Disadvantages – Interesting Views

1. Disadvantages – Interesting Views Economic/Political Concern Due to the need for vigorous testing on GMFs before they can enter the market, development and marketing of these foods is lengthy and expensive for the developers. Meaning they will want to get profit on their investments. In order to do this, developers patent their genetically engineered seeds. This raises concerns of patent infringement due to the cross-pollination problem discussed earlier. One way that these developers combat patent infringement is that they have introduced a new “suicide gene” into their GM plants. Therefore, these plants would only be viable for only one growing season as they would produce sterile seeds that cannot germinate.

2. Now farmers have to buy these seeds every year which makes GMFs very expensive for all farmers and based on this, seed developers like Monsanto, DuPont, Rhone-Poulenc and Dow Chemicals can monopolize GMF industry. • Consumers argue that patenting these new seeds and plants will increase the price of the seeds so small farmers and poorer countries will not be able to afford these seeds for GM crops further widening the gap between poor and rich. • All of these seed developers are actually chemical companies that make pesticide and herbicide products. When GMFs became popular they knew that as GMF plantings increase so will the need for herbicides. • For that very reason they bought large portions of seed companies and started to engineer seeds that were only resistant to their herbicide/pesticide product. This forces farmers to use both GMF seeds and herbicides/pesticides that are developed by the same company. • For example, Since 1992 Monsanto has acquired whole or partial ownership of 6 major seed producers in the USA. Since then Monsanto has engineered their seeds to be only resistant to their herbicide product “Roundup”. Now Monsanto has monopolized the seed market with these seeds under the category of “Roundup Ready seeds”.

4. Monsanto Distribution

5. Implications Introduction In spite of the increase in the global transgenic crop area, genetically engineered foods remain a controversial issue. Apprehensions have been unfolded regarding these potential threats, predominantly, on the long term safety to both people and the environment. **Transgenic: transferring genetic material through a natural or a genetic engineering to another organism.**

6. Current Implications Municipal Corn and soybean producers have increasingly used GM seeds since their introduction in the mid-1990s. In 2002, nearly one-third of the total corn acreage was planted with these seeds in Ontario and Quebec. Toronto: Greenpace Canada released a list of 1000 food products in store shelves that are GM free on December 7, 2000

7. At the University of Guelph in Ontario, they have been breeding genetically modified pigs since 1999 to find a pig that would cause fewer environmental problems when raised in factory farming situations. • These pigs are cheaper to raise because they do not require more digestible phosphorus food supplements. They are better for the environment because they release up to 70% less phosphorus in their waste. • Half of all the grain, corn and soy grown in Ontario is GM, and almost all of the white sugar beet in Ontario is GM

8. Current Implications National At least Canadian 60 per cent of processed foods, including baby formulas, drink mixes, tortilla chips arid veggie burgers, contain Genetically Modified materials Various Canadian organizations such as the Greenpeace Foundation and the Council of Canadians are working to have package labels declare genetically modified ingredients in foods 82% of Canada’s wheat customers say they will quit buying Canadian wheat if GM wheat is grown in Canada. With new bilateral talks between Canada and Europe on GM, we can only expect that the Canadian Government will rapidly adopt mandatory GM food labeling, as over 80% of Canadian consumers demand the labeling that European consumers already enjoy.

9. The intent was to regulate genetically engineered products in the same way as traditional products. For GM agricultural products, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Health Canada have passed the Seeds Act, the Feeds Act, the Fertilizers Act, the Health of Animals Act, and the Food and Drugs Act. • Environment Canada's legal control in biotechnology is came from its responsibility under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act 1999 and from the Department of Environment Act, which provides the Department with general responsibility for environmental management and protection. • No major health concerns of GM Foods have been discovered yet

10. Health Canada has approved more than 100 novel foods and processes have been approved since 1994. • There have been 142 cases of GM contamination worldwide, including nine in Canada in the past 10 years. • GM corn, canola, soy and sugar beet are on the market for Canadian farmers, with two types of GM traits: herbicide tolerance and insect resistance. Companies are now combining or “stacking” these GM traits together. • The European Union, which represents 25 countries and some of Canada's major trading partners, has already imposed a "de facto” on the approval of new GM crops since 1998

11. Current Implications International About 70% of the food eaten by North Americans contains GM ingredients, notably canola and corn. Japan and Korea have joined Europe in demanding GM labelling on foods. In China, Scientists added genes from daffodil into the DNA of rice to give the crop Vitamin A. Another gene from a French bean to increase rice production. This has saved many people from China from dying from Vitamin A deficiency In Indonesia, the average GM Food production per hectare has risen to 6 tonnes in some cases to 10 tonnes

12. According to the U.S Department of Agriculture, in 2007, 91% of soy, 87% of cotton, and 73% of corn grown in the U.S. were GMO. Starting in 2008, the majority of the U.S. sugar beet crop is GMO, and it is estimated that over 75% of canola grown is GMO. • Europe was strongly against GMO, France is considering banning all forms of GMO • Animal Species Threatened: If the pollen of Bt corn were indeed toxic to monarch butterfly larvae, the widespread planting of Bt corn could threaten an estimated 50% of the butterfly population in Mexico and the United States • Resistant Pests created: The Herbicide Resistant-Weed is a genetically engineered species. It is resistant to herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides. They can easily spread to other areas in the US.

13. The weed-ryegrass in Australia—was known to be resistant to glyphosate. • Weeds resistant to the herbicide have been reported in six states in the United States. Glyphosate-resistant horseweed, or mare's tail (Conyzacanadensis), emerged in 2000 in Delaware in soybeans, in 2001 in Tennessee in cotton and soybeans, and in 2002 in Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, and Ohio, also in soybeans. • Allergen possibilities: Scientist at Pioneer Hi-Bred seed company had successfully transferred a gene from Brazil nut into soybean to improve the grain crop's nutritional quality. Subsequent experiments showed that people allergic to Brazil nuts were similarly allergic to the transgenic soybean.

14. GMO is a huge step forward so countries began spending on developing GMO: For example, in the 11-year period of 1992 to 2002, the USDA spent approximately $1.8 billion on biotechnology research and approximately $18 million on risk-related research. • In the U.S. Institute for Responsible Technology found that GM diets cause liver damage through animal testing. The state of the liver, a main detoxifier for the body, is another indicator of toxins. Rats fed the GNA lectin potatoes described above had smaller and partially atrophied livers. • Rabbits fed GM soy showed altered enzyme production in their livers as well as higher metabolic activity

15. Aqua Bounty Technologies started its quest to have its fast-growing salmon approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 15 years ago. The fish has been genetically modified to grow twice as fast as other Atlantic salmon. • In 2003, Zambia refused GM foods – primarily maize – from the food program developed by the United Nations. The result was that the population was left without aid, leading to disastrous results given that there was a famine. • At present, the United States remains one of the largest producers of GM foods while in places such as Britain, there has been far more controversy both at the consumer and international levels of politics. • The Bt cotton has been a boon for Chinese farmers, who not only benefited from less exposure to toxins, but who also have benefited financially because of pests. • Research studies on 500 pregnant women showed that the babies of those who ate organic dairy foods were significantly less likely to develop allergies later.

16. Future Implications Municipal It is clear that biotechnology and issues have become and will remain a dominant part of the OCPA (Ontario Corn Producer on agricultural biotechnology) agenda. Possible 100% GM food labeling in the future for store markets National There has been a movement to label GMO Foods. The day after GE Labeling Bill C-517 was defeated in the House of Commons in Ottawa, on May 7. Canadians are becoming more aware of the consequences of GM-foods and advocating food labeling

17. Environment Canada sponsored a Workshop on the Potential Ecosystem Effects of Genetically Modified Organisms in Burlington, Ontario, February 28-29, 2000. Objectives are: to understand the potential risks to ecosystem health of GMOs, how the Federal Government's regulatory currently assesses environmental risks of GMOs, and current relevant research in other government departments and academia, and areas where Environment Canada could and should be involved; and to contribute to the development of a strategy and action plan for Environment Canada to ensure that the environment is protected from the hazards of GMOs. • In Canada, 100 % of all barley and wheat fed to Canadian hogs is GMO free. This fact, to-date, can be a great competitive advantage, especially in western Canada. However, it is expected that GMO varieties of wheat and barley will be available and on the market within the next 3-4 years. • Even the supporters of genetically modified foods are now calling for more research into the potential associated health risks and for a monitoring system capable of quickly identifying any long-term problems.

18. Canada has ensured that its producers have been able to benefit from plants with novel traits. • They must find ways of giving consumers the latest scientific information, but they must also address more ethical questions concerning, for instance, labeling and the introduction of transgenic animals into the food chain. • Awareness in UK due to the media has resulted in low consumption and production of GM food products. • Europeans already produce excess food an pay farmers large subsidies; this ultimately results in high taxes. More food in Europe is unnecessary and will result in higher taxes and the additional usage of land

19. Future Implications International By 2015, global population is estimated to increase to 9 billion. By genetically engineering foods, the demand for mood can be met Fast growing foods can be produced Ex: Fish This technology can be implemented to produce efficient vaccines for the pharmaceutical community

20. Global food production will need to double by 2050 to meet demand, therefore GM Foods maybe necessary • The WTO will need to control international trade of GMO due to some countries restrictions • Experts hope to develop genetically modified food that has the potential for curing diseases. • Experts predict that developing countries will create a reliance on industrial countries as they will most likely control food production. • GM increases the demand for intensive agriculture which will negatively affect species and the diversity of these species.

21. Crops engineered to produce drugs and industrial chemicals and crops engineered to alter regulatory and metabolic pathways • In terms of politics, GM foods will probably continue to have consequences as governments around the world make opposing choices about this technology • On an industrial scale, deterioration of fruits and vegetables is a huge problem: for example, the tendency of plant tissue to turn brown at a cut or peeled surface often has to be controlled through the use of preservatives such as sulphite. • In parallel, cattle and sheep are being genetically modified to produce pharmaceutical chemicals in their milk, so that drugs can be produced much more efficiently and cost effectively. • there is hope that food crops such as banana could be used to produce and deliver vaccines in tropical regions. • Genetically engineered crops were created not because they're productive but because they're patentable. Their economic value is oriented not toward helping subsistence farmers to feed themselves but toward feeding more livestock for the already overfed rich. • The Second Green Revolution refers to a series of research, development, and technology transfer initiatives increased industrialized agriculture production world wide may also be a result of GMO. • British government's chief scientist Professor John Beddington warned that Britain must embrace genetically modified (GM) crops and cutting-edge developments to avoid catastrophic food shortages and future climate change.

22. Farmers and Environmentalists fear that GM seeds will erode traditional farmers’ rights and practices, contaminate seed supplies, and increase farmers’ dependence on private monopolized agricultural resources. • Higher economic production: A 2010 study by US scientists, found that the economic benefit of Bt corn to farmers in five mid-west states was $6.9 billion over the previous 14 years. They were surprised that the majority ($4.3 billion) of the benefit accrued to non-Bt corn. • More countries considered banning the GM foods • Future envisaged applications of GMOs are diverse and include drugs in food, bananas that produce human vaccines against infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B

23. While their practicality or efficacy in commercial production has yet to be fully tested, the next decade may see exponential increases in GM product development as researchers gain increasing access to genomic resources that are applicable to organisms beyond the scope of individual projects. • Safety testing of these products will also, at the same time, be necessary to ensure that the perceived benefits will indeed outweigh the perceived and hidden costs of development. • The human population is still growing, and will reach about nine billion by 2040;70,000 km² of agricultural land (equivalent to 60% of the German agricultural area) are lost annually to growth of cities and other non-agricultural uses; Consumer diets in developing countries are increasingly changing from plant-based proteins to animal protein, a trend that requires a greater amount of crop-based feeds. • Australia one gene reduced insecticide spray by 50 per cent in cotton crop. And it is estimated that in three years we will be able to introduce two genes into the cotton crop, which would reduce the use of insecticide by 90 per cent. It would be very good environmentally. We spend more money on research in the management of a crop than we did on the development of the crop.

24. General Overall Evaluation After considering the advantages, disadvantages, and implications of Genetically Modified Foods, one may perceive the advantages to outweigh the disadvantages whereas another individual may perceive the opposite. Because society generally disapproves of genetically modified foods alternatives must be considered Alternative: Instead of focusing on genetically modified foods, we can commit ourselves to improving organic agricultural practices

25. Effects on Other Areas of Science Medicine: Proteins Some human therapeutic proteins are used in the treatment of various diseases. These proteins can be produced within human cell cultures; however, the procedure is expensive. Proteins can be produced in the milk of animals such as goats, sheep and cattle. Reduces cost and increases volume of production.

26. Effects on Other Areas of Science Medicine: Xeno-Transplantation A global shortage of human organs for clinical transplantation has always existed. Xeno-transplantation is transfer of living cells, tissues, and organs from non-human species to humans. Can be a substitute for human organs; completely removing the need for organ donation. Can be “bridge” between the old organ and the destination organ. Most successful current animals are pigs. Not a current recognized medical practice in developed countries, but huge scope for future research and development. Treatment for people with diabetes, Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases could be provided through cellular transplants.

27. Tissue xeno-transplantation is future means to helping burn patients through skin grafts, bone transplants for limb reconstruction, and many others. • Possibility of transplanting major organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, etc. • Risk of xenosis: • Infection of humans by agents from animal species. • Threat to not only individual health, but could result in major epidemic. • Risk of rejection: • Human immune system could attack the transplanted tissue or organ, taking it to be a foreign culture. • Methods of altering the human immune system for acceptance are under development. • In Canada, there is no current legal clinical testing of xeno-transplantation; but all the more scope for future development.

28. Effects on Other Areas of Science Environment : Species In general, genetic modification has negative effects on the environment. Biodiversity is endangered through the introduction of genetically modified species. Through cross pollination, the transgenic species (usually aggressive) threatens the genetic diversity of other species. Pesticide use has increased due to transgenic agriculture. Although it was initially lowered, recent years have shown a significant increase in its usage. Cross pollination causes neighbouring plants to develop resistance to herbicides and pesticides; requiring farmers to use higher quantities.

29. Effects on Other Areas of Science Environment : Land/ Soil Increased use of pesticides and herbicides has caused soil and water contamination, and depletion of nutrients. Given way to a new field of study; sustainable agriculture. Involves practices of natural and low-input agriculture Attempt to mimic natural growing conditions as closely as possible. Use biodiversity to nourish and maintain healthy soil. Remove pesticide use by cultivating cultures which remove pests and weed. Much scope for development of future techniques for sustainable agriculture; maintaining high crop yield while preserving the environment.

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