Produced with Emma Ruddock
Nearly 70% of food onAmerican supermarketshelves contains genetically-modified ingredients. In Europe, only 5% of commercial food is GM, and that number is shrinking, due to an entrenched and vocal opposition. The genetic rights foundation, a Rome-based NGO, recently claimed victory in popular opposition to modified crops. The GRF urged the Italian government to destroy a grove of transgenic olive and cherry trees that were part of 30-year-publicaly –funded research project. The government quickly complied, despite appeals from researchers. Leigh Phillips has been coveringthe storyas is science reporter for Nature.