GM in the media

摘要

The middle of this year was marked by many significant news items involving GM crops in the media across the globe. It ranged from attacks on GM crop trials, announcements on new discoveries and developments, opening up to GM food imports (Kenya) andbanning of such food entry (Peru).In a move that has drawn criticism from many anti-GM groups but hailed by supporters of the technology, USDA announced that a new GM turfgrass (herbicide-tolerant Kentucky bluegrass) from the Scotts Miracle-Gro company will not be regulated by the agencyas its development did not involve the use of any DNA sequence from plant pests.1 The USDA regulations for GM crops are primarily drawn from its traditional oversight on plant pathogens and pests. As the new lawn grass was developed using genes solely from plant sources and did not entail the use of any sequences such as the viral promoters or bacterial gene snippets, it did not fall under the USDA regulatory requirement.Down under, on the other hand saw a very negative development. GM wheat plants, undergoing field tests, were destroyed by anti-GM activists in Canberra, Australia on July 14, 2011.The wheat, modified to improve its starch quality (high amylose content),was developed by CSIRO scientists. Greenpeace immediately claimed responsibility for the vandalism and posted a justification on their website.3 In A Mum Takes Action Against GM Wheat, the website bragged about the act: "Greenpeace activists, including one mother who wants to protect her family, have stopped a GM wheat experiment outside Canberra this morning. Two women used whipper snippers to remove a controversial genetically modified (GM) wheat crop before day break." Australian Federal Policy subsequently raided the Sydneyoffice of Greenpeace and seized many items of evidence for forensic analysis.