Suit Filed Against Genetically Altered Grass

A group called the International Center for Technology Assessment has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture to halt the
commercialization of genetically engineered lawn grasses.

The lawsuit demands that the USDA list the genetically altered product as noxious weeds. The lawsuit is based on the development of varieties of creeping bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass that are able to resist the herbicide Roundup or glyphosate.  The new grasses could be used in golf courses as well as residential and commercial lawns.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit contend that these grasses invade parks, wildernesses and other natural areas creating a control problem for managers.

This information was provided by the Ohio State University Extension.