Publication - September 1, 2004
In September 1997, the US government approved the commercial release of genetically engineered (GE) papaya in Hawaii. After licensing agreements were completed with the universities and corporations (including the GE industry giant Monsanto) holding patent rights on GE papaya, the seeds were made available for commercial growing in May 1998. Now the same companies and people who developed GE papaya in Hawaii are working with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Science & Technology to create GE papaya in Thailand.