US Lets Farmers Plant Biotech Sugar Beets, With Conditions

VOA Learning English Video: US Lets Farmers Plant Biotech Sugar Beets, With Conditions

"The United States Department of Agriculture has given farmers permission to plant genetically engineered sugar beets with some conditions. A USDA agency ruled on the most popular variety of Roundup Ready sugar beets. The agency said the genetically engineered sugar beets do not harm the environment or increase threats by pests."

US Considers First Genetically Modified Animal for Food

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VOANews: US Considers First Genetically Modified Animal for Food

A salmon grows faster with genes from two other fish, but the idea raises debate AGRICULTURE REPORT (download MP3)

VOAVideo: US Considers First Genetically Modified Animal for Food

Farmers in the United States have grown genetically engineered crops since the late nineteen nineties. Now, a federal agency is deciding whether to let a genetically modified animal into the food supply for the first time. A company, AquaBounty Technologies, has developed the AquAdvantage Salmon.

Fish Farms May Soon Supply More Than Half the World's Catch

VOA Learning English Video: Fish Farms May Soon Supply More Than Half the World's Catch

"Traditional fisheries may no longer be the world's most important provider of fish. A new United Nations report shows that fish-farming or aquaculture may soon lead fish production.The Food and Agriculture Organization says aquaculture is growing by a rate of 6.6 percent a year. Aquaculture now produces forty-six percent of the world's supply of fish. That represents a forty-three percent increase from two thousand six. The report also said aquaculture earned more money in two thousand eight than traditional fisheries."

Trashed Oceans Threaten Marine Life

VOANews: Trashed Oceans Threaten Marine Life

Volunteers remove 3.5 million kilos of trash from ocean beaches, rivers and other waterways worldwide

Studying How Plastic Pollution Enters Ocean Food Supply

VOA Learning English Video: Studying How Plastic Pollution Enters Ocean Food Supply "Anna Cummins and her husband Marcus Eriksen set up a not-for-profit group called the 5 Gyres Institute. It helps researchers with studies of plastic pollution in the oceans. Cummins says plastic bags and bottles have little or no value after they are used. Most plastic waste can be found in solid-waste landfills or along rivers. A lot of this waste also washes out to sea." A higher level video is available from VOAVideo: Plastic Trash in Oceans Enters Marine Food Chain

ESL Podcast 393 – Trash and Recycling

ESL Podcast 393 – Trash and Recycling

Be green and save the earth. Learn how to talk about recycling in English in this episode. Download Podcast

US Communities Adopt Electronic Waste Laws, Recycling Programs

VOAVideo: US Communities Adopt Electronic Waste Laws, Recycling Programs

There is a growing problem of what to do with electronic waste such as old televisions, computers, radios, cellular telephones and other electronic equipment. Now a number of communities in the United States are taking steps to deal with electronic waste. VOA's Chris Simkins reports on the new environmental problem and one company in the Eastern U.S. state of Maryland that is working to safely recycle the so-called e-waste.