Genetic Engineering

Martha Rosemeyer

IES

Winter 2003

GMOs: Horror OR Savior?

Outline

What 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 hybridization

Hybrids are conventionally bred from two inbred parents

Advantage is the the F1 generation (the plants from the bought seed) is uniform and recessive genes are unexpressed

Issues are the the seed saved is variable in quality so that it is not useful to save

Need 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 plants

1983-First GE plant created in lab1987-GE plant outplanted to field1990-GE plants with USDA supervision1996- 6 million acres commercially planted in US

1997- 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

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

GMO have a slowing rate of increase

2002 58.7 145 + 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?

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

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 properties

Apples that don’t discolor when cutTrees with increased PS rate to reduce global warming

Farmaceuticals or Nutraceutical-functional foodsHepatitus B in corn

contamination of soybean, ProdiGene fined $3 million 2002

After this 50% US farmers are waryRabies vaccine in cornBlood protein in potatoes

for viral diseases and AIDSDiarrhea-vaccine in bananas

2-3 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 problems

Monarch butterflies died eating Bt corn pollen on milkweeds

Effects on soil organisms by Bt corn exudates-- effects on belowground food web

Development of herbicide-tolerant “super weeds” (squash and canola) now found in six states (2002)

Genetic Engineering to “solve” environmental problems

Accumulators of heavy metals As and Zn as mentioned last time

Arguments that Roundup Ready soybeans reduce erosion because conservation tillage can be used

Animals

Eco-friendly GE pigs which produce 20-50% less P in their manure

In Canada- Four years away from commercialization in 1999

MSNBC 6-24-99

Salmon

Ban GM fish in CA, Alaska? Grounds of escape and interbreeding with wild LATimes 28 Feb 2002, SF Chronicle28 Aug 02

First animal to be reviewed by FDAMaryland and OR regulatedUK gov’t study found fish-farmed salmon

to be most toxic product (ave 3) sold in British markets Edinburgh Sunday Herald 20 Oct 2002

Antibiotics used in production

The politics

Monsanto, Cargill, Aventis and Archer Daniel Midlands all broke records for donations in 2000: $633,000

2-3 x more to Republicans than Democrats

6x more went to members of Ag committees

• CropChoice Alternative News Service 2/20/02

Concentration in Corporations: Monsanto

80% of GE crops grown are Monsanto

Just acquired wide-ranging patent most major antibiotic resistance genes found GE crops

Has promised to take them out of production

Technology Prevention System or Terminator technology

.

Relationship with Clinton administration

Update on terminator technology

2000 Public outcry caused Monsanto not to purchase DP&L, but did later

2001 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

New developments

NAS calls for testing, especially where pesticide in used (Bt) NYT Feb 2002

Office of Science and Technology Policy proposed crop safety assessment before beginning field trials of new GM crops help prevent recalls, help avoid rejection of

our exports Center 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 fields

ND farmers- bill 2 year moratorium on planting genetically altered wheat

NYT March 24, 2001

NYT Oct 1999

US labeling

FDA and others oppose Oregon’s labeling law (Measure 27) with $5 million

Lost in 2002Opposition said it would be too costly

to label

EU labeling

Agreement 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 world 2 lb grain, 1 lb

meat

NYT Nov 8 1999

Food donations refused by Seven African nations

Aug 2002 GE corn offered by US to be donated to counteract famine to 7 nations

Countries 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, ISAAA

ISAAA’s 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.

ISAAA’s 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.

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 crossbreeding

Potatoes, 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 seed US 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

use But 30% increase in Round-up use on soy-6 States

(Benbrook, NW Science and Technology Center, May 2001)

Contamination of wind-pollinated traditional varieties

Increased rate of resistance to Bt, important tool of organic farmers

Terminator technology interference with traditional seed saving

Percy Schmeiser, Canadian canola farmer

Farmer who has saved seed for 50 years had Monsanto’s windborne genes in canola

Sued 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 environment

Feel important to not through “baby out with bath water”

Recommends support for both GE testing and organic

Problem with concentration of power in companies

In DCs public institutions should be funded

Lack of testing vs. bad testingGood vs. bad science

Biomedical research compromised when paid for by industry

Study for 3.6x more likelihood that the results would be found in industry favor if paid for by industry

62% of Medical school research funding now provided by industry

LA Times 22jan03

Update: The USA

Nov 2 02: In Bill HR 3005 (Fast Track Trade Authority): Have placed clause that would make GMO labeling illegal and eliminated precautionary principle

Now anti-patriotic to oppose trade

Trade: Jan 2003Robert Zoellich, Bush administrations chielf

trade official calling US to challenge EU’s ban on GE food at WTO

Says EU position is “luddite” (scientifically backward) and “immoral” since it deprives starving people in Third World of food

EU 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 opinion

Canada 90% for labeling GE products,

but legisl. opposes Thailand bans 2001- US

pushes harder Europe- solidly against China- 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 bacteria

Three of seven volunteers in one meal of burgers and shakes had herbicide resistance genes in intestinal bacteria

Antibiotic 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 tested

Basically we don’t know enough about what happens when we put a gene from one organism into another

Center for Science in the Public Interest says FDA made some obvious errors in renewing some GM crops

Washington Post Gillis 07 Jan 2003

Precautionary Principle for the adoption of new technologies

determine if new technology is needed

proof that it is not harmful

Currently a) no need to prove it is

needed b) proof that it is harmful

Unresolved issuesGenetic 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 Morris

Largest packaged food producer in US

Requests removal of GE from their foods

Check Sierra Club web page for details

Websites

http://www.gefoodalert.org/pages/home.cfm http://www.panna.org/campaigns/ge.html http://envirolink.netforchange.com/ http://home.earthlink.net/~alto/boycott.html http://www.truefoodnow.org/inside_scoop/index.html http://www.truefoodnow.org/resources.html http://64.224.97.228/i/Food_Safety/

Genetically_Engineered_Food/index.html http://www.fda.gov/oc/biotech/default.htm http://www.safe-food.org/ http: //www.mindfully.org

http://www.purefood.org/ http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/facts&issues/polls.html http://www.citizens.org/Food_water_safety/

GeneticEngineering/GMO/GMOhome.htm http://www.gm-info.org.uk/gm-info/index.html http://www.biointegrity.org/ http://www.greenpeace.org/~geneng/index.html http://www.greenpeace.org/~comms/97/geneng/finalpet.html http://www.natural-law.ca/genetic/geindex.html http://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.html http://www.oneworld.org/guides/biotech/index.html http://www.organicconsumers.org http://www.purefood.org/listserv.htm