Nathanael Johnson
Grist’s Nathanael Johnson’s GMO archives: Wading through the ideological thicket
The GMO debate is wrought with arguments based on emotion, not facts. Grist's Nathnael Johnson has been wading through the ...
Johnson in Grist: Despite drawbacks, GE key tool in strengthening global food security
Some say that the costs of genetic engineering outweigh the benefits, but GE is still an important tactic against threats ...
‘Shallow concern’ over GM food, not Big Ag advertising, led to defeat of Washington labeling bill
Washington's GMO labeling bill failed for many reasons, but was one them that people just don't care about GM food? ...
Activists block solution to GM cross-pollination (don’t call it ‘contamination’) fears
Cross pollination between fields of crops, whether genetically modified or organic, cannot be avoided. Whose responsibility is it to keep ...
Labels could disarm the emotional and political triggers of GMOs
Grist's Nathanael Johnson examines the complex issue of labeling, outline some of the numerous problems and some of what he ...
Rigid patent system stifles agricultural innovation, needs radical change
The patent system for agricultural technology is controlled by a small group of companies in rich countries, which impedes innovations ...
Do GMOs promote soil conservation?
Due to the lack of conclusive data, no one can say for sure if herbicide-tolerant crops have really reduced the ...
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 ...
Does glyphosate used with herbicide resistant GM crops lead to chemical addiction?
To understand the environmental effects of GMOs, I started by looking at plants genetically modified to be insect-resistant — and concluded that ...
In the insecticide wars, GMOs have so far been a force for good
I’ve finally worked my way around to the GMO question that I care about most: Are genetically modified crops boon ...
Dr. Bronner’s soapbox: Working GMO labels into a lather
Perhaps it’s no surprise that a company famous for filling every available inch of its product labels with words favors ...
Hits and misses in Boston Review’s GMO debate
Reasoned, refereed exchanges about GMOs between opposing factions are rare. So when I saw that the Boston Review had manufactured that kind ...
For farmers, GMOs may not be as valuable as perceived
Grist's Johnson does a microanalysis of the benefits of GMOs by interviewing individual farmers, finding that the technology may not ...
Grist’s Nathanael Johnson: Who is really benefiting from GMOs?
Grist's Nathanael Johnson continues his GMO series, investigating who is seeing the real benefits of GMOs. He consults lawyers, economists ...
“GMO OMG”: An interview with the director
After being intrigued by the new "GMO OMG" documentary, Grist's Johnson interviews the film's director to learn more about his ...
Grist’s Johnson: Golden Rice essential tool in fighting malnutrition
Grist's Nathanael Johnson jumps in with his own analysis of the Golden Rice debate ...
Grist’s Johnson provides forum for Pollan and Harmon to respond to GM orange controversy
Following Michael Pollan's highly debated response to Amy Harmon's New York Times feature on GM oranges, Grist's Nathanael Johnson has ...
From California to Washington: Who’s paying for GMO-labelling initiative campaigns?
Groups opposed to labeling genetically modified food outspent those in favor 5 to 1 last year when Californians voted on ...
Grist: Extremism in defense of GMOs is holding back science
Setting phasers to "utter destruction" is not the best approach to constructive criticism in GMO science ...
Grist: Who’s doing the research on GMO seeds?
Johnson begins a multi-step investigation into intellectual property rights. Do big biotech corporations really exercise draconian control on all biotech ...
Grist: GMOs, allergens and the specter of ‘unknown unknowns’
Grist takes a second, deeper look at the allergenic risk of GM crops relative to traditional crops ...
Are you ready for a tall glass of GE? Grist’s take on transgenic orange juice
It’s rare that us lowly eaters experience any personal gain from genetically modified food. But over the weekend the New ...
Grist: Does the “little difference” between GE and traditional breeding matter?
The interpretation of what “a little” means for perception of risk, and for public policy, varies wildly depending on people’s ...
Grist: Genetic engineering versus natural breeding?
With a full understanding of the science, is genetic engineering really all that different than traditional breeding ...
Grist rethinks crop biotech, takes fresh look at regulatory process
Critics of genetic engineering say the industry is not required to do any safety testing. The developers of GE crops ...
Grist finally acknowledges ‘no health threats from GE foods’
It’s hard to make the case that we should trust science on global warming while scoffing at the statements of ...
