“Genetically modified” news

Supporters and opponents of GMO have been clamoring from a support from the Vatican, for the obvious reasons of elevating GMO into a moral issue.

Well, a study from the Vatican strongly endorses genetically modified organisms (GMOs) as providing “better food security” and safe and healthy foods, reports the National Catholic Reporter this week.

Although the Vatican itself has not issued an official statement, the Pontifical Academy for Science met this week to discuss the merits of GMO and participants unanimously agreed to endorse GMOs. Unfortunately, no Catholic critic of GMOs was invited to the conference so the endorsement has been viewed as totally biased.

In a related news, Boulder County Colorado farmers may now plant genetically modified sugar beets on government land, according to recommendations from an advisory panel. Boulder County farmers wrote letters to the county government asking permission to plant GM sugarbeets, arguing that the beets use up less herbicides and pesticides.

On the contrary, some 70 companies have signed up to avoid using GM-beet sugar in their ingredients.

And in other “GM” news, General Motors is at the point of declaring bankruptcy. (Yeah, I just thought I’d throw this in. My Google alerts for GM always brings up General Motors.)  It’s quite unbelievable that one of America’s biggest auto company is about to fold.

Image: Newscom