USDA Deregulates Industrial GE Corn

The U.S. Agriculture Department said Feb. 11 it has deregulated a variety of corn genetically engineered to produce a common enzyme that speeds the breakdown of starch into sugar, a vital step in making ethanol. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service said Syngenta, the Swiss maker of the enzyme, called alpha-amylase, will create an

USDA Partially Deregulating Biotech Sugar Beets

U.S. agricultural regulators Feb. 4 said despite a court ban, they would allow commercial planting of genetically modified sugar beets under closely controlled conditions while they complete a full environmental impact statement. The move marks the second-such boost by the United States for contested biotech crops in a week, and underscores U.S. determination to expand


Manitoba Growers Edgy About GM Alfalfa Release In U.S.

Manitoba forage seed producers are dismayed, but not surprised that American regulators have released Roundup Ready alfalfa in the U.S. without restrictions. “Whoever thought that Roundup Ready wasn’t going to come to the market was living in a dream world,” said Adam Gregory, an alfalfa seed producer from Fisher Branch. The U.S. Department of Agriculture

USDA Issues Draft Plan

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has issued a draft proposal to again allow farmers to grow Monsanto Co.’s genetically modified sugar beets. A U.S. district court in California has ruled that the sugar beets cannot be produced until the USDA issues a full environmental impact study, which the department does not expect to complete until


USDA Issues Draft Plan Allowing GM Sugar Beets

The U.S. Depar tment of Agriculture issued a draft proposal on Nov. 2 to again allow farmers to grow Monsanto’s genetically modified sugar beets, which are fiercely opposed by environmentalists. A U.S. district court in California has ruled that the sugar beets cannot be produced until the USDA issues a full environmental impact study, which

U. S. Supreme Court Hears GM Alfalfa Arguments

WASHINGTON, D. C. The U. S. Supreme Court was asked last week to rule on whether the courts have the authority to block genetically modified crops due to environmental concerns. The case involving Monsanto’s genetically modified Roundup Ready alfalfa heard here April 27 marks the first time the controversies over commercializing new technology have reached


U. S. Eyes Regulatory Overhaul

Since 1987, the USDA has overseen genetically modified organisms through the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. APHIS’s Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS) regulates GE organisms based on “plant pest risk.” USDA has said it wants to make changes that ensure safety while making the process more transparent to the public, and more efficient and easier

USDA Seeks Comment On Genetically Modified Alfalfa

Alfalfa is not the only crop that has come under fire. The U. S. Agriculture Department on Dec. 14 said it determined there would be no significant environmental harm to deregulating genetically modified alfalfa, but said it will open its preliminary finding to public comment before issuing a final decision. USDA first deregulated two types


U. S. Court Rules Against GM Sugar Beets

Afederal U. S. court has ruled in favour of critics of Monsanto Co.’s genetically engineered sugar beets, saying the U. S. government failed to adequately evaluate their environmental and economic risks. The U. S. District Court for the northern district of California ruled that the U. S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection

Campaign Against GM Alfalfa Intensifies

“The genie’s out of the bottle.” – JIM LINTOTT, MANITOBA FORAGE COUNCIL Acoalition of 80 farm and food organizations, including Manitoba forage producers, is calling for an immediate halt to field testing of genetically modified alfalfa in Canada. The groups want existing test plots of GM alfalfa uprooted and full-scale commercialization of the crop blocked.