The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[DewDiligence]

MON/SYT/DD/DOW—Ag biotech seeks biologics:

http://online.wsj.com/articles/organic-farms-get-new-weapons-against-pests-1413914796

Microorganisms have been narrowly used for decades in agriculture, mainly in coating soybeans and other legumes to better absorb nutrients and fight fungus. Now, companies say advances in genetic-analysis technology and cultivation practices enable them to find and develop new microorganisms that can perform much broader functions, such as shielding crops from more diseases and pests or mitigating damage from drought.

…Microbe-based products face skepticism from some environmentalists. But because they don’t rely on genetic engineering or man-made chemicals, the products can be used in producing organic and natural foods. USDA rules bar organic products from containing genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, but permit the use of naturally occurring bacteria on organic crops…