The private fund-raising arms of public universities, called foundations, are coming under scrutiny around the country.  Watchdogs have found questionable spending that’s led to resignations and legal challenges to their privacy.  In the course of reporting on a University of Illinois professor,  Monica Eng of WBEZ discovered a different way foundation privacy practices are raising questions.  

Industry experts believe agribusinesses, farmers and food companies are likely the agreement’s biggest winners.

A foot-long ear of corn would grow an extra inch or two. And while that seems like a small gain, it’s a big deal considering corn is used for everything from animal feed and fuel to soda and cereal.

A Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting analysis of the USDA data found that Monsanto has been responsible for introducing 37 different genetically engineered seeds approved by the USDA. That number is about one-third of all USDA-approved GMOs. Most of those approved seeds have been for corn, soybean and cotton.