| | 31/March/21
| | Revealed: The new lobbying effort to deregulate GMOs An important new investigation by the NGO Corporate Europe Observatory (CEO) has uncovered how fresh lobbying strategies aimed at deregulating modern genetic techniques are driven by various academic and biotech research institutes with corporate interests - using "climate-friendly" narratives. The investigation has revealed that 74% of the input into the EU Commission's forthcoming study on new GM comes from agri-industry bodies. EU Observer GM waxy maize: The gene-edited Trojan Horse is moving through the gates At least five countries - Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile and the US - have approved a variety of maize genetically modified with the CRISPR gene-editing technique, without subjecting the crop to the risk assessments and regulations for GM crops. Other countries could soon follow. The GM maize is produced by US-based Corteva, the world's second largest seed company and fourth largest pesticides company. Corteva describes the variety as a "waxy corn" which, like conventional waxy corn varieties, produces a starch high in amylopectin and low in amylose. Corteva has openly stated that it is using GM waxy corn to clear the way for the introduction of more GM crops produced with gene editing. GRAIN Product profile of Corteva's gene-edited waxy maize The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) has published a product profile of Corteva's gene-edited waxy maize. Among other facts, the product profile reports that in Corteva’s initial target markets of North America and Latin America, waxy corn is currently a minor crop used for food starch and some industrial products. However, waxy corn, also known as sticky or glutinous corn, is a major food crop in East and Southeast Asia, where it originates. This is the first GM waxy corn. CBAN Sunday Times GMO promotional veers wildly off-target The Sunday Times has published a GMO promotional by science editor Ben Spencer arguing for the deregulation of gene editing. But the article's claims are as wildly far from the mark as the off-target errors caused by gene editing itself. The problems start with the title and subtitle: "You’ve had the GM jab, so what’s wrong with GM food? After decades of concern about the risks of genetic modification, the success of the Covid-19 vaccines should prompt a rethink on ‘Frankenfoods’." GMWatch believes that only people who have had a logic bypass could compare regulated medicines (where the risk is taken in exchange for expected benefit in an informed consent situation) with deregulated GM foods (where the consumer would take the risk in return for no benefit, without having given their informed consent). GMWatch DONATE TO GMWATCH __________________________________________________________ Website: http://www.gmwatch.org
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