GMWatch

Corn earworm pest is resistant to all GM Bt hybrids – and yields are no higher than those of non-GM hybrids. Report: Claire Robinson GM Bt corn is failing in the US and yields are no better than non-GM corn, according to a report in the US's mainstream agricultural press written by North Carolina State University professor and extension specialist, Dominic Reisig. Prof Reisig says that the corn earworm pest has become resistant to the Bt insecticidal ("Cry") toxins in GM Bt corn.

Cutting the crap on gene technology Three articles published over recent weeks and months demolish the EU Commission's and New Zealand government's proposals for deregulating new GMOs made with techniques such as gene editing. They show why the proposals, which would remove safety checks and labelling from a new generation of GMOs, turn their back on scientific knowledge as well as democratic principles.

By Beyond GM The timing of the recent general election gave us a rare window of opportunity to put the issue of genetically engineered food in the UK food system in front of would-be-MPs and demand that they take action. Before the election was called, the government was in the process of introducing new regulations to the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act that would make it fully operational. That process was put on hold for the election.

Even if you grow organic, your crops are at risk from contaminated animal manure. By Claire Robinson Glyphosate is turning up in manure-based fertiliser used by gardeners and organic and conventional growers and the residues can ruin yields of tomatoes and other sensitive crops, new research from Finland shows.

Researchers develop methods to detect previously known mutations in gene-edited plants and make steps towards distinguishing gene-edited plants from conventional ones with the same mutation It’s becoming increasingly clear from studies that detection and identification of new GMO (new genomic techniques, NGT) plants will be possible, as long as such research continues to be supported.

Experts linked to industry dominate the new GMO panel In July, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) appointed new experts for the GMO Panel, which is responsible for the assessment of genetically engineered organisms.

This LobbyWatch Review shines a spotlight on a lobbyist who for nearly a quarter of a century has crisscrossed the globe working assiduously to influence governments, shape national legislation and international treaties, and sway audiences and media coverage on the GMO issue. Curiously, despite a remarkable level of access and influence, facilitated by extremely powerful backers, his activities have largely escaped critical scrutiny.

Agency ignores and deceptively misrepresents scientific evidence. Report by Claire Robinson and Prof Michael Antoniou In July the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) published its opinion on the French health agency ANSES’s evidenced-based position of December 2023, which criticised Annex I of the European Commission’s proposal on the deregulation of plants obtained from new genetic modification techniques (new genomic techniques, NGTs).

Hungary's Agriculture Minister Dr István Nagy accepts food industry open letter Dr István Nagy, current EU Council President for Agriculture and Fisheries, met today with representatives of a business initiative to submit an open letter, "Food Industry for Freedom of Choice". A total of 376 businesses from the food industry in 16 EU Member States have signed the letter.

Adam Chappell can’t grow non-GMO soybeans because they’re being damaged by dicamba herbicide, forcing him to plant dicamba-tolerant GMO soybeans to protect his farm Arkansas farmer Adam Chappell can’t grow non-GMO soybeans any more because they’re being damaged by dicamba herbicide drifting from fields planted with GMO dicamba-tolerant soybeans, as the article below, from the Organic & Non-GMO Report, explains.