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Fast Facts about Genetically Modified

What are GMOs? Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) refer broadly to organisms that are produced when selected individual are transferred from a given donor into another target organism, typically conferring desired properties to the new organism. GMOs can include plants, animals, and . Some GMOs have been approved by regulatory agencies for commercial production and consumption, while others are currently undergoing regulatory evaluation. Still other GMOs are in experimental stages and confined to scientific laboratory research. According the United States Department Increased Growth Rate (Example: AquAdvantage salmon) of (USDA) by 2012, 93% of soybeans, 94% of Genetically modified with genetic material from the ocean , and 88% of corn grown in the U.S. were genetically pout (a bottom-dwelling, eel-like fish) and Pacific Chinook modified. salmon, the AquAdvantage Atlantic salmon is designed to decrease the time it takes for this farmed salmon to grow to market size. This GE fish is currently undergoing regulatory What are some things GMOs are modified review in the U.S. to do? Pest Resistance (Example: Bt corn): The of Bt corn Who are the stakeholders? has been modified to include a from the soil bacterium Stakeholders are the individuals, organizations, communities, which produces a poisonous to agencies and governments with a vested interest in the the European corn borer, an insect that damages corn crops. issue. Stakeholders in the debate over GMO foods include Virus Resistance (Example: GM ): Developed at the the global community, sovereign Tribal nations, University of Hawaii, the genetically modified papaya is municipalities, local communities, industry, resistant to Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV) a plant virus firms, organic and conventional farmers, farm workers, spread predominantly by aphids. The Rainbow papaya fishermen, religious groups, ecologists, , variety is produced by introducing a protein from the PRSV toxicologists, risk analysts, doctors, politicians, parents, into plant tissue, which confers resistance to the virus. This children, non-governmental organizations, and advocacy method works in much the same way as human influenza organizations. virus vaccinations. Stakeholders also include non-human entities such as the Tolerance (Example: RoundupReady soybean): environment itself, or specific environmental resources. In is an herbicide widely used to kill weeds. short, everyone who has a vested interest in the food supply Tolerance to the herbicide was genetically engineered into may be a stakeholder, although in practice not every agricultural crops, such as soybeans, allowing farmers to stakeholder group is likely to get equal say in the debate due broadly spray their farms without killing the crops. to power structures, economics, access to information, etc. Fortification (Example: Golden ): Engineered to include beta- genes, was What government agencies regulate GMOs developed to address dietary shortages in the in the US? developing world. Rice does not usually produce beta- carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, in the edible portion of the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology grain. Research is currently being conducted on the (1986) – Provides a “comprehensive federal regulatory policy bioavailability of the genetically modified grain. for ensuring the safety of biotechnology research and products.” Though not legally binding, it forms the foundation Cosmetic Preservation (Example: Arctic Apple): Currently in of U.S. biotechnology regulation, specifying that genetically the regulatory pipeline in the U.S. and Canada, engineered products are not inherently riskier than their are genetically engineered to silence the apple gene counterparts and can therefore be regulated under pre- responsible for browning due to superficial damage. The existing regulatory structures. The Coordinated Framework is being advertised as cost-saving across the delegates regulatory responsibility to three agencies: the U.S. entire apple supply chain. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental • What are the risks and (unintended) consequences of Protection Agency (EPA), and the Food and Drug GMOs on ecological systems? Administration (FDA). • Moral and ethical questions related to food, such as: The USDA oversees the regulation of GMOs as they relate to How do we best feed a growing global population? What agriculture. The FDA evaluates food safety from the role should traditional food systems play? Who controls standpoint of human consumption, and the EPA regulates the food supply? Who has access to the safest and most environmental risks resulting from genetically engineered nutritious foods? crops. Each agency must interpret their existing regulatory • What are the legal and economic impacts of GMOs on authority in light of the potential impact of the technology. rights and innovation? Delegating regulatory responsibility to existing agencies, however, might not be adequate in the long-term given the • How do national and international regulatory frameworks rapidly evolving nature and complexity of the technology. (including labeling requirements) influence world trade and food distribution? What are some examples of common • What are some of the ethical issues that might arise from foods containing GMOs? public/private research partnerships? • How can the voices of all the stakeholders be heard and • Bravos Tortilla Chips everyone’s values be taken into account? • Kellogg’s Corn Flakes • • Heinz 2 Baby How can we protect consumer choice and ensure public trust in food systems? • Enfamil ProSobee Soy Formula • Quaker Chewy Granola Bars • What are the limitations of science and how much • Ball Park Franks uncertainty is acceptable to consumers? Who decides? • Duncan Hines Cake Mix • Ultra Slim Fast • Quaker Yellow Corn Meal • Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix • Alpo Dry Pet Food • Morning Star Farms Better’n Burgers • McDonald’s McVeggie Burgers • Betty Crocker Bac-Os Bacon Flavor Bits Who produces the most GMOs? The USA is the largest producer of GMOs, followed by, Brazil, Argentina, , Canada, China, Paraguay, South Africa, Uruguay and Bolivia. Where to go to learn more Some food for thought • USDA Economic Research Service. http:// www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically- Food is integrally entwined with place, culture, environment, engineered-crops-in-the-us.aspx and ethics. While the use of biotechnology tools for genetic is at least 40 years old, the application of these • Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of tools is rapidly evolving. As the science and the tools evolve, Biotechnology, 51 Fed. Reg. 23,302 (June 26, 1986). so do our perceptions and understanding of both the tools http://www.aphis.usda.gov/brs/fedregister/ themselves, and the products they produce. coordinated_framework.pdf Many fields such as medicine, industrial research, and • “Socioeconomic Considerations in agriculture utilize the techniques of , but Decisionmaking.” International Research the most heated debates have centered on the use of GMOs Institute (2013). http://www.ifpri.org/publication/ in the human food supply and the how these GMOs are socioeconomic-considerations-biosafety-decisionmaking regulated. Several questions arise in relation to this complex “The Regulation of GMOs in Europe and the United issue, such as: • States: A Case-Study of Contemporary European • How do people weigh both direct and indirect risks to Regulatory Politics.” Council on Foreign Relations. their health when making decisions? (2001). http://www.cfr.org/agricultural-policy/regulation- gmos-europe-united-states-case-study-contemporary- • What are the possible (unforeseen) environmental european-regulatory-politics/p8688 impacts of GMOs on agricultural systems? These could include genetic commingling, monoculture vs. , and changes in / herbicide/ fungicide use. Photos ©2013 Clipart.com. The Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health, University of Washington, 10/2013. NIEHS Grant #ESO7033, contact: [email protected]