China approved five gene-edited crop varieties and 12 types of genetically modified soybeans, corn, and cotton. Reuters says the expanded approvals are intended to boost high-yielding crops, reduce the need for imports, and ensure Chinese food security. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs awarded safety certificates to the 17 crop varieties, according to a document on its website. The …
U.S. Wins USMCA Biotechnology Dispute with Mexico, Securing Market Access for GE Corn
The United States has successfully resolved a critical trade dispute with Mexico under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), securing a victory for American agriculture. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced that an independent panel convened under USMCA rules unanimously sided with the U.S. on all seven legal claims related to Mexico’s restrictions on genetically engineered (GE) corn imports. The panel …
Another Challenge to GMOs
There’s another challenge to GMOs. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Center for Food Safety filed a legal appeal (.pdf) against the USDA in response to its genetically engineered labeling rules. The organization says those rules do not mandate clear on-package food labeling and allow unlabeled hidden GMOs to proliferate in the U.S. food marketplace. The CFS …
Ag Market Growth Ahead
Taking a look at the projected growth for ag markets. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The Business Research Company’s latest look into the growth of agricultural markets shows big jumps ahead. The global agriculture market is projected to reach a substantial size of just over $19.8 billion by 2027, with a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) …
McKalip Discusses Specialty Crops, GMO Corn, Dairy Trade at Summit
by Sabrina Halvorson The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) is keeping specialty crops in focus for trade deals and working on disputes under the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA). Chief Agricultural Negotiator Doug McKalip touched on those and several other topics while speaking at the Agri-Pulse Food and Ag Summit West, held in Sacramento, California. As for specialty crops, he said the importance …
Learn About GMOs with the FDA
There’s a new resource to help consumers learn more about GMOs. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Feed Your Mind is an Agricultural Biotechnology Education and Outreach Initiative that was first launched in March 2020 by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency …
U.S. Wants Science from Mexico on GMO Corn Ban
A deadline for Mexico to explain their trade decisions. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Doug McKalip, the new agriculture trade boss in the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office, says he’s given Mexico until today, February 14, to explain the science behind the country’s planned ban on GMO corn imports. Market Screener says the response will help the agency …
Vilsack Keeps Up Pressure on Mexico Over GMO Corn Ban
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack is keeping up the pressure on Mexican officials to back off plans in 2024 to ban imports of GMO corn. Vilsack planned to hear from Mexican officials visiting Washington about how they’d modify President Lopez Obrador’s plans to ban imports of genetically modified corn starting in 2024. But he also had a warning. “If the proposal …
Genetically Engineered Crop Acreage Grows
A look at genetically engineered crops. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. USDA’s Economic Research Service says genetically engineered seeds were commercially introduced in the U.S. for major field crops in 1996, and adoption rates increased rapidly. By 2008, more than 50 percent of U.S. corn, cotton, and soybean acres were planted with genetically engineered seeds. The total …
Extensive Study Says GMO Corn Not Harmful to Non-Target Insects
What a new study says about GMO corn. That’s the subject of today’s This Land of Ours. The largest, highest quality analysis of data ever conducted on the subject shows that genetically modified Bt corn has little impact on nontarget insects and other organisms, especially compared to growing conventional corn. This study was published this week in Environmental Evidence by …