GMOs What s All the Fuss About Alan McHughen D Phil University of California Riverside CA USA alanmc ucr edu Are GM foods in US supermarkets a b Yes No Do ordinary tomatoes contain genes a b Yes No Would a tomato with a fish gene taste fishy a b Yes No If you ate a GM fruit might it alter your genes a b Yes No Can animal genes be inserted into a plant a b Yes No Give an example of GM food on the market a b c d e f There are none All foods are GM Tomato Wheat Squash Papaya Have You Eaten Any Food Made From GM Crops This Week a b Yes No Should GM Foods Be Labeled a b Yes No Survey results Correct n n n n n n Are GM foods in US supermarkets Do ordinary tomatoes contain genes Would a tomato with a fish gene taste fishy If you ate a GM fruit might it alter your genes Can animal genes be inserted into a plant Give an example of GM food on the market n 48 n 40 n 42 n 45 n 30 n 79 Tomatoes Need for public science literacy n Public perceptions are often based on n Invalid assumptions n Failure to apply critical thinking n Lack of context e g chemicals Sprayed once Sprayed 32 times From a billboard in Nebraska Courtesy of Syngenta Where do people get information n Common misconceptions abound GE rDNA is unnatural because it breaks the nature s species barrier that precludes genes moving from one species to another n DNA is a complex protein n GMOs commercialized with 3 mos to 3 yrs field testing and no long term safety and environment studies n What species barrier Approx 38 of wheat has rye DNA Friebe et al Crop Science 39 1692 1696 1999 File to support registration of new crop variety conventional breeding A long history of Biotechnology fearmongering Documented benefits of biotech crops n Farmers Increased yields especially in developing countries n Decreased chemical input costs n Cleaner fields less dockage n Less fuel used n Less tillage n Fewer adverse health effects esp China n But Global Controversy n n n n Biotech crops are grown on over 250 million acres in 22 countries around the world But many countries refuse to allow cultivation of biotech crops Or consumption of foods from biotech crops Or both Why do farmers grow GM crops n Philippines Bt corn n n South Africa Bt cotton Bt maize n n 77 higher returns smaller farm higher benefit China Bt cotton n n n 30 increase in yield 8 10 Higher yields Reduction in farm labor poisonings India Bt cotton n n n 70 drop in pesticide exposure Shift in pesticide way from older mote toxic ones Increased yields Left GE Bt corn hybrid D Right regular hybrid corn D with bacterial rot courtesy Gary Munkvold Iowa State Univ GE Bt corn Hybrid D Regular corn plus pesticide Regular corn no pesticide Documented benefits of biotech crops n Consumers Safer food less mycotoxin in maize esp Africa Asia n Safer food greater regulatory scrutiny n Less pesticide n Environmental benefits n Documented benefits of biotech crops n Environment n n n n n n n n Less pesticide burden Safer pesticides Improved soil from less tillage Less fuel usage Increased biodiversity Sources NCFAP Plant Biotechnology June 2002 November 2004 Canola Council of Canada An agronomic and economic assessment of transgenic canola 2001 Munkvold G P Hellmich R L and Rice L G 1999 Comparison of fumonisin concentrations in kernels of transgenic Bt maize hybrids and non transgenic hybrids Plant Dis 83 130 138 Biotech opportunities n Health and Nutrition Removal of allergens n Removal of anti nutritional substances n Removal of pathogens and contaminants n n Mycotoxins in Bt corn Signal for pathogens with nanotech n Enhance nutrient content n Golden rice with carotene n India s Protato with increased protein n Biotech opportunities n Environment Reduced pesticide load n More food feed on less land n Better resource efficiency n Water use n Climate change adaptations n Biotech opportunities n Sustainable development n Sustainability in poorer countries Philippines n South Africa n n Diversification at home and abroad Specialty crops n Improvement of local crops n Have you heard n n n n n n GMOs are hazardous because GE breaks the species barrier Nature never allows genes from one species in another GE involves random insertions into genome GE crops and foods are untested and unregulated Once released GMOs can never be recalled Future unintended consequences and hazards Selection from a homogenous population Selection from a heterogenous population Crossing of existing approved plant varieties rDNA via Agrobacterium transfer of genes from closely related species Conventional pollen based crossing of closely related species Conventional pollen based crossing of distantly related species or embryo rescue Somatic hybridization Somaclonal variation SCV rDNA biolistic transfer of genes from closely related species rDNA via Agrobacterium transfer of genes from distantly related species rDNA biolistic transfer of genes from distantly related species Mutation breeding chemical mutagenesis ionizing radiation Less likely includes all methods of breeding More likely Likelihood of unintended effects arbitrary scale NAS IOM findings n There are NO documented adverse health effects from eating GE foods n n Allegations of harm are unfounded Genetic engineering is NOT inherently hazardous Paradigm shift The disconnect n Process vs product Fear derived from process n Hazard comes from product n n Absolute vs relative To some GE is absolutely novel and incomparable to previous hazards or technologies n To scientific community GE is an extension of previous gene manipulation technologies n Traditional approach to Risk n Component n n n Risk Assessment Risk Management Risk Communication n Responsibility n Scientists n Regulators n No one everyone Who should be responsible for risk communication a Scientists b Government c Industry d NGOs Modern approach to Risk Assessment n n n n n Science driven Real risk Substantial equivalence Objective Relative n n n n n n n Prove it as safe as Product Values driven Perceived risk Precautionary Principle Subjective Absolute n n Prove it safe Process Science vs Non science n Non scientific approach n n n n Starts with conclusion searches for evidence to support it cherry picking Discredits alternative views Often lacks context Scientific approach n b not all scientists n n n n Collects and analyses all available evidence before perhaps reaching conclusion Actively seeks alternative interpretations Is his her own greatest critic Applies Critical thinking skills Consequences of