Category Archives: biotechnology

GM Salmon: Ethics, Regulation, and Labelling

Posted on August 28, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

We are getting closer and closer to seeing genetically-modified salmon on the dinner table. When that happens (yes, “when”, not “if”) then GM salmon will be the first genetically-modified food animal to be consumed by humans. Here’s the story, Sarah … Continue reading →

Posted in aquaculture, biotechnology, ecosystems, ethics, fisheries, genetic modification, labeling, science | 3 Comments

GMO Vigilantes

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

The world of GM foods is apparently reinventing the spaghetti western. In Italy these days, the debate over GM has turned into a wild-west-style battle between vigilantes. Here’s the story, from Elisabeth Rosenthal, writing in the NYT: In the Fields … Continue reading →

Posted in activism, agriculture, biotechnology, ecosystems, environment, farmers, genetic modification, international, regulation | 10 Comments

The Ethics of “Healthy” Bacon

Posted on August 23, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

This is the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Here’s the start of the story, from ABC Science: ‘Healthy bacon’ patents raise questions Monsanto has filed patents that cover the feeding of animals soybeans, which have been genetically modified by the … Continue reading →

Posted in biotechnology, ethics, genetic modification, health, health claims, labeling, nutrition, science | 10 Comments

Should Companies Label Genetically Modified Foods?

Posted on August 16, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

Since this blog is relatively new, readers may not have seen my postings (on my Business Ethics Blog) about the labelling of GM foods. (See here and here.) This is a topic I’ve given considerable thought, and have published on … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, biotechnology, ecosystems, ethics, genetic modification, labeling, marketing, regulation, science | 63 Comments

Milk and Meat from the Offspring of Clones

Posted on August 1, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

OK, so lots of people are put off by the idea of eating cloned cows or pigs, or drinking the milk of cloned cows. Some of those people have genuine ethical concerns; others are just subject to the “yuck factor.” … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, animal welfare, biotechnology, cloning, ethics, international, regulation, science | 2 Comments

Ethics, Ideology, & Synthetic Meat

Posted on July 13, 2010 by Chris MacDonald

See this blog entry (at The Atlantic) by James McWilliams, Eating (Synthetic) Animals …one issue to which concerned consumers have generally turned a tin ear is “in-vitro meat.” Although the cost is currently prohibitive, the technology is widely available to … Continue reading →

Posted in agriculture, animal welfare, biotechnology, science, synthetic meat | 1 Comment