THE ISSUE OF THE NOW-APPROVED GM ENOGEN CORN CROP

Post by William Mitchell College of Law student, Tony Larson

Just recently the USDA has approved GM corn that has a microbial gene which introduces the enzyme alpha amylase into the corn before harvesting.  This enzyme breaks down complex starch into simple sugars.  The purpose of this GM crop is to pre-start the ethanol processing.  Breaking down starch to sugars is the first step.

What is troubling, and which the NY Times correctly reveals, is that once a gene is introduced into the wild, its gene flow is relatively uncontrolled.  Major food companies should be extremely worried about this because such cross-pollination could start the breaking down of corn intended for human consumption.  We have seen how easily crops can cross-pollinate through the nuisance patent infringement of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready crops.  The Enogen growers claim that it will only be cultivated in areas only connected to other Enogen fields, but such a blanket statement seems unsatisfactory.

Thanks, Tony!