Guest Appearance: Why 'GE' chestnut trees should remain cloistered Finger Lakes Times December 15, 2019 Brian Caldwell of Hemlock Grove Farm WEST DANBY, Tompkins County — Scientists at the College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse are leading an effort...
Press Coverage

Genetically Engineered American Chestnut Tree: A Risk Not Worth Taking
Dec 6, 2019
Moms Across America November 23, 2019 Theresa Church and Ruddy Turnstone While the season of “chestnuts roasting on an open fire” is upon us, the public comment period for the genetically engineered American chestnut (GE AC) is imminent. The request to commercialize...

In These Times Article on the Risks of Genetically Engineered American Chestnut
Aug 28, 2019
GJEP Co-Founder Orin Langelle with wild American chestnut tree. Langelle is also a Steering Committee member of the Campaign to STOP GE Trees. Photo: Petermann The GMO American Chestnut: Restoration of a Beloved Species or Biotech Trojan Horse? In These Times 16...
Counterpunch Runs Piece Highlighting Risks of GE American Chestnut trees
Jun 17, 2019
The GE American Chestnut: Restoration of a Beloved Species or Trojan Horse for Tree Biotechnology? Counterpunch, 14 June 2019 by RACHEL SMOLKER – ANNE PETERMANN About a century ago the American chestnut tree was attacked by the introduced fungal pathogen...

Earth Island Journal on Issues Surrounding Transgenic American Chestnut Trees
Jun 14, 2019
GE American Chestnut — Restoration of a Beloved Species or Trojan Horse for Tree Biotechnology? Biotech industry hopes that getting genetically engineered chestnut approved for conservation planting will soften public opposition to transgenic trees. Earth Island...

The Ecologist Runs Article on Risks of GE American Chestnut Trees
Jun 14, 2019
This article was the Editor's pick in The Ecologist. Tree biotech and the American chestnut The American chestnut is being used as a PR tool for winning over public opinion on the use of biotechnology as a 'tool of conservation'. The Ecologist By Rachel Smolker &...

NEW: Risks of GE American Chestnut in Independent Science News
Jun 12, 2019
The GE American Chestnut – Restoration of a Beloved Species or Trojan Horse for Tree Biotechnology? Independent Science News, 11 June 2019: by Rachel Smolker, Ph.D. (Biofuelwatch) and Anne Petermann (Global Justice Ecology Project) About a century ago the American...

Organic Insider Takes on GE American Chestnut Trees
May 10, 2019
How the Ag-Biotech Industry is Attempting to Manipulate Public Opinion with Unproven Genetically-Engineered Chestnut Trees Source: Organic Insider 8 May 2019 In the 1800s, the American chestnut tree was the predominant species in the Eastern U.S. before blight wiped...

Dr. Rachel Smolker debates risks of deregulating GE American chestnut trees on NPR’s On Point Program
May 3, 2019
How GMOs Might Save The American Chestnut Tree This program aired 29 April 2019 and was hosted Meghna Chakrabarti. The program is heavily tipped in favor of the two men who speak in favor of using genetically engineering to make American chestnut trees blight...
GE American chestnuts vs. Indigenous Peoples’ Sovereignty
May 1, 2019
Note: The assertion that the American chestnut could be restored using GE technologies is not at all certain. Tests have only been run for 12 or so years, while AC trees can live for over 200 years. How the engineered trait will behave in the future under various...