How Are GMOs Different?
Apr16

How Are GMOs Different?

“Farmers have genetically modified food for centuries.” That’s a statement the House of Representatives Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) made near the beginning of a key hearing on regulating GMOs. It’s a quick rebuttal and a frequent talking point from the pro-GMO side of the GMO controversy. But is it the truth? How are GMOs different from other genetic manipulations we’ve done for centuries like Selective Breeding, Cross-breeding...

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EU GMO Regulation Under Fire
Feb16

EU GMO Regulation Under Fire

Recently we’ve talked about how, in the Netherlands, lobbyists are pushing for a change in the EU GMO regulation of cisgenesis. It isn’t just the Netherlands, however, hoping for this deregulation — biotech advocates throughout Europe are pushing for this same deregulation at the EU level as well.  The industry’s lobbying group has been working hard — The trail of Freedom of Information requests over the...

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Netherlands Works to Deregulate Cisgenesis
Feb15

Netherlands Works to Deregulate Cisgenesis

The fight to exclude cisgenesis from EU regulation has been ongoing for years in the Netherlands. The term ‘cisgenesis’ refers to the insertion of genes from the same or closely related species into a recipient plant, in contrast with transgenesis, whereby genes from another species are introduced. In general, the Dutch people are opposed to GMOs, yet the the Dutch Government has been pushing for deregulation of cisgenic...

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Monsanto GMO Patent on Melons Denied
Feb02

Monsanto GMO Patent on Melons Denied

After a January 20th hearing in Munich Germany, The European Patent Office has revoked a false Monsanto GMO patent on melons. The Europe-based coalition No Patents on Seeds spearheaded the opposition. According to their press release, Monsanto claimed melons with a natural resistance to plant viruses was its own invention even though the resistance was already detected in indigenous melon varieties in India. As The Hindu explains,...

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Will Consumers Want the GMO Arctic Apple?
Dec28

Will Consumers Want the GMO Arctic Apple?

If you’re following the GMO situation, you’ve probably heard of the GMO Arctic Apple. It won approval in the U.S. and Canada this past spring, but won’t roll into supermarkets for a few years. The apple consists of two versions, Golden Delicious and Granny Smith. The Golden Delicious labeled in the picture below is of the variety we’re used to, with a little browning here and there.  The apples to the right,...

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Tropicana Non GMO Label Just a Marketing Gimmick (Part 1)
Dec15

Tropicana Non GMO Label Just a Marketing Gimmick (Part 1)

It’s no secret that organic and non-GMO foods are increasing in popularity every year.  According to the Organic Trade Association, sales of organic food and non-GMO food products in the United States broke another record in 2014, totaling $39.1 billion, up 11.3 percent from the previous year.  We’ll likely see an additional increase in 2015 as well, and now the Tropicana brand wants a piece of the action.  (NOTE: Tomorrow...

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