GMO 101 Workshop. February 10, 2016

Transcription

1 GMO 101 Workshop February 10, 2016

2 I m not a farmer but I used to be.

3 The Farm to Food Movement

4 TO EARN CONSUMER TRUST IN TODAY S FOOD SYSTEM

5

6 The Center for Food Integrity CFI strives to: Be a Leading Voice in a Balanced Public Conversation about Food Align the Culture of Today s Food System Convene, Empower and Support Food System Stakeholders

7 GMO 101

8 U.S. Adoption of GE Crops, (HT = herbicide-tolerant; Bt = Bacillus thuringiensis).

9 What Foods Can Be GMOs? Salmon (2015)

10 What is a GMO? No universal, definitive answer Taking a specific trait from one plant and using this trait in another plant for a specific purpose Genetic modification has been taking place for as long as people have been growing crops for food Today s methods/techniques are more precise and regulated than any other method

11 But Are They Safe? Generally Positive The U.S. National Research Council (NRC) U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS) The American Medical Association, (AMA) U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) European Food Safety authority (EFSA) American Society for Plant Biology (ASPB) Federation of Animal Science Societies (FASS) World Health Organization (WHO) Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Royal Society (London) Brazil National Academy of Science, Chinese National Academy of Science Indian National Academy of Science Mexican Academy of Science Third World Academy of Sciences Generally Negative

12 What is a GMO?

13 Recent state-based food labeling activity Vermont bill passed 2012 Population = 626,011

14 Recent state-based food labeling activity Vermont bill passed 2012 Population = 626,011

15 Theme: Public Opinion Labeling? PRO: Prompted overwhelming support CON: Unprompted fewer than 1%

16 Theme: Consumer Choice Vote with Wallet? PRO: Choice is king. CON: U.S. consumers can already avoid GE products by choosing organics. (In countries with mandatory labeling, GE products have generally been removed from the market, so choice has been reduced.)

17 Theme: Right to Know Tell me the Whole Truth PRO: Don t hide the truth CON: Slippery slope

18 What s Coming?

19 Continued Pressure to Label

20 Labeling Specifics Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) grants authority for food labeling to the FDA in the US Production methods or processes that create no material difference in products require no special labeling. Although some may consider the insertion or manipulation of genes in a laboratory a material difference per se, the science of food safety has not identified differences in the composition or safety of food derived from commercialized GE crops that would necessitate mandating a process-based label on GE food. The FDA allows voluntary process-based labeling as long as it is not false or misleading.

21 But False, Misleading Labels Do Exist 4 CAFFEINE!!!

22 Mandatory Labeling: Legal Issues 1. Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution - forbids individual states from unduly burdening interstate commerce 2. Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution and FDCA Preemption - federal law prevails in any conflict with state law 3. The First Amendment Protection of Commercial Speech - prohibits government compulsion of commercial speech unless the speech is factual, uncontroversial, and reasonably related to a legitimate government interest.

23 National GE Labeling Law To mandate labeling of GE food, the U.S. would have to show a scientific health threat to be compliant with international trade law. Many of the GE labeling laws in the 64 countries around the world that require GE labeling likely violate the World Trade Organization (WTO) and its 1994 Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement, which frowns on process-based labels mandating disclosure of information on production-process issues that do not relate to food safety.

24 Transparency in Labeling

25 Transparency in Labeling

26 Apples, Potatoes & Salmon Oh My!

27 What is a GMO?

28 Consumers Have More Questions Than Ever Before

29 Why the disconnect? What changed?

30

31 History: The Decline of Trust

32 History: The Decline of Trust

33 History: The Decline of Trust The frequency and visibility of violations of public trust by government, military, business and religious institutions have been consistent enough over the last five decades to breed broad public skepticism about whether or not institutions are worthy of trust.

34 What does this have to do with food?

35 Consolidated, Integrated, Industrialized

36 0 Historical Perspective: Decline of Trust THEN Authority is granted primarily by office Broad social consensus driven by WASP males Communication is formal, indirect (mass communication) Progress is inevitable Big is respected NOW Authority is granted primarily by relationship No single social consensus, great diversity, many voices Communication is informal, direct (masses of communicators) Progress is possible Big is bad

37 Today s consumers Shifting societal attitudes Many choices, Many voices Mistrust in farming and food Desire to know/trust people behind food

38 The public senses a change in the way food is produced but doesn t know why

39 Food is necessary traditional personal

40 What s the Best Approach? The Trust Model Provides Guidance

41 Building trusts requires a new approach

42 CFI Trust Model VALUE SIMILARITY CONFIDENCE TRUST COMPETENCE SOCIAL LICENSE Trust research was published in the December 2009 Journal of Rural Sociology INFLUENTIAL OTHERS FREEDOM TO OPERATE

43 What Drives Consumer Trust? TRUST Shared values are 3-5x more important in building trust than sharing facts or demonstrating technical skills/expertise

44 No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care. - Theodore Roosevelt

45 Don t abandon science and facts Lead with Shared Values to Build Trust

46 Balance for Success

47 Answering the Wrong Question Ethical Question (Should) Science Question (Can)

48 Balance for Success

49 The Mom Tribe Consumer Panel What information sources have you used to come to your conclusions that GMOs are dangerous? Heidi: I m part of a moms group. When there is a big consensus, I think there s something here. You don t need doctors or scientists confirming it when you have hundreds of moms.

50 What drives you?

51 Are you the right person?

52 Who Should Engage on GMOs?

53 Possible Sources: GMOs An advocacy group A peer who shares my interests about food A state government scientist A university scientist A farmer Dr. Oz A scientist who is a mom A federal government scientist A well-known food blogger A celebrity chef Someone who is a mom

54 Level of Trust in Sources of Info: GM Foods A university scientist (A) 10% 48% 42% (mean=6.66) A scientist who is a mom (B) 11% 53% 37% (mean=6.41) A farmer (C) 11% 56% 34% (mean=6.31) 0% 50% 100% 0 to 3 (Low Level of Trust) 4 to 7 8 to 10 (High Level of Trust) (n=2005) Q19b. Please rate the level of trust you have in the following sources of information GM Foods using the scale provided.

55 Level of Trust in Sources of Info: GM Foods A peer who shares my interests about food (D) 15% 56% 28% (mean=5.86) A state government scientist (E) 18% 50% 31% (mean=5.83) A federal government scientist (F) 20% 48% 32% (mean=5.82) 0% 50% 100% 0 to 3 (Low Level of Trust) 4 to 7 8 to 10 (High Level of Trust) (n=2005) Q19b. Please rate the level of trust you have in the following sources of information GM Foods using the scale provided.

56 Level of Trust in Sources of Info: GM Foods An advocacy group (G) 20% 54% 25% (mean=5.52) Someone who is a mom (H) 23% 54% 24% (mean=5.39) A well-known food blogger (I) 27% 52% 21% (mean=5.07) 0% 50% 100% 0 to 3 (Low Level of Trust) 4 to 7 8 to 10 (High Level of Trust) (n=2005) Q19b. Please rate the level of trust you have in the following sources of information GM Foods using the scale provided.

57 Level of Trust in Sources of Information About Genetically Modified Foods (Continued) Dr. Oz (J) 31% 44% 25% (mean=5.00) A celebrity chef (K) 30% 50% 20% (mean=4.92) 0% 50% 100% 0 to 3 (Low Level of Trust) 4 to 7 8 to 10 (High Level of Trust) (n=2005) Q19b. Please rate the level of trust you have in the following sources of information GM Foods using the scale provided.

58 Who do consumers hold accountable for transparency?

59 Who Consumers Hold Responsible Food Companies Farmers Grocery Stores Restaurants Impact of Food on Health Food Safety Environmental Impact Labor and Human Rights Animal Well-Being Business Ethics

60 Your Voice Is Necessary! So where do you find these consumers?

61 Food System Issue Sources Ranked First as Info Source on Food System Issues Web Sites 21% (Highest % of Top Source Mentions for Early Adopters) Local TV Station 15% Friends- Not Online 13% Family- Not Online 13% Google 10%

62 What s the Goal of Communication? If our only goal is to persuade the activists, or change their minds, we will lose. If our first goal is to educate, we lose.

63 Our Goals Should Be... Embrace the skepticism Consumer concerns are real Perception is their reality Share your values

64 How Do You Effectively Engage With Consumers About Food Issues? Conversations, not Messages

65 How: Conversations, not Messages

66 1. Listen Without Judgment Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. Seek first to understand; then to be understood. - Stephen R. Covey

67 Not Every Conversation is Meant to Be

68 What do these people value? What I hear about industrial agriculture affecting our water supply today is very concerning. I just have a lot more trust and respect for local family farmers. All these food recalls are scary. I want to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, but I m not sure what is safe anymore. Food prices are challenging. It is so difficult for me to buy healthy, affordable food for my family. I only eat organic foods because they don t contain GMOs, which I hear are bad for us.

69 2. Ask Questions to Invite Dialogue

70 2. Ask Questions to Invite Dialogue Acknowledge Shows that you heard the question or statement Ask Ask questions that show you re working to understand them better

71 Acknowledge and Ask Acknowledge: A phrase that acknowledges you heard the question or statement I hadn t heard that before I can understand why there s confusion It s something I ve wondered, too Ask: A question that shows you re working to understand them better. How old are your kids? Can you tell me where you read/heard/saw that? I d love to check it out. What concerns you most about <topic>? What instead of why

72 3. Share Your Perspective through Values

73 Person First; Expert Second

74 Consumers Need Your Help 1. Science doesn t explain everything or give consumers all the answers they seek. 2. Communicating in a way that embraces skepticism, fear and concerns isn t easy, but is essential. 3. Those connected to food and agriculture are perfectly positioned to connect with consumers. They trust your expertise and insights.

75 You make a difference. Conversations about food and agriculture are empowered and enlightened by you: and no one can tell your story and share your values the way you can.

76 Resources FoodIntegrity.org CFIEngage.org BestFoodFacts.org

77 Thank