genetically modified crops news stories on Newser

Woman Sues Frito-Lay Over 'All Natural' Claims

Kate Schwartz — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:19:59 CST

Almost exactly one year ago, your helpful Newser editors informed you that Frito-Lay had big plans for 2011: to make 50% of its line from "all-natural" ingredients. And according to one California woman, that effort has been a big fail. Julie Gengo has filed a class-action lawsuit against Frito-Lay, alleging...

Protein Made From Rice Can Cure Disease

Neal Colgrass — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:57:06 CDT

Scientists in China say they've extracted a protein from rice that can treat liver disease, burns, and traumatic shock. The breakthrough could lead to increased production of the protein, called HSA, which is "physically and chemically equivalent" to the HSA found in human blood and has been in short supply...

Uh-Oh: Bugs Develop Resistance to Franken-Corn

John Johnson — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:01:32 CDT

Farmers in Iowa who planted corn seeds genetically modified to fend off the dreaded corn rootworm are seeing a troubling sign: The rootworm is apparently developing a resistance to the Monsanto seeds and gobbling up cornfields again, say Iowa University researchers. It's still just a small percentage of rootworms that...

Eco-Terrorism? Hawaii Vandals Hit Modified Papayas

John Johnson — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 15:36:02 CDT

Hawaii papaya growers think they're the victim of eco-terrorism. Vandals cut down thousands of papaya trees, and farmers suspect that opponents of genetically modified crops are to blame, reports the AP via the Sydney Morning Herald . Most of the papayas grown on the Big Island are modified to protect against...

Genetically Engineered Crops Cover 10% of Farmland

Kevin Spak — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 11:15:43 CST

The amount of land being used to grow genetically modified crops ballooned 10% last year, as countries like Brazil and Argentina got in on the game. A full 10% of the world’s farmland now grows these so-called “biotech crops,” which were essentially non-existent 15 years ago, USA Today reports. Last...

FDA Makes Us 'Guinea Pigs' With Frankenfood

John Johnson — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 11:57:01 CST

Had anything to eat today? Congratulations, you're a "guinea pig" in the brave new world of genetically modified food, writes Mark Bittman. What's more, you've got no say in the matter. Lots of our food products already contain GMOs (genetically modified organisms) and more are on the way, but federal...

Farmers Sour on Genetically Modified Seeds

Nick McMaster — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 09:07:30 CDT

Genetically-modified crops are pervasive—last year 86% of America's farm acres were planted with biotech crops—but some farmers are beginning to sour on the technology. They say that the advantages are not worth the soaring prices charged by seed giants like Monsanto: The cost of corn seed jumped 32%...

Monsanto Contracts Strangle Competition: Report

Kevin Spak — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:53:00 CST

Monsanto, the country’s dominant seed business, is squeezing competitors with stringent licensing agreements that protect its incredibly dominant position in the industry. Monsanto’s licenses prevent companies from breeding plants that contain both Monsanto’s genes and those of competitors, an AP investigation reveals, effectively locking competitors out of the market. Another...

Genetically Altered Yeast Ends Wine Hangovers

John Johnson — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 20:30:27 CDT

A Canadian scientist has found a genetically modified hangover cure. He distributes an altered yeast, MLo1—which eliminates compounds that cause headaches in red and many white wines—to 40 winemakers in the US and Canada. But some vintners and winos are resisting the genetic alteration of their craft, which...