Kristina Peterson of The Wall Street Journal reports on a new innovation that could bring back American chestnut trees.
- The American chestnut tree, which once abundantly stretched from Maine to Louisiana, has been functionally extinct since the early 20th century due to deforestation and invasive diseases such as blight.
- Scientists at the State University of New York have developed a genetically modified chestnut tree that is resistant to blight.
- The tree, which is known as Darling 58, has yet to receive approval from the government to spread in the wild but could play an important role in revival of the American chestnut.
“The Agriculture Department last month posted for comment two analyses finding little risk to the environment and forest ecosystem from a genetically modified chestnut, while acknowledging some uncertainty around its impact.”
Read the full article here.
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