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February 26, 2013 Civilization cannot live on anchovies alone. The ancient Norte Chico people of Peru were long thought to have built a complex society in South America while dining on a diet based on the tiny fish. But archaeologists now say they ate the food that fueled empires throughout the hemisphere — corn.

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September 20, 2012 Scientists question the methods and results of a new study showing harm to rats fed a diet of GMO corn and herbicide. But the debate is far from settled as interest groups call for a ban and governments ask for further studies.

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June 7, 2012 Soybeans came to the U.S. as a cheap source of oil, and they've never been able to overcome that past. They just don't have the rock star status of corn, even though they're the nation's number two crop.

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December 5, 2011 Scientists report that a genetically engineered corn crop has failed to kill the corn rootworm — the pest it was designed to stop. This may be the most serious threat to a genetically modified crops in the U.S. since farmers first started growing them fifteen years ago.

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October 17, 2011 Scientists and regulators have concluded time and time again that labeling genetically modified foods is unnecessary because they are no different than other foods. But food policy experts say just label them, already, so people can make their own choices.

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October 3, 2011 A jumping gene called "Hopscotch" rejiggered corn's ancestor, teosinte, so instead of bushy branches, the plant started producing one strong central stalk, much like today's modern corn.

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