Health and Environmental Consequences of Genetically Modified Foods

Health and Environmental Consequences of Genetically. Modified Foods, Biopharming and r. BGH Martin Donohoe, MD, FACP Portland State University Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility With thanks to Rick North, Project Director, Campaign for Safe Food Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility

Wendell Berry “How we eat determines to a considerable extent how the world is used”

The Precautionary Principle When evidence points toward the potential of an activity to cause significant, widespread or irreparable harm to public health or the environment, options for avoiding that harm should be examined and pursued, even though the harm is not yet fully understood or proven.

The Precautionary Principle n Give human and environmental health the benefit of doubt. n Include appropriate public participation in the discussion. n Gather unbiased scientific, technological and socioeconomic information. n Consider less risky alternatives.

Genetically-Modified Foods n Plants/animals whose DNA has been altered through the addition of genes from other organisms n In development since 1982 n First commercially available crops hit market in 1994

Genetically-Modified Foods n GM Crops grown commercially by 8. 5 million farmers on 250 million acres spread over 21 countries n Up from 4. 3 million acres in 1996 n Global acreage increased 20% in 2004, but new R and D slowing: n ¾ of U. S. federal crop approvals between 1995 and 1999

Genetically-Modified Foods n Top producers: United States (59%), Argentina (20%), Canada (6%), Brazil (6%), and China (5%) n Account for 96% of global cultivation n Europe – only small amounts in Spain n 60 -70% of processed foods available in the U. S. today come from GM crops n Hawaii: biodiversity vs. biotech

Genetically-Modified Foods n Major agricultural biotech companies also pharmaceutical companies: n Monsanto n Novartis Seeds n Aventis Crop. Science n Bayer Crop. Science

Genetically-Modified Foods n Purposes: increase growth rate/enhance ripening, prevent spoilage, enhance nutritional quality, change appearance, provide resistance to herbicides and drought, alter freezing properties

“Golden Rice”: The Poster Child of GE Purported to be the solution to the problem of Vitamin A deficiency in developing countries n Developed in 1999 by Swiss and German scientists n Produced by splicing two daffodil and one bacterial gene into japonica rice, a variety adapted for temperate climates n

Vitamin A Deficiency (VAD) n VAD afflicts millions, esp. children and women n Severe deficiency causes blindness (350, 000 pre-school age children/year) n Lesser deficiencies weaken the immune system, increasing risk of measles, malaria, other infectious diseases, and death (VAD implicated in over one million deaths per year)

Golden Rice n Produces β-carotene, which the body converts into Vitamin A (in the absence of other nutritional deficiencies - such as zinc, protein, and fats - and in individuals not suffering from diarrhea)

“Not-So Golden” Rice Crop not yet adapted to local climates in developing countries n Amounts produced minute: 3 servings of ½ cup/day provides 10% of Vitamin A requirement (6% for nursing mothers) n Β-carotene is a pro-oxidant, which may be carcinogenic n Syngenta Golden Rice II (23 times more provitamin A) and GM potatoes recently developed n

Curing Vitamin A Deficiency n VAD can be cured: n With small to moderate amounts of vegetables, whose cultivation has decreased in the face of monoculture and export crops n With inexpensive supplements n With political and social will and international cooperation

Measure 27 n November, 2002 Oregon ballot n Required labeling of genetically- engineered foods sold or distributed in the state n Wholesale and retail, e. g. , supermarkets n Not cafeterias, restaurants, prisons, bake sales, etc.

Measure 27 n Defeated 70% to 30% n Surprising, since multiple polls conducted by the news media, government and industry show from 85 -95% of US citizens favor labeling

Measure 27 Opponents outspent proponents $5. 5 million to $200, 000 n Similar to defeat of measure to establish public ownership of utilities (vs. PGE/Enron) in Portland, OR n Public power advocates outspent $2 million to $25, 000 n Most opposition money from outside Oregon n

Measure 27 n Vast majority of opposition funding from corporations headquartered outside state: n Monsanto, Dupont, Syngenta, Dow Agro Sciences, BASF, Aventis, Hoechst, and Bayer Crop Science

Measure 27 n Aided by PR and political professionals n Hid behind scientific-sounding “advocacy” groups – e. g. , The Council for Biotechnology Information

Corporate Opposition to Measure 27 Vested interest in spreading deliberate misinformation about the initiative to keep the public ignorant of the adverse consequences of their profit-driven manipulation of the world’s food supply

Measure 27 Opponents’ Other Activities Chemical weapons: n Hoechst (mustard gas), Monsanto (Agent Orange, PCBs, dioxins), Dow (napalm) n Other weapons: n Dow, Dupont n Pesticides: n Monsanto (DDT), Dow (dioxins, PCBs, Dursban) n

Measure 27 Opponents’ Other Activities n n n Ozone-destroying chlorofluorocarbons: n Dupont and Hoechst (merged with Rhone Poulenc to form Aventis) major producers Other toxins: n Dupont (PFOA, major component of Teflon) Agricultural Antibiotics: n Many companies – overuse of agricultural antibiotics on factory farms is the #1 cause of antibiotic-resistant food-borne infections in humans

Opposition Tactics n Claimed measure would unfairly hurt Oregon farmers, grocers, restaurants, schools and non-profit groups n No commercial GE crops grown in Oregon n Grocers, restaurants, schools and nonprofit groups not affected

Opposition Tactics n Funded commercial diatribes describing increased, onerous and complicated government oversight n Frightened public with unfounded fears of increased costs (including tax increases) of up to $500 per family n Realistic estimates $4 $10/person/year

Opposition Tactics n n n Accused Measure’s supporters of being “against national policy and scientific consensus”, “technophobic, ” and “anti-progress” Argued that labels would provide “unreliable, useless information that would unnecessarily confuse, mislead and alarm consumers” Portrayed their products as environmentally beneficial in the absence of (or despite the) evidence to the contrary

Opposition Tactics n Claimed USDA, EPA and FDA evaluate safety of GE products from inception to “final approval” USDA deals with field testing, EPA with environmental concerns, FDA considers GE foods equivalent to non-GE foods n Corporations do all testing, are not required to report results to government n

Corporations Dominate Oregon Politics n Lowest corporate taxes of any Western state n Large cuts in public services Oregon corporate income taxes have decreased by 40% over the past 12 years n In the 2005 -2007 budget cycle, corporations will pay just 5% of all Oregon’s income taxes, compared to 18% from 1973 -75 n 2/3 of Oregon’s corporations pay Oregon’s $10 (no disclosure law) n

Corporations Dominate Oregon Politics n Oregon is one of only six states to allow unlimited corporate campaign contributions n Corporations outspend labor unions 5 -1 and massively outspend all other progressive groups and causes put together

Post-Measure 27 Activities Ongoing vigorous lobbying campaign to pass bill pre-empting any locality in Oregon from passing a labeling bill n Eight states have enacted laws to prohibit counties and other local governments from banning or regulating GE seeds n n 5 other states considering bills

Post-Measure 27 Activities n 2005: Alaska becomes first state to require labeling of GM fish (bill unanimously passes both House and Senate) n Vermont considering bill to make seed companies, instead of farmers, liable for damage from GM plants

Post-Measure 27 Activities Scientific-sounding front groups: Council for Biotechnology Information (Dow, Dupont, Monsanto, others) n Monsanto: 9 in-house lobbyists, another 13 at private firms n Nationwide: lawsuits against farmers n Supported by 75 employee, $10 million legal division at Monsanto n Most farmers settle; settlement terms often sealed n

Post-Measure 27 Activities: The National Uniformity for Food Act n Passed House of Representatives in 3/06; similar bill yet to be introduced in Senate n Could affect over 200 state-level food safety laws n Including labeling laws for GMOs and r. BGH

Post-Measure 27 Activities: The National Uniformity for Food Act n Costs of appeals to FDA could be up to $80 million annually (per CBO) n Appeals could take years n FDA under-funded and under-staffed n. Only ¼ of FDA’s resources allocated to food program, down from ½ in 1972

Post-Measure 27 Activities: The National Uniformity for Food Act Supported by the “National Uniformity for Food Coalition, ” an industry group started by the Grocery Manufacturers Association n Since 1999, shortly after the uniformity campaign began, food-related industries have contributed $81 million to congressional candidates n

Food Labeling in the U. S. n Vitamin, mineral, caloric and fat content n Sulfites (allergies) n Source of proteins (vegetarians) n President GW Bush opposes labeling of GM foodstuffs; APHA favors labeling

COOL: Country of Origin Labeling n 2002 Farm Bill mandated USDA to begin COOL in 9/04 n 85% favor COOL, 74% support Congress making COOL mandatory, 55% have “little or not much trust” in industry to provide voluntary COOL

COOL: Country of Origin Labeling COOL for seafood went into effect in 4/05 n Congress has delayed implementation of COOL twice (current expected rollout = 9/08) n Heavy industry lobbying and large campaigns to fight mandatory COOL / support voluntary COOL n Trade Associations / Big Agribusiness and grocers n

GE Food Labeling Worldwide n European Union has required since 1998 n Japan, China, Australia, Brazil, Malaysia, and many other countries also require labels

GE Foods Worldwide n Many countries ban planting and the importation of GE foods from the U. S. and elsewhere n EU lifted ban in 2003 due in part to U. S. /Canada/Argentine lawsuit against EU through WTO n NSW government banned until 2006

WTO Suit Against EU for Import Restrictions on GMOs n WTO ruled against EU (2006) n Details of secret proceedings leaked to press n WTO acknowledged that their decision based on trade, and that they were not qualified nor obligated to consider health and environmental consequences

GE Food Labeling Worldwide n Swiss banned GMO crops, 164 local governments in EU have banned or come out against GE crops n European public strongly opposed to GMO foods n But, since 1/05, at least 12 GM seeds approved for planting in various EU countries

Government and Industry n Revolving door between industry and federal regulatory agencies n Silencing dissent; firing dissenters n Pseudoscience

Benefits of Labeling GE Foods n n Prevent allergic reactions n Soybeans modified with Brazil nut genes (noted pre-marketing, never commercialized) Allow vegetarians to avoid animal genes n Tomatoes with flounder genes (Flavr Savr tomato antifreeze properties, consumer demand low in test -marketing) n Ice cream with ocean pout gene (“smoother and creamier” – from Unilever…subsidiary Ben and Jerry’s opposing)

Benefits of Labeling GE Foods Permit concerned individuals to avoid milk from r. BGH-treated cattle n Risks to humans, cattle and the environment n Heighten public awareness of genetic engineering n Millions of Americans eat GM foods every day without knowing it n Only 26% of Americans believe they have eaten GM foods n

Benefits of Labeling GE Foods n Grant people freedom to choose what they eat based on individual willingness to confront risk n Ensure healthy public debate over the merits of genetic modification of foodstuffs

Health and Environmental Risks of GE Foods n Allergies and toxicities from new proteins entering the food supply n EMS from Showa Denko’s GE-L-tryptophan supplements in 1980 s n FDA covered up n Bt corn increases sensitivity of mammals to other allergens n GM peas (with bean gene) cause lung inflammation in mice – trial stopped n New, allergenic proteins in GE soy in South Korea

Food Allergies n n 2% of adults, 5% of infants and young children in the U. S. (FDA) n 30, 000 ER visits and 150 deaths/yr n 90% caused by ingredients containing protein derived from milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybeans (FDA requires food labeling for these ingredients) Food allergies and anaphylaxis on the rise n Partly due to increased recognition and reporting n ? Partly due to GMOs?

Health and Environmental Risks of GE Foods Secret Monsanto report found that rats fed a diet rich in GM corn had smaller kidneys and unusually high white blood cell counts n Monsanto’s MON 863 Yield. Gard Rootworm (GM) Maize damages rats’ livers and kidneys n

Health and Environmental Risks of GE Foods Russian Academy of Sciences report found up to six-fold increase in death and severe underweight in infants of mothers fed GM soy n Bt cotton reported to cause skin and respiratory illnesses/allergies in workers in Philippines n

Health and Environmental Risks of GE Foods n Altered nutritional value of foodstuffs n Transfer of antibiotic resistance genes into intestinal bacteria or other organisms, contributing to antibiotic resistance in human pathogens n Horizontal gene transfer of gene inserted into GM soy to DNA of human gut bacteria

Health and Environmental Risks of GE Foods Animal data suggest DNA can be taken up intact by lymphocytes through Peyer’s patches of small intestine n Other animal studies show adverse effects on multiple organs n Monsanto conducted feeding studies of GM potatoes (which had been declared unsafe in rats) on Russian prisoners in 1998 (kept secret until 2007) n

Health and Environmental Risks of GE Foods n Increased pesticide use when pests inevitably develop resistance to GE food toxins n Reproductive and neurotoxic effects n Greater herbicide use – confirmed by multiple studies n Glyphosphate and Roundup toxic to placenta

GM crops and Pesticide Use n Overall pesticide use up 4. 1% (122 million pound increase since 1996) n. Pesticide use down in some Bt crops, up in others (e. g. , 1/3↑ in cotton) n. Herbicide use up in herbicidetolerant (e. g. , Roundup Ready) crops

Bt Plants n Bt cotton destroyed by mealy bug; harvests in India decline dramatically, leading to rash of suicides among farmers n Bt corn more susceptible to aphids n Monsanto pays fines for bribing Indonesian and Turkish officials to accept Bt plants

Health and Environmental Risks of GE Foods Acrylamide released from polyacrylamide (added to commercial herbicide mixtures to reduce spray drift) = neurotoxin, reproductive toxin, and carcinogen n Non-target insects dying from exposure to pesticide-resistant crops n Ripple effects on other organisms n

Pesticides n Based on the poison gasses developed in WW II n Vandana Shiva: “We are eating the leftovers of World War II”

Pesticides n 4. 5 billion lbs/yr pesticides (17 lbs/citizen) n CA, NY, and OR are the only states currently tracking pesticide sales and use n OR system under-funded n EPA estimates U. S. farm workers suffer up to 300, 000 pesticide-related acute illnesses and injuries per year

Pesticides n NAS estimates that pesticides in food could cause up to 1 million cancers in the current generation of Americans n 1, 000 people killed by pesticides over the last 6 years (WHO) n Even so, the EPA and NAS have OK’d human subject testing…. .

Pesticides n $2. 4 billion worth of insecticides and fungicides sold to American farmers each year n Pesticides inhibit nitrogen fixation, decrease crop yields n Evidence suggests these actually promote pests (vs. natural pesticides) n 30% of medieval crop harvests were destroyed by pests vs. 35 -42% of current crop harvests n Implies organic farming more cost-effective

Toxins n Body burden of industrial chemicals, pollutants and pesticides high n Environmental Working Group (2004) found 287 pesticides, consumer product ingredients, and wastes from burning coal, gasoline, and garbage in umbilical cord blood n Many other compounds not even tested; numbers undoubtedly higher

Health and Environmental Risks of GE Foods n Genes, initially designed to protect crops from herbicides, being transferred to native weeds n Create herbicide-resistant “superweeds” (8 species identified by 2005, 5 in the U. S. ) n Herbicide-resistant oilseed rape has transferred gene to charlock weeks in U. K. n Glyphosate (Roundup)-resistant pigweed in MO and GA, ryegrass in CA, maretail in multiple states

Health and Environmental Risks of GE Foods n GE plants and animals interbreeding with wild relatives n Spread novel genes into wild populations n Herbicide-resistant oilseed rape genes found in turnips n 21% of U. S. farmers in violation of EPA rule requiring GE fields to contain at least 20% non-GE crop n ¼ to 1/3 of Mexican corn samples contaminated; Columbian coca plants

Genetic Modification of Conventional Crops n First commercialized in the U. S. in 1996 n About 23% of the total 2, 970 million acres crops harvested during this period n 73% herbicide-tolerant crops, vast majority resistant to glyphosphate (Roundup, Monsanto) – known as “Roundup Ready”

Genetic Modification of Conventional Crops n 61% of corn n 80% of cotton n 83% of canola n 89% of soybeans n Other crops: rice, tomatoes, potatoes, Hawaiian papaya, zucchini, crook neck squash

GE Crop Incidents n Over 140 incidents from 1996 -2005 Most are cases of crop contamination n 17 illegal releases n 8 reports of negative agricultural side effects n n 39 countries on 5 continents affected, almost twice the number of countries that grow GM crops

GE Crop Incidents Monsanto (1998): Uncontrolled field test of GE (“Naturemark” New. Leaf) potatoes in Georgia (in Eastern Europe) contaminated crops in Georgia, Russia, and Azerbaijan n Crop yields fell by ½ to 2/3 n Many farmers went into debt n

GE Crop Contamination n Canadian farmer Percy Schmeiser’s fields contaminated by pollen from nearby GM canola n Sued by Monsanto n One of over 100 active similar suits brought by Monsanto Canadian Supreme Court ruled that Monsanto’s patent valid, Schmeiser’s fine negligible, Monsanto owns Schmeiser’s crops n Schmeiser now suing Monsanto over new contamination n

GE Crop Contamination n Starlink Incident (2000) n Unapproved corn contaminates food supply n $1 billion in food recalls; Aventis pays $500 million to farmers and food producers and processors n Less than 1% of corn grown; 12% contaminated n 2003 – 1% of corn still tests positive

GE Crop Contamination n Prodigene Incident (2002) n GM corn, engineered to produce a pig vaccine, contaminates soybeans in Nebraska and Iowa n USDA fines Prodigene $250, 000; reimbursements to farmers over $3 million

GE Crop Contamination n Syngenta accidentally released hundreds of tons of GM corn, tagged with antibiotic resistance genes, to farmers between 2001 and 2004 n Native Mexican corn varieties contaminated by GE corn

GE Crop Contamination n Contamination of wild creeping bentgrass with Roundup-resistant Scotts Miracle. Gro/Monsanto GM variety in Oregon (8/06) n Designed to “revolutionize golf course maintenance” n Contamination found well beyond “buffer zone”

GE Crop Contamination n Oregon creeping bentgrass contamination n Threatens $374 million Oregon grass seed market n Jim King, Scotts’ spokesman: “The fact that nature took its course was exactly what you would have expected to happen. ” n Federal judge overturns USDA’s approval of Roundup Ready alfalfa (3/07)

GE Crop Contamination n 7% of growers of organic corn, soybeans, and canola reported GM contamination in 2001 study n Canada: Herbicide resistance found to have spread from GM canola to wild relative by pollination

GE Crop Contamination n Japan: Transgenic canola found growing near some ports and roadsides n Since canola not grown commercially in Japan, imported seeds likely escaped during transportation to oil-processing facilities

GE Crop Contamination Heinz baby food sold in China found to contain illegal GM rice containing Bt toxin gene sequences n Syngenta found to be conducting illegal trial with GM soybeans in Iguacu National Park in Brazil n

GE Crop Contamination n Bayer Crop. Science herbicide-tolerant “Liberty Link” rice contaminates food supply (August, 2006) n Places $1. 5 billion industry at risk n Farmers from 5 states file lawsuit n EU requires testing of all imported rice n Japan ban imports of US rice n But, China may be first developing country to allow the sale of GM rice (huge market)

GE Crop Contamination Bayer keeps contamination secret for 6 months, then US government takes another 18 days to respond n 9/06: 33/162 EU samples tested positive for Liberty Link contamination n USDA Secretary Mike Johanns: “I didn’t ask where [the contaminated samples] came from…I can’t tell you if it came from this state or that state. ” (8/18/06) n

Economic Risks of GE Crop Contamination n Recent studies have cast doubt on the economic utility of GM crops for farmers in North America Lower yields n Higher input costs n n Contamination could be devastating for local farmers n Buffer zones inadequate

Economic Risks of GE Crop Contamination n Agriculture major industry in Oregon agriculture garnered $1. 3 billion in net income in 2004 n Almost 3 times net farm income in 2002 n Approximately $14 million organic market

Response to Contamination n The most common response to contamination worldwide is for companies and governments to raise the allowable contamination threshold n UK Environment Minister (7/06) calls for “pragmatic co-existence”: “In the real world, you can’t have zero cross-pollination” n EU labeling rules now allow 0. 9% contamination in “GM-fre” foods

Health and Environmental Risks of GE Foods n GE crops out-competing, or driving to extinction, wild varieties, or becoming bio-invaders in neighboring farms or other ecosystems n GE plants adversely altering soil bacteria and consequently soil quality n Possible contribution to decline in honeybee populations

Health and Environmental Risks of GE Foods n Further decrease in agricultural biodiversity n UN FAO estimates 75% of the genetic diversity in agriculture present at beginning of 20 th Century lost n Unknown effects on integrity of global food supply from large-scale genetic rearrangements

Health and Environmental Risks of GE Foods n n n Some corporations producing GE foods have not been able to get insurance due to excessive liability risks Deutsche Bank (Europe’s largest bank) has advised large institutional investors to sell their shares in GE companies The Large Scale Biology Corporation (formerly Biosource Genetics), the first company to try to produce plants genetically-modified to make drugs and industrial chemicals, went bankrupt in 1/06

Failure of Regulatory Oversight n “The Department of Agriculture has failed to regulate field trials of GE crops adequately” n Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General, 1/06

Failure of Regulatory Oversight n Nearly 1/5 FDA scientists “have been asked, for non-scientific reasons, to inappropriately exclude or alter technical information or their conclusions in an FDA scientific document” (2006) Similar to global warming report from NASA, Plan B EC data, Medicare Part D data, etc. n A new “Dark Ages” for US science n

Biopharming n The engineering of plants to produce pharmaceuticals such as enzymes, antibiotics, contraceptives, abortifacients, chemotherapeutic agents, other medications, vaccines, and industrial and research chemicals n None yet approved by FDA for marketing

Biopharming n Rationale: n Farmers/farms cheaper than technicians/manufacturing plants n Inexpensive scale-up and scale-down; hire or fire contract farmers n Seeds/silos may be cheap storage system n ? Cheaper drugs? – doubtful given history of pharmaceutical industry pricing patterns; also, multiple externalized costs

Biopharming n Over 300 field tests since 1991 n None yet in Oregon n U of Wisconsin trial of alfalfa genetically -modified to produce amylase and lignin peroxidase approved in 1995, apparently did not go through n USDA does not regulate indoor biopharm crops

Pharma Crop Approvals in the U. S. (2/06)

Top 12 Biopharm States 1 – Nebraska 7 – Florida 2 – Hawaii 8 – Texas 3 - Puerto Rico 9 – Maryland 4 – Wisconsin 10 – California 5 – Iowa 11 – Kentucky 6 – Illinois 12 - Indiana

Biopharming Hawaii – most tests; most fragile ecosystem n Risks similar to GE crops n e. g. , cases of food crop contamination reported n Prodigene incident, Starlink incident n Concerns that pharma trait could increase in frequency and concentration reaching dangerous levels in unwitting consumers n

Biopharming n More than 15 companies, along with 5 universities, involved n n Missouri has subsidized a biopharm research center Ventria Bioscience to plant rice geneticallyengineered to produce lactiva and lysomin (antidiarrheals) in Kansas, despite contamination of Mexican rice by US GM rice

Biopharming n USDA conceals crop locations from public and neighboring farmers, in most cases hides identity of drug or chemical being tested, citing trade secrets n Even state agriculture regulators often unaware of info re drug or chemical involved

Major Biopharm Crops n Corn n Soybeans n Tobacco n Rice n Other organisms: n Fish: tilapia/clotting factor VII n Cattle: biopharming via milk

Examples of biopharmed crops Drug/Chemical Use Test Crop Laccase Textiles, adhesives Corn Folic acid Vitamin Tomatoes Erythropoeitin Anemia Tobacco

Examples of biopharmed crops Drug/Chemical Use Essential fatty Cell membrane acids production SARS vaccine Immunization Vaccine against Immunization pollen allergies Test Crop Soybeans Tomato Rice

Examples of biopharmed crops Drug/Chemical Use Test Crop Traveler’s and Immunization/ Rice, Potatoes other Diarrheas Drug and Corn (*including use of human genes in outdoor plants) Insulin Treatment of Diabetes Safflower (proposed)

Potentially Harmful Biopharmaceuticals Substance Aprotinin in corn Anti-sperm antibody in corn Use Known or Potential Effects Blood clotting Pancreatic disease, allergic reactions Contraception Adverse reproductive impacts

Potentially Harmful Biopharmaceuticals Substance Use Known or Potential Effects Trypsin in corn Occupational asthma Avidin in corn Enzyme research, industrial uses Research Tricosanthin in tobacco Failed anti-HIV drug Vitamin B deficiency, allergic reactions Highly toxic allergic reactions, induced abortions

Biopharming n Dow Agro. Sciences has won USDA approval of a chicken vaccine against Newcastle Disease produced in fermented tobacco plant cells n Not strictly biopharming; more like cell culture

Opposition to Biopharming n National Academy of Sciences n Union of Concerned Scientists n British Medical Association (favors moratorium on all GM foods) n Consumers Union

Opposition to Biopharming n Grocery Manufacturers of America n National Food Processors Association n Organic Consumers Association n Friends of the Earth n Others

Biopharm Proponents Claims Inflated/Unrealistic n Containment-related costs may equal or exceed purported reduced drug production costs n Increased economic liabilities assumed by food manufacturers, farmers, and pharma crop companies for potential contamination of food supply

Biopharm Proponents Claims Inflated/Unrealistic n Farmers are unlikely to be major beneficiaries: n Market forces, including foreign competition, will drive down farmer compensation n Acreage required very small compared with commodity crop acreage, such that only a small number of growers will be needed

Biopharm Proponents Claims Inflated/Unrealistic n Rural communities are unlikely to be major beneficiaries unless: n The local pharma crop brings in substantial research contracts for universities and private research firms n Pharmaceutical processing companies locate in the area

Biopharming in HI: First Federal District Court Ruling (8/06) n USDA violated the Endangered Species Act and the National Environmental Policy Act in granting pharma crop permits in HI Failure to protect HI’s 329 endangered and threatened species n Failure to conduct even preliminary investigations prior to its approval of the plantings n n Appeals expected

Genetic Modification of Trees n Purposes: Faster growing, stronger wood, greater wood and paper yields n Hardier trees requiring less chemical bug and weed killers n Disease-resistance n Decrease amount of toxic chemicals needed to process trees into paper n Change color when exposed to bioterrorism agents n

Genetic Modification of Trees n Purposes: n Mercury-splicing bacteria for soil cleanup n Removes Hg 2+ ions from contaminated soil and converts it into volatile elemental mercury, which is released into the atmosphere, is converted by phytoplankton to organic mercury, is dispersed widely, and then works its way up the food chain n Danbury, CT field trials (hat making industry – the “Danbury shakes”) n Supported by EPA

Genetic Modification of Trees n 230 experiments thus far involving at least 16 countries and 24 species, more than half since 2002 n Sites kept secret n One Canada plot of Bt spruce and poplars planted outside Quebec City, 2006 n Trees sterile n Hawaiian papaya trees – devastated $22 million papaya economy, as Canada and Japan refused to purchase

Genetic Modification of Trees n Risks same as for GE crops n UN Convention on Biological Diversity has called for moratorium (3/06)

Biopharming of Vertebrates n WA, OR and MD banned GE salmon, which can escape their “farms” and interbreed with wild stocks, possibly hastening the extinction of wild salmon n 15% of farmed fish escape their pens

Biopharming of Vertebrates n California banned sale of GM Glofish, zebra fish that glow in the dark n Oncomouse – GM to predispose it to cancer (used in research) n Mousepox virus GM to produce IL-4 (immunocontraceptive) inadvertently killed 3/5 of infected mice, even those genetically resistant to mousepox

Biopharming of Vertebrates n Transgenic sheep produce alpha-1 - antitrypsin n “Enviropig” – GM to digest phytates, decrease phosphate in excrement n Pigs modified with roundworm gene to make their own (heart healthy) omega-3 fatty acids

Biopharming of Vertebrates n Pigs modified to produce proteins in their semen n Cows genetically-modified so that udders produce lysostaphin, which promotes resistance to Staph aureus (the major cause of mastitis)

Biopharming of Vertebrates n Hens engineered to produce mi. R 24 (experimental melanoma drug) and human interferon-beta-1 a (multiple sclerosis treatment) and to pass on these genes to the next generation n Rats GM to secrete malaria vaccine in their milk

Biopharming and Genetic Modification of Vertebrates n Goats GM to make anti-nerve gas agent n EU recently declined to approve antithrombin made in goats n Knock-out mice (lacking gene regulating fear)!

Genetic Modification of Vertebrates: Cloning n FDA asked animal cloning industry to delay selling milk and meat products from test tube cows and pigs n However, sales are ongoing

Patenting Life Forms More patenting of life-forms, turning common goods into corporate commodities n Patenting of living organisms ruled permissible by U. S. Supreme Court in Diamond v. Chakrabaty, 1980 (oil-digesting bacterium) n Over 1, 000 patents taken out on human gene sequences n

Patenting Life Forms Nearly ¾ of patents taken out by U. S. corporations based on publicly-financed research n Chilling effect on research n J Craig Ventner Institute has filed application to patent a minimal genome n 400 genes required to sustain life n Aim is to corner market in synthetic life forms designed to produce ethanol or hydrogen fuel n

Synthetic Biology n Creation of DNA and organisms from scratch n aka “genetic engineering on steroids” 2002: Polio virus created at SUNY Stony Brook over two years n 2004: Synthetic virus made in 14 days n 2005: Mt Sinai, CDC researchers resurrect lethal 1918 flu virus and publish details of complete genome sequence n

Harassment of Scientists n Ignacio Chapela – Mexican Corn contamination n n U. C. Berkeley, Novartis Arpad Pusztai – adverse renal, immunological, and growth effects of GM potatoes in rats n British Government, Rowett Research Institute

Harassment of Scientists n Similar to previous harassment of Derek-Bryce Smith and Herbert Needleman (lead poisoning) n Betty Dong, UCSF (Synthroid, Boots-Knoll Pharmaceuticals) n Nancy Oliveri, University of Toronto (desferoxamine, Apotex) n Tyrone B Hayes, U. C. Berkeley (atrazine toxicity, Syngenta) n n Withholding data, publication delays

The (Biotech) War on Iraq Mesopotamia’s fertile crescent (Iraq) where agriculture began n Order 81 of Coalition Provisional Authority sets regulations favoring the patented seeds of large multinationals n Texas A and M has begun a $107 million program to “reeducate” Iraqi farmers to grow industrial-sized harvests for export n

Famine and GE Foods Food dictators who control GE seeds and plants attempted, through the UNFAO and the WHO, to use the famine in Zambia to market GE foods through aid programs, even though… n More than 45 African (and other) countries expressed a willingness to supply local, non. GE relief n

Famine and GE Foods n Zambia did not wish to pollute its crops with GE foods, which would have prevented it from exporting home-grown crops to many other countries which do not accept GE imports (further weakening its already fragile economy) n Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Angola have also refused GM food aid

Agricultural Employment n Agriculture = largest industry on earth n Agriculture accounts for 70% of employment and 35% of GNP in sub-Saharan Africa n Only 2% of US workforce employed in agriculture (vs. 84% in 1810)

GE Foods and World Hunger n For the first time in history, there are now an equal number of people – 1. 1 billion – who get too much to eat as those who don’t have enough to eat n Hunger and malnutrition kill almost 6 million children per year worldwide

GE Foods and World Hunger n GE foods promoted as the solution to world hunger n Undermine food and nutritional security, food sovereignty and food democracy n One week of developed world farm subsidies = Annual cost of food aid to solve world hunger

GE Foods and World Hunger: Terminator Technology n Genetic Use Restriction Technology (“GURT”) n n v-GURTS (aka “terminator technology”): Makes seeds sterile, via insertion of gene that stops manufacture of protein needed for germination, so they cannot be cropped and resown t-GURTS (aka “traitor technology”): Inserts modifying gene such that genes governing good growth, germination, and other desirable characteristics can be activated only when the plant is sprayed with a proprietary chemical, which is sold separately

GE Foods and World Hunger: Terminator Technology n Overturns traditional agricultural practices of over a billion farmers n n Instead of saving seeds for the next year’s crop, forced to buy seeds annually from biotech companies Terminator plants still produce pollen, and their genes could make non-GM crops sterile as well

GE Foods and World Hunger: Terminator Technology In 2000, the world’s governments imposed a de facto moratorium on developing, or even testing, the technology under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity n U. S. , Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and UK trying to overturn n Upheld by UN CBD in 3/06 n Terminator technology opposed by World Council of Churches n

GE Foods and World Hunger n Increasing reliance on GE food n Consolidates corporate control of agriculture n Crops supplied mainly by a handful of multinational corporations n Transmogrifies farmers into bioserfs n Each year more than 2 million tons of GMO food, often unlabelled, is sent by the U. S. to developing countries

GE Foods and World Hunger n World hunger will not be solved through large-scale molecular manipulation of food crops whose cultivation has been carefully perfected over 10, 000 years

GE Foods and World Hunger n There is already enough food to feed the planet n UN FAO: Enough food to provide over 2700 calories/day to every person n Almost ½ of American food goes to waste n Feeding everyone requires political and social will n Irony that the U. S. , home to many GE firms, has rates of child poverty and hunger among the highest in the industrialized world

Solutions Outlaw GM crops n Labeling laws n Allow informed consumer choice n Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s House bills to require labeling, expand FDA oversight, increase regulations re biopharming, and expand research to help developing nations feed themselves n

Solutions n Expose and oppose industry attempts to pre-empt labeling initiatives/laws n GM-free zones n >3000 in Europe n Others in Canada, Australia, and the Philippines n Swiss passed 5 yr. ban on biopharming by referendum (2/06)

Solutions n Norwegian government planning to build artificial cave in frozen mountain at edge of Arctic Circle to preserve 2 million varieties of seeds from ? ? ?

Solutions n New ballot initiatives and legislation n Marin, Mendocino, Santa Cruz, and Trinity Counties (CA) ban GMO crops n Bans defeated in Sonoma, Butte, Humboldt, and San Luis Obispo Counties n CA bill to allow farmers to sue GM- crop manufacturers

Solutions n New ballot initiatives and legislation n Vermont now requires manufacturers of GM seeds to label and register their products Arkansas banned GE rice n Minnesota gives its DOA the power to regulate all GE crops; commissioner has authority over GE plantings n Boulder, CO banned GE crops on public lands

Solutions n New ballot initiatives and legislation n Hawaii law placed 10 year moratorium on GE coffee and taro n CA biopharm moratorium (pending legislation) n Moscow to begin labeling GM foods

Oregon Biopharm Bill n Passed OR House 55 -0, OR Senate 29 -1, signed by governor - 2007 n State to negotiate MOU with USDA and then write OR-specific rules n Unclear if wishes of Biopharm ad hoc Committee’s recommendations for MOU will be honored

Oregon Biopharm Bill: Recommendations for MOU n n n Permit ODA and public health officials to view confidential business information re: biopharm crops Both ODA and Public Health Dept. Directors must approve biopharm crop permits before field trials Express preference for non-food crops, or crops grown indoors in a secure greenhouse; require written justification for outdoor food crops

Oregon Biopharm Bill: Recommendations for MOU n n Require FDA preliminary opinion on safety of biopharm crop; disclose to state officials Require demonstration of adequate insurance to cover potential damages of an inadvertent release Charge the biopharm company to cover costs of Oregon’s monitoring activities Establish public communications plan, including channels for scientific opinions and opportunity for public comments

Solutions n Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (of the Convention on Biological Diversity) n Agreed upon by 130 nations in 2000 n Went into effect in 2003 after 50 nations signed n Allows countries to bar imports of GMO seeds, microbes, animals or crops that they deem a threat to their environments

Solutions n Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety n Does not cover processed foods made from GMO crops n Requires international shipments of GMO grains to be labeled n U. S. has not signed/ratified, and actively opposes

Solutions n Ireland pledges to go GM-free – 2007 Scotland, Austria and Greece prohibit planting of GM organisms n Moscow now requires labeling of GM foods n Danish law compensates farmers whose fields have become contaminated with GMOs; government seeks recompense from the farmer whose field originated the genetic contamination, assuming the culprit can be pinpointed n

Solutions n Campaign finance reform – local and national n Public education – particularly in science/environmental science n Close revolving door between industry and government regulatory bodies n Involve religious groups

Solutions n Support local, organic agriculture and patronize farmers’ markets n Average American meal travels 1500 -2000 miles to reach your table n 17 X fewer fuel costs for local foods n Avoids redundant trade

Solutions: Organics n Organic retail sales topped $15 billion in 2005 n Organic food market has grown 25%/yr since 1980 n Organic farming produces equivalent yield to non-organic farming, but uses 30% less energy, less water, and no pesticides

Solutions: Organics n Consumers willing to pay substantial premiums to avoid GE foods n Organic industry being “taken over” by Wal-Mart, Coca-Cola, Phillip Morris, etc.

Solutions Consumer-supported agriculture co-ops n 1, 200 in U. S. n Support family farms; oppose factory farms n Purchase heirloom fruits and vegetables; plant heirloom seeds n Passed from one generation of family farmers and gardeners to the next n Help to preserve agricultural biodiversity n Exquisite taste n

Solutions n Oppose unfair farm subsidies n 10% of U. S. farms receive 65% of subsidies; 50% receive just 2% n. Since 2000, $1. 3 billion paid to individuals who do no farming n 72% of all food sold in U. S. comes from 7% of U. S. farms

Solutions n Avoid over-fished species/GE fish n Consider vegetarianism n Or decrease meat intake

Solutions n Shun the highly-processed, geneticallymanipulated comestibles available in large grocery chains and the fried, fat-filled foodstuffs found in fast food franchises 1950: American farmers captured 50¢ of the avg. dollar spent on food n 1997: 7¢ n Vast majority now goes to food processors, food marketers, and agricultural input suppliers n

Solutions n Oppose IMF, World Bank, and WTO structural adjustment programs which exacerbate hunger in the developing world by forcing debtor nations to restructure their agricultural base toward export crops and away from nutritional foodstuffs for local consumption

Solutions n Support increased research and subsidies for alternative agriculture n Support equitable distribution of agricultural resources among populations worldwide n Support increased, non-GM agricultural aid to developing nations

Risks of r. BGH (Used to increase milk production by cattle) n Milk contains ↑ levels of IGF-1, a suspected contributor to breast, prostate and GI cancers n n IGF-1 survives pasteurization and gastric digestion (due to casein) Causes heat stress, GI disturbances, ovarian and uterine disorders and mastitis in cattle n Antibiotic treatment of mastitis leads to increased antibiotic resistance in cattle and humans

Risks of r. BGH n Increases growth rate of cattle, which require increased protein feed n One of the cheapest and most commonly-utilized forms of protein is other dead animals, via rendering n. Mad Cow Disease

Risks of r. BGH n 10 -15% of U. S. dairy cows injected with r. BGH n n May increase costs to dairy farms Marketed primarily to large dairy farms, which are supplanting small dairy farms n Worse environmental impact records n Higher rates of workplace injuries n Contribute to decreasing agricultural diversity

r. BGH (Posilac©) n OK’d for use by FDA in 1993; on market since 1994 n FDA relied on industry summary of internal tests n GAO investigation criticized sloppy, manipulative science, lack of data on human health effects

Repressed Information on r. BGH n Fox News report on health risks repressed n Reporter awarded $425, 000 by jury which agreed that Fox “acted intentionally and deliberately to distort the plaintiffs news reporting on r. BST. ”

Repressed Information on r. BGH n Appeals court overturned verdict: n Whisteblower statute only protects people who threaten to report a violation of a law, rule, or regulation n Distorting TV news is not technically illegal

r. BGH (Posilac©) n Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the European Union have banned r. BGH n However, dairy products produced by r. BGH-injected cattle can be imported into many of these nations n EU Food Safety Agency updates ban 2007

r. BGH (Posilac©) n The Codex Alimentarius, the UN’s main food safety body, has refused to certify r. BGH as safe n Many dairies have gone r. BGH-free, as have all four major Portland, OR hospital systems (for fluid milk)

r. BGH (Posilac©) n Economic/trade consequences for U. S. farmers using r. BGH n 80% of consumers want labeling n Finally, much scientific evidence shows that the purported benefits of milk are in fact false

PSR Campaign for Safe Food n r. BGH: n Goal – discontinue the production of any dairy products from cows treated with r. BGH n. Oregon $600 million dairy industry n Grassroots education campaign so that citizens can make an informed choice

PSR Campaign for Safe Food n *All fluid milk products in Oregon now r. BGH-free* n Tillamook cheese (2 nd largest producer in U. S. after Kraft) now r. BGH-free n Fred Meyer, Eberhard, Alpenrose, Darigold (in OR and WA), Meadow Gold, Wilcox Farms, TG Lee, Velda milk products r. BGH-free

PSR Campaign for Safe Food Dean Foods (a few plants), Publix and Safeway (fluid milk in No. CA and Pacific NW) r. BGHfree n Kroger (includes Fred Meyer, QF, Ralphs, and Smith’s markets) r. BGH-free by 2008 n California Dairies, Inc. (second largest US coop) r. BGH-free n Southwest Milk, Inc. (Florida’s largest co-op) r. BGH-free n

PSR Campaign for Safe Food n Lactaid r. BGH-free n Bon Appetit Mgmt. Co. sourcing only r. BGH-free products n Starbucks company-owned stores r. BGHfree (not franchises) n Chipotle Restaurants r. BGH-free n Some schools going r. BGH-free

PSR Campaign for Safe Food n Health Care Without Harm opposes r. BGH n Portland, Oregon’s big four hospital systems all now serve only r. BGH-free milk n All organic milk r. BGH-free n Sales of organic milk up 18% in 2005; demand high throughout U. S.

PSR Campaign for Safe Food n Biopharm Bills: n 4 -year moratorium on growing biopharm or industrial crops in an outdoor environment (food and non-food) – passed State Senate (2005); no hearing in State House (2005) n State Biopharm Commission (2006) n 2007 – new, weaker bill passed – authorizes MOU between OR DOA/DPH with USDA re oversight, creates monitoring fees

PSR Campaign for Safe Food n Biopharm bills: n Other states with pending legislation: CA, CO, HI, MA, TX n CA bill wold ban outdoor cultivation of pharma crops n HI bill would prohibit cultivation of industrial and pharmaceutical chemicals in food or feed crops, ban outdoor testing of such crops, and create a regulatory tracking system

PSR Campaign for Safe Food n Health and environmental risks of food irradiation n Particularly school lunch programs

PSR Campaign for Safe Food: Available Resources n n n Fact Sheets on biopharming, r. BGH, and food irradiation r. BGH-free Dairy Products Guide This presentation Detailed scientific references Donohoe MT. Genetically-Modified Foods: Health and Environmental Risks and the Corporate Agribusiness Agenda. Z Magazine 2006 (December): 35 -40. Available at http: //zmagsite. zmag. org/Dec 2006/donohoe 1206. html

Website n Campaign for Safe Food, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility: http: //www. oregonpsr. org/programs/c ampaign. Safe. Food. html

Contact Information Public Health and Social Justice Website http: //www. phsj. org martindonohoe@phsj. org