Overview of GMO Foods

1. Environmental Impacts of Genetically Modified FoodsAlvin Stein, MD½ Hour AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

2. Overview of GMO Foods • The participant will be able to identify potential effects of genetic modification on plant life. • The participant will be able to cite examples of how GM plants affect the environment. • The participants will be able to cite actions being taken by corporations and governing bodies, both in the U.S. and abroad, to protect and inform the public. • The participant will be able to cite ramifications of genetically altering our plants from ethical and scientific perspectives. • The participant will be able to cite action to avoid the toxicity associated with GM foods.

3. General Soil Impact • The majority of genetically modified foods are sold for the purpose of advancing the production and sale of pesticides. They are developed to be toxin resistant so that higher doses of toxins in the form of herbicides and pesticides can be used. This enables the pesticide companies to sell more pesticides. • The problem is that the active ingredients in the pesticides are seriously dangerous to the human population as well as to fish and wildlife. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #1, 2

4. Glyphosate Effects • In one animal study, rats given 1,000 mg/kg of glyphosate resulted in a 50 percent mortality rate, and skeletal alterations were observed in over 57 percent of fetuses! • And just so you understand, GM crops that are resistant to Roundup are the most widely sold GM varieties. So, if you eat GM foods, there is a very good chance those foods contain Roundup residues -- and possibly hefty amounts of them. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #2

5. Toxicity to the Soil • Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is the most commonly reported cause of pesticide illness among landscape maintenance workers in California. • The surfactant ingredient in Roundup is more acutely toxic than glyphosate itself and the combination of the two is even more toxic. • Glyphosate is suspected of causing genetic damage. • Glyphosate is acutely toxic to fish and birds and can kill beneficial insects and soil organisms that maintain ecological balance. • Laboratory studies have identified adverse effects of glyphosate-containing products in all standard categories of toxicological testing. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #3, 4, 5

6. Soil Sterility and Pollution • An Oregon study determined that a genetically modified bacterium meant to break down wood chips, corn stalks and lumber wastes to produce ethanol, also killed the central soil nutrients. • These microbes remained in the soil for many months killing anything that was planted. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

7. Extinction of Seed Varieties • Monsanto has bought up small seed companies, destroying competing crops. • They have had farmers sign contracts agreeing not to save the seeds from year to year. • They have even gone further to make seeds sterile so that a farmer would have to purchase new seeds from Monsanto every year. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

8. Plants and Superweeds • Genetically modified Bt endotoxin remains in the soil at least 18 months. It can migrate into wild plants and create superweeds. • These plants are resistant to butterflies, moths, and beetle pests disturbing the balance of nature. • The genetically modified plants leak their genes to outside species with a 20 times greater frequency than normal plants. The weed problem is increased, requiring the use of a greater amount of pesticide--exactly opposite what the genetically modified plant manufacturer promised the farmer. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

9. Plants and Superweeds • According to New Scientists, an Alberta Canada farmer began planting three different fields of GM canola seeds in 1997. By 1999 he had produced three different mutant weeds, respectively resistant to three common herbicides: Monsanto's Roundup, Cyanamid's Pursuit, and Aventis' Liberty. Genetic materials migrated to the weeds that they were intended to control. • We cannot anticipate all of the types of superweeds that may be created by this genetic modification process. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

10. Trees:Destruction of Forest Life • There have been attempts to introduce genetically modified trees into the environment. • These would take over entire forest areas and in the way of GM engineered crops, would produce sterile seeds leaving the forest to die rather than to revitalize itself every year. • Pollen from such trees could spread itself across an entire country without any control. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

11. Terminator Trees • Monsanto has developed plans with New Zealand’s Forest Research Agency to develop lethal plantations. • Here the trees would be nonflowering, herbicide resistant, and leaves would exude a toxic chemical to kill caterpillars and other surrounding insects. • This would destroy the very nature of the forest, all for the sake of getting more wood. The forest would not be able to regenerate itself, however. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

12. Insects and Larger Animals:Superpests • When the pests that are supposed to be killed by the genetically engineered plants get killed, they are not around to balance out secondary insects that were their natural predators. • As a result of this type of action, Bt cotton growers found a stink bug epidemic in North Carolina and in Georgia, requiring spraying with methyl parathion to eliminate the stink bug. • Transgenic cotton was supposed to kill cotton bollworms, pink bollworms, and budworms. They were once secondary pests, but a toxic chemical killed off their predators, unbalanced nature, and made secondary pests, into major pests. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

13. Animal Bio Invasions • Philip Hedrick of the Arizona State University Department of Biology reported that transgenic fish can have serious implications with regard to reproduction and sustaining of the species when intermingled with a natural population. He warned of serious potential damage. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #7

14. Killing Beneficial Insects • Studies have shown that GM products can kill beneficial insects such as the monarch butterfly larvae. • A study also reported in 1997 by New Scientists indicated that honeybees may be harmed by feeding on proteins found in GM canola flowers. • Other studies relate to the deaths of bees (40% died during a contained trial with Monsanto Bt cotton), springtails, and ladybird beetles. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #8

15. Poisonous to Mammals • Certain GM potatoes spliced with DNA from the snowdrop plant and a viral promoter (CaMV) resulted in a plant that was poisonous to mammals (rats), damaging vital organs, the stomach lining and the immune system. • CaMV is a pararetrovirus that can reactivate dormant viruses or create new viruses. The plants derived from such crops contain transgenic DNA which harms humans and animals. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #9

16. Animal Abuse • Pig number 6706 was supposed to be a super pig. It was implanted with a gene to do miracles and became a super cripple full of arthritis, was cross-eyed, and could barely stand up on its mutated body. • There was a sheep-goat with the face of a goat and the body of a sheep. • Two US technology firms are creating modified birds as carriers for human drug delivery systems. The GM products, in general, allow companies to own the rights to create, direct, and orchestrate the evolution of animals. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

17. Genetic Uncertainties • Carrying genetically modified pollen by wind, rain, birds, bees, insects, fungus, bacteria, and the entire chain of life becomes involved. Once released, unlike chemical pollution which can right itself with deterioration of the chemical, genetic pollution has no recall or cleanup possible. • Researchers showed that more than 50% of wild strawberries growing within 50 meters of a genetically modified strawberry patch assumed the GM gene markers. In addition, 25 to 38% of wild sunflowers growing near genetically modified crops had GM gene markers. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

18. Genetic Pollution • The National Academy of Sciences indicated that the containment of crop genes is not feasible when seeds are distributed and grown on a commercial scale. • Bioengineering firms are developing fast-growing salmon, trout, and catfish as part of a “blue revolution” in aquaculture. Grown in net pens that can be ripped apart in heavy waves, these fish can escape into the wild and potentially wipe out competitors by virtue of their size. • Two Perdue scientists, William Muir and Richard Howard, feel that commercial wild fish could be devastated, according to computer models, by such an event. All organic farming and farming per se could be threatened or polluted by this technology. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

19. Disturbances of Nature’s Boundaries • Genetic engineers argue that their creations are no different than cross breeding. • However, nature’s boundaries are violated when you cross animals with plants, strawberries with fish, grains, nuts, seeds, and legumes with bacteria, viruses and fungi; or cross human genes with swine. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

20. Unpredictable Consequences of Genetic Engineering • Currently used genetic reprogramming involves DNA fragments blasted past a cell’s membrane with a gene gun, shooting foreign genetic materials in basically at random. There are no guarantees that the genetic material will arrive at the appropriate location in the receptor cell. There are no assurances that the type of wedged in foreign material will result in the transition that is desired. • Genetic engineering is not quite as specific an engineering job as the terminology seems to indicate. It is not quite as specific as one is led to believe. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

21. Impact on Farming • There is currently a serious reduction in organic farms and private farms not associated with big industry and genetically modified organism planting. • Penalties are being levied on farmers adjacent to properties where GMO produce is being grown, because wind will carry seed to an adjacent property and the seed will grow. • The gene police identify crops produced with the GMO seed by accident, and force these farmers to pay royalties for the growing of these corporate-owned seeds. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

22. Decline and Destruction of Self-Sufficient Family Farms • In 1850, 60% of the working population in the US was engaged in agriculture. In 1950 it was down to 4% and in 1999, according to the CIA World Factbook, it was less than 2%. • Bioengineering, hydroponics, and other processes used to develop foods in the laboratory environment have eliminated the need for seeds, shrubs, trees, soil, and ultimately, a farmer. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

23. Impact on Organic Farming • With the present proliferation of GM foods and the overall contamination of seed from adjacent farmers growing GM foods, most farms will not be organic as they will be contaminated with GM seed. • A Texas organic corn chip maker, "Terra Prima" suffered substantial loss when their corn chips were contaminated with GM corn and had to be destroyed, as they were not organic. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

24. Loss of Natural Pesticides • Organic farmers have long used “Bt” a naturally occurring pesticidal bacterium (bacillus thuringiensis) as an invaluable farming aid. • It is administered at certain times, sparingly, in a diluted form. This only harms the target insects that bite the plant. In the diluted form it quickly degrades in the soil. • The genetically engineered Bt corn, potatoes and cotton together make up roughly one third of US GM crops and all secrete this natural pesticide. • It is present in every single cell and pervasively impacts entire fields over the entire lifespan of crops. This increases Bt use by at least a million fold in US agriculture. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

25. Loss of Natural Pesticides • Studies conducted at NYU, reported that Bt residues remain in the soil for as much as 243 days. As a result, agricultural biologists predict that this will lead to the destruction of one of organic farming’s most important tools. It makes it essentially useless. • The University of Illinois predicted that if all US farmers grew Bt-resistant corn, resistance will occur within 12 months. Scientists at the University of North Carolina have already discovered Bt resistance among moth pests that feed on corn. • The EPA now requires GM planting farmers to set aside 20 to 50% of acres with non-Bt corn to attempt to control the risk and to help Monarch butterflies survive. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

26. Control and Dependency • Terminator Technology • Plants are currently produced with no annual replenishing of perennial seeds so farmers will be wholly dependent upon the seed provider for annual renewal of seed. • In the past farmers signed agreements with Monsanto stating that they would not collect seeds. Monsanto even sent out field detectives to check on the farmers. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

27. Control and Dependency • Traitor technology • Controls the stages or life cycles of plants; when a plant will leaf, flower, and bear fruit. • This causes a farmer to use certain triggering chemicals if he is to yield a harvest, causing much deeper levels of economic dependence. • These technologies are rapidly being advanced and patented. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

28. Farm Production • Roundup ready soybeans have been produced. They are designed to be impervious to the herbicide, Roundup, which is produced by Monsanto. • GM soybeans that are Roundup ready produce fewer bushels than non-GM soybeans in tests performed by Charles Benbrook, the former Director of the Board of Agriculture at the National Academy of Science. • There was 6% less production of soybeans from the GM plantings than from conventional plantings. The Bt corn, however, yielded higher output, but the economics showed less profit because of additional cost related to insecticides, fertilizer and labor. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #10

29. Fragility of Future Agriculture • Over the years, various crops have been subject to different forms of blight that can lead to their destruction. By having multiple varieties of crops growing and available, some survive while others decline during those times. This leads to the continuation of good agricultural production to feed the population. • South Florida had a citrus canker blight in 2000 that almost wiped out Florida citrus trees, as an example. If you produce one type of agriculture, the risk of blight from some unforeseen event can lead to destruction of most of a crop with no recourse. • Therefore, the destruction rather than preservation of alternative adaptable seed stocks by GM companies follows a dangerous path for future agriculture. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

30. Lower Yields and More Pesticides With GM Seeds • A Rodale study showed that the best organic farming techniques, using rich natural compost, can produce higher drought resistance as well as higher yielding plants than with current technological attempts. • Dr. Charles Benbrook, a consultant with Consumer’s Union, published a summary that reported Roundup ready soybeans actually use two to five times more pounds of herbicides per acre than conventional soybeans sprayed with other low-dose pesticides. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

31. Monopolizing of Food Production • In the past ten years several large food companies have bought the majority of small companies. The result is that 3 or 4 companies now control as much as 75% of the market in cotton seed alone. Small farms are being squeezed out of business. • If food production is monopolized, future supply of food becomes dependent upon decisions of these certain companies threatening the food supply for the whole world. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

32. Health, Environmental, and Socio-political Reasons • Lack of labeling of genetically modified food violates and harms your right to know what is in the food you eat. The consumer has a right to know what is in the foods that he is purchasing and without the label he has no such knowledge. • For religious and dietary reasons, if someone wished to avoid specific foods, in the past it was simple. With transgenic alterations every food is suspect and the religious and health-conscious consumer has no way of knowing what he is buying without a mandated label. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

33. Contradiction in Terms • "Bio" refers to life--that which is whole, organic, self-sufficient, inwardly organizing, conscious, and living. That consciousness of nature creates a web that is deeply interconnecting. • Conversely, the term "engineering" refers to the mechanical design of dead machines--things made of separate parts, and thus not consciously connected--to be controlled, spliced, manipulated, replaced, and rearranged. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

34. What Does the Future Hold? • Genetic engineering or splicing of genes may bring a very perilous outcome, with a potential chain reaction that may not be stoppable. • It is essentially violence against nature to take gene guns and aim them at the heart of each cell or its nucleus, where the depth of life and consciousness exists. We may be destroying peace and harmony of all things in nature. Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #6

35. What steps can we take to protect our health? • Avoid buying GMO foods. Eat Organic. Organic is okay, as it is non-GMO.  Avoid Soy, Corn, Cottonseed and Canola which are all GMO. • High fructose corn syrup is GMO. Aspartame (NutraSweet) is, in fact, GMO. • Bt toxin has been introduced into corn and cotton. Farmers report that cows prefer not to eat GM corn. What are the cows telling us? Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #11

36. Foods to Always Buy Organic • Of the 47 different fruit and vegetable categories tested, these 12 fruits and vegetables had the highest pesticide load, making them the most important to buy or grow organic: • Peaches - Cherries • Apples - Kale • Bell Peppers - Lettuce • Celery - Grapes (imported) • Nectarines - Carrots • Strawberries - Pears Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #12

37. Foods Not Critical to Buy Organic • Of the 47 different fruit and vegetable categories in the Shopper’sGuide to Pesticides, the following twelve foods had the lowest pesticide load when conventionally grown. Consequently, they are the safest to consume: • Watermelon - Asparagus • Papaya - Mango • Eggplant - Pineapple • Cabbage - Sweet Corn (frozen) • Kiwi - Avocado • Sweet Peas (frozen) - Onion Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #12

38. Smarter Shopping • Buying products that are certified organic or that say non-GMO are other ways you can limit your family‘s risk from GM foods, as organic foods are not allowed to contain GM ingredients.You can also tell GM foods by their PLU sticker: • A four-digit number means the produce is conventionally grown • A five-digit number beginning with 9 means it's organic • A five-digit number beginning with 8 means it's GM Reference Stein Bibliography: Environ. Impact of GMO Foods #13

39. Take Test • Module 11 Slide Show 3; GMO environmental

40. References 1Dr. Joseph Mercola, Drug Company Owns Monsanto and Their Weed Killer Is What Funds GMO Crops, http://articles.mercola.com/sites/ articles/ archive/2001/08/08/gmo-crops-part-two.aspx/ (August 08 2001). 2Dr. Joseph Mercola, Home Depot: Do the Right Thing and Dump Monsanto!, http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/ 2008/09/13/home-depot-do-the-right-thing-and-dump-monsanto.aspx (September 13 2008). 3Cox, C., 1995. Glyphosate, Pt. 1: Toxicology Journal of Pesticide Reform Vol.15, No.3:14 -20. 4Cox, Caroline. 1995. Glyphosate, Pt. 2: Human Exposure and Ecological Effects, Journal of Pesticide Reform Vol.15, No.4:14-19. 5Moses, M. 1995. Designer Poisons. 6Batalion, N., 50 Harmful Effects of Genetically Modified (GM) Foods, http://www.raw-wisdom.com/genetically_modified_food (Updated 2009). 7Philip W. Hedrick, Invasion of transgenes from salmon or other genetically modified organisms into natural populations, http://pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/rp/rppdf/f01-064.pdf (April 12, 2001).

41. References 8Blaine P. Friedlander, Jr. Toxic pollen from widely planted, genetically modified corn can kill monarch butterflies, Cornell study shows, http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases/May99/ Butterflies.bpf.html (May 19, 1999). 9Stanley Ewen and Arpad Pusztai, “Effect of diets containing genetically modified potatoes expressing Galanthus nivalis lectin on rat small intestine” The Lancet Volume 354, Number 9187, October 16, 1999. 10Dr. Ashok Kumar Panigrahi, Balasore, Biotechnology And Environmental Biosafety in the Field of Agriculture and Food Production http://biotechsector.com/index.php?s=GM+seeds (October 28, 2009). 11Institute for Responsible Technology, Genetically Modified Ingredients Overview, http://www.seedsofdeception.com/Public/ BuyingNon-GMO/index.cfm (July 2007). 12Environmental Working Group, Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides, http://www.foodnews.org/fulllist.php (March 10, 2009). 13Diane Hatz, Guide to Good Food – Know Your Food: Quick Tip http://www.sustainabletable.org/2009/09/know-your-food/ (September 4, 2009).