The Washington Post reports that the North American biotechnology industry has voluntarily adopted a “broad moratorium” that will forbid that planting of gene-altered crops near major food-producing areas. More than a dozen American and Canadian companies that are in the biotech business have endorsed the ban.
The decision is related to fears that the genetically modified plants could taint the food supply, and goes beyond any existing or proposed government regulations. The industry is looking to avoid a repeat of the StarLink incident of a couple of years ago, when corn with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that was approved only as animal feed ended up in taco shells and other food products.
The decision is related to fears that the genetically modified plants could taint the food supply, and goes beyond any existing or proposed government regulations. The industry is looking to avoid a repeat of the StarLink incident of a couple of years ago, when corn with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) that was approved only as animal feed ended up in taco shells and other food products.
- KC's View:
- This strikes us as a prudent move, sensible and measured. It doesn’t send off any alarm bells about the legitimacy of these modified crops, but does acknowledge that there are public concerns as the technology evolves.
