Monsanto, Dow stack up the genes

The prairies of North America will be planted next year with genetically engineered corn from Monsanto and Dow AgroSciences that will carry an unprecedented eight novel genes. Yet critics say the potential health and environmental risks have not been independently investigated, while US regulations do not require any such assessments.

• Any studies on safety and nutrition

  

  done by Monsanto and Dow do not have to be made public or shown to regulators, who are entitled only to a summary. Moreover, no independent studies can be done without the companies' permission.

• "It is illegal for a farmer to give researchers seeds to test without the companies' permission," he said.

  
  

Monsanto, Dow stack up the genes