Transcript Promise and Problems of GMOs

Ethics of GM Foods
Clark Ford, Ph.D.
Food Science and Human Nutrition
Iowa State University
Genetic Engineering
• Genetic Engineering
involves manipulating DNA
molecules
• DNA from one species is
spliced into the DNA of
another species
– Called: Recombinant DNA
• Genetically Engineered
organisms are called:
– Genetically Modified
– Transgenic
Milestones in Genetic
Engineering of Food
• 1953: Structure of DNA discovered
• 1973: First gene cloned
– in microbes
• 1977: Asilomar Conference in USA
– Recombinant DNA safety
– Regulation
– Risk assessment
– Containment
Milestones in Genetic
Engineering of Food
• 1990: Recombinant Chymosin
Approved by FDA
– Enzyme for cheese making
– Originally from calf stomach
– Bovine gene expressed in GRAS
microbes
– In 80% of U.S. cheese
– “Vegetarian” cheese in England
Other Products from Genetically
Engineered Microbes
• Food enzymes
– Bread
– HFCS Sweeteners
• Amino acids
• Peptides
– Nutrasweet
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Flavors
Organic acids
Polysaccharides
Vitamins
Milestones in Genetic
Engineering of Food
• 1994: FDA approves
“Flavr Savr” Tomato
– Prolonged shelf life
– Improved quality
– Voluntarily labeled
Other Genetically
Engineered Plants
• Agronomic traits
– BT Corn
– Roundup Ready Soy
– Disease Resistance
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Food quality
Nutrition
Metabolic products
Vaccines
Bt Corn
• Natural insecticide from
Bacillus thuringiensis
• Non-toxic to humans
• Target insect: corn borer
• Potential to:
– reduce insecticide use
– reduce mycotoxins
• 50% U.S. Corn crop Bt
Bt Concerns
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Bt pollen harms non-target species?
Bt crops select for resistant insects
Bt pollen can drift to organic fields
Food system failed to keep BT
Starlink corn out of human food
products
Herbicide Resistance
• Roundup Ready Soy, Corn,
Canola
• Allows post-emergence
herbicide spraying
• Increases yield
• Facilitates no-till farming
• 80% U.S. Soy crop
Herbicide Resistance Concerns
• Encourages herbicide use
– Groundwater contamination
– Kills beneficial soil microbes
• Cross-pollinates weeds
• Fosters dependence on
Agrochemcial companies
Disease Resistance
Genetically engineered papaya
resistant papaya ringspot virus
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Canola
Cantaloupes
Cucumbers
Corn
Rice
Papaya
Potatoes
Soybeans
Squash
Tomatoes
Wheat
Health and Nutrition
• Golden Rice
– Vitamin A and Iron enhanced
– Seeds given to the poor for
free
• Improved Amino Acid
Balance for Soy, Maize
• Banana Vaccines
Milestones in Genetic
Engineering of Food
• 1999: GM corn and soybean
products are present in 80%
of processed foods
– Corn:
• starch, high fructose corn
syrup, oil
– Soy:
• oil, Lecithin, protein
Milestones in Genetic
Engineering of Food
• 1999: European Union
requires GM labels,
blocks import of GM
corn, beans
– Ban lifted 2004 but no
change in anti-gm
sentiment in Europe
Milestones in
Genetic Engineering of Food
• 1999: Gerber and
Heinz baby foods
GM-free
• 2000: Mc Donalds
and Frito-Lay
products GM-free
Milestones in
Genetic Engineering of Food
• 2000: USDA Organic
Foods Standards
– Must be GM-free
Controversy over GMO Foods
• Debate pits consumer and ecology groups
against Multinational Corporations
• Many farmers, scientists, government agencies
caught in the middle
Arguments for Genetically
Engineered Food
• Potential to:
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Increase productivity
Increase purity
Increase safety
Improve nutrition
Improve food quality
Improve sustainability
Benefit ecosystem
• Process not inherently
harmful
• Similar to traditional Plant
and Animal breeding
• Unless misused, outcome
expected to be beneficial
– Is a powerful technology
that could help humanity
• Bad ideas weeded out by
the market, regulation,
lawsuit
--Paul Thompson
Arguments against Genetically
Engineered Foods
• Potential safety risk for humans
– Unintended Consequences
• Genetic Engineering is playing God
– Not Natural to move genes between species
• Potential safety risk for environment
– Could spread
• Genetically Engineered label not required in U.S.
• Benefits multinational corporations
– not consumers or developing nations
Frankenstein Foods:
Unintended Consequences?
• Random gene insertion
• Toxicity
– New gene products?
– Allergies
• Eating DNA!
Arguments for Labeling
• Not Substantially equivalent to nonGM
• Must use Precautionary principle
• Is uncertainty in risk assessment
• Labeling indicates process used
• Consumer’s right to know and choose
• Country’s right to know and choose
Arguments against labeling
• Suggests non-existent hazard
• Expensive to segregate crops
and change labels
• FDA labels required if change
in:
• Allergenicity
• Nutrition
• Food Quality
Will it Feed the World?
• Disease resistance will benefit
developing nations
• Technology requiring increased
inputs benefits wealthy,
multinationals, plantations
• Small, subsistence farmers can’t
compete, lose land
• Inequity, poverty increase
• Thus more food and more hunger
• Green Revolution unsustainable