1. LECTURE GEOG 270 Fall 2007 November 19, 2007 Joe Hannah, PhD Department of Geography University of Washington

2. Debating GMOs in the Third World “Naming and Framing”

3. To Do Today ► Recap last time: Kacy McKinney’s talk ► Two GMO technologies ► “Naming and Framing” in the GMO debate

4. Kacy McKinney’s talk: MST, Land and GMOs in Brazil ► Interesting case of stakeholder response ► “Landless Peasants” “Land should be used to fulfill its larger social functions.”

5. GMOs: A threat? A rallying point? ► Against legalization of GMOs (successful until 2004) ► Lobby, demonstrate, raise awareness ► Exposed illegal plantings ► GMOs promoted by MNCs: “Privatization of development?” ► Roles of state, corporations, social movements: Peaceful? Violent?

6. Two Technologies ► “Roundup ready” crops ► “Bt” crops

7. One GMO Technology: “Roundup Ready”

8. Another Technology: Another Technology: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) http://www.biotech.iastate.edu/biotech_info_series/bio9.html http://www.scq.ubc.ca/?p=262 http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegal/plantpath/corn/ecb/bteardam.html

9. “Naming and Framing” in the GMO Debate ► Food Security / Feeding the World ► Increased yields – fact or fiction? ► Environmental risk ► Capitalism & Farm Incomes McGloughlin vs. Altieri & Rossett

10. Will GMO crops help feed the world’s exploding population? ► Population swelling ► Hunger has complex roots; more food will help ► Not increasing productivity will lead to famine ► Integrated agr is inefficient and will lead to under- production ► GMOs are humanitarian- driven ► Hunger problem not due to too little food or to large population ► More productivity is a distraction from massive social/political problems ► Integrated agr will give household food secruity ► GMOs are profit driven Altieri & RossettMcGloughlin

11. Do GMOs give higher yield? ► Yes! (cites studies) ► (But much of the argument is centered around economics of GMOs for farm profits) ► No! No real difference in yields in most cases (cites a study) Altieri & RossettMcGloughlin

12. Environmental risks ► Reduced use of agricultural chemicals ► Increased biodiversity ► Risks of eating GMOS “alarmist” ► Increased use of chemicals ► Decreased biodiversity ► Risks of eating GMOs understudied, “unpredictable” Altieri & RossettMcGloughlin

13. Capitalism and Farm Income ► Conventional systems use more chemicals, cost more ► GMOs reduce costs, increase yields ► Why such high rates of adoption? ► GMOs tie farmer into neoliberal world economy ► Self-sufficiency, seed sharing ► Need to build agric. that nurtures community McGloughlinAltieri & Rossett Political Agendas???