GM CROPS: Friends or Foes?

1. GM CROPS: Friends or Foes? Jessi Hirth EPH 541

2. Green Revolution of the 1960s brought greater food production Total available food rose by 11 percent during 1970-1990 Hungry people declined by 16 percent Background

3. Modification of an existing gene Replacing genes with improved versions Introducing new genes from a similar or different organism What is genetic engineering?

4. “Broad acre commodity crops” Canola Corn Cotton Soybeans Over 40 crops available in the US 4,500 GM plants tested by 1999 in US alone What kind of crops are modified?

5. 1995 – no commercial plantings of GM crops in US 1999 – 33% of the corn crop, 55% of the cotton fields, 44% of the soybeans 2000 – 44.2 million hectares in 13 different countries Acceptance is occurring fast

6. 68% GM crops grown in US 23% grown in Argentina 7% grown in Canada 1% grown in China Who’s doing it

7. 500,000 kg of pesticides are applied in US each year Don’t have to spray plants Bt in over 50 crops Environmental Benefits – Pest Control

8. Less herbicide usage Less harmful herbicides 5.4 million lbs of glyphosate in place of 7.2 million lbs of other synthetic herbicides Stays in environment for shorter periods 3.4 to 16.8 times less toxic Environmental Benefits – Herbicide Resistance

9. Remove heavy metals from soil Can be used in bioremediation Can convert annual grains to perennials Other Environmental Benefits

10. Bugs become resistant Pests can actually use Bt toxins for nourishment Transfer herbicide resistance to weeds Environmental Risks – Super Bugs & Super Weeds

11. Glyphosate and Bt are toxic to non-target species Modified fish contain metals that can kill other fish and racoons Eradication of weeds will have a chain reaction through food chain Environmental Risks – Harm to Wildlife

12. End world hunger More nutritious foods Increase Vitamin A in rice – prevent death and blindness Increase Iron in rice – less anemia, learning disabilities and susceptibility to infections Human health benefits

13. Edible vaccines Cheaper drugs – 10 to 100 time lower than current prices Health Benefits – “Pharm Crops”

14. GE regularly moves proteins from organisms into crops Most known allergens are to proteins Health Risks - Allergens

15. GE uses genes for antibiotic resistance as “selectable markers” Antibiotic effectiveness can be reduced Resistance genes can be transferred to human pathogens Health Risks – Resistance to Antibiotics

16. Turning off genes can produce problems Some proteins in pharm and industrial crops act as hormones Acromegaly in adults Giantism in children More Health Problems

17. Seed mixing Pollen flow Corn pollen – travels more than 50 yards in the wind Canola pollen – travels up to 15 miles and can fertilize other crops! How is it getting in our food?

18. There is already enough food to supply everyone in the world with 4.3 lbs and 3,500 calories each day Can GM crops solve the problem of world hunger?

19. People are without food because they “are poor in terms of income to purchase food, or in terms of access to agricultural resources, education, technology, infrastructure, and credit to produce their own food” So why is anyone without food?

20. Only 30-40 countries have regulations governing GM products That leaves over 130 countries that have no regulations for GM organisms! The Scary Conclusion

21. You are what you eat! Just remember…