-
Corteva continues to focus on herbicide-resistant and insecticidal plants
New genetic engineering (NGT) used as a tool to speed up ‘old genetic engineering’
The US company Corteva Agrisciences (previously DowDuPont/Pioneer) is using the CRISPR/Cas gene scissors to produce more transgenic plants that are resistant to herbicides and toxic for insects. After the EU granted import authorisation for a CRISPR maize with these traits in July (DP915635), a further very similar plant is now pending approval: the maize (DP910521)…
-
Conflicts of interest taint the independence of EFSA
Experts linked to industry dominate the new GMO panel
In July, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) appointed new experts for the ‘GMO Panel’, which is responsible for the assessment of genetically engineered organisms. Research conducted by Testbiotech found that the panel now includes a large number of researchers involved in the development of genetically engineered (GE) plants, some of whom have links to…
-
Transgenic maize cultivation in Spain: Risks underestimated
EFSA report fuels concerns raised by Testbiotech
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recently published a new report on the monitoring of MON810 maize cultivation in Spain. EFSA criticises Bayer for not fulfilling its obligations to monitor the fields where the insecticidal maize is grown. There have been concerns for several years that the transgenic maize may outcross and hybridise with teosinte.…