GMO Technology - Understanding the Evidence of Risks and Benefits
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Transcript of GMO Technology - Understanding the Evidence of Risks and Benefits
GMO Technology- Understanding Evidence of
Risks and Benefits
Kevin M. FoltaProfessor and Chairman
Horticultural Sciences Department
kfolta.blogspot.com@kevinfolta
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
•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
Biotechnology Communication
•What this technology is.
•Why there is there so much misinformation about good technology?
•How to communicate the facts effectively.
Who do people turn to for good information? – YOU!
What Plant Genetic Improvement Is
More varieties
Grow better under given conditions
Improved yields
Safer products
Improved nutrition
What Plant Genetic Improvement Is
People t hink
Improved yields
What are our priorities?
Farmers
The Needy
Environment
Consumers
What transgenic technology is.What transgenic technology is.
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.
GM Crops Available Now
Transgenic crop technology (familiar “GMO”) is a precise extension of conventional plant breeding.
What is “Natural”?
Humans have always manipulated crop genetics
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
How do you get a gene into a plant?
How Do We Add a Gene to a Plant?
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.
How Do We Add a Gene to a Plant?
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Making a New Plant from a Single Cell
CriticismsCriticisms
The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know about unintended consequences.about unintended consequences.
The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know The 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 are Today 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 benign Genetic 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 sweet T-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 inducing There 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.
CriticismsCriticisms
The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know The 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?
GMO Crops Make Pesticides
Bt is one of many natural anti-insect proteins
Bt is one of many natural anti-insect proteins
How Bt Works
bt
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
CriticismsCriticisms
The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know The 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 roundup The Rounup-resistance trait is dangerous and roundup causes cancercauses cancer
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.
How Herbicide Resistance Works
A B CAminoacids
proteins
epsps
glyphosate
XPlants
How Herbicide Resistance Works
A B CAminoacids
proteins
epsps
glyphosate
X
A B CAminoacids
proteins
epsps
Plants
Bacteria
glyphosate
How Herbicide Resistance Works
A B CAminoacids
proteins
epsps
epsps
Plants
X
glyphosate
A B CAminoacids
proteinsBacteria
glyphosate
How Herbicide Resistance Works
A B CAminoacids
proteins
epsps
Plants
glyphosate
Resistance!
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.
What is Glyphosate?
Non-selective herbicide. Kills all plants.
Pathway not present in animals
Acute toxicity is low (4320 -10,000 mg/kg)
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
CriticismsCriticisms
The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know The 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 roundup The 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.
What does the scientific consensus say?
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.
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
FEARFEAR FACTSFACTS
Why Is There Resistance to Good Technology?
Why is there even a problem?
How do we fix the problem?
Center for Food Integrity
Center for Food Integrity
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
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 fertilizersInsect resistanceDisease resistance
Biofortification- Engineering metabolism so that plants can produce needed compounds
Beta carotene
Folate
Anthocyanin
High oleic soy oils
Allergy-Suppression
Using technology to remove potential allergens and anti-nutrients
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.
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
There are many more solutions to pressing ag problems, yet few are being developed.
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 basicsNo problems in 18 years of useA precise extension of plant breedingStrong scientific consensus
Workshops! May 11, 2015 at UF, will live stream
What are our priorities?
Farmers
The Needy
Environment
Consumers
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.
Where do I get good information?
Warm welcome Cold facts
GMOanswers.com
Biofortified.org geneticliteracyproject.com
GMOLOL On Facebook
Thank you
kfolta.blogspot.com@kevinfolta
"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 PayneSVP UF/IFAS