Some Helpful Resources and Links
The following websites include information about genetic engineering. Some of the organizations are proponents of commercialized genetic engineering, others are critical of it. We list the organizations alphabetically, and inclusion in this list does not mean we endorse the organization.
Quoted text below is taken directly from the website or other PR material of the listed organization.
Bioscience Resource Project
“An open-access, advertisement-free science website that provides news and information about food and agriculture and its impacts on the environment and society.”
Biotechnology Industry Organization
“BIO is the world's largest biotechnology organization, providing advocacy, business development and communications services for more than 1,150 members worldwide. Our mission is to be the champion of biotechnology and the advocate for our member organizations — both large and small.”
Center for Food Safety
The center “works to protect human health and the environment by curbing the proliferation of harmful food production technologies and by promoting organic and other forms of sustainable agriculture.” It provides information, pursues legal actions, and enlists the public in action campaigns.
CropChoice
“CropChoice is an alternative news and information source for American farmers and consumers about genetically modified crops, corporate agribusiness concentration, farm and trade policy, sustainable agriculture, wind farming and alternative energy, and rural economic and social issues.”
GeneWatch UK
GeneWatch UK “monitors developments in genetic technologies from a public interest, environmental protection and animal welfare perspective. GeneWatch believes people should have a voice in whether or how these technologies are used and campaigns for safeguards for people, animals and the environment. We work on all aspects of genetic technologies—from GM crops and foods to genetic testing of humans.”
Greenpeace International
One of the campaigns of Greenpeace focuses on genetic engineering. The organization disseminates reports and press releases, and organizes actions to ensure that genetically engineered products are adequately tested and labeled. The above link is for Greenpeace USA. There are also websites for many other countries — for example, in Europe: Germany, France, and Italy, among others.
International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA)
The ISAAA "is a not-for-profit organization that delivers the benefits of new agricultural biotechnologies to the poor in developing countries. It aims to share these powerful technologies to those who stand to benefit from them and at the same time establish an enabling environment for their safe use.”
Non-GMO Project
“The Non-GMO Project is an initiative of the North American organic and natural product industry to create a standardized definition of non-GMO and a third-party verification program to assess product compliance with this Standard. The Project’s Product Verification Program is entirely voluntary, and participants are companies who see the value of offering their customers a verified non-GMO choice.”
Organic & Non-GMO Report
This site provides information and other resources to help food producers respond to the challenges of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), particularly in relation to food. Published monthly, the Organic & Non-GMO Report provides a digest of the global GMO food debate. Articles focus on markets for non-GMO products, research showing impacts of GMO crops on human health and the environment, GMO contamination of organic crops (and strategies to minimize contamination), regulatory and GMO food labeling news, GMO crop developments, and consumer opinions.
The Organic Center
An organization seeking to promote the conversion of agriculture to organic methods. It aims to “generate credible, peer reviewed scientific information and communicate the verifiable benefits of organic farming and products to society.” The website contains many reports on findings in the technical literature as well as commentaries and lists of resources.
Organic Consumers Association
“The OCA deals with crucial issues of food safety, industrial agriculture, genetic engineering, children's health, corporate accountability, Fair Trade, environmental sustainability and other key topics. We are the only organization in the US focused exclusively on promoting the views and interests of the nation's estimated 50 million organic and socially responsible consumers.”
Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology
The Initiative on Food and Biotechnology completed its work in 2007, and its various reports, press releases, fact sheets, and other texts are available on the website.
Physicians for Social Responsibility (Oregon Chapter)
Oregon PSR's Campaign for Safe Food works to establish an agriculture and food supply that does not use genetically modified organisms. It coordinates a nationwide coalition opposing recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST) in dairy products.
SeedsofDeception.com
The website is associated with the book, Seeds of Deception, by Jeffrey M. Smith, which is regarded by many as the most powerful and complete documentation of the risks of genetically engineered products. Includes radio interviews, speeches, access to books and films, and much more.
Union of Concerned Scientists
“Sustainable agriculture practices can protect the environment and produce high-quality, safe, and affordable food. Our goal is to promote such practices while eliminating harmful CAFOs (confined animal feeding operations) and strengthening government oversight of genetically engineered food.” The Food and Agriculture section of the UCS website has news, technical reports, position papers, and more.
Zukunftsstiftung Landwirtschaft (Foundation on Future Farming)
“The Foundation on Future Farming supports the pioneering of ecologically and socially sustainable agricultural projects. It is also active in the public debate with the goal of promoting and developing the role of organic farming as the model for future agricultural policies.” The website is mainly German-language.
UN and US Government Websites
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization — Agricultural Biotechnologies
This website contains many papers relating to biotechnology, and particularly to the risk assessment of genetically modified crops. See in particular under the menu heading, “FAO Documents.”
US Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service — Biotechnology
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the USDA regulates the import and export of genetically modified organisms and their introduction into the environment. It focuses upon the potential of such organisms to become agricultural pests. The website contains information, regulations, and databases on these topics. APHIS also participates in programs that employ biotechnology to identify and control plant and animal pests.
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) — Biopesticide Regulation
Official website of the US government agency responsible for regulating biopesticides. Provides information about policies, regulations, enforcement actions, approvals for product testing and commercialization, and so on.
US Food and Drug Administration — Science & Research (Food)
This website contains FDA announcements regarding biotech food, as well as consumer information, regulations, risk and safety assessment guidelines, and research papers.