Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)

1. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) Friend or Foe

2. genetically modified foods • Also called genetically modified organisms (GMO), or GE foods (Genetically Engineered). • Created by inserting DNA from one organism into another (Fish DNA into an Apple) or, modifying an organism’s DNA to attain a desirable traits (I.e. crops that can resist drought and disease). Image credit: Microsoft clipart

3. Examples of GMO’s • In 1994, the FlvrSavrtomato (apple DNA combined with Tomato DNA) was introduced as the first GMO food. It is supposed to be“tastier, firmer and fresher” than the average tomato. • Golden Ride - enriched rice containing beta-carotene (Vitamin A). This vitamin is not found in normal rice. • Bt Corn - corn containing a chemical normally found in bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis). This is toxic to insects, not humans. Insects try to eat the plant and die. • Herbicide resistant plants (roundup ready corn) - these plants are immune to a certain herbicide, so they live while all the other plants in the field are killed.

4. GMO foods…are common According to Greenpeace, up to 70% of processed foods in Canada contain GMO ingredients. Most common are corn, soy, canola and cotton.

5. What is grown globally? • In 2001 the area of genetically modified crops grown globally was 52.6 million hectares. That is an area the size of France or Spain. This includes food and non-food crops (I.e.cotton) • 4 countries produced 99% of the world's genetically modified crops. These are: • USA (68%) • Argentina (22%) • Canada (6%) • China (3%) • More than 80% of canola grown in Canada and a high proportion of the country’s soybean and corn crops are genetically modified. Image credit: Microsoft clipart

6. From ( U.S. Dept. Agriculture 2001)

7. GMO’s In Canada • Health Canada groups GMO foods into a category called “Novel Foods” • Foods resulting from a process not previously used for food; • Products that have never been used as a food; or • Foods that have been modified by genetic manipulation, also known as genetically modified (GM) foods, genetically engineered foods or biotechnology-derived foods

8. GMO’s in Canada Potatoes Canola Corn Tomatoes Squash Soybeans Flax Are all examples!! 70 novel foods have been approved for sale in Canada. • These crops are processed into the goods we buy in grocery stores…. • Fries, cakes, oils, sugars, sauces • Animals that feed on GMOs… • And more… all without mandatory labeling.

9. Benefit #1 • Increased Crop Productivity • This includes herbicide tolerance, • pest and disease resistance • E.g. “Roundup ready” crops, and BT corn. • Could mean using less spray

10. Benefit #2 • Cold Tolerance • plants developed to tolerate cold temperatures withstand unexpected frost that could destroy seedlings. • Drought Tolerance • currently inhospitable regions can now be cultivated

11. Benefit # 3 • Improved Nutrition • crops like rice are a staple in developing countries but are nutritionally inadequate. • GMO "golden rice" is high in beta-carotene (vitamin A) • Vitamin A - reduces eye-related problems like blindness due to malnutrition

12. Benefit #4 • Phytothoremediation • Plants like poplar tees clean up the heavy metal soil contamination • GMO plants with higher tolerance for heavy metals like mercury are created

13. Benefit #5 • Future Benefits • food without allergens; (I.e. anyone could eat nuts) • grains, fruit & vegetables with improved nutrition (multi-vitamin potatoes=healthy fast food french fries!) • longer shelf life and better taste (reduced food waste due to spoilage) • rice enhanced with iron (prevent anemia) • foods used as vaccines (bye-bye needles) • And many more possibilities

14. Challenge #1 • Environmental – possibility of unintended harm to other organisms • A pest resistant crop that produces toxins could harm both crop-damaging and non crop-damaging insects. (e.g. of this is the BR corn is thought to affect/kill the larvae of a Monarch Butterfly.

15. Challenge #2 • Pesticides will become less effective as pests become resistant and start to adapt to the GMO • Different varieties and strengths of pesticides will be needed once weeds have adapted to the existing effective pesticides.

16. Challenge #3 • Super weeds • Gene transfer to non-target species where herbicide tolerant plants crossbreed with weeds potentially creating herbicide resistant weeds. • Some Western Canadian farmers are calling Monsanto’s round-up ready canola a superweed.

17. Challenge #4 • Human Health Risk • introducing a gene into a plant may create a new allergen or cause an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals. • Also if one was to insert the genes from a nut into another plant could be dangerous for people who are allergic to nuts

18. Challenge #5 • Economic Hazards • GMO seeds are patented (must buy each year) • This presents problems for poor farmers in both the developed and developing worlds. • Large companies like Monsanto have resorted to suing small farmers found to be using their seed without paying. • Suicide Seeds • In order to compete with the global market, farmers are forced to by GMO seeds. Problem – some seeds they buy are infertile and yield NO CROPS.