The Philippines has local and indigenous crops that are naturally vitamin A-rich, says farmer-scientist network MASIPAG. Yet they're going to waste while GM Golden Rice enjoys limitless resources from government, the International Rice Research Institute and corporations. MASIPAG also points out that official data show that the yields of Golden Rice are below average, meaning that if advocates get their way and the crop is widely planted, this will result in "a decrease of 750,000 metric tons of rice or roughly a reduction of 4% in the national rice productivity rate of the country – 750,000 metric tons of rice which can sufficiently feed more than four million Filipinos for an entire year". MASIPAG

 

 

Bayer is set to push GMO salad greens into US grocery stores this fall. They were first introduced on a limited basis by Pairwise, which quickly backed off. But Bayer, which is in a strategic alliance with Pairwise, has now licensed the gene-edited greens. No risk assessment was carried out even though the process of genetic engineering 17 genes in the mustard greens resulted in unexpected genetic changes, as well as transgenic gene segments being unintentionally inserted into the plant genome. USDA deregulated the GMO mustard greens without investigating either possible health effects or environmental risks in any detail. The genetic engineering of a milder taste also leads to a reduction in those compounds which are especially relevant for positive health effects. GMWatch on Twitter/X @gmwatch

 

 

In 2023, the current Conservative Government passed the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act, which created an entirely new and fictitious class of genetically modified organisms – the "precision bred organism", or "PBO", writes Joanna Blythman. This sneaky, undemocratic attempt to force genetically modified organisms (GMOs) onto our plates – unlabelled – has been launched by our Government, working hand-in-hand with the biotech industry, research establishment and pro-GMO think tanks. It represents the most serious threat to non-GMO, organic and traditional food and farming in my lifetime. It is an attack on our right to eat time-honoured ingredients in their natural forms. If successful, it will jeopardise our future ability to defend and protect authentic small-scale food culture. Sustainable Food Trust

 

 

There is currently debate about whether humans should genetically engineer wild animals to improve their welfare. A new paper, subtitled "Why genetically modifying wild sentient animals is not a good option", emphasises that a) the benefits of genetic engineering are overestimated and at the same time harms from its development and use are underestimated, b) the assumption that genetic engineering is an appropriate "last resort" tool is wrong, c) many arguments in favour of genetic engineering are based on an inadequate understanding of ecology and biotechnological processes, and d) the debate downplays the importance of self-determination for wild animals. The authors recommend "a more respectful attitude towards and treatment of non-human individuals and the ecosystems in which they live. To achieve this, other measures should be investigated and used than genetic engineering." Environmental Ethics

 

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