Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) What are they & how they affect health, bodies, animals & the environment

Agenda What are GMOs? Where are GMOs grown & labeled? Why are GMOs made? Who makes GMOs? How are GMOs made? Do GMOs affect the environment? Why do some people avoid GMOs? How to avoid GMOs More information, Q & A

Raise Your Hand Do YOU know what a GMO is? Hint: it’s NOT evolution Genetically Modified Organism Genetic Engineering Genetically Modified Hint: it’s NOT evolution

GMO: What is it? DNA from two different species are combined to create a new species Examples that exist: Goat & spider Salmon & ocean pout Soybean & BT (bacteria) Corn & bacteria We EAT this daily! = +

80% of what you buy in the grocery store contains GMOs GMO: What is it? US Crops Main food for US Corn* Cornstarch, corn syrup, corn oil Soy* Soymilk, tofu, soy lecithin Canola Canola oil Sugar beets Sugar Cotton Cottonseed oil, tampons Squash Zucchini, crooked neck HI Papaya Papaya from Hawaii * Main ingredient of US raised cows, pigs & chickens 80% of what you buy in the grocery store contains GMOs

GMO: Where are they grown? GM crops & food introduced in mid 1990s 2005 world production map of GMOs. Solid orange - produce more than 95% of GMO products Orange stripes - produce commercialized GMO products. Orange dots - participating in experimental GM crops. Image by pixeltoo

GMO: Where are they labeled?

GMO: Why are they made? Pest/insect resistant crops Ex: BT Corn or BT Soy Weed resistant crops Ex: Round-up Ready Increased yields for first 2-3 years, then decreasing yields thereafter Chemical fertiziler + chemical plant = chemical crop Crops need more & more chemicals to control the superweeds Agent orange resistant crop is awaiting approvals 2009 Failure to Yield, UCS Study Rodale Institute, Chemical vs. Organic, 30-yr Farming Trial

GMO: Who makes them? Bio-tech companies: (Monsanto, Dow AgroSciences, ConAgra, DuPont) Make chemical fertilizer and chemical-resistant crops Sell both products to farmers FDA role: Expects the bio-tech companies to test their own products

GMO: How are they made? Equipment: Ingredients: DNA gun Species 1 DNA Petri Dish Ingredients: Species 1 DNA Species 2 DNA Virus Promoter Marker Gene

GMO: Do they affect the environment? Increased herbicides in ground & water Cross pollination with other plants Contaminates organic crops Increased super weeds Push heirloom crops into extinction Creates nutrient-deficient soil Kills insects GMO crops DO NOT feed the world

GMO: Why do some people avoid them? No long term human feeding studies done It kills bugs (we have good bugs in our digestive tracts) Unpredictable side effects of genetic engineering Increased infertility and miscarriages amongst farm animals when fed GMO feed

GMO: How to Avoid GMOs Buy Organic, when products contain corn, soy, canola, sugar, cotton, squash, & hawaiian papaya Look for the NON GMO Verified Logo Download free app from www.nongmoshoppingguide.com Avoid at-risk ingredients

GMO: More information, Q&A Local Label GMOs Chapter (http://www.labelgmos.org/ ), Email me at sas.hadden@gmail.com More information Movies: Food Inc. King Corn Genetic Roulette Future of Food Interview: Dr. Mercola Interviews Dr. Don Huber about GMO ~(2 parts) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4swW9OFmf8 Websites: GMO crops & sources – http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-basics/gmos-in-food GMOs FAQs - http://www.responsibletechnology.org/faqs Educational Brochures and more - http://seedsofdeception.com/store/ Must watch movies!