The Agriculture Department set a 30-day comment period on its environmental assessment of a proposed release of genetically engineered diamondback moths in upstate New York. Cornell University has requested approval for a field trial to test if the GE moths can reduce populations of the diamondback moth, a pest that damages cruciferous vegetables, such as cauliflower, cabbage, cress, bok choy and broccoli. Cornell hosts the Web site for an international working group on the diamondback moth and other crucifer insects.
Under Cornell’s proposal, three strains of GE diamondback moths would be released at up to six sites on an 870-acre research station. The moths are engineered so that any female offspring that result from mating will die. The GE moths also carry a red flourescent “marker” so they can be identified. The field trials would run three years.
USDA said the environmental assessment would be available here but it was not posted on Wednesday night.
A GE mosquito whose offspring, when mating with wild mosquitoes, are supposed to die before they can reproduce, is undergoing a large-scale field trial in Brazil, where dengue fevers is spread by mosquitoes, says PRI. The strain was developed by Oxitec, a British company. A trial of GE mosquitos also is being conducted in the Florida Keys. Oxitec proposed field tests in Europe in 2013 of a GE olive fly, using the same approach as its mosquito to reduce the population of pests.
Also, the Agriculture Department announced a preliminary determination of that a genetically engineered soybean from Monsanto Co. should be approved for commercial sale and set a 30-day comment period. The new variety is similar to a previously deregulated Bt variety by Monsanto and would include protection against the fall armyworm, said USDA. To read the Federal Register notice, click here.