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.
Video: 101 seconds on the plant biology synthetic revolution
There’s a famous quote attributed to the eminent scientist Richard Feynman: “What I cannot create, I do not understand.” Those ...
The world’s agricultural farmland is shrinking but production is up. Can this trend continue?
Throughout the 20th Century, humanity demanded more and more land leading to the loss of vast areas of natural forest ...
Will Europe squander its biotechnology opportunity?
Europe’s next wave of biotech innovation could determine how the continent feeds itself as climate disruption and supply-chain shocks intensify ...
Viewpoint: What’s on the line as India ponders the future of biotechnology and agriculture?
Reports suggest that over 60% of industrial products could be made using biotechnology, though technical difficulties need to be resolved ...
Can we expect a wave of corporate breakups as seed industries liberate themselves from litigation-laden pesticide businesses
Companies involved in both the seed and pesticide sectors see a pipeline of pesticide-related class action lawsuits, MDLs and unlimited ...
Future of food security: The downside of the digitalization of agriculture for the most vulnerable countries
With an average temperature increase of more than 1.2°C, and extreme weather events compromising 30% of global harvests, applied genetics ...
A remarkable discovery may open the door to gene editing, tripling yields of wheat and other grain crops
A groundbreaking discovery from the University of Maryland promises to revolutionize wheat cultivation and dramatically boost global food security. Researchers ...
Colade Royale: Dole’s brain-enhancing pineapple bred to taste like a piña colada arrives in grocery stores next month
For pineapple lovers, a new chapter in tropical indulgence is about to unfold. ... Consumers and food enthusiasts are buzzing with ...
Viewpoint: Indigenous groups and their Western NGO allies line up to block the genetic engineering revolution
[Members] of the International Union of Conservation of Nature, one of the world’s largest conservation groups, voted against a moratorium on the ...
Mexican scientists call for quick approvals of gene-edited crops even as restrictions persist on GMO agriculture
Researchers in Mexico are urging the government to develop clear regulations that distinguish gene-editing technologies, such as CRISPR, from genetically ...
Trump’s plan to import millions of dollars of Argentinian beef to lower prices runs into opposition from ranchers and economists
President Donald Trump ’s plan to cut record beef prices by importing more meat from Argentina is running into heated opposition from U.S ...
Australia approves commercial planting of genetically modified cotton
Australia's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) has issued license DIR 216 to Bayer CropScience Pty. Ltd., authorizing the ...
Will ‘neophobia’ kill the newly-developed gene-edited, non-browning banana
When a banana is bruised, cut, or peeled, enzymes trigger a chemical cascade that ends in melanin, the same pigment ...
Argentina and Japan far ahead of U.S. and Canada in developing gene-edited livestock
A more permissive approach to gene editing regulation in Argentina has led to greater diversity of innovation and a shift ...
Viewpoint: Glyphosate is agriculture’s scapegoat
Glyphosate has played a central role in modern agriculture’s ability to increase yields, reduce labour costs and conserve soil through ...
Transforming food waste into biodegradable ultra-thin plastic
In the face of the growing global crisis due to plastic pollution, a team from Monash University in Melbourne (Australia) has managed to transform food ...
India negotiating removing block on importing US GMO grains to forge new trade deal
In a world where an ever-growing portion of grains is grown from genetically modified seeds, India has sat on the ...
What you probably don’t know: For most fast-food fans, bioengineering isn’t a choice — it’s the norm
Think you’re grabbing a quick “natural” bite from your favorite burger joint? Think again. Whether you order a Big Mac, ...
Industrial ‘white biotechnology’ poised to jump-start Nigerian economy
Nigeria, with its abundant biodiversity, dynamic population, and growing technological capabilities, is uniquely positioned to harness biotechnology for transformative growth ...
‘Ultra-processed’ does not automatically equate to ‘unhealthy’
They have been called “poison”, “addictive” and “junk”, but however you describe ultra-processed foods (UPFs), it is clear they are the nutritional ...
Kenyan cabinet nears decision on GM crop approvals worth hundred of millions of dollars
Delays in adopting advanced maize, cotton, and potato varieties have cost the country a staggering KSh 20.4 billion in just ...
Chemophobia: From anti-corporate liberal left to MAHA right, it’s getting worse
Chemophobia is complicated, but, in short, it’s a distrust or fear of chemicals and appears in many of aspects of ...
Britain’s landmark agricultural gene editing law kicks in next month. Here’s what to expect
Over the next few years, we could see the arrival of not just genetically altered tomatoes, but also bananas and ...
U.S.-China trade war is turning the country into a net importer of food
The United States, long regarded as a global agricultural leader, is facing a major shift as its farm trade balance ...
Viewpoint: The GMO primate study that finally shuts the door on misguided claims of unique harm
One of the most persistent myths surrounding GMOs is the supposed long-term harm on our delicate internal landscapes — the ...
Gene editing may be the only protection we have to maintain farming output as climate grows more extreme
Rapid climate change has significantly impacted agricultural production, potentially affecting global food security. Scientists and policymakers worldwide have devised various ...
Organic labeled food does not mean it’s healthier. It only designates how it was grown
When you see the word organic on a label, it's easy to assume it means healthier, safer or more sustainable, ...
