NET News Statewide: StarLink, 5/18/01

Some opponents of bioengineered crops call them “Frankencrops.” Crop varieties that have been genetically altered for many purposes, including weed and insect control. They’ve become common, and popular.

But what happens when it’s creator loses control of one of these so-called “Frankencrops?” “Statewide’s” Mike Tobias reports that in the case of StarLink, it becomes a monster costing farmers millions of dollars.

StarLink was created by Aventis CropScience. When it first came out three years ago, it seemed like a good idea. Add a protein to corn to kill corn borers naturally, decreasing the amount of pesticides farmers use and time they spend in the field. But Tobias reports that communication and a questionable regulatory decision led to where we are today – in the middle of a situation some call a disaster.