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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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! = +

5. 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

6. 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

7. GMO: Where are they labeled?

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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
Avoid at-risk ingredients

14. GMO: More information, Q&A
Local Label GMOs Chapter ( ),
me at
More information
Movies:
Food Inc.
King Corn
Genetic Roulette
Future of Food
Interview:
Dr. Mercola Interviews Dr. Don Huber about GMO ~(2 parts)
Websites:
GMO crops & sources –
GMOs FAQs -
Educational Brochures and more -
Must watch movies!