Food from genetically engineered crops. Should we worry?

Maarten J. Chrispeels

Genetic change resulting from crop domestication took 10,000 years.

Teosinte (top) and corn or maize (bottom)

The March of Genetic Technology

1860 Mendel: making crosses, introducing genes

1920 Discovery of hybrid vigor

1950 Inducing mutations

1960 Tissue culture and embryo rescue

1980 Plant transformation and GMOs

2000 Genomics

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Crop improvement has allowed food production to keep up with Crop improvement has allowed food production to keep up with phenomenal population growth for the past 100 years.phenomenal population growth for the past 100 years.

Plant Breeding and Crop Yield

Wheat in Mexico

1950 1960 1970 19800

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The scientific basis of all crop improvement is the identification of the genes that encode

certain phenotypic characteristics.

Those genes can now be transferred more easily (via marker assisted breeding - no GM) or

directly (through genetic engineering - GM)

Molecular agriculture makes new gene combinations possible

Peas (on the left) that make a genetically engineered bean protein are insect-resistant and do not need to be sprayed with pesticides.

Creation of a GM plant relies on a natural gene transfer mechanism

What are people’s concerns

• Is this food safe? • Should food be labeled?• Are there adverse

environmental effects?• Patenting of seeds• Discrimination against the

poor• Who benefits?

All of these concerns apply to food and agriculture in general

These concerns are generally true for all innovations. Governments

create policies based on the following principles:

• Promote the general welfare

• Maintain people’s rights (individuals, groups, corporations)

• Ensure justice: burdens and benefits must be fairly shared

Agriculture is the main cause of environmental change and degradation

Fires burning in Northeast Brazil’s Maranhao region

Agriculture requires land clearing

Worldwide, 40 % of our food production

depends on irrigation. Depletion of aquifers is occurring at twice the re-charge rate. Salinization is a

major consequence of irrigation

Agriculture has narrowed the gene pool and caused a loss of biodiversity

Wild Progenitors and Relatives

Land Races

Elite Lines

Environmental Hazards from Pesticides

• Substantial health impacts on workers

• Pollution of natural ecosystems/ waterways

• Loss of insect biodiversity in agroecosystems

• Creation of secondary pests

• Creation of insect races resistant to pesticides

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Genetics is always better than chemicals: GM Cotton with a Bacillus thuringiensis Cry gene is resistant

to Cotton Bollworm. Cry encodes an insecticidal protein

Reduced Pesticide Use with Insect-Protected CottonInsect Control Ledger for 2000: Bollgard® Cotton on Five Million Acres

Manufacturing Distribution Application Financial Benefit Stewardship

Applies 1.04 million fewer pounds of insecticide in 2.5 fewer applications per acre

Disposes of 416,000 fewer insecticide containers

Saves 41,250 10-hour farm work days

Eliminates 2,150 10-hour days of aerial application

Conserves 2.41 million gallons of fuel and 93.7 million gallons of water

Accrues $168 million in economic benefits from lower production costs and increased cotton yield

Reduces pesticide exposure risk

Preserves beneficial insect populations

Creates wildlife benefits

Gives cotton producers more time for family and community activities

Gives cotton producers peace of mind

Transports and stores 416,000 fewer gallons of insecticide

Conserves 604,000 gallons of fuel oil

Produces fiber equivalent to that found in all consumer products derived from cotton

ConsumerBenefit

Dr. Roger Leonard, LSU Agricultural Center Dr. Ronald Smith, Auburn University

Saves 3.46 million pounds of raw material

Conserves 1.48 million gallons of fuel oil

Eliminates 2.16 million pounds of industrial waste

Net

Bollgard® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Company© 2001 Monsanto Company

Bollgard® Cotton

Some GM crops have the potential to mitigate the environmental impact of agriculture: less pesticide, less dust,

more biodegradable herbicides

““Roundup” tolerant soybeans can beRoundup” tolerant soybeans can bePlanted with no-till procedures, Planted with no-till procedures, which eliminate plowing (dust), which eliminate plowing (dust),

Save water and use a biodegradableSave water and use a biodegradable herbicideherbicide

Hmm… I wonder if there could be gene

flow?

Gene flow occurs when crops cross with wild relatives growing Gene flow occurs when crops cross with wild relatives growing in relative close proximity to the fields.in relative close proximity to the fields.

Gene flow requires sexual compatibilityGene flow requires sexual compatibilityGene persistence requires an evolutionary advantage for the new traitGene persistence requires an evolutionary advantage for the new trait

What about their nutritional value and safety?

What are the main food issues in the US?The # 1 safety issue is bacteria (6000 deaths per yr.)

The # 1 health issues are fat, sugar and salt

Are GM foods safe and nutritious?

1. All GM foods have been extensively tested and they are as safe as other foods in the market place.

2. GM crops can be made into convenience and “junk” food just like organic crops and other crops!

3. Nutrition depends on the food, not the method of crop breeding

Every year 250,000 children become blind because of vitamin A deficiency

Some GM crops will improve the nutritional quality of foods. Such

foods are now in the pipeline.

A GM soybean line, developed as a collaboration between the USDA and DuPont, is hypoallergenic in humans.

The approach is to down regulate the expression of the gene encoding the major allergenic protein (antisense)

Hmmm.. Shouldn’t those things be labeled?

Labels are not neutral!

Produced by Radiation Breeding!

There are no GM apples anywhere!

Is food labeled this way Is food labeled this way nutritious?nutritious?

Truthful labels can be misleading or meaninglessTruthful labels can be misleading or meaningless

How to Label?

Conventionally grown GMO

Pesticides, twice a week Pesticide free

Should foods from GM crops be labeled? Perhaps!

The US takes the view that iffoods are “substantially equivalent”,the method of producing them need not be on the label.

Farmers use a variety of techniques, and keeping production streams separate “from plow to plate” costs money. Such separation is called “identity preservation”. Who should pay for this?

Voluntary labeling works in the US for Kosher and Organic foods.

Europe requires that all food that has any ingredient that is more than 1% GM be labeled as “GM containing”.

So, what’s the bottom line?

1. GM foods are as safe and there is promise for more nutritious food.

2. For some crops, environmental impacts are similar or less than conventional agriculture.

3. GM is an important tool for the plant breeder

4. GM technology can solve problems that can’t be solved in other ways at present.

5. The benefits will be spread between biotech companies, farmers and consumers.

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GM or no GM is a false issue. Sustainability is the real issue.

Through science and through ethics we have come to the realization that we are bound by the laws of Nature. We must obey those laws to make agriculture (and civilization) sustainable.

Our agricultural practices must reflect our new awareness that many practices threaten sustainability. Food production must be equitable and just, and sustainable, for all the peoples of the Earth.