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Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). What are they & how they affect health, bodies, animals & the environment. Agenda. What are GMOs? Where are GMOs grown & labeled? Why are GMOs made? Who makes GMOs? How are GMOs made? Do GMOs affect the environment? Why do some people avoid GMOs?
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Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) What are they & how they affect health, bodies, animals & the environment
Agenda • What are GMOs? • Where are GMOs grown & labeled? • Why are GMOs made? • Who makes GMOs? • How are GMOs made? • Do GMOs affect the environment? • Why do some people avoid GMOs? • How to avoid GMOs • More information, Q & A
Raise Your Hand • Do YOU know what a GMO is? Genetically Modified Organism Genetic Engineering Genetically Modified • Hint: it’s NOT evolution
GMO: What is it? • DNA from two different species are combined to create a new species • Examples that exist: • Goat & spider • Salmon & ocean pout • Soybean & BT (bacteria) • Corn & bacteria We EAT this daily! = +
GMO: What is it? • US Crops Main food for US • Corn* Cornstarch, corn syrup, corn oil • Soy* Soymilk, tofu, soy lecithin • Canola Canola oil • Sugar beets Sugar • Cotton Cottonseed oil, tampons • Squash Zucchini, crooked neck • HI Papaya Papaya from Hawaii * Main ingredient of US raised cows, pigs & chickens 80% of what you buy in the grocery store contains GMOs
GMO: Where are they grown? • GM crops & food introduced in mid 1990s • 2005 world production map of GMOs. Solid orange - produce more than 95% of GMO productsOrange stripes - produce commercialized GMO products. Orange dots - participating in experimental GM crops. Image by pixeltoo
GMO: Why are they made? • Pest/insect resistant crops • Ex: BT Corn or BT Soy • Weed resistant crops • Ex: Round-up Ready • Increased yields for first 2-3 years, then decreasing yields thereafter • Chemical fertiziler + chemical plant = chemical crop • Crops need more & more chemicals to control the superweeds • Agent orange resistant crop is awaiting approvals • 2009 Failure to Yield, UCS Study • Rodale Institute, Chemical vs. Organic, 30-yr Farming Trial
GMO: Who makes them? • Bio-tech companies:(Monsanto, Dow AgroSciences, ConAgra, DuPont) • Make chemical fertilizer and chemical-resistant crops • Sell both products to farmers • FDA role: • Expects the bio-tech companies to test their own products
GMO: How are they made? • Equipment: • DNA gun • Petri Dish • Ingredients: • Species 1 DNA • Species 2 DNA • Virus • Promoter • Marker Gene
GMO: Do they affect the environment? • Increased herbicides in ground & water • Cross pollination with other plants • Contaminates organic crops • Increased super weeds • Push heirloom crops into extinction • Creates nutrient-deficient soil • Kills insects GMO crops DO NOT feed the world
GMO: Why do some people avoid them? • No long term human feeding studies done • It kills bugs (we have good bugs in our digestive tracts) • Unpredictable side effects of genetic engineering • Increased infertility and miscarriages amongst farm animals when fed GMO feed
GMO: How to Avoid GMOs • Buy Organic, when products contain corn, soy, canola, sugar, cotton, squash, & hawaiian papaya • Look for the NON GMO Verified Logo • Download free app from www.nongmoshoppingguide.com • Avoid at-risk ingredients
GMO: More information, Q&A • Local Label GMOs Chapter (http://www.labelgmos.org/), • Email me at sas.hadden@gmail.com • More information • Movies: • Food Inc. • King Corn • Genetic Roulette • Future of Food • Interview: • Dr. Mercola Interviews Dr. Don Huber about GMO ~(2 parts) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4swW9OFmf8 • Websites: • GMO crops & sources – http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-basics/gmos-in-food • GMOs FAQs - http://www.responsibletechnology.org/faqs • Educational Brochures and more - http://seedsofdeception.com/store/ Must watch movies!