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NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Karen Scanlon
or Dan Towery
(765) 494-9555
CTIC
HOSTED FORUM ON GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMOs)
Experts
in agricultural science, ethics and law discussed the pros and cons of
genetically modified organisms (GMOs) during a special issue forum at
the annual meeting of the National Association of Conservation Districts
in Colorado Springs, Colo., last week.
Conservation
Technology Information Center (CTIC) hosted the forum, titled The
Future of GMOs: Driven by Perception or Reality?, on Feb. 2,
at the Broadmoor Hotel.
Roger
Beachy, president of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, explained
the science of making GMOs, the fruits and vegetable crops currently
bio-engineered and how GMOs have improved economics for farmers. GMOs
are environmentally friendly, economically beneficial for farmers and
provide significant health and nutrition benefits, Beachy said.
John
Foster, University of Nebraska, presented additional information about
the advantages of GMO crops over conventional control methods, including
the economic and environmental impacts of GMO pesticide reduction.
Genetically modified (GM) crops are the “least invasive method of
insect control,” Foster said.
Lower
input costs and fewer environmental impacts are two reasons farmers
choose to plant GM crops, said Marc Vanacht of the Metz Vanacht Company
in Claskson Valley, Mo. Vanacht presented results of a market research
survey of growers attitudes toward GMOs. Most Midwest farmers adopted
GMOs because of improved weed control, reduced herbicide cost and
improved grain quality, Vanacht reported.
While
the farmers are enthusiastic about results from GMOs, only 4 percent of
American consumers would prefer to buy GM foods, he said.
Skepticism
about GMOs is not unfounded, said Marti Crouch, University of Indiana.
Crouch discussed her concerns about introducing novel traits and
manipulating organisms when ecology and species interactions are not
fully understood. In addition, Couch said poorly designed tests and
poorly analyzed results lead to inadequate regulation of GMOs. “So,
I’m in favor of moving a little bit more slowly and with a little bit
more humility in the face of what we don’t know, particularly about
ecology," Crouch said
The
basis for GMO regulations will depend on the concept of nature,
according to Drew Kershen, University of Oklahoma. Kershen presented two
views of the concept of natural – mother nature and naturalist views
– which propose different interactions between humans and nature. The
difference in the concept of nature, Kershen said, leads to different
policies and regulations.
Inherent
to the GMO debate are ethical issues, said Jeffrey Burkhardt, University
of Florida. Consumers and farmers face choice and control issues when
deciding for or against GM crops, said Burkhardt, named by U.S.
Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman to serve on the newly-formed
Advisory Committee on Agricultural Biotechnology.
More
than 200 people attended the three-hour session moderated by Rick
Haines, president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters.
Interviews
with each of the forum speakers, conducted by National Association of
Farm Broadcasters, will be broadcast this week. Interview text and audio
will be available on the CTIC web site (www.ctic.purdue.edu/ctic.html).
Videotapes of the forum will be available soon. Check the
CTIC web site for details.
The
GMO Forum was hosted by CTIC, a natural resource conservation alliance
of agricultural interests working to develop public/private partnerships
that promote soil and water quality and equip agriculture with
realistic, affordable and integrated management solutions. For more
information on the GMO Forum, contact CTIC at 765-494-9555.
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