Genetically Engineered Crops: What are They? Who s Growing Them? Who s Eating Them? Who Cares? Margaret Smith Dept. Plant Breeding and Genetics Cornell University
Topics Why the controversy? What is genetic engineering? Context previous crop genetic change What GE crops are commercialized? How much is being grown?
Why the Controversy? Genetic engineering a logical extension of what plant breeders have always done Little understanding of plant breeding? claim they have never eaten a fruit or vegetable that is a product of traditional cross breeding GE products - benefits to consumers still unclear Any new technology raises concerns
Let s get our terms straight: Biotechnology Genetic Engineering GMOs
The use of biological organisms in any technical application Yeast for baking or brewing Bacteria for culturing yogurt Fungi in cheese, tempeh, miso Biotechnology
Genetic Engineering A subset of biotechnology Alters the properties of organisms by: Moving particular genes between organisms Modifying an existing gene in an organism Can include: Turning expression of a gene on or off Correcting a defective gene Moving a gene to a different host
About Genetic Material... Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) Instructions for producing an organism Structural products Regulation of their production An alphabet of four letters (A, T, G, C) Universal
Traditional Cross Breeding Combines many genes from both parents Parent 2 Parent 1 Offspring
Genetic Engineering Adds one or a few genes to a particular parent Commercial Variety Gene Donor Transgenic Variety
Genetically Modified Organisms (or GMOs ) What does genetic modification mean? Domestication?
Genetically Modified Organisms Domestication? (or GMOs ) What does genetic modification mean? Farmer selection of new crops and varieties?
Genetically Modified Organisms Domestication? (or GMOs ) What does genetic modification mean? Farmer selection of new crops and varieties? Varieties developed through cross-breeding?
Genetically Modified Organisms Domestication? (or GMOs ) What does genetic modification mean? Farmer selection of new crops and varieties? Varieties developed through cross-breeding? Varieties developed through genetic engineering...
GMO suggests that our crops were not genetically altered prior to use of genetic engineering
Examples of Genetic Engineering Flavr Savr tomato Bt crops (corn, cotton) Herbicide resistant crops (soybean, canola, cotton, corn, alfalfa)
Issues and Concerns Extent of use Costs vs. benefits Environmental impacts Food safety, allergens Right to know, labeling Consolidation in ag industries and profits Belief systems (ethical, religious)
Who s Growing GE Crops?
Global Area of Genetically Engineered Crops Global annual crop area = 898 million ha Only countries with >1 million hectares are listed (data source: ISAAA 2013)
U.S. Corn Acreage Planted to GE Varieties, 1996 to 2013 Bt HT (data source: USDA ERS, 2013)
U.S. Cotton Acreage Planted to GE Varieties, 1996 to 2013 Bt HT (data source: USDA ERS, 2013)
U.S. Soybean Acreage Planted to GE Varieties, 1996 to 2013 100 80 60 HT 40 20 0 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 (data source: USDA ERS, 2013)
Costs vs. Benefits, Environmental Impacts
Impacts in U.S. National Research Council study released in 2010 from the National Academy of Sciences Evaluated peer reviewed literature on farm-level impacts
NAS NRC Study Findings More herbicide used, but a less toxic one Facilitated use of reduced tillage Less insecticide use Gene flow not a concern to date Many farmers benefited economically, in worker safety, and in convenience Effects on prices, non-ge producers, social impacts not fully understood Need more study of market concentration
Impacts in U.S.
Weed Resistance to Roundup Areas not growing GE crops: 7 weeds evolved resistance 1974 2009 In U.S. since GE crops introduced: 9 weeds evolved resistance 1996 2009
U.S. Insecticide Use/Acre - Corn Source: NRC NAS 2010
U.S. Insecticide Use/Acre - Cotton Source: NRC NAS 2010
Food Safety, Allergens.
Am I eating foods from genetically engineered crops?
What foods contain GE crops? 60-70% of supermarket foods contain GE ingredients Products made with soy or corn most obvious Products with soy or corn derivatives Little fresh produce
U.S. Approval of GE Crops USDA: Safety of environmental release Gene flow concerns Any other environmental impacts FDA: Safety as food and feed EPA: Safety of included pesticides e.g., the Bt toxin in Bt crops Herbicide use on herbicide tolerant crops
Food Safety Assessment Principle of substantial equivalence Composition, content of protein, fat, ash, fiber, H2O, CHO, Ca, P, known anti-nutrients Safety testing only if: Not substantially equivalent New antibiotic resistance markers Uncharacterized genetic elements Higher toxin levels Potentially allergenic proteins
Testing for Food Safety Focused on compounds that are novel or unique Toxicology tests on normal food would likely discover antinutritional effects No good tests of chronic health risks at low doses
The Food Supply GE Crops Non-GE Crops Harvesting Equip. & Trucks Detection DNA Protein Whole Foods & Grain Fresh Market Produce (corn, tomatoes...) Refined Ingredients Derivatives Processed Foods (syrups, flours, oils) Nutrients & Vitamins (Vitamins C, E )
Right-to-Know, Labeling
Labeling of GE Foods Product-based labeling (ex: US FDA) Only the qualities of the product are considered (altered nutrition, toxicity, allergenicity, etc.) Labeling required only if product is not substantially equivalent to non-ge product Process-based labeling (ex: EU) Labeling required if derived from a genetically engineered crop May be no measurable differences between GE and non-ge
Food for Thought Common food ingredients derived from corn and soybeans: Ascorbate (Vit. C) Aspartame Beta-carotine (pro-vit. A) Caramel Carotenoids Cellulose Cobalamin (Vit. B12) Corn Flour Corn Masa Corn Meal Corn Oil Corn Starch Corn Syrup Cystein Dextrin Dextrose Fructose Glucose Glutamate Gluten Hemicellulose High Fruct. Corn Syrup Inositol Invert Sugars Lactose Lactoflavin Lecithin Leucine Lysine Maltose Methionine Methylcellulose Modified Starch Mono- & Diglycerides Monosodium Glutamate Niacin Phenylalanine Riboflavin (Vit. B2) Sorbitol Soy Flour Soy Isolate Soy Isoflavones Soy Lecithin Soy Protein Soybean Oil Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP) Threonine Tocopherol (Vit. E) Tryptophan Vanilla Extract (corn syrup base) Vegetable Fat Vegetable Oil Xanthan Gum Zein
Food for Thought * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Ingredient may be made from a genetically-engineered organism * * *
Do consumers want labeling? Should GM food be required to be labeled? - 73% say yes What information would you like to see on food labels that is not already there? - 7% bring up genetic engineering Few consumer requests at grocery stores (anecdotal) (data source: Hallman et al., 2013)
Consolidation of Agricultural Industries, Profits
Deregulations Approved in U.S. Total = 87
Deregulations Approved in U.S. Monsanto Dupont Syngenta Aventis Total = 87
Issues and Concerns Extent of use Costs vs. benefits Environmental impacts Food safety, allergens Right to know, labeling Consolidation in ag industries and profits Belief systems (ethical, religious)
Importance of Risk Perception Safety refers to the acceptability of risks Acceptability of risk is not an objective feature of a technology Acceptability of risk is its actual acceptance by those who bear the risk Conrad Brunk, University of Waterloo, 2000
Why the concern? We do many risky things in our lives We do not expect our whole foods to be risky!
Final Thoughts... Products of genetic engineering have cropand trait-specific risks and benefits Consider them on a case by case basis People ultimately will make choices -- likely better choices if they have access to balanced, honest, excellent information
http://www.cornell.edu/video/gmos-misconceptions-and-concerns Thank you!