USDA grants permit for freeze tolerant, low lignin eucalyptus trial
In Washington, the USDA approved a permit for ArborGen to field trial 200,000 genetically modified trees on 28 sites, in seven states, involving 300 acres of land. The purpose of the test: the eucalyptus has new genes inserted to make them freeze-tolerant, making it possible to plant eucalyptus throughout the Southern timeber areas as a fast-growing timber source. The trees have also had their lignin modified to make it possible to more easily convert wood into ethanol.
The USDA granted a three-year permit after a comment period in which 12,462 negative comments were received – but the Department said they were mostly identical form letters. “Biotechnology has the potential to enable more wood to be grown on less land and would reduce pressure on native forests while maintaining the economic health of the forest sector and creating additional jobs, including many in renewable energy,” said James L. Rakestraw in a comment picked up in a New York Times article on the new permits.
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