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
Have a taste for liver? Food preferences might be hard wired
Geneticists have found 17 new genes that help determine what foods people enjoy most. But these genes aren't related to ...
Anne Glover, Europe’s chief science adviser faces anti-GMO, anti-tech politics
The European Commission's chief science adviser said publicly that politics impedes her ability to give unbiased advice to European policy ...
Washington Post joins liberal pubs endorsing GMO safety, role feeding hungry, rejecting labels
Over the past year, the editorial boards of a number of major liberal US publications have endorsed the safety of ...
Marvel’s X-Men fan? Then you should appreciate ‘special powers’ of ‘mutant’ GM crops
From the origins of their 'special powers' to GMO labeling and mutant registration, the parallels between the debate over GMOs ...
Beliefs about creationism not good test of public’s science literacy
When asked if they believe in evolution, half of Americans say no. Experts largely regard this as a test of ...
Predicting behavior based on our genes just got more complicated
How can we predict organisms behavior and physiology from their genomes? The language of DNA was always thought to be ...
Cultural divide deepens in Oregon as GMO bans signal Portlandia-fication of farming
Jackson county's new ban on most GMO crops has deepened a cultural chasm in the greater Rogue Valley and Oregon ...
Fear sells and Academics Review uses it too in misleading attack on organic marketing
Academics Review recently released a searing attack on the organic industry, claiming it has gained market share by promoting fear ...
In landmark case, Australian court rejects organic farmer’s claim of GMO “contamination”
Western Australian Supreme Court Justice ruled that organic farmer Steve Marsh lost his organic certification because of the Australian organic ...
GM food fears block creation of new craft beers
For brewers today, there are few options for generating new yeasts to create tasty new craft beers. While the genetic ...
As reproductive technology charges ahead, legislative and ethical oversight flounders
Technology to assist human reproduction is growing quickly and without much government oversight. As these options expand past creating unorthodox ...
First Amendment: Scientists on libel threat against Forbes, GLP by NaturalNews’ Mike Adams
Alternative health cyber salesman Mike Adams has threatened to sue GLP director Jon Entine over an investigative profile published in ...
Views on GMOs shifting: What we fight about when we fight about genetic engineering
From their very first field test in 1987, GMOs have been the subject of intense debate. Despite the current gridlock ...
Vermont’s GMO labeling law: Win or loss for consumers?
Vermont is the first state in the nation to pass a GMO labeling law, but whether or not it is ...
Genes matter: People marry mates with similar DNA but different immune systems
DNA research suggests that the adage that opposites attract is off base when it comes to marriage. Humans pick spouses ...
Oregon counties vote on measures to ban GMO farming to guard organic farmers from ‘contamination’
In Oregon's May 20 primary election, the spotlight is on Jackson and Josephine counties with residents voting on measures that ...
Enviro journalist Lynas provides video evidence on Bangladesh Bt eggplant failure claim: GM crops thriving
Photos and a video documentary by prominent environmental journalist Mark Lynas show that previous reports alleging Bt brinjal failure in ...
Greenpeace, Chinese official claim GM soybeans cause infertility, warn against US grain imports
GMO food is closely identified as a tool of Western strategic policy among Chinese military men, regardless of whether there’s ...
Humans’ love of watching animals is hardwired
Humans derive pleasure watching animals in zoos, nature and in popular culture. Beyond their uses as food sources and domestic ...
Will FDA regulations force US direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies overseas?
23andMe is reportedly looking to enter international markets. Will they find their international hosts' regulatory structure as unfriendly as the ...
Immunotherapy hype: Are biotech companies overshooting clinical evidence?
The business of oncology drugs that use a patient's own immune system to fight cancer is growing rapidly. But is ...
Orlando Sentinel hosts GMO debate: Who wins on the science?
When a debate gets as contentious as that on GMOs, juxtaposed viewpoints can serve to put many dimensions of an ...
Economist: In promoting food scare, quirky Vermont could kneecap crop biotech progress
Will Vermont's GMO label, if upheld, really promote consumer choice as its supporters claim? In reality, feeding the unfound fear ...
GMO critic NY Times foodie Mark Bittman says dangers of crop biotechnology “overrated”
In a reversal, New York Times food writer, Mark Bittman--a frequent critic--says the dangers of GMOs is exaggerated. He contends ...
Are modern Jews descendants of converts from the extinct kingdom of Khazaria or ancient Israel?
Some studies have suggested that most Jews do not trace their ancestry to ancient Israel but are converts--descendants of the ...
Stem cells can cure severe heart disease? Study suggests early reports may be oversold
A slew of positive reports showing that stem cells could be used to address severe heart disease are in question ...
Union of Concerned Scientists blames GMOs for ‘superweeds’ but issue more complex
Genetically modified crops have been blamed for the superweeds problem, but in truth, the use of herbicides in monocultural practices ...
