The Enogen corn hybrid line was originally developed for the U.S. ethanol industry.

Transgenic corn touted for dairy feed efficiency

Originally developed for the U.S. ethanol industry, Syngenta’s Enogen could benefit dairy producers

A transgenic corn variety originally developed for the United States ethanol industry is being officially launched by Syngenta in Canada in 2023 for cattle feed. The Enogen line of hybrids contains a bacteria-derived transgene that produces alpha amylase, a naturally occurring enzyme that speeds the breakdown of starch. Since its introduction in the U.S. in […] Read more

Health Canada has decided that crops developed through gene editing are safe and, in most cases, will not require a pre-market safety assessment.

Health Canada clarifies rules for gene edited crops

Regulations for traditionally bred crop varieties apply

Crops developed via gene editing will not be subject to the additional regulation requirements imposed on genetically modified organisms, according to Health Canada.  Gene editing, such as CRISPR technology, allows scientists to target or alter genes of interest in a plant’s genome to create plants with desired traits, such as disease resistance, enhanced growth or […] Read more

France’s ban on neonicitinoids and subsequent collapse of its sugar beet sector is an example of a failed policy driven by ideology, says Stuart Smyth, associate professor and chair of Agri-Food Innovation and Sustainability Enhancement at the University of Saskatchewan.

Will war open Europe to biotechnology?

Severe supply disruptions have prompted some member states to consider wider acceptance of GM crops

Last month, 1400 tonnes of grain was dumped from a freight train onto the trackside in Brittany, France.  Forcing the train to stop before an improvised cinderblock barrier, activists from the umbrella group Brittany Collective Against Factory Farms, supported by Extinction Rebellion protesters, intended to hijack and destroy its cargo of GMO-soybeans.  But the train […] Read more

China to allow gene-edited crops

China has published trial rules for the approval of gene-edited plants, paving the way for faster improvements to crops as it seeks to bolster its food security. Gene editing — or altering the genes of a plant to change or improve its performance — is viewed by some scientists as less risky than genetically modifying […] Read more

File photo of a Chinese cornfield. (Baona/iStock/Getty Images)

China proposes new rules to ease GMO approvals

Leadership seeks 'turnaround' in seed sector

Beijing | Reuters — China is planning changes to its seed regulations that will make it easier to approve genetically modified crops, a move seen as a critical step toward commercializing GM corn. The ministry of agriculture and rural affairs published a draft document late on Friday proposing a series of amendments to several different […] Read more


Two and half decades after herbicide-resistant crops came onto the market, scientists have now adopted newer techniques to design crops.

Is the transgenic era over?

New genetic technologies, especially editing, could make genetic modification a rarely used tool

Glacier FarmMedia – The era of genetically modified crops may be over. Two and half decades after herbicide-resistant crops came onto the market, scientists have now adopted newer techniques to design crops. That’s because the new technologies are more efficient and partly because the strict regulations on GM crops have become a barrier to innovation. […] Read more

Low lignin content allows for a larger cutting window.

Genetically modified alfalfas find their place

Feed quality, harvest window and seed establishment are benefits

Glyphosate-resistant alfalfa is being planted across about 10,000 acres in Ontario, giving farmers the option to better establish and clean up alfalfa fields, while preserving the valuable legume. HarvXtra alfalfa with Roundup Ready technology, a newer alfalfa found in the eastern Canadian market, also provides low lignin content for improved digestibility along with the Roundup […] Read more

Beijing allows imports of GM soybeans and corn for animal feed, but it does not allow farmers to plant them.

Biotech crops still a sticking point in U.S.-China trade deal

The issue is one of a number of complaints the U.S. administration has raised

Reuters – China’s lengthy approval process for genetically modified crops remains a sticking point in talks to end the trade war between China and the United States, according to two sources with knowledge of the talks. Beijing has taken years to approve new strains of GM crops, which U.S. companies and farmers have complained stalls […] Read more


The Government of Canada believes gene edited crops can help farmers produce “safe and affordable food, feed, fibres, and energy in the 21st century.”

Canada joins group supporting gene editing

Twelve countries issued a joint statement in support of the plant breeding process

The federal government has come out in favour of gene editing. Or, more accurately, the Government of Canada believes gene edited crops can help farmers produce “safe and affordable food, feed, fibres, and energy in the 21st century.” The quote comes from a statement released in early November and was delivered during a World Trade […] Read more

Off-target damage from dicamba use in the United States has created a major issue for farmers and for Monsanto, which markets the XTend trait in soybeans. The field above appears unscathed.

Dicamba drift problems continue in farm states

Fewer instances of dicamba drift onto non-target crops are being reported this year in the United States, but it continues to divide agriculture community

Aaron Hager has seen many changes in American agriculture in his 25 years at the University of Illinois. As an extension specialist and weed scientist, he saw the introduction and controversy around genetically modified crops and the emergence of herbicide resistant weeds. But nothing compares to the battle and nastiness over the last 12 months […] Read more