1. Genetically Modified Food Sarah Roemer CBE 555 11-14-06

2. Overview Definition Definition GM Crop Production GM Crop Production Genetic Engineering Techniques Genetic Engineering Techniques Advantages Advantages Criticisms Criticisms US Regulation US Regulation

3. Definition Food product developed from different genetically modified organism (GMO) Food product developed from different genetically modified organism (GMO) Crop plant Crop plant Soybeans, corn, canola, cocoa beans Soybeans, corn, canola, cocoa beans Animal Animal Microorganism (yeast) Microorganism (yeast) GM foods available since 1990’s GM foods available since 1990’s

4. Definition Add novel genetic material into genome Add novel genetic material into genome Produce new and useful traits Produce new and useful traits Control insects and weeds Control insects and weeds Not possible with conventional breeding Not possible with conventional breeding Intentional/unintentional modification of species to breed certain traits over others Intentional/unintentional modification of species to breed certain traits over others Selectively bred carrots

5. GM crop development 1992: FlavrSavr produced GM tomato 1992: FlavrSavr produced GM tomato 1997: Insect protected cotton 1997: Insect protected cotton herbicide tolerant soybeans herbicide tolerant soybeans Currently: herbicide/insecticide resistant soybeans, corn, cotton, canola, and tomatoes Currently: herbicide/insecticide resistant soybeans, corn, cotton, canola, and tomatoes Control weeds/insects Control weeds/insects “Altered ripening to enhance fresh market value” “Altered ripening to enhance fresh market value” Thicker skin Thicker skin

6. Current Crop Production 1996 to 2005: surface area of land with GMO’s increased by a factor of 50 1996 to 2005: surface area of land with GMO’s increased by a factor of 50 from 17,000 km² to 900,000 km² from 17,000 km² to 900,000 km² 2001 US: 68% total GM planted surface area 2001 US: 68% total GM planted surface area 2006 US: % of GM planted area 2006 US: % of GM planted area 89% soybeans 89% soybeans 83% of cotton 83% of cotton 61% maize 61% maize

7. Current Crop Production Over 40 plant varieties Over 40 plant varieties 75% of all processed foods in the U.S. contain a GM-derived ingredient 75% of all processed foods in the U.S. contain a GM-derived ingredient Vegetable oils, cereals more common than fruits and vegetables Vegetable oils, cereals more common than fruits and vegetables Companies developed GM foods: Companies developed GM foods: Bayer, Dow, DuPont, Monsanto Bayer, Dow, DuPont, Monsanto

8. Genetic Engineering Techniques Recombinant DNA Recombinant DNA Biological vectors (plasmids, viruses) to carry foreign genes into cells Biological vectors (plasmids, viruses) to carry foreign genes into cells Microinjection Microinjection Inject genetic material containing the new gene into the recipient cell Inject genetic material containing the new gene into the recipient cell Plasmid DNA

9. Genetic Engineering Techniques Electro- and Chemical Poration Electro- and Chemical Poration creating pores or holes in the cell membrane to allow entry of the new genes creating pores or holes in the cell membrane to allow entry of the new genes Bioballistics Bioballistics use metal slivers to deliver the genetic material to the interior of the cell use metal slivers to deliver the genetic material to the interior of the cell Slivers coated with genetic material, propelled into cell with gun Slivers coated with genetic material, propelled into cell with gun

10. Bt corn example B.t. (Bacillus thuringiensis) is a naturally occurring bacterium that contains a gene that codes for a toxin that will crystallize in the digestive tract of insect larvae, leading to starvation B.t. (Bacillus thuringiensis) is a naturally occurring bacterium that contains a gene that codes for a toxin that will crystallize in the digestive tract of insect larvae, leading to starvation Transferred B.t. protein genes into corn genome Transferred B.t. protein genes into corn genome Bt corn can produce its own pesticides against insects such as the European corn borer Bt corn can produce its own pesticides against insects such as the European corn borer European corn borer

11. Advantages Herbicide tolerance Herbicide tolerance Soybeans not affected by Roundup Soybeans not affected by Roundup Disease resistance from viruses, fungi and bacteria that cause plant diseases Disease resistance from viruses, fungi and bacteria that cause plant diseases Cold tolerance Cold tolerance Tolerate cold temperatures that normally would kill unmodified seedlings Tolerate cold temperatures that normally would kill unmodified seedlings

12. Advantages Drought tolerance/salinity tolerance Drought tolerance/salinity tolerance Withstand different soils or groundwater Withstand different soils or groundwater Nutrition Nutrition Add vitamins and minerals Add vitamins and minerals Add Vitamin A to rice Add Vitamin A to rice Pharmaceuticals Pharmaceuticals Edible vaccines in tomatoes and potatoes Edible vaccines in tomatoes and potatoes

13. Criticisms: Environmental hazards Harm to other organisms Harm to other organisms Monarch Butterflies Monarch Butterflies Reduced effectiveness of pesticides Reduced effectiveness of pesticides Insects will become resistant crops that have been genetically modified to produce their own pesticides Insects will become resistant crops that have been genetically modified to produce their own pesticides Gene transfer to non-target species Gene transfer to non-target species Crop plants engineered for herbicide tolerance and weeds could cross-breed Crop plants engineered for herbicide tolerance and weeds could cross-breed

14. Criticisms: Human Health Risks Allergenicity Allergenicity Introducing a gene into a plant may create a new allergen or cause an allergic reaction Introducing a gene into a plant may create a new allergen or cause an allergic reaction Scientists believe that GM foods do not present a risk to human health Scientists believe that GM foods do not present a risk to human health Several health organizations have established the background for the safety assessment of GM food Several health organizations have established the background for the safety assessment of GM food Concluded that “GM products are not inherently less safe than those developed by traditional breeding” Concluded that “GM products are not inherently less safe than those developed by traditional breeding”

15. Criticisms: Economic concerns New plant genetic engineering technologies and GM plants have been patented New plant genetic engineering technologies and GM plants have been patented Could increase the price of seeds Could increase the price of seeds Patent enforcement difficult Patent enforcement difficult Increasing use of genetic modification in major crops could cause a power shift in agriculture towards biotechnology companies Increasing use of genetic modification in major crops could cause a power shift in agriculture towards biotechnology companies More control over crops and farmers More control over crops and farmers

16. US Regulation EPA evaluates GM plants for environmental safety EPA evaluates GM plants for environmental safety Regulate pesticide/herbicide tolerant crops Regulate pesticide/herbicide tolerant crops USDA evaluates whether the plant is safe to grow USDA evaluates whether the plant is safe to grow Drought/disease tolerant crops Drought/disease tolerant crops Food for animal/human consumption Food for animal/human consumption FDA evaluates whether the plant is safe to eat FDA evaluates whether the plant is safe to eat Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food products Pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and food products

17. US Regulation: EPA EPA has strict limits on amount of pesticide applied to crops and present in food EPA has strict limits on amount of pesticide applied to crops and present in food No limits for residue on GM food since not sprayed with pesticide No limits for residue on GM food since not sprayed with pesticide Restrict the amount of GM crops planted on each farm Restrict the amount of GM crops planted on each farm Prevents insects from developing resistance and provide refuge for other non-target insects Prevents insects from developing resistance and provide refuge for other non-target insects

18. US Regulation: USDA APHIS: Animal Health and Plant Inspection Service APHIS: Animal Health and Plant Inspection Service Conducts field tests and issues permits to grow GM crops Conducts field tests and issues permits to grow GM crops Agricultural Research Service Agricultural Research Service Conducts in-house GM food research Conducts in-house GM food research Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service Completes the USDA risk assessment program Completes the USDA risk assessment program

19. US Regulation: USDA GM plant does not require a permit if: GM plant does not require a permit if: the plant is not a noxious weed the plant is not a noxious weed the genetic material introduced into the GM plant is stably integrated into the plant's own genome the genetic material introduced into the GM plant is stably integrated into the plant's own genome the function of the introduced gene is known and does not cause plant disease the function of the introduced gene is known and does not cause plant disease the GM plant is not toxic to non-target organisms the GM plant is not toxic to non-target organisms the introduced gene will not cause the creation of new plant viruses the introduced gene will not cause the creation of new plant viruses the GM plant cannot contain genetic material from animal or human pathogens the GM plant cannot contain genetic material from animal or human pathogens

20. US Regulation: FDA Current policy from 1992 Current policy from 1992 Agricultural/biotech companies may voluntarily ask the FDA for a consultation Agricultural/biotech companies may voluntarily ask the FDA for a consultation Don’t have to consult FDA or follow their recommendations Don’t have to consult FDA or follow their recommendations FDA does not have the time, money, or resources to complete health and safety studies of every GM food product FDA does not have the time, money, or resources to complete health and safety studies of every GM food product

21. GM Food Labeling FDA: food labeling is governed by the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act FDA: food labeling is governed by the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act GRAS: Generally Recognized as Safe GRAS: Generally Recognized as Safe Labeling would increase costs Labeling would increase costs Difficult to define acceptable limit of GM contamination in non GM foods Difficult to define acceptable limit of GM contamination in non GM foods Current technology cannot detect minute quantities of GM food Current technology cannot detect minute quantities of GM food

22. GM Food Labeling Consumer interest groups want labeling Consumer interest groups want labeling Agribusiness industries believe that labeling should be voluntary and influenced by the demands of the free market Agribusiness industries believe that labeling should be voluntary and influenced by the demands of the free market January 2000 international trade agreement for labeling GM foods January 2000 international trade agreement for labeling GM foods 130 countries signed, including the US 130 countries signed, including the US Exported GM food must be labeled Exported GM food must be labeled

23. GM Regulations Worldwide Japan – health testing of all GM food Japan – health testing of all GM food Europe – GM food labeling Europe – GM food labeling European Commission established a 1% threshold for contamination of unmodified foods with GM food products European Commission established a 1% threshold for contamination of unmodified foods with GM food products Venezuela – ban on GM seeds Venezuela – ban on GM seeds Hungary – ban on importing and planting of GM corn seeds Hungary – ban on importing and planting of GM corn seeds

24. Future Developments GM foods continue to increase GM foods continue to increase Bananas produce vaccines against Hepatitis B Bananas produce vaccines against Hepatitis B Fish that mature more rapidly Fish that mature more rapidly Fruit and nut trees that produce fruit quicker Fruit and nut trees that produce fruit quicker Plants that produce new plastics Plants that produce new plastics More safety testing needed on new products More safety testing needed on new products Possibility of food labeling? Possibility of food labeling?

25. References http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_environment/genetic_engine ering/ http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods: Approaches to Assessing Unintended Health Effects (2004) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bt_corn http://www.ers.usda.gov/briefing/biotechnology/moreovervie w.htm Transgenic pollen harms monarch larvae (Nature, Vol 399, No 6733, p 214, May 1999) http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/biotechnology/content /printable_version/BRS_FS_bionotifcation_02-06.pdf EC says 1% is acceptable GMO contamination (Nature Biotechnology, Vol 17, pp 1155-1156, Dec 1999)

26. Thank you! Questions?