GMOs 2.0/Synthetic Biology

European proposal to deregulate new GMO techniques “would be the end of organic farming”

The European Commission recently proposed relaxing laws on GMOs, exempting certain GMO plants from the EU’s strict GMO regulations. Gene-edited plants, for instance, would not be labeled as GMOs and wouldn’t require a risk assessment for health and environment nor traceability. Biotech seed corporations have aggressively lobbied to exempt “New Genomic Techniques” (NGTs) from the […]

GMO 2.0 promises: We’ve heard this before

Proponents of synthetic biology and its “precision fermentation” are claiming their products will help feed the world and mitigate climate change—the same claims made about earlier genetic engineering technologies, which never materialized. Thirty years ago, proponents of new genetically engineered food crops made bold claims that the lab-created foods would help to “feed the world,” […]

Unnatural: GMO 2.0 companies at Natural Products Expo West spark controversy

Natural food retailers denounce lack of transparency as GMO 2.0 companies promote their products at world’s largest natural food tradeshow Natural Products Expo West recently returned as an in-person event after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The show, which is organized by New Hope Network, was considered a success as 57,000 people attended along […]

Calling the latest gene technologies ‘natural’ is a semantic distraction—they must still be regulated

By Jack Heineman, Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics, University of Canterbury, Brigitta Kurenbach, University of Canterbury, Deborah Paull, University of Canterbury, Sophie Walker, Guest Lecturer, University of Canterbury Legislators around the world are being asked to reconsider how to regulate the latest developments in gene technology, genome editing and gene silencing. Both the European Court […]

Synthetic biology products entering the market unregulated, unlabeled—and even with non-GMO claims

Up until a few years ago, the only genetically engineered products in the marketplace were agricultural crops—corn, soybeans, cotton, canola, and a few others. These were developed using transgenic technology—taking genes from one species and inserting them into the DNA of a crop such as corn or soybeans. But in recent years, products made using […]