09/March/22

 

Environmental and public health advocates responded with alarm after the Biden administration on Monday gave a British biotechnology company a green light to unleash billions of genetically engineered mosquitoes in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted Oxitec an experimental use permit that could lead to the release of genetically engineered (GE) mosquitoes in four California counties and extend a widely criticised program in Florida's Monroe County. Jaydee Hanson of the International Center for Technology Assessment and Center for Food Safety said, "This experiment is unnecessary and even dangerous," posing the risk of creating "hybrid mosquitoes that are more virulent and aggressive." Common Dreams

 

 

A coalition of non-governmental organisations, farmer groups and research experts from various African countries is calling on the Nigerian government to revoke the permits granted by Nigeria’s National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA) to the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR), Zaria, for the commercial release of genetically modified (Bt) cowpea (PBR-Cowpea). This call was made on 7 March in an online international press conference: "Pushing Back Bt Cowpea in Africa", organised by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) in collaboration with the African Center for Biodiversity (ACB). GMWatch