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For the first time, the USDA has granted preliminary approval for large-scale planting of an engineered food crop that contains human genes.
The rice from California-based "pharming" firm Ventria Bioscience was designed to synthesize a human immune protein. The crop will soon be cultivated on 3,000 acres of land in Kansas, if the USDA finalizes its approval after a public comment period that ends March 30.
Coverage: TransWorld News, Food Business Review Online, High Plains Midwest Agricultural Journal, About.com.
Reader comments: Robert Searfoss says,
Please note that NYTimes columnist Denise Caruso has a new book "Intervention" about the science that is used by agencies to look at and evaluate the risks of new transgenic experiments and products.I've read it and it is one of the most important books Ive ever read. FYI I'm 61 years old and have done a LOT of quality reading.