WASHINGTON (AFP) – A US judge has ordered a ban on growing genetically modified beets in the United States until the Department of Agriculture fully investigates their environmental impact.
Judge Jeffrey White of the federal court in San Francisco, California, made the ruling on Friday. It bars new cultivation of the genetically modified beets, which represent 90 percent of the US crop.
Beets are the source of half of US sugar production; the rest is from sugar cane.
Experts think the evaluation that was requested will take more than two years. Some fear that could lead to shortages, and growers warn there may not be enough of the traditional unmodified seed.
The judge ruled at the request of activists, including the Center for Food Safety, and the Sierra Club, which oppose genetically modified crops.
The US sugar beet crop was worth 1.33 billion dollars in 2007-2008.
Summary: Judge Jeffery White of the federal court has ruled against the making of genetically modified beets. He wants the Department of Agriculture to fully investigates the beets environmental impact. Experts think because of this delay the request will take up to two years. The farms warn that there may be not enough of the normal beets and fear there may be a shortage in beets.I think that the judge ruled unfairly to the scientist who made the beets, in ruling to the activist. The beets should be tested to see there impact but they should be given to farms in controlled environments and tested.
Chelsea Hinesley
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100815/sc_afp/healthsciencefoodbiotechgmo
No comments:
Post a Comment