GMO Technology - Understanding the Evidence of Risks and Benefits
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The document discusses the benefits and safety of transgenic crop technology, also known as GMOs, emphasizing that it is a precise extension of conventional breeding with extensive testing and no documented adverse health effects. It addresses common criticisms, particularly around genetic insertion and pesticide concerns, and advocates for better communication of scientific facts to combat misinformation. Ultimately, it calls for the use of all available agricultural technologies to ensure sustainable food production while stressing the importance of honest communication of scientific consensus.
GMO Technology - Understanding the Evidence of Risks and Benefits
- 1. GMO Technology- Understanding Evidence of Risks and Benefits Kevin M. Folta Professor and Chairman Horticultural Sciences Department kfolta.blogspot.com @kevinfolta kevinfolta@gmail.com
- 2. My main job: Chairman of the Horticultural Sciences Department (Fruit and Veg crops) 56 Faculty over six locations throughout the state -Breeding / new varieties -Crop physiology and production -Molecular genetics -Genomics -Organic and sustainable production -Weed science -Plant nutrition, water use -Space biology -Cell and developmental biology -Postharvest physiology
- 3. •13 international scholars •Undergraduate researchers •Examine how light affects plant traits, and use as a non- chemical treatment for enhanced shelf life •Use of natural fruit volatiles to slow spoilage •Connecting genes to important traits in small fruits. •Marker-assisted breeding My Research Program
- 4. Biotechnology Communication •What this technology is. •Why there is there so much misinformation about good technology? •How to communicate the facts effectively.
- 5. Who do people turn to for good information? – YOU!
- 6. What Plant Genetic Improvement Is More varieties Grow better under given conditions Improved yields Safer products Improved nutrition
- 7. What Plant Genetic Improvement Is People t hink Improved yields
- 8. What are our priorities? Farmers The Needy Environment Consumers
- 9. What transgenic technology is.What transgenic technology is.
- 10. Elevator Points Transgenic crop technology (familiar “GMO”) is a precise extension of conventional plant breeding. “The techniques used pose no more risk (actually less risk) than conventional breeding.” (NAS, AAAS, AMA, EFSA many others) In over 18 years of use there has not been one case of illness or death related to these products There are several traits used in only eight commercial crops These are the most well studied and extensively tested plant products in history.
- 11. GM Crops Available Now
- 12. Transgenic crop technology (familiar “GMO”) is a precise extension of conventional plant breeding. What is “Natural”?
- 13. Humans have always manipulated crop genetics
- 15. Frankenfood Paradox Traditional breeding Wide crosses Mutagenesis Polyploids Transgenic crops Genes affected Thousands Thousands Thousands Thousands One-three Understood? No No No No Yes Tested? No No No No Yes Natural? Yes/No No No Yes/No No Allowed for organic? Yes Yes Yes Yes No
- 16. How do you get a gene into a plant?
- 17. How Do We Add a Gene to a Plant?
- 19. How Do You Make a Transgenic Plant – Exploit Totipoentcy Agrobacterium is used to place gene of interest into a single cell. The single cell is then cultured into an entire plant containing the gene.
- 20. How Do We Add a Gene to a Plant? Agrobacterium tumefaciens
- 21. Making a New Plant from a Single Cell
- 22. CriticismsCriticisms The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t knowThe T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know about unintended consequences.about unintended consequences.
- 23. The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t knowThe T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know about unintended consequences.about unintended consequences. Today every plant is sequenced and we know exactly were T-DNAs areToday every plant is sequenced and we know exactly were T-DNAs are located in the genomelocated in the genome Genetic improvement companies select insertions in apparently benignGenetic improvement companies select insertions in apparently benign areas of the genomeareas of the genome T-DNA insertion is a natural process and is found in crops like sweetT-DNA insertion is a natural process and is found in crops like sweet potatopotato There are few insertions and they don’t move. Little chance of inducingThere are few insertions and they don’t move. Little chance of inducing change relative to viruses, etc– genomes are dynamic.change relative to viruses, etc– genomes are dynamic.
- 24. CriticismsCriticisms The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t knowThe T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know about unintended consequences.about unintended consequences. The traits are dangerous. Who wants to eat a pesticide?The traits are dangerous. Who wants to eat a pesticide?
- 25. GMO Crops Make Pesticides
- 26. Bt is one of many natural anti-insect proteins
- 27. Bt is one of many natural anti-insect proteins
- 28. How Bt Works bt
- 29. Advantages Decrease in broad-spectrum insecticide use on corn and cotton Lower fuel and labor costs for farmers Solid dividends in the developing world No effect on beneficials Limitations Need to plant refugia to slow resistance Pockets of resistance are seen and require use of insecticides Requires careful scouting
- 30. CriticismsCriticisms The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t knowThe T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know about unintended consequences.about unintended consequences. The traits are dangerous. Who wants to eat a pesticide?The traits are dangerous. Who wants to eat a pesticide? The Rounup-resistance trait is dangerous and roundupThe Rounup-resistance trait is dangerous and roundup causes cancercauses cancer
- 31. Glyphosate-Resistant (Roundup Ready) Products A gene is inserted that allows plants to survive in the presence of the herbicide. Farmers can spray to kill non-transgenic plants.
- 32. How Herbicide Resistance Works A B C Amino acids proteins epsps glyphosate X Plants
- 33. How Herbicide Resistance Works A B C Amino acids proteins epsps glyphosate X A B C Amino acids proteins epsps Plants Bacteria glyphosate
- 34. How Herbicide Resistance Works A B C Amino acids proteins epsps epsps Plants X glyphosate A B C Amino acids proteins Bacteria glyphosate
- 35. How Herbicide Resistance Works A B C Amino acids proteins epsps Plants glyphosate Resistance!
- 36. Advantages Switch to a low-toxicity herbicide, cheap and effective Lower fuel and labor costs for farmers Decreased tilling, saved topsoil Limitations Weeds can evolve resistance, requiring increased labor, lower yields, and new control strategies. New chemistries.
- 37. What is Glyphosate? Non-selective herbicide. Kills all plants. Pathway not present in animals Acute toxicity is low (4320 -10,000 mg/kg)
- 38. What is Glyphosate? Generally described as non-carcinogenic No strong evidence from scientific literature IARC recently reclassified as “probable carcinogen” (same category as cell phones) MOST OF ALL: There is no glyphosate on food. Minimal residues at the most (<20 ppm). It is sprayed at ~80 mg/m-2 weeks before plants flower
- 39. CriticismsCriticisms The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t knowThe T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know about unintended consequences.about unintended consequences. The traits are dangerous. Who wants to eat a pesticide?The traits are dangerous. Who wants to eat a pesticide? The Rounup-resistance trait is dangerous and roundupThe Rounup-resistance trait is dangerous and roundup causes cancercauses cancer Right now the most legitimate criticisms about health and environment are about resistance evolving to the traits/treatments.
- 40. What does the scientific consensus say?
- 42. This not a scientific debate. - benefits far outweigh limitations and new solutions are coming. This is not a farming debate. -farmers freely choose the technology because it works. This is a SOCIAL debate - kind people concerned about their food and health are subject to manipulation by those with financial or political motivations.
- 43. Why Is There Resistance to Good Technology? The companies creating the crops failed to communicate Trusted independent scientists don’t speak to the public There is money to be made with bad information Farmers don’t engage Anti-corporate angst targets topics non- scientifically
- 44. FEARFEAR FACTSFACTS Why Is There Resistance to Good Technology?
- 45. Why is there even a problem?
- 46. How do we fix the problem? Center for Food Integrity
- 47. Center for Food Integrity
- 48. Effects Does it really matter? Why not just let people assume it is dangerous? --- mistrust of good food --- higher costs --- bad, expensive public policy changes --- slowing the development of helpful technologies
- 49. Misinformation harms development and deployment of helpful technology We have, completed, tested plants that can: Help farmers save labor, fuel, water, fertilizer, other inputs. Biofortify foods with vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients Grow plants in marginal areas Grow plants with fewer inputs Efficient use of fertilizers Insect resistance Disease resistance
- 50. Biofortification- Engineering metabolism so that plants can produce needed compounds Beta carotene Folate Anthocyanin High oleic soy oils
- 51. Allergy-Suppression Using technology to remove potential allergens and anti-nutrients
- 52. Decreasing toxic compounds Low acrylamide potatoes Decreased presence of acrylamide, a naturally- forming compound upon frying/high heat cooking Low gossypol cotton seed Cotton seeds contain high protein, but are not used in the human diet because of gossypol. Transgenic plants have been made with low gossypol levels.
- 53. Better performance from standard varieties Non-browning apple More likely to be eaten, can be used in wider recipes and food service application Non-browning potato More potatoes from the same amount of farm inputs
- 54. There are many more solutions to pressing ag problems, yet few are being developed.
- 55. How do we help solve the problem? Physicians and dietitians are key in this discussion (trust + contact) Always discuss from a point of shared values The effects of non-action Emphasize the basics No problems in 18 years of use A precise extension of plant breeding Strong scientific consensus Workshops! May 11, 2015 at UF, will live stream
- 56. What are our priorities? Farmers The Needy Environment Consumers
- 57. Conclusions Transgenic technology is safe Transgenic technology has proven effective Progress is slowed by manufactured risk Existing products could bring great benefit to the environment, the needy, the consumer and the farmer, but they are not developed– or people resist their development out of fear We need to use all technologies available to ensure safe and sustainable food with less environmental impact. Long-term acceptance is dependent on honest communication of the peer-reviewed science.
- 58. Where do I get good information? Warm welcome Cold facts kfolta@ufl.edu GMOanswers.com Biofortified.org geneticliteracyproject.com GMOLOL On Facebook
- 59. Thank you kfolta.blogspot.com @kevinfolta kevinfolta@gmail.com "There is a path to truth and sincerity that you must guard and defend“ -- Teruyuki Okazaki It is our mission to stand up for the truth that science gives us. Dr. Jack Payne SVP UF/IFAS