Up from the dead

摘要

A decade ago, Franken-foods mauled Monsanto. The American agribusiness firm had hoped its fancy new seeds, genetically modified organisms (GMOS) designed to reduce pesticide use, would win over farmers the world over. In the event, a consumer backlash fomented by environmental activists in Europe scuppered those plans and even led to the fall of Robert Shapiro, the company's previously high-flying boss. GMOS remain controversial. Despite a WTO ruling in February striking down Europe's moratorium on GM food, the European Commission pushed the EU'S food-safety agency to make its GMO-evaluation process even stricter in April.