Genetically Modified France Genetically Modified France Marguerite Marguerite

Year Year Percentage of Percentage of Farmers in U.S. Farmers in U.S. Work Force Work Force % % % % % % % % 2010‹1%

Machinery Machinery Imports from other countries Imports from other countries Transport within the U.S.A. Transport within the U.S.A. Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides Synthetic fertilizers and pesticides Better plants? Better plants?

Characteristics of Genetically Engineered Crops Resistance to environmental stress Resistance to environmental stress Resistance to herbicides Resistance to herbicides Resistance to insects Resistance to insects Increased yields Increased yields Higher nutritional values Higher nutritional values

What is a Genetically Modified Organism? Definition: Definition: The formation of new combinations of heritable material by the insertion of nucleic acid molecules, produced by whatever means outside the cell, into any virus, bacterial plasmid or other vector system so as to allow their incorporation into a host organism in which they do not naturally occur but in which they are capable of continued propagation. The formation of new combinations of heritable material by the insertion of nucleic acid molecules, produced by whatever means outside the cell, into any virus, bacterial plasmid or other vector system so as to allow their incorporation into a host organism in which they do not naturally occur but in which they are capable of continued propagation.

(1) DNA (1) DNA ↓ ← ← ← Vector ← ← ← Vector ↓ (virus, gene gun, enzyme) ↓ (virus, gene gun, enzyme) ↓ (2) DNA (2) DNA → → Plant → → Plant ↓ Seeds Seeds

Monsanto Spends about $2.6 million a day producing GMOs Spends about $2.6 million a day producing GMOs Product patents Product patents Out-crossing: results from cross- pollination Out-crossing: results from cross- pollination

The European Union In 1950 European countries began to unite economically and politically In 1950 European countries began to unite economically and politically Open border policyOpen border policy The euroThe euro Agricultural policyAgricultural policy

The European Union’s Policy A genetically engineered crop must be approved by the E.U. before cultivation in member states A genetically engineered crop must be approved by the E.U. before cultivation in member states Approval on a case by case basis Approval on a case by case basis 1997: First genetically engineered crop approved by the European Union 1997: First genetically engineered crop approved by the European Union

Health and Environmental Concerns “There is more than a casual association between GM foods and adverse health effects. There is causation…” - American Academy of Environmental Medicine

Health and Environmental Concerns “ [Any] risk lies in not using “ [Any] risk lies in not using biotechnology.” biotechnology.” - Dr. Luciana Di Ciero Researcher - Dr. Luciana Di Ciero Researcher

1999 – 2004: The European Union de facto moratorium on the approval of genetically modified organisms 1999 – 2004: The European Union de facto moratorium on the approval of genetically modified organisms The European Union

Global Response U.S., Canada, Argentina U.S., Canada, Argentina World Trade Organization World Trade Organization Zimbabwe refuses food aid from the United States Zimbabwe refuses food aid from the United States

The Result European Union requires labeling and traceability of GMO foods European Union requires labeling and traceability of GMO foods Studies show how to prevent cross- pollination Studies show how to prevent cross- pollination ‘Safeguard Cause’ ‘Safeguard Cause’

Works Cited "Benefits of Biotechnology.“ monsanto.com. Monsanto Company, Web. 7 Dec Dean, Amy, and Jennifer Armstrong. "Genetically Modified Foods." aaem.org. American Academy of Environmental Medicine, 8 May Web. 7 Dec Di Ciero, Luciana. monsanto.com, Intervew. Web. 5 Dec "Don't be Bullied on GM Food." greens-efa.eu. European Free Alience, n.d. Web. 7 Dec “Farmers and the Land.” agclassroom.org. United States Department of Agriculture, n.d. Web. 3 Dec “History of the European Union.” europa.eu. European Union, n.d. Web. 5 Dec “OGM j'en veux pas." gmo-free-regions.org. GMO-free Europe. Web. 7 Dec Kanter, James. “Europe’s New Approach to Biotech Food.” nytimes.com. New York Times, 7 July Web. 5 Dec Kirby, Alex. “France's GM Veto Ruled Wrong.” bbcnews.com. BBC News, 21 March Web. 5 Dec

Works Cited Lynch, Diahanna, and David Vogel. “The Regulation of GMOs in Europe and the United States: A Case-Study of Contemporary European Regulatory Politics.” cfr.org. Council on Foreign Relations Press, Web. 4 Dec Nos Enfants Nous Accuseront. Dir. Jean-Paul Jaud." J+B Sequences: 2008, Film.. Nottingham, Stephen. Genescapes. 1st ed. London: Zed Books, Print. “Q&A: Trade battle over GM food.” bbc.co.uk. BBC News, 2 Aug Web. 5 Dec The Territory of Louisiana. Map. ancestry.com. n.d. Web. 3 Dec van Gogh, Vincent. Wheatfield and Cypress Trees National Gallery, Great Britain. ARTstor.org. Web. 7 Dec Wallstrom, Margot. The EU Ban on Agricultural Biotech Products is Illegal. usembassy.gov. U.S. Department of State, 13 July Web. 4 Dec "Why Does Monsanto Sue Farmers Who Save Seeds?" monsanto.com. Monsanto Company, Web. 7 Dec "20 Questions on Genetically Modified Foods." who.int. World Health Organization, Web. 7 Dec 2010.