Genetically Modified Horticulture Essay 2

Genetically Modified Horticulture essay

What is genetically modified food?

Genetically modification is the manipulation and insertion of genes into an organism. Organisms are made up of DNA that contains genes, located in chromosomes; these genes code for a specific trait and the same trait will be passed from generation to generation unless it is manipulated with. Crops that have had genetic modification can be referred to as genetically modified (GM) crops, transgenic crops or genetically engineered (GE) crops.

Reason for GM food The reason behind genetically modified crops is for crop protection and enhanced nutrients. Crop protection is aimed at resistance of plant diseases caused by insects, viruses or through increased tolerance towards herbicides. Insect resistance is achieved by inserting the toxin from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis into the plant gene. This toxin is used as a conventional insecticide, which will act as a fast and effective pest control chemical. This toxin is also safe for human consumption. Virus resistance is achieved through the introduction of a gene from certain viruses that cause disease in plants. Because this gene has been exposed to the plant, the plant wont be affected by the virus. Herbicide tolerance is achieved through the introduction of a gene that is resistant to some herbicides.

Genetically modifying plants is a very complex task. These are the main steps that need to take place:

Isolation of the gene(s) of interest: You need to know what gene(s) exactly you want to change the trait of, e.g. drought tolerance or insect resistance. You have to have knowledge about the structure, function and location of the gene on the chromosome.

Insertion of the gene(s) into a transfer vector: The most commonly used tool for the insertion of genes is a circular molecule of DNA or called the plasmid (see diagram for example). Genes are then inserted into the plasmid using rDNA techniques.

Plant transformation: The new modified cells (containing the plasmid) are now mixed with the plants cells. Some of the cells take up a piece of the plasmid known as the T-DNA (transferred-DNA). The desired genes inserted into sections of DNA are now what form genetically modified or transgenic cells.

Selection of the modified plant cells: After transformation, there are many methods to separate the modified plant cells and the cells that have not incorporated the desired genes. The plants will be exposed to antibiotic or herbicide and only the transformed cells (that contain the selectable marker gene) will survive. These cells are then regenerated to form whole plants using tissue culture methods.

Regeneration into whole plants via tissue culture: This involves placing the plant cells onto media containing nutrients that will activate the development of the cell into plantlets. Once the plantlets are rooted they are then put into pots and put under controlled environment conditions.

Verification of transformation and characterization of the inserted DNA fragment: The verification of the plant means the gene that was inserted into the plant has been inherited normally. Tests are done to examine the number of copies inserted and whether those copies are intact. Also testing of the gene expression is done to make sure the gene is functional.

Testing of plant performance: This is usually carried out in the first greenhouse do determine whether the plant has any unwanted characteristics and to make sure it has the right traits. The plants that perform well are then sent out into the field for further testing. The plants are then grown into confined field trails to see if they still express the desired traits in an open environment. If the GM crops pass all these tests, it can then be considered for commercial production.

Safety assessment: Food and environmental safety assessment are then carried out in conjunction with testing of plant performance.

GM food in New Zealand

There is no genetically modified food growing commercially in New Zealand. GM foods and ingredients are being imported such as corn, canola, cotton oil, soybean and sugarbeet. All GM food imported into New Zealand can only be sold if Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) has checked them and determined they are safe for people to eat and also approved by FSANZ Board and cleared by all Australian and New Zealand ministers responsible for food regulation.

Viewpoint for GM food in New Zealand (from The New Zealand Herald) – Graeme Peters, chief executive of Agcarm

Graeme Peters states that there is doubt New Zealand will eventually grow GM crops the question is when. The rules are so tight at the moment that local scientists can’t even test new seeds developed by GM technology. “Their innovative germplasm will benefit New Zealand Inc. by raising crop yields, boosting milk and meat production, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and helping plants combat drought, pests and diseases.” Food Standards Australia New Zealand website say it has approved 43 GM foods, which means they can be legally sold in New Zealand. So far it has assessed no safety concerns with any GM foods. Biotech foods have had the regulators tick of approval since 2000, so if we are allowed to eat them in over a decade why aren’t we allowed to grow them here in our own soil.

The rumour is that leading biotechnology companies, who are spending millions on biotechnology research overseas, cant wait to plant GM crops in New Zealand. This is false. “…these corporates, many whom are Agcarm members, are only mildly interested in bringing their technology here because New Zealand doesn’t grow mainstream varieties for which biotechnology has been developed…”

The best opportunity for New Zealand lies with pasture, our largest crop. Pastoral Genomics, Plant and Food and AgResearch are carrying out promising work to develop better pastures. Pastoral Genomics aims to improve forage through biotechnology. An economic analyse come to the conclusion that its work could add $1.5 billion to New Zealand’s economy, lift household income by $500 million and create up to 8000 jobs.

Greame states that we must give people the choice whether they want to eat GM food or not. FSANZ specifies you must labelled food that has more then 1% GM ingredients. Growers should also have the choice whether they want to grow biotech crops also.

“An agricultural revolution is going on worldwide. New Zealand, an agricultural trading nation, needs to loosen the unacceptably tight shackles on biotechnology, or risk being left using yesterday’s technology.”-Greame Peters.

Viewpoint against GM food in New Zealand – Professor Jack Heinemann, director of the Centre for Integrated Research

Chief executive mentions is his statement “go GM or fall behind”, this is a threat and marketing gambit, not fate! “The case for GM crops is wanting. We could be building an alliance with the many GM-free countries with which to trade in seed for the future.”

In the United States one firm alone owns 82% of the corn and 93% of the soybean seed supply. Just four companies control 29% of the entire global seed supply in all crops.

“A UN analysis of 114 farming communities covering 2 million hectares across 24 African countries found just that. Non-GM, agroecological farming communities had more food, healthier children, gender equity and income to purchase education and invest out of poverty than those trapped in industrial farming systems.”

Responding to Greames comment on developing pasture grasses in New Zealand, says, “If we develop GM pasture grasses we will put the high-value markets of Europe and certain Asian nations in jeopardy as they place a premium on GM-free produce.”

“Will GM feed the world? Before the adoption of GM crops in Argentina, food security - available dietary energy, protein and fat - was increasing by about 1 per cent per year. Since adoption, food security has decreased by 0.1 per cent to 1 per cent per year. GM Paraguay has similar statistics. Brazil doesn't fit these trends, but it was slower to scale up GM.”

My viewpoint/biological application/social application

I am against genetically modified food and do not think New Zealand should grow GM crops here. I agree with the Food Standards Australia New Zealand that no GM crops should be grown here and only very little ingredients are allowed to be imported into the country. I’m very suspicious about the huge companies that control our GM foods as ‘we’ the society get less control over our food chain while the manufactures only interests are making money and not feeding people good food. We need to take control of the food system, not the corporations.

Graeme Peters gave me the impression that there were no health risks with GM foods, but my source states different, from the nzhealth website states: “Already, one genetically engineered soybean was found to cause severe allergic reactions, and bacteria genetically engineered to produce large amounts of the food supplement tryptophan, have produced toxic containments that killed 37 people and permanently disabled 1,500 in USA.” Putting these toxins in our food is not natural and could cause allergic reactions to certain people. It has been proven there are health risks with the GM food so why are other countries growing the seeds and why are we selling the products.

If we started growing GM crops in New Zealand, our animals could develop a disease or death, when grazing on the fields after harvest. In other countries that grow GM crops have found Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) crops have had problems with their stock grazing after the harvesting of these crops. Bt is a soil bacterium that produces insecticidal toxins. Genes from the Bt can be inserted into the crops making them resistant to certain pests. In India thousands of sheep, buffalo and goats dies after grazing on Bt cotton plants after harvest and other suffered reproductive problems. This situation has happened in other countries such as Europe and Asia were cows, chicken and horse died from eating Bt corn varieties. In the US farmers also reported the Bt corn variety cause widespread sterility to pigs and cows. GM potatoes showed excessive cell growth to rats when the crop was eaten; this condition may lead to cancer. The rats developed damaged organs and immune systems (refer to diagram).

Proposing actions

I think the government needs to financially support public education on genetically modified food. The society needs to be informed about what’s really in the food they are eating. This could be through posters, television or having representatives going into schools. I also think there needs to be an easy access online site regarding GM technology and products, that is basic enough for most ages to understand.
I also think on a personal level we need to stop buying GM foods. Most of us wont think twice about looking for a label if the food you were buying was GM. If the companies are not getting the sales on their products, they will not continue to produce or grow the crops. This could completely get rid of the growing GM crops all over the world and stop the importing of the food into New Zealand.