Greenpeace Lauren Gianniny Britta Zack
Greenpeace: who we are NNNNon-profit organization –N–N–N–Non-violent –4–4–4–40 countries GGGGoal - to keep the earth green and peaceful –P–P–P–Protect oceans and forests –S–S–S–Stop nuclear threats –E–E–E–Eliminate toxic chemicals –E–E–E–End genetic engineering
Not Used In Other Countries Where it is banned : –Germany –France –Luxemburg –Portugal –Austria Where it was never used: –China –Australia Why: –Protect consumers –Defend health protection –Don’t have enough information to say it is safe
Effects on Insects Insecticidal crystal proteins - bind to midgut - bind to midgut membranes membranes Bt ’ s resistance? - insects resistant in insects resistant in 3-4 yrs. yrs. - leads to new and more - leads to new and more harsh insecticides. harsh insecticides. If strands combine? - Riverside CA research - Riverside CA research effects on insect population effects on insect population
Does size matter? Is there a problem with the size difference? A resistant Heliothis fed on sub lethal concentrations of Bt toxin grows normally Growth of a susceptible Heliothis larva is stunted
“We don’t know yet how sever the impact of GE maize will be on individual butterfly populations and which will suffer the most” “GMO’s simply ignored the risks” (Railo and Haerlin, Genetic engineering) Bt kills Monarch butterflies –Within 48 hours -19% mortality –Avg. weight of larvae fed on Bt was ½ that of non Bt larvae. Bt larvae.
Just butterflies or more? Horizontal Gene Transfer –Mycorrhizal fungi responsible for transfer of nutrients between organisms –“Wood wide web” –Brings together soil nutrients from plant to plant. to plant. –Transfer from plant chromosomes to soil bacteria carrying homologous sequences.
Taco Bell and Kellogs in Trouble Taco Bell found to have Cry9c - Bt not approved for human consumption - Bt not approved for human consumption - Triggers allergies - Triggers allergies - Difficult human digestion - Difficult human digestion Kellogg’s fights that US eats genetically altered corn. Banned in Europe
Economic Disadvantages Because of resistance - Harsher chemicals - Harsher chemicals - Increases cost - Increases cost - Decreases trade - Decreases trade Market rejection - U.S farmers lost more than $200 million - U.S farmers lost more than $200 million - Predicted decline in planting of Bt corn - Predicted decline in planting of Bt corn
Where Is Our Society Heading? Does Bt corn use lead to capitalization and globalization? –Control of food supplies will be in the hands of a few large companies –Small organic farmers become undermined –Large-scale farming methods produce rural unemployment
Recommendations Labeling of GE products Segregation of crops Ban GE food in US Further research performed