Mars Inc.

Last summer, researchers from Mars Inc. and UC Davis announced the "discovery" of a variety of corn grown in Oaxaca that fixes its own nitrogen through mucus-covered aerial roots. Their study, in the journal PLOS Biology, touched off a debate—in Mexico and beyond—about the effectiveness of global policies designed to safeguard the genetic resources of indigenous communities, according to FERN's latest story, published with Yale Environment 360.

Best known as a candy maker, privately owned Mars Inc. is buying VCA, a nationwide chain of animal hospitals, for $7.7 billion in a deal that will make pet care the biggest sales sector for the company, surpassing candy and gum sales, says The Washington Post. Mars already owns Banfield, which operates 1,000 veterinary clinics and hospitals.

One of the world’s largest candy companies, Mars Inc., “is breaking ranks with other food companies and denouncing an industry-funded paper that says global recommendations on limiting sugar are based on weak science,” says Associated Press. A company spokesman told the AP the paper makes …