TThheeVViittaallEEaarrtthhNNeewwss Agricultural Edition Volume V, Number 1 Vital Earth Resources • Gladewater, Texas Winter 1999/2000 Terminator Genes for Seed Sterility TTrraaiittoorr TTeecchhnnoollooggyy

by Paul W. Syltie, Ph.D. and Astra Zeneca. The planting of duce proteins for a particular cell are “transgenic” crops (those that are genet- actually “turned on” for that cell. These subtle new enemy has stealthily ically altered) has skyrocketed the last active genes do the work for the cell, and crept in amongst the farmer’s four years, increasing from 4.2 million the other genes are inactive ... though Amost basic inputs. His seeds are acres in 1996, to 27.2 million acres in they are active in other cells somewhere being sabotaged. This sabotage is not of 1997, to 68.7 million acres in 1998. the ordinary kind that one can identify What Are They? on-sight. It hits him at the most basic First of all, let us define what level: the seeds he grows ... and it also these transgenic crops with “termi- hits him hard in his pocketbook. nator genes” really are. Genes are “Terminator genes” are being inserted bits of inheritable material com- into the DNA -- the basic inheritable prised of a helical deoxyribonucleic material of all life -- of seeds which are acid (DNA) “backbone” having four major “bases” (alkaline-react- 80 68.7

ops ing) chemicals attached to it in var- ious sequences. The sequences are 60 ed cr critical because the order in which Open-pollinated seeds are under siege, but they occur determines the sequence es planted to natural laws tell us they will eventually win. 40 27.2 of amino acids that are generated in the proteins they fabricate. else in the plant. 20 4.2 Each cell has two full sets of genes -- A typical gene is divided into seg- one from the sperm and one from the egg ments. The first part -- called the pro- 0 -- that code for proteins made in all of moter -- is a stretch of DNA that inter- genetically modifi Millions of acr 1997 1998 1999 the tissues and organs that the plant acts with the cell or environment to initi- marketed by some of the seed giants of needs during its life cycle. However, ate the actions of the next segment. The the Western world: Monsanto, Novartis, only the genes that are needed to pro- See Terminator Genes, page 3 A Tribute to Sir Albert Howard by Paul W. Syltie, Ph.D. research and study in the West Indies, hose of us who are inescapably India, and England. In 1940 he pub- entwined in organic agriculture lished a book entitled An Agricultural Twould do well to understand a bit Testament, which related his practical of history regarding one of the major theories of agriculture and remained a pioneers of the organic movement. That landmark work on natural farming for individual is Albert Howard, who has nearly 30 years. In 1947 he published a been called the first modern-day pioneer second book, The Soil and Health, which of the organic method. related in strong terms the health of the The son of a Shropshire, England, soil to the health of plants and the people farmer, he studied agriculture at that consume them. Cambridge University before stepping A generalist, Sir Albert shunned con- into the practical world of on-farm See Nature’s Laws, page 2 © 2000 Vital Earth Resources All rights reserved

ventionalNature’s methods of agriculturalLawsnate theHold fields -- as naturethe would haveKey it patient toappears toSuccess make little progress, research in favor of practical testing. He -- yields and quality of hops rose consis- but is actually quietly replenishing nutri- opposed teams of specialists conducting tently. ent reserves until suddenly normal activ- research on fragments of the whole, each Sir Albert began to appreciate the ities are resumed. contributing a splinter of knowledge. incredible importance of the photosyn- He took an uncommon interest in He was a broad-scale thinker, asking thetic process in plant growth, and how mycorrhizal fungi, the symbiotic fungi the questions, “Can mankind regulate its leaves and roots must work together associated with roots that have in recent affairs so that its chief possession -- the within a natural environment in which years been shown to be of vital impor- fertility of the soil -- is preserved? On variety and stability are normal ... not tance to plants. These fungi funnel the the answer to this ques- vast majority of soil tion the future of civiliza- phosphorus, zinc, man- tion lies.” His answer to Mixed farming is the rule.. Plants are always found with many ganese, and other immo- species of plants and animals living together. There is never an attempt that question led directly 1 bile elements to the roots at monoculture. toward the organic of plants, and effectively method. That method expand the feeding vol- has been used throughout The soil is always protected from the action of sun, rain, and wind. ume of the root system by history within various 2All of the sun’s energy is used in the forest canopy and undergrowth, tens to hundreds of times. societies, and whichever and much in the prairie ecosystem. Leaves break the force of raindrops to Soil microorganisms and societies most closely a mist or splatter, and roots and structural units bind the soil together. organic matter were approximated nature’s understood to be the heart methods were also those Rainfall is carefully conserved. Much water is retained in the surface of soil fertility, a con- having the longest histo- 3soil, and excess is gently transmitted downward through pores and tention that most knowl- ries. cracks along structural units. edgeable soil scientists Sir Albert Howard’s will also admit today. major work was conduct- When properly supplied ed in India over a 25-year The forest and prairie manure themselves. A persistent rain of with organic materials period, where on 75 acres 4organic matter — leaves or grass — settles on the soil surface where through residue or com- he tested, observed, and scores of bacteria, fungi, and other organisms break it down to humus and post return, then plants plant nutrients. concluded that compost- will be able to extract ing of organic wastes -- essential nutrients that using what he termed the Mineral matter needed by trees and grass is obtained from the sub- encourage healthful plant “Indore Process” -- was 5soil. These minerals are also recycled through vegetation as it falls, and growth, which in turn an integral key to maxi- decomposes on the soil surface. No phosphate, potash, or other minerals will deter soil pathogens mizing the efficiency, need to be added to a properly functioning system. and insect pests. Poor integrity, and health of soil fertility produces the entire system. Soils always carry a large fertility reserve. These reserves are con- suboptimal plants that The key to the success 6tained in the humus of the surface horizons as well as in the native min- contribute to unhealthy, of Sir Albert’s views and erals of the soil mass. malnourished people. He conclusions was an open, attributed the Black unbiased eye towards the Death of 1348-49 in part natural, God-created Crops and livestock look after themselves. No spray machine or to a population weakened world. Also implicit 7vaccine is supplied in nature, only natural immunity to diseases and by drought and diseases within his work was a insects that will hold at bay the pests that are usually present. Nature’s rule during previous years. growing awareness that is “Live and let live”. The seven basic laws adherence to nature’s of nature regarding land ways leads to the best results ... cause factory uniformity and man-made para- management which Sir Albert Howard and effect. For example, his first suc- digms unnaturally superimposed upon considered critical for any permanent cessful research project in Wye, Kent, living processes. The omnipresent cycle agricultural system are listed in the text was to discover that the usual practice of of birth-growth-maturity-death-decay, box. They are the methods seen always eliminating all male hop plants from and then back to birth forms the core of operating in our forests and grasslands. growers’ fields was a distinct departure the fertility recycling so important to a In virtually all of the civilizations that from nature, leading to a decreased long-term sustainable agriculture. He have passed from the earth these cardinal growth rate and increased susceptibility likened an abused soil to a sick patient, laws of nature have been severely abro- to greenfly and mildew damage. By wherein the body lives off of its reserves gated. We are abrogating them just as allowing male plants to liberally polli- for a period of time. During recovery the severely today in Western agriculture as See Sir Albert, page 7

2/ The Vital Earth News / Agricultural Edition / Winter 1999/2000

Terminator Genes Kill the Germ! Continued from page 1 second segment -- called the coding the embryo late in seed development. can be overridden by the antibiotic tetra- sequence -- contains the actual code for The means to do this, however, must cycline. the order of amino acids to be constructed be linked to some system that will allow Terminator Gene Action an abundance of seed to be grown for The transfer of genes into the plant is farm sale. Using the above scenario alone not a very precise operation, but can be would mean that the fruit seeds would accomplished by injecting genetically die, and no large-scale production could engineered DNA into the nucleus of a cell occur. The job is accomplished through using a tiny needle, by soaking the seeds an ingenious series of genetic and chemi- in altered DNA and then electrically cal manipulations. Three engineered shocking them, attaching the DNA to components are inserted into the cotton’s small metal fragments and shooting them DNA: into the nucleus, or adding the DNA to (1) A toxic gene (as from Saponeria viruses or bacteria and infecting the cells DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) consti- officinalis) controlled by a seed-specific with them. Only a few of the infected tutes the primary information store- promoter, but blocked by a piece of DNA cells will have the correct incorporation house of all cells. between the promoter and the coding of genetically-altered DNA. Whole in the proteins. When a gene is active the sequence. plants must be generated from these cells, promoter directs the coding sequence to (2) A repressor protein coding and then they are tested for the function of generate a specific protein needed by the sequence with a promoter that is active the new genes. A cotton line is developed cell. from these properly func- Genetic engineering Normal Gene Action tioning terminator plants, manipulates the pattern of Promoter Coding and the seed is multiplied for proteins in an organism by farmer use. Toxin altering the genes that fabri- sequence (toxin) Why the Terminator? cate them. Genes are added The Terminator gene or altered. Since all genes Gene Action for Seed Multiplication with Terminator Genes offers absolutely no agro- are similar, genes from a Promoter Coding Promoter Coding nomic advantage to the mouse or a corn plant can be No farmer. Its benefit is for the added to a soybean plant ... repressor multinational seed compa- sequence repressor sequence produced or promoters can be (repressor protein (recombinase) nies who can use the tech- removed and placed in front protein) nology to require farmers to of another coding sequence repurchase seed from them Promoter Blocking Coding to change when and where No toxin every growing season. The the protein is made. For DNA sequence produced Terminator is just one exam- instance, the coding (toxin) ple of how a company can sequence for human growth Recombinase-recognizing DNA load genetic modifications hormone (HGH) can be of a number of commercial inserted into a cow, and the Gene Action for Terminator Expression with Tetracycline characteristics into a plant or promoter for casein, a major Promoter Coding Promoter Coding animal, and then activate or milk protein, moved in front deactivate them at the point of the HGH sequence. HGH sequence sequence Recom- of sale...like buying a tractor will then be made in the (repressor (recombinase) binase with “value-added” acces- protein) milk instead of casein. Tetracycline sories. Together, these Enter Terminator genes can be called Tractor Technology Promoter Coding Genes. “Gene Giant” com- To produce terminator Toxin panies want to tie these seeds the genes must pro- sequence genetic modifications to duce a toxin that will kill the Blocking DNA (toxin) their proprietary chemicals seed late in its development. so that one is useless without The way this is done is to take a promot- all of the time. the other. However, there are a number of er from a gene normally activated late in (3) A recombinase coding sequence, potentially serious consequences that may seed development -- in cotton, for exam- controlled by a promoter that is active at emanate from this Terminator technology. ple -- and fuse this promoter to the coding all times except when repressed by a spe- The Serious Downside of Terminator: sequence for a toxic protein that will kill cial repressor protein...which protein Junkie Genes? See Addict Seeds, page 6

Winter 1999/2000 / The Vital Earth News / Agricultural Edition / 3

minum octahedral layers. 15-MinuteLesson 10: SoilsThe mineral onCourse the lower left (Kaolinite) is a 1:1 clay, since it contains one Al and one Si Secrets of Clay layer) It has a low negative charge and low cation exchange capacity. A 2:1 clay (montmo- rillonite, vermiculite, or illite) has two Si layers Clay comprises a major part of many soils. with an Al layer between. The 2:1 types are The term clay has a duel connotation in soils: generally expandable, and can hold water and 1. A texture designation (particles less than ions between the layers. They have a high neg- 0.002 mm in diameter) ative charge and high cation exchange capacity 2. A mineral type . We have discussed clays at various times in Kaolinite, a 1:1 clay past lessons, especially in Lesson 4. Yet, one cannot overemphasize clays because they con- SILICA SHEET tribute so much to the soil’s cation exchange Crystal unit capacity ... and thus its ability to hold nutrients in ALUMINA SHEET } the soil. This ability is due in large part to its (fixed distance) Little internal adsorption

surfaces SILICA SHEET Diameter Number of Surface Crystal unit (microns) particles area (cm2) ALUMINA SHEET }

Clay <2 >90 billion 8 million External adsorpyion Silt 2 to 50 5.5 million 454 Sand 500 to 2,000 90 11 (coarse) Montmorillonite, a 2:1 clay tremendous surface area. A lump of clay weighing one pound can have SILICA SHEET as much total surface area as 50 football fields! ALUMINA SHEET Crystal unit Its surfaces and edges are negatively charged, SILICA SHEET } so they can hold an abundance of positively charged ions (cations). (variable distance) Large internal adsorption Clays are thought to be formed from the surfaces SILICA SHEET breakdown and recrystallization of elements ALUMINA SHEET Crystal unit from primary minerals like orthoclase, mica, or External adsorpyion SILICA SHEET } hornblende. These minerals are high in silicon, aluminum, and other elements such as magne- sium, potassium, iron, calcium, and sodium. Clay minerals form two-layered or three-layered Negative charges result from the replacement units comprised of silica tetrahedral and alu- of some Si with Al in the tetrahedral layer (Si=+4 and Al=+3, a net -1 charge), and Al with Mg in Octahedral (alu- the octahedral layer (Al=+3 and Mg=+2, a net - } minum) layer 1 charge). Broken edges also exposed hydrox- Tetrahedral yl groups, which are negatively charged. } (silicon) layer Due to its extremely large surface area and crystal character, clays become very hard when OH Oxygen Silicon Aluminum dry, and types used for pottery will form a firm radicals atoms atoms atoms Continued on the next page 4/The Vital Earth News / Agricultural Edition /Winter 1999/2000

Continued15-Minute from previous page SoilsSee HowCourse Much You Learned structure when heated. If wetted moderately the lattices will become plastic in character and “rib- 1. Clay minerals are very important as con- bon out” between the fingers. Wetted even tributors to cation exchange capacity. T or F. more, the spaces between lattices increase to 2. The two major components of clay lattices form a gel that will flow rather freely, resulting in are... mud slides and slumps along slopes. a. Mica layers In most soils, clay provides a valuable matrix b. Octahedral layers for creating soil structure and is the source of a c. Vermiculite complex large portion of cation exchange capacity. Note d. Tetrahedral layers in the picture below how clay lattices surround 3. Clay is known for its ability to aid in human and protect organic matter, preserving it in soils. health. T or F. 4. Clay minerals are categorized as the smallest particles in the soil, having diameters of... a. 2 to 40 microns b. less than 2 microns c. 500 to 2,000 microns 5. Besides oxygen and hydrogen, the tetra- hedral layers of clay is populated by ______, and the octahedral layers by ______. 6. Soil flow or slumping in very wet clayey soils is due to clay’s tendency to form a ______when wet. Energy and Health 7. Challenge question: A common 1:1 clay Clay also displays some rather bizarre quali- mineral is ______, and a common 2:1

ties, such as the ability to store energy and infor- clay mineral is ______.

mation. In one study, hitting a lump of clay with miculite.

a hammer resulted in the emission of ultraviolet ver- or illite or montmorillonite kaolinite; 7. gel; light for months. The clay lattice may even repli- 6. aluminum; silicon, 5. b; 4. T; 3. d; b, 2. T; 1. cate itself like DNA does in a cell, thus account- ing for the synthesis of clay minerals from bro- ken down parent materials in soils. Clay is a catalyst, and was the first mineral used to refine oil. Wounds are healed faster with clay applications as poisons tend to be extracted from tissues by its enormous surface area and negative charge. Taking certain clays internally likewise helps absorb and deactivate toxic compounds in the body, helping the body to heal. Notice the crystalline structure of kaolinite, a 1:1 clay mineral, to the right.

Winter 1999/2000 / The Vital Earth News / Agricultural Edition / 5

Addict Seeds with Junkie Genes! just to keep their weaker crops healthy. Terminator seed technology is another Continued from page 3 For Third World and subsistence farmers, Many patents have been applied for step in the loss of economic independence it is possible that governments will legis- related to genetic plant alteration, not just for farmers worldwide. Farmers would late the use of Terminator and Traitor for the Terminator but for herbicide toler- technologies as a requirement for credit ance as well. Some patents propose that or marketing ... as has been the case with the Terminator gene sequence in seeds planting certain rice varieties in Southeast can be triggered by herbicides or even fer- Asia. Further, destitute farmers might tilizers, but the individual promoter strat- accept well-intentioned food aid and try egy would weaken the plant’s natural to plant them for their next crop ... only to resistance to diseases and pests. These realize zero germination and famine star- seed giants, of course, manufacture the chemicals to combat these weaknesses it ing them in the face. manufactures into crops. Thus, farmers In the Third World, traditional seed saving and the germ plasm pool for the would be sold “addict seeds” with “junkie affected crops will collapse if Terminator technology takes hold. Community plant ... farmers are sold breeding would cease to exist when farm- ers cannot save their seeds. In India, 100 “addict seeds with million farmers would be at risk to join junkie genes” that the burgeoning populations of giant cities. will not perform well More Trouble Terminator genes will also lower the Hearty and nutritious open-pollinated without these chemi- nutritional quality of the seeds. After all, corn such as this will become much the seeds are dead. Dead seeds will dete- more difficult to find if Terminator tech- cals! riorate more quickly, and the oils and vit- nology is ever widely used. amins will degenerate more quickly. The genes”, as it were, that will not perform well without these chemicals! toxins may also induce allergic reactions be wise to avoid using these seeds, and For Western farmers, the cost of seeds in people who eat the oils, cereals, or instead follow natural laws that dictate bread products containing them. the use of open-pollinated varieties. will increase with Terminator and other References GMO technologies. The share of farm Moreover, the Terminator gene can Crouch, M.L. 1998. How the termi- inputs increased by 86% in the United spread to other fields of the same variety nator terminates. The Edmonds Institute, States the past ten years, and will rise and affect quality and germination of the crop. Tetracycline applied to the seeds Edmonds, Washington. much faster with genetically modified will reach the soil and cause unknown The RAFI Institute. 1999. Traitor seeds. Also, farmers using genetically interactions with organisms, and the technology; the Terminator’s wider impli- modified seeds will find themselves antibiotic will likely reach water sources. locked into expensive chemical purchases cations. RAFI Communique, Jan.-Feb. n

omplacency is a blight that saps Cenergy, dulls attitudes, and caus- More Fallout from Genetic Engin- es a drain on the brain. he first symptom is satisfaction eering ... This Time with Potatoes Twith things as they are. The sec- esearchers at the Scottish Crop Research Institute fed ladybugs aphids that ond is rejection of things as they Rhad fed on potatoes engineered to produce lectin, which suppresses aphid might be. “Good enough” becomes feeding. The fecundity of the ladybugs suffered: almost three times as many fer- today’s watchword and tomorrow’s tilized eggs failed to hatch, compared with egg hatching in ladybugs fed on aphids standard. raised on nonengineered potatoes. When male ladybugs were fed on aphids from omplacency makes people fear the engineered potatoes and mated with normal females, four times the number of Cthe unknown, mistrust the eggs were unfertilized compared with eggs fertilized by males consuming untried, and abhor the new. nonengineered potatoes. The female ladybugs that fed for 14 days on aphids that ike water, the man who is com- ate engineered potatoes lived only half as long as female ladybugs fed on aphids Lplacent follows the easiest course eating nonengineered potatoes. The researchers stated, “Strategies for the safe -- downhill. He draws fake strength release of transgenic crops must be devised and validated under field or closely from looking back. simulated conditions.” n Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener, March-May, 1998. Bits & Pieces, June, 1973.

6/ The Vital Earth News / Agricultural Edition / Winter 1999/2000

Sir Albert To Save Soil, Use No-Till Continued from page 2 Reduced or zero tillage was predicted crops, and the tendency of the soil to they ever were in Rome, Greece, or to overtake a major portion of farmland warm slower in the spring because of the Babylon ... perhaps even more so. On across North America by the early 21st insulating effect of residues. However, the other hand, a permanent agriculture Century. To a great extent that prediction yields have proven to be as high or high- has been established in China for thou- is coming true, for in 1997 the three com- er with reduced or zero tillage compared sands of years using the return of animal mon conservation tillage systems were to plowing. and human wastes to the soil (see King’s used on 111 million acres (about 37%) of The elimination of machine tillage is a Farmers of Forty Centuries). U.S. farmland. Conventional deep plow- back-to-nature movement that is bound We owe a debt to Sir Albert Howard ing was used on 106 million acres, while to reap dividends, since any way we can for not only standing up for natural agri- reduced tillage was utilized on 77 million more closely emulate natural systems cultural methods which he saw function- acres. Truly, the revolution to reduce will bring automatic rewards. Nature has ing under his own research eye, but for tillage is well under way. its own tillers -- ants, earthworms, and leaving us a legacy of hope through his other small creatures -- and requires min- written words. If you have been touched imal disturbance of the soil in order that by the philosophies of J.I. Rodale, Louis the vitally important structural units are Bromfield, Eric Eweson, Russell Lord, left intact. As a result, air and water can Paul Sears, or others from the early to easily move through the soil rather than mid-30’s era, you have been touched by face impenetrable barriers from com- Sir Albert Howard ... for he rubbed paction. shoulders with them all. That era was a One Illinois farmer commented, time when people were more closely “Farmers are still infatuated with tilling, attached to the land, and when more Chisel plowing is one system of mini- but they are kind of living in the past. mum tillage. Many others exist. common sense and long-term thinking The soil plays out. You can only do that reigned. Sir Albert was truly a visionary This change has many benefits: for so long.” of that era whose influences have lasted 1. Less runoff and erosion due to A Pennsylvania farmer put things far beyond his lifetime. Natural laws more residue left on the soil surface more bluntly: “Tillage is a disaster for continually return to teach us. For 2. Improved moisture content for the soil. It’s like a hurricane coming Albert Howard they were life itself. crop growth through. I’m going to leave this soil in n 3. Increased soil organic matter better condition than when I found it.”* content with less oxidation caused by No-till farming also saves on fuel and nowledge has to be tillage machinery. Because of fewer trips and Kimproved, chal- 4. Reduced compaction, and better better tilth -- requiring less power -- crop growth, due to fewer trips over about 5 gallons of fuel and $17 in lenged, and increased the field machinery wear and maintenance can be constantly or it vanish- There are some negatives within mod- saved for every acre farmed in this way. ern agronomic systems, such as the *Anderson, C. 1998. Chiao, plow. es. Peter Drucker requirement to use herbicides with many The Toronto Star, March 21. n

Statement of Yes! Send me a subscription to The Vital Earth News and/or Purpose product information! ital Earth Resources is a for- profit private corporation ded- q The Vital Earth News Horticultural Edition (two issues per year) Vicated to the development, q Carl Pool water soluble fertilizers production, and sale of top-quality, ecologically sound horticultural and q Potting soils, mulches, and compost agricultural products. The Vital Earth q Please have a sales representative call News is a periodic publication of Vital I am an ( ) individual, ( ) retailer, ( ) grower Earth Resources to inform customers q and other interested parties about our products and programs, and to edu- Name ______cate our readership on critical issues Address ______facing growers today and in the future. If you would like to receive City/State/Zip ______future issues of this newsletter or product information, simply fill out Telephone and/or fax (optional) ______the form on the right and mail it to us. Mail to: Vital Earth Resources, P.O. Box 1148, Gladewater, Texas 75647

Winter 1999/2000 / The Vital Earth News / Agricultural Edition / 7

VVitazymeitazyme works excellently with liquid fish! In a 1999 test with organic sweet corn, Vitazyme plus fish outyielded fish alone by a wide margin ... with only one application! See the results below. +49% 16,000 +20%

12,000 Yield, lb/acre 8,000

4,000

0 Control Fish Fish+Vitazyme Fish (2 qt/acre) and Vitazyme (13 oz/acre) applied 35 d.a.p.

P.O. BOX 1148 · Gladewater, Texas 75647