Food & Ag 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
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 ...
Maine’s fractious relationship with Monsanto
Maine's history with Monsanto has evolved over time from warning bells in the organic community and a welcome embrace from ...
No science-based reason to justify mandatory GMO labeling, study concludes
Analysis of the scientific, legal and economic ramifications of mandatory GMO labeling by the Council for Agricultural Science and Technology ...
Is glyphosate, used with some GM crops, dangerously toxic to humans?
Glyphosate has been characterized by independent science and regulatory agencies to be relatively safe, but anti-GMO groups use uncritically publicized ...
‘Electronic genomes’ vulnerable to attack
In a digital world, even our most sensitive information is vulnerable to hacking. In the case of DNA, people can ...
Lamark redux: Is epigenetics rewriting his legacy?
Evolutionary biologist Josh Mitteldorf looks back on the discredited scientist's views of evolution in light of our new knowledge of ...
Debating GMOs: Anti Michael Pollan and plant scientist Pam Ronald break new ground with dialogue
Journalist Michael Pollan and plant geneticist Pamela Ronald set an important precedent when they convened the two sides of the ...
Glyphosate toxicity study in ‘pay for play journal’ based on flawed experimental design
A study promoted by anti-GMO groups that the commonly used pesticide glyphosate (Roundup), which is used with some GM crops, ...
Neanderthal epigenetics probably not a great target for autism research
Sensationalized headline used keywords of autism and Neanderthal to oversell an important story about differences in epigenetic regulation between humans ...
Will European opposition to GM foods slow biomedical advances?
Genetically modified bacteria might be able to relieve celiac sufferers from inflammatory symptoms but researchers worry that tight restrictions promoted ...
GLP Infographic: How crops are modified–Are GMOs more dangerous?
A new GLP infographic reviews the four main ways in which crops have been genetically modified by humans: traditional breeding, ...
Anti-GMO activists target Hawaii’s critical role in seed research and development
Most of us associate seeds and commodity crops with the Midwest, but Hawaii is crucial to cutting edge research in ...
Are farmers around the world less eager to embrace crop biotechnology?
A recent report in Bloomberg suggested that crop biotechnology is not being embraced as eagerly in industrialized countries, but the ...
Hidden costs in GMO labeling
Mandatory GMO labeling would require a huge addition in infrastructure needed to segregate grain. True traceability in our food supply ...
Africa needs farming technologies to jumpstart Green Revolution
African governments need to invest in agricultural infrastructure and technology, and create a new Green Revolution for Africa ...
Pick the baby, then the mate?
A new computer technology allows potential parents to genetically screen sperm and egg donors for more than 600 conditions and ...
Federal GMO label: Conspiracy for activists, science-based for industry
Industry groups described Rep. Mike Pompeo's Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2014 as "science-based" while anti-GMO activists play ...
Stine Seed flies under media radar but is patent backbone of biotech industry
Few outside of the biotech industry know Stine Seed Farm, a plant breeding and biotechnology group that develops germplasm for ...
Top GMO question consumers want answered: Do GMOs cause cancer?
It is telling that some consumers are most worried about cancer-causing GMOs when scientific evidence has pointed strongly otherwise: No, ...
Does the Union of Concerned Scientists’s Doug Gurian-Sherman misrepresent GMOs?
Do advances in conventional breeding make genetic engineering unnecessary? That's the controversial claim by Union of Concerned Scientist's Doug Gurian-Sherman, ...
Princess Anne rejects brother Prince Charles’ anti-GMO views
Princess Anne argues that genetically modified crops do have a role to play in using land more efficiently, putting her ...
As FDA rejects mandatory GMO labeling, some ‘green’ groups advocate vandalism
FDA commissioner's science-based support for voluntary labeling of GMOs disappointed anti-GMO campaigners, some of whom are now advocating ripping up ...
Era of designer plants and animals edges closer with creation of synthetic yeast
A manmade yeast chromosome seems a far cry from designer animals and humans, but it’s a huge step forward in ...
CNN’s irresponsible article on ’10 ways to avoid GMOs’–No, GMOs are not unsafe
CNN's article about 10 ways to avoid GMOs was not grounded in fact and misled many readers, a clear example ...
