LECTURE GEOG 270 Fall 2007 November 19 2007

LECTURE GEOG 270 Fall 2007 November 19, 2007 Joe Hannah, Ph. D Department of Geography University of Washington

Debating GMOs in the Third World “Naming and Framing”

To Do Today Recap last time: Kacy Mc. Kinney’s talk ► Two GMO technologies ► “Naming and Framing” in the GMO debate ►

Kacy Mc. Kinney’s talk: MST, Land GMOs in Brazil Interesting case of stakeholder response ► “Landless Peasants” ► “Land should be used to fulfill its larger social functions. ”

GMOs: A threat? A rallying point? Against legalization of GMOs (successful until 2004) ► Lobby, demonstrate, raise awareness ► Exposed illegal plantings ► GMOs promoted by MNCs: “Privatization of development? ” ► Roles of state, corporations, social movements: Peaceful? Violent? ►

Two Technologies ► “Roundup ready” crops ► “Bt” crops

One GMO Technology: “Roundup Ready”

Another Technology: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) http: //www. scq. ubc. ca/? p=262 http: //www. biotech. iastate. edu/biotech_info_series/bio 9. html http: //www. ent. iastate. edu/imagegal/plantpath/corn/ecb/bteardam. html

“Naming and Framing” in the GMO Debate Mc. Gloughlin vs. Altieri & Rossett Food Security / Feeding the World ► Increased yields – fact or fiction? ► Environmental risk ► Capitalism & Farm Incomes ►

Will GMO crops help feed the world’s exploding population? Mc. Gloughlin Population swelling Hunger has complex roots; more food will help ► Not increasing productivity will lead to famine ► Integrated agr is inefficient and will lead to underproduction ► GMOs are humanitariandriven ► ► Altieri & Rossett Hunger problem not due to too little food or to large population ► More productivity is a distraction from massive social/political problems ► Integrated agr will give household food secruity ► GMOs are profit driven ►

Do GMOs give higher yield? Mc. Gloughlin ► Yes! (cites studies) ► (But much of the argument is centered around economics of GMOs for farm profits) Altieri & Rossett ► No! No real difference in yields in most cases (cites a study)

Environmental risks Mc. Gloughlin ► Reduced use of agricultural chemicals ► Increased biodiversity ► Risks of eating GMOS “alarmist” Altieri & Rossett ► Increased use of chemicals ► Decreased biodiversity ► Risks of eating GMOs understudied, “unpredictable”

Capitalism and Farm Income Mc. Gloughlin Conventional systems use more chemicals, cost more ► GMOs reduce costs, increase yields ► Why such high rates of adoption? ► Altieri & Rossett GMOs tie farmer into neoliberal world economy ► Self-sufficiency, seed sharing ► Need to build agric. that nurtures community ► Political Agendas? ? ?