Richard Godown of the Industrial Biotechnology Association praised the move saying that further deregulation of the biotechnology industry could harm them because of public fears. Hesitation on the part of the new administration is making the possibility of the approval of BGH appear less likely. The spray is a natural plant hormone called gibberellic acid, or GA, which slows the aging process and softening of the peel. As a result, the female fruit flies bypass the fruit when looking for a place to lay their eggs. However, the spray creates a fruit that is green on the outside and ripe inside.
Researchers say that in spite of the way it looks, it is still ripe and safe for human consumption.
GA is not yet certified for use in controlling fruit flies but its potential use is under consideration by the Florida citrus industry. The disease affects thousand of acres of soybeans each year, reducing quality and diminishing yields. The scientists are using a computer to track how the disease spreads through a field, believing that if they can document how a virus spreads, they can mix genetically engineered and virus resistant varieties of soybean into the field to slow the spread of the disease. Both companies have developed a bone graft that contains bone morphogenic proteins that have been determined to cause broken bones to grow back in animals. Both companies acknowledge a patent war may be pending.