Daily Food & Ag Digest
Every day, the staff of the Genetic Literacy Project scours the Web for stories on a range of agricultural and food issues, including the GMO debate, conventional and organic farming, regulations, new breeding technologies and sustainability. We publish excerpts of those stories and encourage our readers to visit the original publications for the complete stories.
GMO labeling initiative ‘too close to call’ in Washington state
Initiative 522 opponents in Washington State have apparently shifted some voters against the ballot measure to require labeling of food ...
Labeling campaigners distort facts on GMOs
"The debate over genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is shrill and frequently lacking," writes Parke Wilde, a Professor at the Friedman ...
Catholic leaders: Transgenic plants must be used to feed poor
The Catholic Church supports GMOs, writes William Patenaude, an environmental regulator and author of the Catholic Ecology blog. Dr. Peter Raven, one ...
Key Chinese government officials back GMOs
The Chinese government has been rolling out statements and public events in support of GMOs, writes Wall Street Journal reporter ...
Washington Post editorial: Genetically modified crops should be part of Africa’s food future
(Summary) "Genetic engineering is not a magic bullet for Africa, but it can help battle pests and diseases, improve nutrition ...
Seed companies hoping to end Mexico’s GMO suspension
In a brief interview with Agriculture.com, 2013 World Food Prize Laureate Robert Fraley, Monsanto's Chief Technology Officer, said the he ...
Activist scientists claim “no consensus” on GMO safety
Coming together under the banner of the European Network of Scientists for Social and Environmental Sustainability, a group of scientific, ...
Argentina: Activist study tries to link agrochemical spraying and health problems to GMOs
Argentine farmworker Fabian Tomasi wasn’t trained to use protective gear as he pumped pesticides into crop dusters. Now at 47, ...
China: GM rice taste test quells doubts
About 260 Chinese volunteers participated in a taste test of genetically modified (GM) rice, hoping to reassure the public about ...
Genes jump between conventional crops, not just from engineered ones
Another ecological worry about GE crops seemed to have come true with a vengeance in 2000. American scientists reported that ...
‘War’ against GM crops worries pioneer in field
The fact opposition to biotechnology, specifically genetically modified organisms (GMOs), remains as strong as it is nearly 20 years after ...
Why biotech developers don’t deserve the World Food Prize
Tom Laskawy, founder and executive director of the Food & Environment Reporting Network, wrote in Civil Eats why the winners of ...
Faux debate over mis-dubbed ‘Monsanto Protection Act’ aside, farmers need regulatory assurance
The Farmer Assurance Provision is formally Section 735 of the Continuing Resolution of 2013, passed in March to fund the ...
Plant disease research experts oppose GMO labels
The American Phytopathological Society, which represents 5,000 scientists who "investigate plant pathogens," came out with a statement paper opposing mandatory ...
Anti-GMO current spreads to China
In a new blog post by Kevin Folta, interim chairman the University of Florida’s horticulture program, he describes his experience ...
South Africa: Value of GM crops lost due to drop in pest resistance
South Africa’s government is increasingly opening the door to genetically modified organisms (GMOs)—along with the issues that arise as GMOs ...
New anti-GMO battleground: Genetically engineered yeast for medicines and fragrances
Andrew Pollack, who covers business and biotechnology at the New York Times, recently reported on the revolutionary new trend of ...
Wheat growers support biotech variety development
The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) have reinforced their support for the continued development ...
Genetically modified bacteria efficient sugar producers
Industry is already making use of rare sugars as low-calorie sweeteners, and as precursors of anti-cancer and antiviral medicines. However, ...
Import of GMO condition for Serbia’s entry into WTO
The European Commission told Serbia that there is a need to amend the law on genetically modified organisms (GMO) in ...
Is an anti-GMO wave rising from Kauai?
After years of acceptance, the United States is now experiencing true movement to restrict the use of genetically engineered organisms ...
Response to Mark Lynas: GMO labeling neither inevitable nor sensible
"In a speech at the Food Integrity Summit in Chicago, on Oct 15, Mark Lynas, former antiGMO activist now pro-science ...
Farmers, not just scientists, support GMOs
Iowa farmers are speaking out in support of GMOs amid protests, writes Laurie Johnson, public relations manager for the Iowa ...
Uganda GMO maize trials shows promising results
Results from the ongoing confined trials in Uganda on genetically modified maize that is resistant to the stem-borer are having ...
Tanzania: Farmers eagerly await a change in law to start planting GM cotton
The [Tanzanian] government has been advised to allow cotton farmers in the country to use Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in ...
Grocery Mantufacturers Association faces lawsuit over illegal GMO labeling campaign donations
A lobbying group for major American food manufacturers has violated campaign finance laws in its attempt to block a measure ...
Logical fallacies lead liberals to believe misinformation about GMOs
Normally a crusader for science and reason, popular liberal talk show host Bill Maher falls short when it comes to ...
