharp recovery in 2015 casts doubt on claim glyphosate caused decline
NGOs blame the herbicide glyphosate for the decline of the monarch butterfly. But while glyphosate is still being sprayed, a ...
Anti-biotech GM Watch’s connections to Maharishi TM cult, industry money
Who are the people behind the biotech news site GM Watch and what is their connection to the religious movement ...
What’s the future of GMO ‘Frankenfuels’?
Can GMOs help in the fight against global warming by reducing our dependence on fossil fuels? As scientists improve biofuels ...
View from Uganda: Anti-GMO critics smear Cornell, African science communicators
Cornell Alliance for Science has come under attack for reportedly promoting GMOs with dishonest, industry driven messages. But what is ...
Hershey dumps sugar for… sugar. For food companies in GMO crosshairs, perception trumps science
Sugar is sugar whether it comes from sugarbeets or sugar cane — sucrose contains no DNA. But anti-GMO activists are ...
Why Iowa State ‘fortified’ GM banana trials are vital to Uganda
Despite protests, many Ugandans could benefit from Iowa State research into 'golden banana.' ...
Standing by nutrition research, Iowa State will test golden banana, defying Catch-22 protests
Protestors of vitamin A fortified GM banana believe banana is not safe for human consumption, so they are attempting to ...
Organic milk vs. Conventional milk: Why nutrition expert is ditching organic
Consumer Reports and "green" lobbyists are trying to convince consumers, particularly worrying moms, to abandon soy and conventional milk for ...
Claims of nutritional superiority of organic milk, meat challenged by scientists
Two new papers published in the British Journal of Nutrition claim that organic milk and meat is more nutritious, but ...
Organic produce has pesticide residues too
Current levels of pesticides in conventional and organic foods pose no harm to humans, but it should be noted that ...
Anti-GMO activism could cost world’s poorest nations $1.5 trillion over 35 years
The current restrictive climate for agricultural biotech has erected significant barriers to the economic development of the world's poorest nations ...
Epigenetically modified organisms: The coming EPO farming and food revolution?
As scientists look to create novel crops that can handle challenges of changing climate, one solution offered is altering a ...
Climate change historian Naomi Oreskes rejects consensus on nuclear energy, GMOs
The Harvard historian has attacked climate change critics for ignoring the science consensus. But when it comes to evaluating biotechnology ...
Organic farmer: Agriculture must drop ‘us vs them’ mentality towards consumers
A new documentary, License to Farm, appears to perpetuate the farmer vs. consumer mentality in the issues of farming and ...
Plea for culinary modernism: Why we should love processed food
The growing obsession with unprocessed, natural food is a direct contradiction to how humans have eaten throughout history ...
Are schools teaching ‘anti-GMO propaganda?’
More and more, anti-GMO groups are looking to sway students toward "big organic" with unscientific lesson plans ...
Has ‘Non-GMO Project’ seal made food less nutritious?
Many companies are changing their products to receive a 'Non-GMO Project' seal. But are these changes actually benefitting the consumer? ...
Why the GMO debate matters
GMOs may be a hot topic in policy circles and among foodies, but surveys show the public is indifferent to ...
Do process food labels help or harm consumers?
Process food labels have become ubiquitous- organic, natural, shade grown-but is this explosion of information actually good for the consumer? ...
