The U.S. Department of Agriculture last week gave Monsanto
final approval for genetically engineered "herbicide-tolerant crops to be used with a new herbicide the company says will fight problematic weed resistance on farm fields," Carey Gillam reports for Reuters.
The genetically modified cotton and soybean plants have been granted
non-regulated status. Monsanto is still waiting for final approval from
the Environmental Protection Agency.
Monsanto is
also "awaiting approval from Chinese regulators to allow imports of the
new soybeans," Gillam writes. "China is a key buyer of U.S. soybeans,
but the country has shown reluctance to approve imports of new GMO crops
recently. Last week, Monsanto Chief Technology Officer Robb Fraley told
analysts the company expects to have Chinese approval in time for a
commercial launch in 2016."
Consumer, environmental and
farmer groups have criticized the GMO crops, saying that "using more
herbicides on weeds will only increase weed resistance over the long
term," while also posing health and environmental risks, Gillam writes.
Gary Ruskin, executive director of U.S. Right to Know, a food
issue research group, told Gillam, "The pesticide treadmill spins on,
and that's great news for Monsanto. This is just the latest in a endless
string of favors from our federal government to Monsanto." (Read more)
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