Investigate Midwest (https://investigatemidwest.org/tag/gmos/page/2/)
Monsanto claims it has come up with a way to physically make ears of corn an inch or two larger. If that turns out to be true – and if the new variety successfully makes it through the coordinated framework for biotechnology – it would be a big deal for the U.S. corn industry.
Monsanto is working on a genetically engineered variety of corn designed to grow bigger ears. While that's a major leap for the agribusiness company, it's only a small step in corn's long and storied history.
On Wednesday, 42 senators signed their names to a letter addressed to President Barack Obama. The letter pressed the president to prioritize biotech approvals with China’s leader, President Xi Jinping.
The nonprofit food-watch group U.S. Right to Know has kick started a nationwide discussion on GMOs, public universities and corporate funding. The New York Times also recently reported on the relationship between corporate agriculture and academia.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed federal legislation making GMO labeling voluntary. Now in the Senate, the proposed legislation would override all state-level labeling mandates if it becomes law. Those against the federal bill, known as the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015, refer to it as the DARK Act.
A bill that would prohibit state-level legislation on GMO labeling took a step forward in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday. Known as the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015, the bill seeks to create overarching federal legislation that only makes labeling optional. The bill was originally introduced in March by republican Rep. Mike Pompeo of Kansas.
Explore USDA data on GMOs using an interactive graph and searchable database.
Two decades ago, less than 10 percent of corn and soybean acres were planted with genetically engineered seeds. Last year, nearly every single acre of corn and soybean was planted with GMOs. U.S. Department of Agriculture data shows St. Louis-based seed company Monsanto has propelled that rapid increase.
Highlights from the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting's package on GMOs and climate change. In the last 20 years, U.S. farmers have widely turned to genetically engineered seeds to help counter more prevalent pests and other climate change consequences. U.S. Department of Agriculture data on genetically engineered crops shows which companies have fueled that trend.