Arm yourself against attacks by anti-GMO activists Alan
McHughen Botany and Plant Sciences University of California,
Riverside, Ca. [email protected]
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Most people have romantic notions of farming and food
production
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Modern agriculture is actually Intense but Sustainable
Production Oriented Intense but Sustainable Production Oriented US
Agriculture Productivity increase since 1948 = 170% Productivity
increase since 1948 = 170% 1900 US agriculture workforce = 41% 1900
US agriculture workforce = 41% 2000 US agriculture workforce =
Status of GM crops USA USA Corn > 90% Corn > 90% Cotton
> 90% Cotton > 90% Soybean> 90% Soybean> 90% Argentina:
Soybean > 90% Argentina: Soybean > 90% Canada: Canola >
90% Canada: Canola > 90% India: Cotton> 90% India: Cotton>
90% Farmers worldwide support GM technology!
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Assurance of Safety There are no scientific studies on GMO
safety! There are no scientific studies on GMO safety! Over 600
technical, peer reviewed studies in the literature, covering every
aspect of GMO safety Over 600 technical, peer reviewed studies in
the literature, covering every aspect of GMO safety
http://chilebio.cl/documentos/Publicaciones.pdf
http://chilebio.cl/documentos/Publicaciones.pdf There is no
consensus in the scientific and medical communities on the safety
of GMOs! There is no consensus in the scientific and medical
communities on the safety of GMOs! Greg Jaffe, CSPI: Greg Jaffe,
CSPI: There is no reliable evidence that ingredients made from
current GE crops pose any health risk whatsoever There is no
reliable evidence that ingredients made from current GE crops pose
any health risk whatsoever
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Scientific Consensus? Generally positive Generally positive *
US National Academies * US Institute of Medicine * American Medical
Association * British Royal Society * Royal Society of Medicine *
EFSA * EU Economic Commission * World Health Organization * AAAS *
American Dietetic Association * International Seed Foundation Etc,
etc Generally negative
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Benefits of GM crops (somewhat) Higher yields (somewhat) Higher
yields Cleaner crops; fewer weeds and other contaminants Cleaner
crops; fewer weeds and other contaminants Reduced mycotoxins in Bt
maize Reduced mycotoxins in Bt maize Only feasible answer to
Huanlongbing in Citrus Only feasible answer to Huanlongbing in
Citrus Only feasible answer to Pierces disease in Grape Only
feasible answer to Pierces disease in Grape Only feasible means to
increase world food production by 2050. Only feasible means to
increase world food production by 2050.
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NAS/IOM findings Genetic engineering is NOT inherently
hazardous Genetic engineering is NOT inherently hazardous The risks
of rDNA are similar to the risks posed by traditional forms of
plant breeding The risks of rDNA are similar to the risks posed by
traditional forms of plant breeding There are NO documented adverse
health effects from eating foods derived from Biotech crops. There
are NO documented adverse health effects from eating foods derived
from Biotech crops. Allegations of harm are unfounded Allegations
of harm are unfounded Update: Still true as of May, 2013. Update:
Still true as of May, 2013.
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GE crops are released with no regulatory oversight USDA (APHIS)
- environmental issues USDA (APHIS) - environmental issues HHS
(FDA)- food and feed safety; focus on toxicants, allergens and
other antinutrients HHS (FDA)- food and feed safety; focus on
toxicants, allergens and other antinutrients EPA- pesticide usage
issues EPA- pesticide usage issues
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GE Crops are unnatural and unsustainable US: NAS, 2010. Impact
of GE crops on farm sustainability in the US US: NAS, 2010. Impact
of GE crops on farm sustainability in the US Also see: Also see:
Brookes and Barfoot, 2012 Brookes and Barfoot, 2012 Qaim, 2009
Qaim, 2009
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Sustainability Impacts in the USA Conclusions: Planting GE
crops generally : Conclusions: Planting GE crops generally : Is
better for the environment than conventional crops Is better for
the environment than conventional crops Uses less pesticide Uses
less pesticide Uses safer pesticides than those used in
conventional cropping systems Uses safer pesticides than those used
in conventional cropping systems Reduces tillage, leading to
improvements in Reduces tillage, leading to improvements in Soil
Soil Water Water BUT: may lead to reliance on a single pesticide.
BUT: may lead to reliance on a single pesticide.
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Yet, you still hear about Pseudo-Science: Pseudo-Science:
Superweeds; Carcinogens; Rat and pig studies; Terminator seeds;
Unpleasant long term effects; Biodiversity destruction; Unnatural
gene combinations; etc. Superweeds; Carcinogens; Rat and pig
studies; Terminator seeds; Unpleasant long term effects;
Biodiversity destruction; Unnatural gene combinations; etc.
Non-Science: Non-Science: Monsanto world domination plans; Corrupt
and desperate scientists; Impact on poor/small/organic farmers,
Nobody wants GMOs! Monsanto world domination plans; Corrupt and
desperate scientists; Impact on poor/small/organic farmers, Nobody
wants GMOs! They refuse to even label them so consumers can decide.
They refuse to even label them so consumers can decide.
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Biotech beef tomatoes? from Holland?
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Sodium free?
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Diet Water?
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Truthful and not misleading?
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Conclusion: We DO need more food Stick with Science Stick with
Science Science supports GM food and farming Science supports GM
food and farming Educate the Curious Educate the Curious Most
people are open minded, but dont know much about either science or
where food actually comes from Most people are open minded, but
dont know much about either science or where food actually comes
from Challenge the Liars! Challenge the Liars! Especially in
public. Farmers are people, too, and are 90% in favor of GM
agriculture. Especially in public. Farmers are people, too, and are
90% in favor of GM agriculture. But the activists are eating our
lunch, stealing our credibility, when their lies go unchallenged.
But the activists are eating our lunch, stealing our credibility,
when their lies go unchallenged.