Genetically Modified Organisms GMOs What are they

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) What are they & how they affect health, bodies, animals & the environment

Agenda n n n n n What are GMOs? Where are GMOs grown & labeled? Why are GMOs made? Who makes GMOs? How are GMOs made? Do GMOs affect the environment? Why do some people avoid GMOs? How to avoid GMOs More information, Q & A

Raise Your Hand n Do YOU know what a GMO is? Genetically Modified Organism Genetic Engineering Genetically Modified n Hint: it’s NOT evolution

GMO: What is it? n DNA from two different species are combined to create a new species q Examples that exist: n n Goat & spider Salmon & ocean pout Soybean & BT (bacteria) Corn & bacteria + ! is daily AT th We E =

GMO: What is it? n US Crops q q q q Main food for US Corn* Soy* Canola Sugar beets Cornstarch, corn syrup, corn oil Soymilk, tofu, soy lecithin Canola oil Sugar Cotton Squash HI Papaya Cottonseed oil, tampons Zucchini, crooked neck Papaya from Hawaii * Main ingredient of US raised cows, pigs & chickens 80% of what you buy in the grocery store contains GMOs

GMO: Where are they grown? n n GM crops & food introduced in mid 1990 s 2005 world production map of GMOs. Solid orange - produce more than 95% of GMO products Orange stripes - produce commercialized GMO products. Orange dots - participating in experimental GM crops. Image by pixeltoo

GMO: Where are they labeled?

GMO: Why are they made? n Pest/insect resistant crops q n Weed resistant crops q n Ex: BT Corn or BT Soy Ex: Round-up Ready Increased yields for first 2 -3 years, then decreasing yields thereafter q q q Chemical fertiziler + chemical plant = chemical crop Crops need more & more chemicals to control the superweeds Agent orange resistant crop is awaiting approvals 2009 Failure to Yield, UCS Study Rodale Institute, Chemical vs. Organic, 30 -yr Farming Trial

GMO: Who makes them? n Bio-tech companies: (Monsanto, Dow Agro. Sciences, Con. Agra, Du. Pont) q q n Make chemical fertilizer and chemicalresistant crops Sell both products to farmers FDA role: q Expects the bio-tech companies to test their own products

GMO: How are they made? n Equipment: q q DNA gun Petri Dish n Ingredients: q q q Species 1 DNA Species 2 DNA Virus Promoter Marker Gene

GMO: Do they affect the environment? n n n n Increased herbicides in ground & water Cross pollination with other plants Contaminates organic crops Increased super weeds Push heirloom crops into extinction Creates nutrient-deficient soil Kills insects GMO crops DO NOT feed the world

GMO: Why do some people avoid them? n n No long term human feeding studies done It kills bugs (we have good bugs in our digestive tracts) Unpredictable side effects of genetic engineering Increased infertility and miscarriages amongst farm animals when fed GMO feed

GMO: How to Avoid GMOs n Buy Organic, when products contain corn, soy, canola, sugar, cotton, squash, & hawaiian papaya n n n Look for the NON GMO Verified Logo Download free app from www. nongmoshoppingguide. com Avoid at-risk ingredients

GMO: More information, Q&A n n n Local Label GMOs Chapter (http: //www. labelgmos. org/ ), Email me at sas. hadden@gmail. com More information ovies! q Movies: ust watch m M n n q Interview: n q Food Inc. King Corn Genetic Roulette Future of Food Dr. Mercola Interviews Dr. Don Huber about GMO ~(2 parts) http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=X 4 sw. W 9 OFmf 8 Websites: n n n GMO crops & sources – http: //www. responsibletechnology. org/gmo-basics/gmos-in-food GMOs FAQs - http: //www. responsibletechnology. org/faqs Educational Brochures and more - http: //seedsofdeception. com/store/