The IRE Resource Center is a major research library containing more than 23,250 investigative stories — both print and broadcast. These stories are searchable online or by contacting the Resource Center directly (573-882-3364 or rescntr@ire.org) where a researcher can help you pinpoint what you need. Browse or search the tipsheet section of our library below. Stories are not available for download but can be easily ordered by contacting the Resource Center:
Search results for "genetically modified corn" ...
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Farmers Fight To Save Organic Crops
The Progessive takes a look at the contamination of organic goods by genentically modified orgamisms (GMOs). Genetic contamination of oganic foods can come from sharing equipment, trucks and through pollination by wind and insects. Still, by comparison, organic crops are "orders of magnitude cleaner" than conventional ones.
Tags: organic crops; organic farming; bioengineering; genetically modified corn; genetically modified organisms; Organic Trade Association; National Organic Standards Board; American Seed Trade Association
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A Regulatory Maize
The Legal Times examines the maze of issues surrounding the regulation of biotech foods to find out who is responsible for overseeing the biotechnology industry. "It just doesn't make sense--the FDA is looking at food, and the EPA is looking at certain seeds, and the USDA is look at other aspects of genetically modified food," the Legal Times quotes a Durbin staffer.
Tags: biotechnology; bioengineering; bioengineered corn; regulation of biotech foods; StarLink; Department of Agriculture; Enivronmental Protection Agency; Food and Drug Administration; Biotechnology Industry Organization
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Genetically Modified Foods: Are They Safe
The story analyses whether genetically modified crops are an "environmental dream come true" or "disaster in the making." The author looks at the cost to wildlife, in particular the possible hazards that pollen from insect-resistant corn plants poses to the larvae of monarch butterflies. The reporter examines the worries that genes from GM crops may contaminate the surrounding plants. The investigation finds that "U.S. landscape logistics make it unlikely that herbicide-tolerant or Bt crops will spread their biotech genes," but "it might be harder to avoid creating superweeds elsewhere."
Tags: pollen; transgenic crops; Environmental Protection Agency; agriculture; environment; viruses; species
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Reaping a biotech blunder
O'Reilly tells what happened when genetically modified corn not approved for human consumption started finding its way into corn chips, muffin mixes and other foods. In 1995, scientists produced a genetically modified corn plant that poisoned the corn-borer, an inch-long worm that costs farmers $1 billion a year. "Plant Genetics ... had developed another borer-killing gene that it called Starlink. However, the toxin that Starlink produced in the corn plant resembled a substance that triggers violent allergies in some people." Instead of waiting until Starlink's safety in humans could be established, the developers promised to use Starlink seed only to farmers using it for feed corn." The plan didn't work. After three years on the market, Starlink "began showing up in all sorts of places it didn't belong, including tacos, corn chips, breweries and muffin mix." Although it's not a disaster (nobody has been known to get sick from Starlink corn), the fiasco may have long-term consequences beyond the half-billion dollars it will cost Aventis.
Tags: biotech; Starlink; corn; Plant Genetics; Aventis; genetically-modified foods