seeds: the future of our food
DESCRIPTION
Seeds: The Future of Our Food. The Potato Famine. ~1845-1850 Potato disease—late blight Wide-spread hunger and disease Potato monocultures. Corn Blight . 1970 Fungus: Southern Corn Leaf Blight Attacked the cytoplasm of the hybrid corn: T-cytoplasm - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Seeds: The Future of Our Food
The Potato Famine
• ~1845-1850• Potato disease—late blight• Wide-spread hunger and disease• Potato monocultures
Corn Blight
• 1970• Fungus: Southern Corn Leaf
Blight• Attacked the cytoplasm of
the hybrid corn: T-cytoplasm• 80% of U.S. corn in 1970 was
this hybrid variety = 46 million acres
• Monocultures
Heirloom vs. Hybrid
HYBRID (F1)• The result of artificially
crossing two plants together
• Seeds do not produce “true to type” plants like the parents
• Bred for industrial traits.• Reduce genetic diversity
HEIRLOOM• Open pollination• Adapted to particular
places• Saved for their adaptive
benefits• Greater genetic
diversity
Values of Heirloom Crops
DIVERSITY
TASTE
ADAPTATION
CULTURE
Seed Saving
• One of the oldest traditions of civilization• Keeps alive traditional agricultural and
culinary practices, essential for the stability of cultures
• Must be open pollinated• Enhances biodiversity
GMOs
• Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)• Biotechnologies• Genetic engineering / Gene transfer• 1992: FlavrSavr Tomato• Terminator genes• Bt: New Leaf Potatoes
Values
• Efficiency
• Industrialization
• Output
• Uniformity
GMOs around US and the World
• GMOs are now grown in 42 countries on 6 continents
• Currently, over 1 billion acres of land contain GMO crops. 2/3 of this acreage is in USA.
• 70% of products on grocery shelves in USA contain GMO ingredients
http://www.siskiyoucoop.com/class/15GMO.pdf
GMO Crops• Soybeans• Corn• Cotton• Tomatoes• Potatoes• Rapeseed
(Canola Oil) • Sugar cane• Sweet Corn• Rice
The Potential Risks of GMOs toPeople and Environment
PROS• Reduced pesticide use
initially• Convenient • Short term resistance
initially• Initial higher yield
CONS• Unknown risks to human
health and environment• Long term resistance• Cross pollination with non-
GMOs• Loss of biodiversity• Ethical considerations• Loss of ability to save seed
Alternatives to GMOs
• Seeds of Trust• Native Seed/SEARCH• Community Seed Banks
• Seed Exchanges• CSAs and Farmers Markets• Community Gardens• GMO labeling