The Organic & Non-GMO Report Newsletter

New pesticides will modify insect genes: what could go wrong?

If the Environmental Protection Agency approves commercialization of a new GM pesticide, the result will be an open-air genetic experiment—that could “silence” essential survival genes for insects on contact or through ingesting sprayed crops. In addition, risks to farmworkers and rural communities would be triggered. “Once gene-silencing agents are released into the environment, there’s no […]

Pesticide residues discovered in organically managed soils

A recent study in Environmental Science & Technology has found pesticides in all of the screened organic fields, 40 in total. An analytical method containing 46 pesticides (16 herbicides, 8 herbicide transformation products, 17 fungicides, seven insecticides) was used on 100 total fields, 60 of them under conventional management and 40 under organic. The number […]

China inches toward commercial planting of GM crops

The Chinese government has never allowed domestic planting of GM corn and soybean varieties, but it is nearing approval of two modified crops. The push reflects a desire for greater food security—China currently is a very large importer of corn and soybeans. The glufosate and glufosinate-resistant soybean DBN9004 has already received approval in Argentina; the […]

Washington apples receive non-GMO certificates to gain entry to India

India has been Washington State’s 12th largest apple export customer, but on March 1, 2021, its Food Safety and Standards Authority began requiring fruits and vegetables imports to carry non-GMO certificates. The U.S. pressured India to drop demand for GMO-free documentation, insisting that it was an “unreasonable” request since over 90% of U.S. apple exports […]

How do genetically engineered crops speed up the spread of plant pests?

Adverse environmental effects in insecticidal Bt plant cultivation Recent Chinese and Brazilian studies strongly indicate that the cultivation of transgenic insecticidal plants can speed up the spread of specific plant pests. Unexpected and complex environmental interactions play a crucial role in this context. The research was carried out with genetically engineered (GE) cotton and soybeans […]