A Conversation about GMO Labeling Philip Miller PhD

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1 A Conversation about GMO Labeling Philip Miller PhD Vice President of Global Regulatory and Government Affairs

2 My journey through life

Agriculture is at the center of global trends

(billions) Rise in Middle Class 1.8 3.2 Mid Class 6.

6 Total Pop Total Pop Mid Class Changing Economies

calories from animal protein = 2X Food Demand By

Availability 1990 2013 Changing Climate & Declining

3 Agriculture is at the center of global trends Population Growth World Population (billions) Rise in Middle Class Mid Class Total Pop Total Pop Mid Class Changing Economies & Diets 355 in in % increase in calories from animal protein = 2X Food Demand By 2050 in a more challenging production environment Demand For Healthier Options Decreasing Water Availability Changing Climate & Declining Arable Land 3 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, International Data Base, June 2010 Update. And UN FOA Source: Ray DK, Mueller ND, West PC, Foley JA (2013) Yield Trends Are Insufficient to Double Global Crop Production by PLoS ONE 8(6): e66428.

4 Humans have been genetically modifying crops since the beginning of time Origins of Key Crops Corn Tomatoes Bananas Carrots Eggplant Source: Illinois Farm Bureau. Farm & Food Facts. Bloomington,

Crops have been modified through a variety of

Haploids (Dihaploid) Self Incompatibility

Radiation/Mutagenesis Polyploidy Genome Editing

Grapes Apples and Grapes Red Cabbage Red

5 Crops have been modified through a variety of techniques Technique Cross Breeding Double Haploids (Dihaploid) Self Incompatibility Embryo Rescue Grafting Protoplast Fusion Radiation/Mutagenesis Polyploidy Genome Editing Transformation (GMOs) Modern Day Examples Honey Crisp Apple Multiple Corn Inbred Lines Vegetable Seeds Mildew Resistant, Seedless Grapes Apples and Grapes Red Cabbage Red grapefruit Seedless watermelon Canola with weed protection Virus resistant papaya 5

6 GMOs are everywhere! Food Medicine Personal Lifestyle Crops 6

7 GMOs: Benefiting people and the planet for more than 20 years Pesticide Use Land Preserved Tillage CO2 Emissions Efficient Water Use Farmer Profitability Time in the Field Production Costs Farmer s Harvest Enhanced Nutrition 7

to combat vitamin A deficiency (VAD) Could help prevent 1-2 million

8 Nutritional benefits Golden Rice GMO rice with added beta-carotene biosynthesis genes (daffodil, bacteria, corn) Fortified food developed to combat vitamin A deficiency (VAD) Could help prevent 1-2 million deaths and 500,000 cases irreversible blindness annually 8

9 GMOs: The most thoroughly reviewed food product in the world United States: Gold Standard Monsanto: Safety = #1 Priority Scientific authorities around the world confirm GMO safety Globally: > 90 government bodies globally review and approve GMOs. GMOs have been grown or imported by >70 countries since

10 Nature is a pretty good genetic engineer Humans Ferns Sweet Potatoes Yew Trees Rice / Millet Cheese Sources:

city by city or state by state Providing Consumers with Choice: Current voluntary

Hundreds of companies with thousands of products available SmartLabel or Similar Approach

11 Should GMO ingredients be labeled? Food Labels Should Be: Science-based Truthful, Not Misleading to consumers National--not city by city or state by state Providing Consumers with Choice: Current voluntary approaches (USDA Organic, NON-GMO Project) work and we support them! Hundreds of companies with thousands of products available SmartLabel or Similar Approach = Great Solution: Electronic solution supports consumers increasing interest about food and how it is produced Can include data on production, processing and packaging 11

12 Engaging with Society Working with third parties to address key topics Listening to what matters to consumers Discover.Monsanto.com GMOAnswers.com Leading with increased transparency >2,000 publications available on our research 12

13 Thank You

14 Additional slides

15 Glyphosate = Safe Agricultural Tool

TRUTH Thoroughly tested ZERO safety issues. Farmers are smart they plant what works.

16 GMO Myths MYTH GMOs aren t tested/aren t safe. GMO seeds are forced on farmers. Monsanto aggressively sues farmers. Monsanto is too powerful. Monsanto is against GMO labeling. TRUTH Thoroughly tested ZERO safety issues. Farmers are smart they plant what works. Less than a dozen trials in 20 years <1/10 the size of Google or Apple; we are 5% of global seed market We support accurate, honest labels 16

GMO Answers: Get to Know GMOs

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