GMO Technology- Understanding Evidence of

Risks and Benefits

Kevin M. FoltaProfessor and Chairman

Horticultural Sciences Department

kfolta.blogspot.com@kevinfolta

kevinfolta@gmail.com

My main job: Chairman of the Horticultural Sciences Department (Fruit and Veg crops)

56 Faculty over six locations throughout the state

-Breeding / new varieties-Crop physiology and production-Molecular genetics-Genomics-Organic and sustainable production-Weed science-Plant nutrition, water use-Space biology-Cell and developmental biology-Postharvest physiology

•13 international scholars•Undergraduate researchers

•Examine how light affects plant traits, and use as a non-chemical treatment for enhanced shelf life

•Use of natural fruit volatiles to slow spoilage

•Connecting genes to important traits in small fruits.

•Marker-assisted breeding

My Research Program

Biotechnology Communication

•What this technology is.

•Why there is there so much misinformation about good technology?

•How to communicate the facts effectively.

Who do people turn to for good information? – YOU!

What Plant Genetic Improvement Is

More varieties

Grow better under given conditions

Improved yields

Safer products

Improved nutrition

What Plant Genetic Improvement Is

People t hink

Improved yields

What are our priorities?

Farmers

The Needy

Environment

Consumers

What transgenic technology is.What transgenic technology is.

Elevator Points

Transgenic crop technology (familiar “GMO”) is a precise extension of conventional plant breeding.

“The techniques used pose no more risk (actually less risk) than conventional breeding.” (NAS, AAAS, AMA, EFSA many others)

In over 18 years of use there has not been one case of illness or death related to these products

There are several traits used in only eight commercial crops

These are the most well studied and extensively tested plant products in history.

GM Crops Available Now

Transgenic crop technology (familiar “GMO”) is a precise extension of conventional plant breeding.

What is “Natural”?

Humans have always manipulated crop genetics

Frankenfood Paradox

Traditional breeding

Wide crosses

Mutagenesis

Polyploids

Transgenic crops

Genes affected

Thousands

Thousands

Thousands

Thousands

One-three

Understood?

No

No

No

No

Yes

Tested?

No

No

No

No

Yes

Natural?

Yes/No

No

No

Yes/No

No

Allowed for organic?

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

How do you get a gene into a plant?

How Do We Add a Gene to a Plant?

How Do You Make a Transgenic Plant – Exploit Totipoentcy

Agrobacterium is used to place gene of interest into a single cell.

The single cell is then cultured into an entire plant containing the gene.

How Do We Add a Gene to a Plant?

Agrobacterium tumefaciens

Making a New Plant from a Single Cell

CriticismsCriticisms

The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know about unintended consequences.about unintended consequences.

The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know about unintended consequences.about unintended consequences.

Today every plant is sequenced and we know exactly were T-DNAs are Today every plant is sequenced and we know exactly were T-DNAs are located in the genomelocated in the genome

Genetic improvement companies select insertions in apparently benign Genetic improvement companies select insertions in apparently benign areas of the genomeareas of the genome

T-DNA insertion is a natural process and is found in crops like sweet T-DNA insertion is a natural process and is found in crops like sweet potatopotato

There are few insertions and they don’t move. Little chance of inducing There are few insertions and they don’t move. Little chance of inducing change relative to viruses, etc– genomes are dynamic. change relative to viruses, etc– genomes are dynamic.

CriticismsCriticisms

The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know about unintended consequences.about unintended consequences.

The traits are dangerous. Who wants to eat a pesticide?The traits are dangerous. Who wants to eat a pesticide?

GMO Crops Make Pesticides

Bt is one of many natural anti-insect proteins

Bt is one of many natural anti-insect proteins

How Bt Works

bt

Advantages

Decrease in broad-spectrum insecticide use on corn and cotton

Lower fuel and labor costs for farmers

Solid dividends in the developing world

No effect on beneficials

Limitations

Need to plant refugia to slow resistance

Pockets of resistance are seen and require use of insecticides

Requires careful scouting

CriticismsCriticisms

The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know about unintended consequences.about unintended consequences.

The traits are dangerous. Who wants to eat a pesticide?The traits are dangerous. Who wants to eat a pesticide?

The Rounup-resistance trait is dangerous and roundup The Rounup-resistance trait is dangerous and roundup causes cancercauses cancer

Glyphosate-Resistant (Roundup Ready) Products

A gene is inserted that allows plants to survive in the presence of the herbicide. Farmers can spray to kill non-transgenic plants.

How Herbicide Resistance Works

A B CAminoacids

proteins

epsps

glyphosate

XPlants

How Herbicide Resistance Works

A B CAminoacids

proteins

epsps

glyphosate

X

A B CAminoacids

proteins

epsps

Plants

Bacteria

glyphosate

How Herbicide Resistance Works

A B CAminoacids

proteins

epsps

epsps

Plants

X

glyphosate

A B CAminoacids

proteinsBacteria

glyphosate

How Herbicide Resistance Works

A B CAminoacids

proteins

epsps

Plants

glyphosate

Resistance!

Advantages

Switch to a low-toxicity herbicide, cheap and effective

Lower fuel and labor costs for farmers

Decreased tilling, saved topsoil

Limitations

Weeds can evolve resistance, requiring increased labor, lower yields, and new control strategies. New chemistries.

What is Glyphosate?

Non-selective herbicide. Kills all plants.

Pathway not present in animals

Acute toxicity is low (4320 -10,000 mg/kg)

What is Glyphosate?

Generally described as non-carcinogenic

No strong evidence from scientific literature

IARC recently reclassified as “probable carcinogen”(same category as cell phones)

MOST OF ALL:

There is no glyphosate on food. Minimal residues at the most (<20 ppm).

It is sprayed at ~80 mg/m-2 weeks before plants flower

CriticismsCriticisms

The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know The T-DNA insertion is unpredictable, you don’t know about unintended consequences.about unintended consequences.

The traits are dangerous. Who wants to eat a pesticide?The traits are dangerous. Who wants to eat a pesticide?

The Rounup-resistance trait is dangerous and roundup The Rounup-resistance trait is dangerous and roundup causes cancercauses cancer

Right now the most legitimate criticisms about health and environment are about resistance evolving to the traits/treatments.

What does the scientific consensus say?

This not a scientific debate.- benefits far outweigh limitations and new solutions are

coming.

This is not a farming debate.-farmers freely choose the technology because it works.

This is a SOCIAL debate- kind people concerned about their food and health are

subject to manipulation by those with financial or political

motivations.

Why Is There Resistance to Good Technology?

The companies creating the crops failed to

communicate

Trusted independent scientists don’t speak to the

public

There is money to be made with bad information

Farmers don’t engage

Anti-corporate angst targets topics non-

scientifically

FEARFEAR FACTSFACTS

Why Is There Resistance to Good Technology?

Why is there even a problem?

How do we fix the problem?

Center for Food Integrity

Center for Food Integrity

Effects

Does it really matter? Why not just let people assume it is dangerous?

--- mistrust of good food--- higher costs--- bad, expensive public policy changes--- slowing the development of helpful technologies

Misinformation harms development and deployment of helpful technology

We have, completed, tested plants that can:

Help farmers save labor, fuel, water, fertilizer, other inputs.

Biofortify foods with vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients

Grow plants in marginal areas

Grow plants with fewer inputs Efficient use of fertilizersInsect resistanceDisease resistance

Biofortification- Engineering metabolism so that plants can produce needed compounds

Beta carotene

Folate

Anthocyanin

High oleic soy oils

Allergy-Suppression

Using technology to remove potential allergens and anti-nutrients

Decreasing toxic compounds

Low acrylamide potatoes

Decreased presence of acrylamide, a naturally-forming compound upon frying/high heat cooking

Low gossypol cotton seed

Cotton seeds contain high protein, but are not used in the human diet because of gossypol. Transgenic plants have been made with low gossypol levels.

Better performance from standard varieties

Non-browning apple

More likely to be eaten, can be used in wider recipes and food service application

Non-browning potato

More potatoes from the same amount of farm inputs

There are many more solutions to pressing ag problems, yet few are being developed.

How do we help solve the problem?

Physicians and dietitians are key in this discussion (trust + contact)

Always discuss from a point of shared values

The effects of non-action

Emphasize the basicsNo problems in 18 years of useA precise extension of plant breedingStrong scientific consensus

Workshops! May 11, 2015 at UF, will live stream

What are our priorities?

Farmers

The Needy

Environment

Consumers

Conclusions

Transgenic technology is safe

Transgenic technology has proven effective

Progress is slowed by manufactured risk

Existing products could bring great benefit to the environment, the needy, the consumer and the farmer, but they are not developed– or people resist their development out of fear

We need to use all technologies available to ensure safe and sustainable food with less environmental impact.

Long-term acceptance is dependent on honest communication of the peer-reviewed science.

Where do I get good information?

Warm welcome Cold facts

kfolta@ufl.edu

GMOanswers.com

Biofortified.org geneticliteracyproject.com

GMOLOL On Facebook

Thank you

kfolta.blogspot.com@kevinfolta

kevinfolta@gmail.com

"There is a path to truth and sincerity that you must guard and defend“

-- Teruyuki Okazaki It is our mission to stand up for the truth that science gives us.

Dr. Jack PayneSVP UF/IFAS