Genetically Modified Foods

Genetically Modified Foods
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Genetically Modified Foods
Title: These Citizen-Regulators in Arkansas Defied Monsanto. Now they’re Under Attack
Author: Dan Charles
Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2018/02/14/584647903/these-citizen-regulators-in-arkansas-defied-monsanto-now-theyre-under-attack?
Date: February 14, 2018
Summary
In the recent years, scientists and agricultural institutions have been canvassing on the incorporation of genetically modified foods in the market. Although America and Brazil are some of the leading countries producing such foods, the commodities are mostly for domestic purposes since most states have placed legislations against their consumption. The stereotypic notion of health hazard attributed to GMOs has hindered their acceptance abroad especially in the European Union. In America, companies such as Monsanto are on the forefront battling for the production and growth of such foods in various locations. Monsanto, an agrichemical firm, researches the new breed of seedlings such as soybeans that are resistant to herbicides and harsh climatic conditions. The article focuses on the incident in Texas where farmers banned the sale and spraying of the Dicamba herbicide in the state of Aransas.
The Monsanto Company had earlier p[provided the farmers with a Xtend soybean variety that was said to be tolerant to the chemicals. This meant that once sprayed, the Dicamba only affected the weeds and left the genetically modified seeds untouched to grow to maturity (Charles, 2018).

However, the hot weather led to the evaporation of the herbicide that spread to adjacent vegetation leading to stunting in crops that were intolerant to the chemical. Dan Charles adds that some of the drifting Dicamba residuals passed border lines affecting farms from Mississippi all the way to Minnesota. The Arkansas State Plant Board was sued by the Monsanto Company that was backed petition from farmers who needed the herbicide to kill the weeds that disrupted the proper growth of crops. Despite the noble intentions of the board, they are left to comply with the legal complaints raised against them and reconsider their earlier decision.
Reference
Charles, D. (2018, February 14). These Citizen-Regulators In Arkansas Defied Monsanto. Now They’re Under Attack. Retrieved February 23, 2018, from