In the world of Round Up Ready corn and other genetically modified crops, we’re in dire need of another ‘solution.’ Frank Kutka has been working on ‘Organic Ready’ corn for over 15 years as an all-around answer to biotech’s cancer causing crops.
Kutka is a plant breeder who has been attempting to grow corn that naturally resists GM crop contamination through cross-pollination, thus eliminating Monsanto’s prevalently grown GMO corn from infesting organic farmer’s crops.
Kutka has been searching for traits in the ancient grain teosinte which makes it very unlikely that GM pollen can enter corn silk, thus making cross-pollination nearly impossible. He explains:
“The trait has been known and used for decades. It was first used in popcorn in the 1950s and then in white corn varieties in the 1970s… It greatly reduces the risk of out-crossing.”
Kutka has been searching for this pollen-blocking trait since 2001, when he was a student at Cornell University. If he is successful, then it will make the job of organic farmers much easier, since many of them face contamination of crops that they work very hard to keep organic, paying exorbitant fees to obtain a USDA organic label.
Needless to say, Kutka, like all farmers growing organic crops, faces an enormous challenge. U.S. farmers currently plant millions of acres of GMO corn, among other GMO crops. Around 93% of the year’s corn crop was genetically modified.
While this makes Monsanto happy, it leaves those looking for non-contaminated, heirloom, organic, non-GMO corn a little miffed, to say the least. These millions of acres of corn can also easily contaminate other crops – including those which are not even corn, just because Mother Nature continues to work. GMO genes cross over into other plants, causing them to contain variant DNA like the mother plant. This is many argue that GMO crops must be banned, and that GMO labeling simply isn’t enough.
In 2014, a survey of organic farmers from 17 states, predominantly in the Midwest, shows 67% of farmers planned to delay planting corn so their crops would pollinate later than their neighbors’ GM corn, at an average cost of $16,000. Delaying the growing season is just one expense organic farmers have to contend with in competition with corporate seed monopolies.
Kutka hopes his ‘Organic Ready’ corn will be able to remedy cross-pollination of ‘Roundup Ready’ crops within the year.
These millions of acres of corn can also easily contaminate other crops – including those which are not even corn, just because Mother Nature continues to work.
Did the author seriously just say that GM corn can “contaminate” (i.e. cross pollinate) non-corn crops?
Wow. Just wow. If anyone had any questions as to whether Christina Sarich has even the slightest clue what she is talking about, that statement right there should absolve you of that question.
GMO genes cross over into other plants, causing them to contain variant DNA like the mother plant.
Christina, how do you propose transgenes (i.e. that you refer to as “GMO genes”) transfer between plants? GM corn isn’t going to cross pollinate with organic tomatoes.
This article is truly an amazing piece of pure ignorance.
It sound like a good news for us and we don’t have to worrying about eating GMO foods by accident, that will sterilize us and causing cancers.
Well you are half right, but why lie in the other half? Especially when gmos have been around for twenty years proving you wrong?
And why are other countries all Destroying it and Scotland now Banning in Countrywide GMOs are only tested for Safety for 90 Days long term Safety Studies have never been done
Date: 15 Nov 2008
Organic and Genetically Modified Soybean Diets: Consequences in Growth and in Hematological Indicators of Aged Rats
Julio Beltrame Daleprane, Tatiana Silveira Feijó, Gilson Teles Boaventura
Histochemical and morpho-metrical study of mouse intestine epithelium after a long term diet containing genetically modified soybean
S. Battistelli, B. Citterio, […], and M. Malatesta
There are two that you claim never existed how many more do you need? Do you also need for me to prove the errors in the rest of your statement as well?
you must obviously work for Monsanto I can Make up Studies too with enough Money HELLO
LOL, first you say they don’t exist and now that you are proven wrong they are made up. You would come up with some lame excuse no matter how many times you are proven wrong beyond a shadow of a doubt. Oh, by the way I am self employed and do not really care that much for Monsanto if the truth be told.
@GMO Roberts, So your saying your an asshole without even getting paid? You are simply way to articulate to not be getting paid to do this. So since your being so honest, tell us now unequivocally that you are harassing people on this site of simply your own volition and you are receiving no form of compensation at all.
Do I get paid by Monsanto or any other tech company? NO. Do I work with farmers helping them raise their crops yes. Can we do it without gmos, yes. Do gmos make it easier for us and keep us from using large amounts of dangerous chemicals? YES!! Does it make me mad that websites like this spread lies about the safety of gmos to advance an organic adgenda? Absolutely. Does it make me mad that people like you are gullible enough to believe these lies? Yes.
I have been careful what I buy and what I eat, and it takes common sense. I remember eating GMO water melon and it turn out wasn’t taste good as naturally grown water melons, it taste like crap!
Strange since there is no such thing, of course in your fantasy world who knows what exists.
It’s your opinion because you don’t know me personally, it’s you’re fantasy way to make a false accusation and you’re a sick person that need help to get real fact about life. You are mean person and have no respect for people like me. You are a vile person who careless about doing what it is right with GOD.
What are you even talking about? Do you know? It is not my opinion that there is no gmo watermelons it is a fact. As far as your fantasy world is concerned that is correct I don’t know you so that why I said who knows what is in it. What is also funny is that you don’t like accusations, but then accuse me of being a sick individual when you have no clue who I am or much about me. That is not in any lesson I have ever learned about God, but you seem to have your own ideas about that as well.
You have been accuse of me being a liar many times, don’t you remember? You a sick and vile person, so who want to believe you? You are a known liar already here, to make a false accusation of us who don’t trust Biotech, Monsatan and GMOs foods. You always tried mislead with your fantasy liar for Biotech and Monsatan, Roberts.
You are the one wanting to point fingers and not stick to the facts. I explained to you about how you were wrong with canola and you switched to watermelons, I corrected you again and now you only want to accuse and point fingers. Sorry, maybe you are lying just that uneducated.
http://www.rt.com/news/monsanto-rats-tumor-france-531/