AquaBounty’s genetically modified salmon, AquAdvantage, continues to inch closer towards markets in the United States, despite efforts opposing the commercialization of GMO salmon.
Walmart and Albertsons are the most recent retail chains to say they will not sell GMO salmon when it becomes commercially available. They joined Target, Ahold, Delhaize America and many other major supermarket companies in deciding against selling GMO salmon.
On the political front, Alaska State Rep. Garen Tarr is introducing a bill that would prohibit the sale of genetically modified fish in Alaska.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was recently ordered to produce additional documents relating to its approval of AquAdvantage salmon as part of a lawsuit filed last March by environmental groups, fishing
They also raised concerns about the consequences of
While FDA provided some documents in the legal case, the agency has provided only public documents, not internal documents relating to its approval of GMO salmon, George Kimbrell, senior attorney for the Center for Food Safety, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, told SeafoodSource.
“You can’t have
However, the judge in the case recently ordered FDA to produce all documents relating to AquAdvantage salmon, including items such as internal memos.
Despite efforts opposing the commercial sale of AquAdvantage salmon, AquaBounty continues to perform well financially. The biotech firm recently raised USD 25 million (EUR 23.4 million) via Intrexon for working capital and investments over the next two years, and it recently started trading on the NASDAQ market.
“AquaBounty’s listing on NASDAQ represents an important milestone for the company that will broaden our exposure to the U.S. markets, as we advance plans for commercial production of our pioneering, environmentally responsible approach to fish farming,” AquaBounty CEO Ronald L. Stotish said.
The company’s management is “evaluating several paths to revenue generation,” including
“Commensurate with the industry’s rapid growth, stresses on the oceans and new challenges resulting from