Production and Evaluation of Genetically Modified Crops

Production and Evaluation of Genetically Modified Crops

John J. Finer

John J. Finer

http://www.oardc.ohio-

state.edu/plantranslab/

http://www.oardc.ohio-

state.edu/plantranslab/

Acreage of GMO

Varieties

Acreage of GMO Varieties

Classical Plant Breeding:Classical Plant Breeding:

Genetic modification following introduction of large amounts of undefined DNA from a genetically similar source.

Genetic modification following introduction of large amounts of undefined DNA from a genetically similar source.

Plant Biotechnology:Plant Biotechnology:

Genetic modification of a plant cell by introduction of defined DNA(s) from a genetically different source.

Genetic modification of a plant cell by introduction of defined DNA(s) from a genetically different source.

Biotechnology: Biotechnology:

Bio = Biology Technology = Application

“The application of Biology”(for the benefit of humans)

Bio = Biology Technology = Application

“The application of Biology”(for the benefit of humans)

Plant Biotechnology:1) Plant Tissue Culture (Cloning)2) DNA introduction (Gene Transfer)

Plant Biotechnology:1) Plant Tissue Culture (Cloning)2) DNA introduction (Gene Transfer)

Oranges?

Strawberries?Potatoes?

Apples?Daffodils?

Cloning

Have you ever eaten/used cloned plants?

Tur

fgra

ss?

Roses?

in Plants

Cotton

Poplar

Xmas Cactus Fern

Soybean Ohio Buckeye

Gene Identification:

GenomicsProteomicsMetabolomics

Herbicide resistance

Insect resistance

Grain quality

Neutrative

Virus resistance

Growth habit

Fungal resistance

stress resistance

Value added

Animal viral vaccines

Protein and O

il

Pharmaceuticals

Flower color

Plant Transformation

Plant Transformation

Agrobacterium Particle gun

First biotech plant product – Flav’r Sav’r tomato

First biotech plant product – Flav’r Sav’r tomato

Bt Corn Reduces:Insecticide MycotoxinApplication Production

X

Monarch larvae on Butterfly weedMonarch larvae on Butterfly weed

Public Support Varies for Different Applications of Biotechnology

(Includes ALL Countries – N = 35,000)

35

42

55

68

71

73

74

85

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Increase Animal Productivity

Clone Animals (Medicine)

GM Feed (Healthier Meat)

More Nutritious Crops

Crops with Fewer Chems

Bacteria to Clean Waste

Crops to Produce Plastics

New Human Medicines

(Percent Agreement)

Source: Thomas Hoban, North Carolina State University

The Benefits of Using Biotechnology are Greater than the Risks

(35,000 Consumers from 35 Countries)

38

40

44

55

59

60

66

18

37

14

8

16

15

7

44

23

42

37

25

25

27

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Europe (Average)

Russia

Australia

Canada

Latin/South Amer (Ave)

Asia (Average)

United States

Agree Not Sure Disagree

The Benefits of Using Biotechnologyare Greater than the Risks

(European Consumers)

22

22

34

39

41

42

55

24

24

18

25

10

11

8

54

54

48

36

49

47

37

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Greece

France

Italy

Spain

Germany

Great Britain

Netherlands

Agree Not Sure Disagree

Willing to Buy GM Food if More Nutritious (Net = Continue – Not Continue)

1

21

25

31

56

66

-7

-5

-5

1

-10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Great Britain

Australia

Germany

Mexico

Japan

Canada

USA

Brazil

India

China

Percent Response

“Can you think of any information not currently included on food labels that you would like to see?”

71

913

2

1112

17

75 74 78

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Nothing Ingredients Biotech / GM Other

Pe

rce

nt

Re

sp

on

se

Hoban (10/2000) IFIC (1/2001) IFIC (9/2001)

Perceptions of safety improved when US consumers learn that biotech foods have been

in the stores.

21%

25%

31%

46%

48%

29%

Unsafe Not sure Safe

Do you think genetically modified foods are basically

safe, basically unsafe, or don’t you have an opinion

on this?

Now, as you know, more than half of products in the

grocery store are produced using some form of

biotechnology or genetic modification. Knowing this,

do you think genetically modified foods are basically

safe, basically unsafe, or don’t you have an opinion on

this?January 2001

Source: Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology

“By Eating a Genetically Modified Fruit, a Person’s Genes Could also Be Changed”

1996 - 1998

55

60

62

74

58

38

52

29

61

62

30

25

20

16

24

32

25

32

30

18

15

15

18

10

18

30

23

39

9

20

0 20 40 60 80 100

United Kingdom

Switzerland

Sweden

Netherlands

Italy

Germany

France

Austria

United States

Canada

Percent Response

False (Correct) Don't Know True

Source: Thomas Hoban, North Carolina State University

“Ordinary Tomatoes Do Not Contain Genes, while Genetically Modified Ones Do”

1996 - 1998

40

48

46

51

35

36

32

34

45

52

38

21

24

27

44

20

39

22

45

33

22

31

30

22

21

44

29

44

10

15

0 20 40 60 80 100

United Kingdom

Switzerland

Sweden

Netherlands

Italy

Germany

France

Austria

United States

Canada

Percent Response

False (Correct) Don't Know True

Biotech Regulatory Oversight

For further information, contact:

John J. FinerDepartment of Horticulture and Crop

ScienceOARDC/The Ohio State University1680 Madison Ave.Wooster, OH 44691Tel: 330-263-3880Fax: 330-263-3887e-mail: finer.1@osu.edu