SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Chestnuts harvested from high branches on a chilly fall morning look typical: they’re marble sized, russet colored and nestled in prickly burs. But many are like no other nuts in nature. In a feat of genetic engineering, about half the chestnuts collected at this college experiment station feature a gene that provides…
Read MoreDive Brief: Members of Generation Z — those born between 1995 and 2010 — are the most willing to try foods produced using technology, according to a study from Ketchum, a New York-based communication firm. Of that demographic, 77% were more likely to eat such foods, while 67% of millennials, 58% of Gen Xers and…
Read MoreBenefits of genome editing and molecule-sensing technologies in agriculture include more sustainable crops and healthier foods. Consumers may soon begin purchasing fun-sized fruits and vegetables, as well as processed foods that incorporate healthier ingredients, such as oils that are relatively free of “unhealthy” fats. And producers may be able to grow crops that are drought-…
Read MoreEVANSVILLE, Ind., Oct. 23 (UPI) — The cotton industry hopes to launch a new market for a genetically modified cotton plant whose seeds are edible for humans. The push comes after the Food and Drug Administration OK’d the modified plant for human consumption in late September. Cotton groups called it a historic decision — one…
Read MoreSHORTER corn plants – that’s one of the innovations Bayer is backing in an effort to produce more food from less land. The innovation was referenced at the Bayer Future of Farming dialogue held at its German headquarters in Monheim earlier this month. Corn is a massively significant crop for US, Chinese and European growers…
Read MoreAgrobacterium microbe — the very same bacterium that scientists typically use to create GM crops. Though much of the controversy around genetically modified crops is driven by the belief that the process of moving genes from one species to another is “unnatural,” new research shows some 1 in 20 flowering plants are naturally transgenic. Dozens…
Read MoreGM crops prevent cancer? Hogwash!” you might say. “Genetically modified (GM) crops and food are supposed to cause cancer aren’t they?” Well, that is what many anti-biotech activists would like you to believe. These campaigners have alleged for years that eating foods made from GM crops leads to dozens of serious health issues, all to…
Read MoreBt brinjal increased yield by 42%, reduced cost of growing brinjal by 31%, reduced pesticide applications by 51%, leading to fewer reports of pesticide exposure symptoms. These are according to the report on the Impacts of Bt Brinjal (Eggplant) Technology in Bangladesh published by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the US Agency…
Read MoreA new study confirms that genetically modified insect-resistant eggplant (Bt brinjal) has successfully reduced pesticide use and improved livelihoods among the Bangladeshi farmers who grow it. Conventionally grown brinjal is one of the most heavily sprayed crops in South Asia. Historically, brinjal farmers have sprayed as many as 84 times in a growing season to…
Read MoreThe European Court of Justice dismissed an action brought by three German NGOs against the authorization of genetically modified soy products. The NGOs argued more research was necessary to determine the product’s risks. The European Court of Justice in Luxembourg ruled on Thursday that the authorization of genetically modified soy produced by former agrochemical corporation…
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