Biotechnologies: Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resource Issues BI 430/430H/530 FS 430/430H/530 Instructors: Steve Strauss Kirstin Carroll

Student Introductions: 1. Name, background, major/dept, and reason for interest in this class. 2. What do you expect this class to be about?

What is Biotechnology? Biotechnology – techniques of modern biology that employ living organisms (or part of organisms) to make or modify products, improve plants or animals, or develop microorganisms for specific uses. Early examples of biotechnology…. Plant domestication Fermentation (bread, wine, cheese) Crop domestication

Maize Rice Tomato Pine Plant domestication

Brassica oleracia oleracia Wild cabbage Kale, 500 BC Ornamental kale Late 1900's Cauliflower 1400's Broccoli Italy, 1500's Cabbage, 100 AD Kohlrabi Germany, 100 AD Brussel sprouts Belgium, 1700's

Creation of crops that never existed in nature before…  Wheat, Triticum aestivum Triticum urartu 2n=14 Aegilops speltoides 2n=14 Triticum turgidum 2n=28 X Triticum aestivum 2n=42 Aegilops tauschii 2n=14 X

Modern Biotechnology and GE Biotech = GE = GM = GMO = GEO This class will focus mainly on biotechnologies that include the use of modern genetic engineering (GE) techniques. GE - is the use of recombinant DNA (gene splicing) and asexual gene transfer methods to alter the structure or expression of specific genes and traits.

Biotechnology issues A new science – genomics A new science – genomics A new technology – gene transfer A new technology – gene transfer New laws have been generated New laws have been generated –New patent rights and market power –Food safety regulations –Environmental safety regulations –Novel contaminants and liabilities Raises new ethical issues – is it OK? Raises new ethical issues – is it OK? Obtaining global agreement on food trade and biodiversity protection rules Obtaining global agreement on food trade and biodiversity protection rules Social controversy = misuse of science, propaganda wars, fear, stigma Social controversy = misuse of science, propaganda wars, fear, stigma

Rapid Adoption of Biotechnology – fastest growing technology ever!

Rapid Adoption of Biotechnology –70% of all processed foods on U.S. store shelves contain some component from GM organisms –All aspartame (a.k.a. Nutrasweet) is from GM bacteria, most rennet in cheese is too. –Essentially all insulin is GE (and many pharmaceuticals)

Public relations campaigns against the technology…

Industry campaigns for the technology…

Half-truths, distortions, make it hard to tell what is going on and who is deceiving who

How many European consumers feel about food biotechnology

Is Zambia right to refuse GM food? BBC Poll Results 1 February 2003, n = 5108 There's no justification for feeding people 'poison' Levy Mwanawasa, President of Zambia

Risks of unintended effects on food :NRC/IOM 2004

Biotechnology and Society Any new technology takes time for acceptance. Any new technology takes time for acceptance. (e.g. pasteurization & microwaves) Food is an emotional and personal area. Food is an emotional and personal area. (more controversial than medicines) Limited public understanding of science and agriculture. Limited public understanding of science and agriculture. Sensationalized media coverage raises fears and sets public agendas. Sensationalized media coverage raises fears and sets public agendas. Biotechnology raises complex ethical and social issues which need attention. Biotechnology raises complex ethical and social issues which need attention.

Scientific Questions About GE Crops Is eating food from transgenic crops a health hazard? Does pollen from transgenic crops contaminate non-transgenic crop varieties? Will herbicide-resistant GE crops create “superweeds”? Do transgenic crops reduce biodiversity? Will insect pests become resistant to Bt toxin?

Non-Scientific Questions About GE Crops Why do we need GMOs? Who will benefit? Who decided to develop them and how? Why weren’t we better informed? Why aren’t we given a choice? Do regulatory agencies have sufficient power? Who will be accountable in cases of unforeseen harm?

Course Goals All of this is too much, too big, for any one teacher or scientist. All of this is too much, too big, for any one teacher or scientist. Intelligent perspectives are too diverse for one human to present all fairly. Intelligent perspectives are too diverse for one human to present all fairly. Thus interdisciplinary approach to class. Thus interdisciplinary approach to class. The main goal of this class is to make sure you have accurate information and understand the diverse perspectives that are out there The main goal of this class is to make sure you have accurate information and understand the diverse perspectives that are out there

You may reach different conclusions about the desirability of all, or specific, GE crops based on the material you hear, and accept, depending on your perspective You may reach different conclusions about the desirability of all, or specific, GE crops based on the material you hear, and accept, depending on your perspective Hopefully, your science based views are not based on an “all GE is good or all GE is bad” level of analysis. Hopefully, your science based views are not based on an “all GE is good or all GE is bad” level of analysis. Course Goals

Class Website

Great stuff out there as well as lots of non-sense. General knowledge of required readings tested comprehensively on final exam. Also via three essays and midterm exam. Background readings give added facts, views, opinions, recent/local news. Text (Mendel) with give a historical perspective of GE (fast read). Other readings focus on science. All reading materials minus text are available via web site. Readings for first two lectures Readings a critical part of class