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Seeds: The Future of Our Food

Seeds: The Future of Our Food. The Potato Famine. ~1845-1850 Potato disease—late blight Wide-spread hunger and disease Potato monocultures. Corn Blight . 1970 Fungus: Southern Corn Leaf Blight Attacked the cytoplasm of the hybrid corn: T-cytoplasm

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Seeds: The Future of Our Food

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  1. Seeds: The Future of Our Food

  2. The Potato Famine • ~1845-1850 • Potato disease—late blight • Wide-spread hunger and disease • Potato monocultures

  3. Corn Blight • 1970 • Fungus: Southern Corn Leaf Blight • Attacked the cytoplasm of the hybrid corn: T-cytoplasm • 80% of U.S. corn in 1970 was this hybrid variety = 46 million acres • Monocultures

  4. Heirloom vs. Hybrid HYBRID (F1) HEIRLOOM Open pollination Adapted to particular places Saved for their adaptive benefits Greater genetic diversity • The result of artificially crossing two plants together • Seeds do not produce “true to type” plants like the parents • Bred for industrial traits. • Reduce genetic diversity

  5. Values of Heirloom Crops DIVERSITY TASTE ADAPTATION CULTURE

  6. Seed Saving • One of the oldest traditions of civilization • Keeps alive traditional agricultural and culinary practices, essential for the stability of cultures • Must be open pollinated • Enhances biodiversity

  7. GMOs • Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) • Biotechnologies • Genetic engineering / Gene transfer • 1992: FlavrSavr Tomato • Terminator genes • Bt: New Leaf Potatoes

  8. Values • Efficiency • Industrialization • Output • Uniformity

  9. GMOs around US and the World • GMOs are now grown in 42 countries on 6 continents • Currently, over 1 billion acres of land contain GMO crops. 2/3 of this acreage is in USA. • 70% of products on grocery shelves in USA contain GMO ingredients http://www.siskiyoucoop.com/class/15GMO.pdf

  10. GMO Crops • Soybeans • Corn • Cotton • Tomatoes • Potatoes • Rapeseed (Canola Oil) • Sugar cane • Sweet Corn • Rice

  11. The Potential Risks of GMOs toPeople and Environment PROS CONS Unknown risks to human health and environment Long term resistance Cross pollination with non-GMOs Loss of biodiversity Ethical considerations Loss of ability to save seed • Reduced pesticide use initially • Convenient • Short term resistance initially • Initial higher yield

  12. Alternatives to GMOs • Seeds of Trust • Native Seed/SEARCH • Community Seed Banks • Seed Exchanges • CSAs and Farmers Markets • Community Gardens • GMO labeling

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