Genetic EngineeringMartha RosemeyerIESWinter 2003

GMOs: Horror OR Savior?

OutlineWhat is genetic engineering?What plants and animals are being engineeredWhat are the politics nationally and internationallyWhat are the unknowns

Genetic Engineering: what is it?Genetically Engineering (GE): Transfer of genes from one organism-- plant, animal or microbe-- to another using biotechnology, not conventional breeding. Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) is a term that is somewhat misleading since the process of plant adaptation or conventional breeding can be a genetic modification Transgenic

GE is NOT hybridizationHybrids are conventionally bred from two inbred parentsAdvantage is the the F1 generation (the plants from the bought seed) is uniform and recessive genes are unexpressedIssues are the the seed saved is variable in quality so that it is not useful to saveNeed to continually buy seedHas supplanted open-pollinated varieties

In medicine currently transgenic bacteria used to make:Human insulinHepatitus vaccineBlood-clotters

Brief Timeline of genetic engineering of plants1983-First GE plant created in lab1987-GE plant outplanted to field1990-GE plants with USDA supervision1996- 6 million acres commercially planted in US1997- 25 million acres planted in US1998- 58 million acres planted in US1999- 72 million acres planted in US2000- 76 million acres planted in US2002 - 96 million acres planted in US

Where are they planted?

58.7 million hectares worldwide (2002)(145 mil acres) 5% area of US66 % of total grown in US23 % of total in US Argentina 6 % Canada 4 % China< 1% Mexico, Spain, France,Portugal, Romania, Ukraine

Total worldwide area- 2002 58.7 m ha up 12% from 2001

GMO have a slowing rate of increase200258.7 145 + 19%+ 12%

Who is planting the 58.7 mil hectares (145 m acres)?

Which countries are growing them?

What crops are being planted?

What GE traits are being used?

Traits in the crops

What percent of soy, cotton, canola and corn are transgenic?

+ 12%2002

But about 10% lower yields!!!

On-going transgenic field tests (1999)Fifty-two different plants Trees also (130 field tests)Cellulose increase from lignin in poplar Fruit trees with insecticidal propertiesApples that dont discolor when cutTrees with increased PS rate to reduce global warming

Farmaceuticals or Nutraceutical-functional foodsHepatitus B in corncontamination of soybean, ProdiGene fined $3 million 2002After this 50% US farmers are waryRabies vaccine in cornBlood protein in potatoesfor viral diseases and AIDSDiarrhea-vaccine in bananas2-3 million children die annually

Cotton

Cotton: Bacillus thuringensus genes insertedMonsanto says 30% in yield with 1/2 the insecticidesArizona farmers testing male sterile bollworms instead of using GE cotton, which they consider too expensive (June 2002)India has approved in 2002 (Monsanto has bought several of the local seed companies)Colombia pre-commercial planting 2002

CornThe majority of the corn crop, traditional varieties included, in Mexico is contaminated with genetic material from Bt corn, although GE varieties are banned there (seed has been exported by US)Nature 10/11/01

Health effects unknown; traditional agriculture could be affected

Environmental problemsMonarch butterflies died eating Bt corn pollen on milkweeds Effects on soil organisms by Bt corn exudates-- effects on belowground food webDevelopment of herbicide-tolerant super weeds (squash and canola) now found in six states (2002)

Genetic Engineering to solve environmental problemsAccumulators of heavy metals As and Zn as mentioned last timeArguments that Roundup Ready soybeans reduce erosion because conservation tillage can be used

AnimalsEco-friendly GE pigs which produce 20-50% less P in their manureIn Canada- Four years away from commercialization in 1999 MSNBC 6-24-99

SalmonBan GM fish in CA, Alaska? Grounds of escape and interbreeding with wild LATimes 28 Feb 2002, SF Chronicle28 Aug 02First animal to be reviewed by FDAMaryland and OR regulatedUK govt study found fish-farmed salmon to be most toxic product (ave 3) sold in British markets Edinburgh Sunday Herald 20 Oct 2002Antibiotics used in production

The politicsMonsanto, Cargill, Aventis and Archer Daniel Midlands all broke records for donations in 2000: $633,0002-3 x more to Republicans than Democrats6x more went to members of Ag committeesCropChoice Alternative News Service 2/20/02

Concentration in Corporations: Monsanto80% of GE crops grown are MonsantoJust acquired wide-ranging patent most major antibiotic resistance genes found GE cropsHas promised to take them out of production

Technology Prevention System or Terminator technology

.

Relationship with Clinton administration

Update on terminator technology2000 Public outcry caused Monsanto not to purchase DP&L, but did later2001 USDA has announced that it will license its co-partner DP&L, who have publicly stated their intention to develop the technology, though condemned by the UN among many others.www.rafi.org

Recall of Starlink corn, Aventis, 2001Millions of bushels of GE variety made way in US food supplyAuthorized for feed, not food

New developmentsNAS calls for testing, especially where pesticide in used (Bt) NYT Feb 2002Office of Science and Technology Policy proposed crop safety assessment before beginning field trials of new GM cropshelp prevent recalls, help avoid rejection of our exportsCenter for Food Safety- rules to help the bail out of a company NYT 2 Aug 02

Farmers lead legal fight against transgenics: 40 bills by March 01Monsanto presses legal charges against hundreds of farmers for saving seed without paying royalty to Monsanto (pollen drift)2001 Saskatchewan farmer lost court case to Monsanto for growing Round-Up Ready canola when pollen drift from neighbors contaminated fieldsND farmers- bill 2 year moratorium on planting genetically altered wheat

NYT March 24, 2001

NYT Oct 1999

US labelingFDA and others oppose Oregons labeling law (Measure 27) with $5 millionLost in 2002Opposition said it would be too costly to label

EU labelingAgreement by 15 EU ministers Labeling rules for food and feed required if > 0.9% transgenic ingredientsCurrently banned, but will be changed to not a ban but an import with labeling Needs to go through European parliament in August 2003BBC 2 Aug 2002

Enough food?We already have 4.3 lbs of food/person/day in world2 lb grain, 1 lb meat NYT Nov 8 1999

Food donations refused by Seven African nationsAug 2002 GE corn offered by US to be donated to counteract famine to 7 nationsCountries wanted the corn groundUS sent whole corn, not groundZambia refusedTechnology will feed starving people with drought tolerance and pest resistance genes

International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications, ISAAAISAAAs mission is to contribute to poverty alleviation, by increasing crop productivity and income generation, particularly for resource-poor farmers, and to bring about a safer environment and more sustainable agricultural development.ISAAAs objectives are the transfer and delivery of appropriate biotechnology applications to developing countries and the building of partnerships between institutions in the South and the private sector in the North, and by strengthening South-South collaboration.

The needConventional technology alone is no longer able to increase food, feed and fiber productivity at a growth rate fast enough to keep up with population growth and with environmental and sustainability pressures. The applications of agri-biotechnology offer promising means to a more sustainable agriculture and a safer environmentfor example, by providing alternatives to the use of toxic conventional pesticides. This is a critical need in developing countries where over 90% of the world's 11 billion people will be living in 2050. Yet biotechnology applications are owned primarily by private corporations, and the benefits of these technologies are generally not accessible to most developing countries.

The solutionA new institutional mechanism, ISAAA, has been created, sponsored by public and private sector institutions, with the aim of transferring agri-biotech applications from industrial countries in the North particularly proprietary technology from the private sector, to developing countries for their benefit.ISAAAs role and comparative advantage as an honest broker is to bring together institutions from national programs in the South, and from the private sector in the North, into partnerships to transfer biotechnology applications. Thus, ISAAA sees itself not as the doer but as the facilitator.

Are organics spoils for the spoiled?Only rich people can afford themSo is concerned with GMOs then classist

By buying organic you can save yourself? GMOs are prohibited...

GM crops are threatening organic productionEU study shown that canola (rapeseed), sugar beet and corn had medium to high likelihood of crossbreedingPotatoes, wheat and barley unlikely to cross breed UK organic farming group says GM crops threatening 111 organic farmersSome wonder if there is still uncontaminated organic corn seedUS organic farmers have had corn chips rejected in Europe due to pollen contam.

Role of biotechnology in sustainable agriculture?Industry says there is a reduction in pesticide useBut 30% increase in Round-up use on soy-6 States (Benbrook, NW Science and Technology Center, May 2001)Contamination of wind-pollinated traditional varietiesIncreased rate of resistance to Bt, important tool of organic farmersTerminator technology interference with traditional seed saving

Percy Schmeiser, Canadian canola farmerFarmer who has saved seed for 50 years had Monsantos windborne genes in canolaSued by MonsantoLost court caseReceived Gandhi awardNow appealing to higher Canadian court

Center for Science Public Interest (Nutrition Action Health Letter Nov 01)Problem is lack of testing, verified by third party, but could be safe for humans and environmentFeel important to not through baby out with bath waterRecommends support for both GE testing and organicProblem with concentration of power in companies In DCs public institutions should be funded

Lack of testing vs. bad testingGood vs. bad scienceBiomedical research compromised when paid for by industryStudy for 3.6x more likelihood that the results would be found in industry favor if paid for by industry62% of Medical school research funding now provided by industryLA Times 22jan03

Update: The USANov 2 02: In Bill HR 3005 (Fast Track Trade Authority): Have placed clause that would make GMO labeling illegal and eliminated precautionary principleNow anti-patriotic to oppose trade

Trade: Jan 2003

Robert Zoellich, Bush administrations chielf trade official calling US to challenge EUs ban on GE food at WTO Says EU position is luddite (scientifically backward) and immoral since it deprives starving people in Third World of foodEU says will be worse than steel disputeOp Ed in NYT wonders if this is the time to provoke the Europeans when we need them in the fight against terrorism

World Public OpinionWorld public opinionCanada 90% for labeling GE products, but legisl. opposesThailand bans 2001- US pushes harderEurope- solidly againstChina- was solidly pro but has changed tuned in 2002 and put on the brakes

New potential health problemsResearchers in UK found that DNA from transgenics can find way into intestinal bacteriaThree of seven volunteers in one meal of burgers and shakes had herbicide resistance genes in intestinal bacteriaAntibiotic resistance genes are used as markers with GE gene and they could compromise immune system and decrease antibiotic effect Planet Ark June 2002

Anti-nutrientsEssentially harmful compounds normally produced could be elevated in GM varieties-- this has not been testedBasically we dont know enough about what happens when we put a gene from one organism into anotherCenter for Science in the Public Interest says FDA made some obvious errors in renewing some GM cropsWashington Post Gillis 07 Jan 2003

Precautionary Principle for the adoption of new technologiesdetermine if new technology is neededproof that it is not harmfulCurrently a) no need to prove it is neededb) proof that it is harmful

Unresolved issues

Genetic pollution?Within spp or between spp transgenicsWind-pollinated vs. selfed plantsBt effects on non-target organismsHealth impacts- antibiotic resistance and allergens (Brazil nut to soy)Socioeconomic factors- who controls technology and researchRegulatory, who does research, how fundedPlace in sustainable agricultureTradeEthics

Summary

Definition of GEIf seen as a benefit to consumer, consumers may have been more openCorporate control of productionIndependent testing not present (almost all industry data) Many unknown effects on human, natural environment and agroecosystemsEthical, regulatory, trade implicationsEveryone needs to come to own opinion

For Wednesday: Read papers at back of notes

Construct matrix of Pros and Cons of GE in 4 categories:Agronomic Human Health SocioeconomicEthics

Sierra Club targets Kraft/Phillip MorrisLargest packaged food producer in USRequests removal of GE from their foodsCheck Sierra Club web page for details

Websites

http://www.gefoodalert.org/pages/home.cfmhttp://www.panna.org/campaigns/ge.htmlhttp://envirolink.netforchange.com/http://home.earthlink.net/~alto/boycott.htmlhttp://www.truefoodnow.org/inside_scoop/index.htmlhttp://www.truefoodnow.org/resources.htmlhttp://64.224.97.228/i/Food_Safety/Genetically_Engineered_Food/index.htmlhttp://www.fda.gov/oc/biotech/default.htmhttp://www.safe-food.org/http: //www.mindfully.org

http://www.purefood.org/http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/facts&issues/polls.htmlhttp://www.citizens.org/Food_water_safety/GeneticEngineering/GMO/GMOhome.htmhttp://www.gm-info.org.uk/gm-info/index.htmlhttp://www.biointegrity.org/http://www.greenpeace.org/~geneng/index.htmlhttp://www.greenpeace.org/~comms/97/geneng/finalpet.htmlhttp://www.natural-law.ca/genetic/geindex.htmlhttp://www.i-sis.org/http://members.tripod.com/~ngin/http://www.connectotel.com/gmfood/http://special.northernlight.com/gmfoods/http://www.thecampaign.org/http://www.ucsusa.org/agriculture/index.htmlhttp://www.oneworld.org/guides/biotech/index.htmlhttp://www.organicconsumers.orghttp://www.purefood.org/listserv.htm