The real problem with GMO Food

Summary

The video script explores the controversial topic of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), particularly focusing on 'golden rice,' a genetically modified strain claimed to help prevent blindness in children by increasing vitamin A intake. It delves into the polarized debate surrounding GMOs, highlighting the public's skepticism versus scientific consensus on their safety. The video refutes misconceptions about GMOs being unhealthy or 'Frankenfoods' and acknowledges their potential benefits, such as the Hawaiian papaya case. However, it argues that the real issue lies with the industrial farming system that GMOs support, often leading to environmental harm and corporate control over the food supply. The script advocates for a sustainable food system, suggesting that GMOs could play a role if developed as public goods, free from corporate monopolies and patents. It concludes by emphasizing the need for diverse, sustainable agricultural practices and a reevaluation of our relationship with the land and food production.

Takeaways

• 🎯 Golden rice is a genetically modified (GM) crop designed to help combat vitamin A deficiency and blindness in children.
• 🌾 Activists in the Philippines destroyed golden rice crops due to concerns about GMOs, despite potential health benefits.
• 🧬 Genetic modification involves altering an organism's genes to express specific traits, such as insect resistance.
• 🔍 GMOs have been a subject of controversy, with public opinion often divided and influenced by misinformation and politicization.
• 🚀 The technology behind GMOs has advanced significantly over the past 40 years, becoming more precise and accessible.
• 🚫 Concerns about GMOs often stem from the industrial farming practices they support, rather than the technology itself.
• 🌱 Some GMO crops, like the Hawaiian Rainbow papaya, have had positive impacts by resisting diseases and supporting local agriculture.
• 💰 The issue with GMOs is the monopolistic control by a few companies over the seed market, which can lead to unsustainable farming practices.
• 🌱 GMOs can be part of a sustainable food system, but they should be public goods, not controlled by patents and multinational corporations.
• 🌿 Real solutions to global food and environmental issues may lie in agroforestry, integrated pest management, and other sustainable farming practices.
• 📚 The speaker recommends using audiobooks, like Hope Jahren's 'The Story of More', for engaging with complex environmental topics in an accessible format.

Q & A

What was the reason behind the activists' action of tearing down the golden rice plants in the Philippines?

The activists tore down the golden rice plants as a form of protest against genetically modified organisms (GMOs), despite the potential health benefits claimed by scientists, due to their concerns and opposition to GMOs.

What is the basic concept behind genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the context of food?

GMOs in the context of food refer to crops that have had their genes specifically altered to express a certain trait. This is done by taking a specific gene from one organism and transferring it into a plant’s DNA sequence so that the plant expresses that trait as it grows.

How does modern gene editing differ from traditional breeding methods in agriculture?

Modern gene editing is more precise than traditional breeding methods. While traditional breeding requires years of persistence and relies on luck, gene editing allows for the specific insertion of desired traits from one organism into another, with the certainty of what trait will be expressed.

What was the stance of the U.S. public on GMOs according to a 2015 Pew research poll?

According to a 2015 Pew research poll, only 37% of adults in the U.S. believed that GMOs were safe to eat, which contrasts sharply with the 88% of scientists from the American Association for the Advancement of Science who believed GMOs were safe.

Why has the use of glyphosate increased in the U.S. due to GMOs?

The use of glyphosate has increased due to the popularity of Monsanto’s Roundup Ready seeds, which are resistant to this herbicide. This resistance allows farmers to spray their fields without damaging their crops, leading to a rise in glyphosate use and its associated environmental issues.

What are some of the misconceptions about GMOs that the script attempts to clarify?

The script clarifies that GMOs are not inherently bad for health and are not 'mutated Frankenfood'. It also mentions that while GMOs might help create more durable crops, they are not a complete solution to world hunger or climate change, and that most GM crops in the U.S. are used for commodity purposes rather than addressing food shortages.

How did genetically engineered Hawaiian papaya help the local papaya industry?

Genetically engineered Hawaiian papaya, known as Rainbow papaya, was developed to be resistant to the ringspot virus, which had caused a significant drop in production. This new breed helped to replace conventional papaya plants and accounted for 75% of all Hawaiian papaya production after a decade of use.

What is identified as the real problem with GMOs according to the script?

The real problem with GMOs is not the technology itself, but the industrial farming system that often accompanies it. The script points out that GMOs are used to support an unsustainable system and that a few companies hold immense power over the food supply, which can lead to issues like monoculture and overuse of toxic chemicals.

What alternative solutions are suggested in the script to address issues like climate change, hunger, and drought?

The script suggests that techniques such as agroforestry, integrated weed and pest management systems, no-till, and polycultural systems represent more sustainable and diverse paths forward. These methods can increase yields, create more durable crops, and sequester carbon, offering a more ethical relationship with land and food.

How does the script propose the role of GMOs in a future sustainable food system?

The script proposes that GMOs should be seen as one addition to the collection of thousands of other crop varieties in the world. They should be produced as public goods, free from the constraints of patents and multinational corporations, and used in conjunction with a sustainable food system that produces nutritious, diverse, and tasty food.

What is the benefit of using audiobooks for understanding complex environmental issues?

Audiobooks can make it easier to digest dense non-fiction content about complex issues like climate change. They allow listeners to absorb information in a more engaging and less visually demanding way, which can be particularly helpful for individuals who find it challenging to focus on written texts.

How does the narrator recommend supporting the channel 'Our Changing Climate'?

The narrator recommends supporting the channel 'Our Changing Climate' through Patreon, which provides financial consistency and enables the creation of more and more ambitious videos on the topic of climate change.

Outlines

00:00

🌾 Controversy Over Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

The first paragraph introduces the debate surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs), specifically focusing on the golden rice incident in the Philippines. It explains that GMOs are crops with genes altered to express certain traits, such as insect resistance. The paragraph contrasts the precision of modern gene editing with traditional breeding methods and raises questions about the controversy, pointing to misinformation, politicization, and broader fears as contributing factors. It also outlines the opposing views in the GMO debate, from those who see GMOs as harmful Frankenfoods to those who believe they can address global hunger and climate change, while debunking some common myths about GMOs.

05:03

🌱 The Impact and Issues of GMOs in the Food System

The second paragraph delves into the real issues associated with GMOs, arguing that the problem is not with the technology itself but with the industrial farming system that utilizes it. It discusses the case of the Hawaiian papaya, which was saved by a genetically modified variety resistant to the ringspot virus. However, the paragraph emphasizes that GMOs are not a complete solution to world hunger, as most GM crops are used for commodities rather than addressing food shortages. It also criticizes the industrial farming practices, such as the use of Monsanto's Roundup Ready seeds, which have led to increased use of the herbicide glyphosate and environmental damage. The paragraph highlights the monopolistic control of a few companies over the seed market and the negative implications of this control on the food system.

10:05

🌿 Sustainable Solutions and the Role of GMOs in the Future

The third paragraph discusses the potential role of GMOs in a more sustainable and ethical food system. It argues that while GMOs are just a technology and not a complete food system, they can be used in a beneficial way when not tied to patents and corporate control. The paragraph suggests that GMOs could contribute to tackling climate change by incorporating traits from plants like the American chestnut, which is a carbon storage powerhouse. It emphasizes the need for a broader overhaul of the food system, advocating for practices like agroforestry, integrated pest management, and no-till farming. The paragraph concludes by suggesting that GMOs should be part of a diverse array of crops in a sustainable food system that prioritizes nutrition, diversity, and taste.

Keywords

💡Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

GMOs refer to organisms whose genetic material has been altered through genetic engineering to express certain traits. In the context of the video, GMOs are a central theme as they discuss the controversy and debate surrounding their use in agriculture. The video mentions 'golden rice,' a GMO crop engineered to provide vitamin A, as an example of how GMOs are developed with beneficial intentions.

💡Golden Rice

Golden Rice is a genetically modified strain of rice that is engineered to produce beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A. The video discusses how activists in the Philippines destroyed golden rice crops during a field test, highlighting the controversy over GMOs. The example illustrates the clash between scientific potential and public perception.

💡Gene Editing

Gene editing is a precise method of genetic engineering where specific genes from one organism are inserted into another's DNA to express a desired trait. The video explains that this process is more accurate than traditional breeding methods and has been developed and tested for over 40 years. It is a key technology behind the creation of GMOs.

💡Industrial Farming System

The industrial farming system is a type of agriculture that relies heavily on technology and machinery to maximize efficiency and output. The video argues that the real problem with GMOs is not the technology itself but the industrial farming practices it supports. This includes the use of herbicide-resistant crops like Monsanto's Roundup Ready seed, which has led to increased use of chemicals and environmental concerns.

💡Roundup Ready Seed

Roundup Ready is a term used for a variety of genetically modified crops that are resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, also known as Roundup. The video discusses how this resistance allows farmers to spray their fields without harming their crops, leading to increased use of glyphosate and its associated environmental issues.

💡Seed Saving

Seed saving is the practice of collecting and reusing seeds from one harvest to plant the next crop. The video mentions how companies like Bayer patent their GMO seeds and restrict seed saving, forcing farmers to buy new seeds each year, which increases costs and contributes to the monopolization of the seed market.

💡Monoculture

Monoculture is the agricultural practice of growing a single crop over a large area. The video criticizes this approach as it leads to a lack of diversity in the food supply and can contribute to environmental problems. GMOs are often associated with monoculture farming due to the development of crops that are uniform and resistant to pests.

💡Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture refers to farming practices that are environmentally friendly, economically viable, and socially responsible. The video suggests that GMOs could be part of a sustainable food system but only if they are developed as public goods and not tied to patents and corporate control. Sustainable methods mentioned include agroforestry, integrated pest management, and no-till farming.

💡Agroforestry

Agroforestry is a land use management system that combines trees and shrubs with crops or livestock. The video presents agroforestry as one of the sustainable solutions to environmental issues in agriculture. It can increase biodiversity, improve soil quality, and sequester carbon, which are all beneficial for the environment and climate change mitigation.

💡Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

IPM is a strategy that uses multiple methods to control pests, including biological control, habitat manipulation, and the judicious use of pesticides. The video lists IPM as an example of a sustainable agricultural practice that could be part of a broader solution to food production challenges, offering an alternative to relying solely on GMOs for pest resistance.

💡Public Goods

Public goods are non-excludable and non-rivalrous goods that are available for use by all members of a society. The video argues that for GMOs to be part of a sustainable food system, they should be developed and treated as public goods, free from corporate patents and control. This would allow for more equitable access and use of GMO technology for the benefit of society.

Highlights

Activists in the Philippines destroyed genetically modified golden rice crops, which scientists claim could help cure blindness in children by providing vitamin A.

GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are a polarizing topic, with some seeing them as a solution to world hunger and climate change, while others view them as harmful 'Frankenfoods'.

Genetic modification in food involves altering genes to express certain traits, such as insect resistance, for the benefit of the plant.

Gene editing is more precise than traditional breeding methods, allowing for the specific insertion of desired traits into a plant's genetic code.

A significant gap exists between public perception and scientific consensus on the safety of GMOs, with only 37% of U.S. adults believing GMOs are safe to eat, compared to 88% of scientists.

Misconceptions about GMOs include the belief that they are unhealthy or 'mutated', but a meta-analysis of 698 studies found no observable health differences between GMO and conventional foods.

While GMOs can create more durable crops, they are not a complete solution to world hunger, which is more about infrastructure and logistics than the quantity of food produced.

The Hawaiian papaya industry was saved by a genetically modified papaya resistant to the ringspot virus, demonstrating a positive application of GMO technology.

The main issue with GMOs is not the technology itself, but the industrial farming system that often accompanies it, leading to overuse of chemicals and monoculture farming practices.

Monsanto's Roundup Ready seeds, resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, exemplify the problematic integration of GMOs with industrial agriculture, leading to environmental issues and corporate control over seeds.

GMOs allow a few companies to hold significant power over the food supply, which can lead to higher costs for farmers and less diversity in crops.

GMOs could potentially help address climate change by transferring beneficial traits from plants like the American chestnut into other crops, but they are only a small part of a larger solution.

The real solutions to feeding the world involve a more ethical and sustainable relationship with our land and food, including practices like agroforestry and integrated pest management systems.

GMOs should be seen as one tool among many in a diverse agricultural system, rather than a single solution to complex problems.

The speaker recommends using audiobooks, specifically Audible, as a way to engage with dense environmental topics in a more accessible format.

Audible offers a wide range of audiobooks, including 'The Story of More' by Hope Jahren, which provides an emotional narrative on climate change.

Listeners are encouraged to sign up for Audible using a specific link or code for a free 30-day trial and to choose an audiobook of their choice.

Transcripts

This video is sponsored by Audible

On a crisp day in early August, 50 activists  tore down a fence. They stormed through the  

barricade in the Bicol Region of the Philippines  and ran towards the rice field beyond it. Then,  

to the shock of onlookers, the group began to  tear out the rice plants by the handful. They  

did this not because they were hungry or had any  desire to eat the grain, in fact their motive  

was the opposite. The activists sought to destroy  the crops because the plants were part of a field  

test of the genetically modified plant golden  rice. A strain that scientists claimed would help  

cure blindness in young children by  supplying them with needed vitamin  

A. If this genetically modified golden rice  was so beneficial why then was that group of  

protestors in the Philippines angry enough to rip  it from the ground? Today we’re not only going to  

figure out exactly why genetically modified  organisms like golden rice have inspired such  

hatred and have devolved into polarized debates  like this: but we’re also going to dig down  

underneath this debate to understand the real  consequences of GMOs in our modern food system.

What is a GMO?

GMO or genetically modified organisms can refer  to a lot of things, but in the case of food,  

it refers to crops that have had their genes  specifically altered to express a certain trait.  

In very simple terms this means taking a certain  gene from one organism like “repelling insects”  

and transferring that trait into a plant’s  DNA sequence so that the plant expresses an  

insect-repelling trait as it grows.  While genetic modification of crops has  

existed since the birth of agriculture,  this new form of genetic engineering  

is a bit different. In the past, if a farmer  wanted to create a sweeter apple, for example,  

they would need to breed two apple trees with  sweet traits and hope the next generation might  

produce even sweeter fruits. The process  requires luck and years of persistence.  

Gene editing on the other hand is much more  precise. It uses specific genes from one  

organism to modify the genetic code of another.  You know exactly what trait will be expressed.  

But the process of gene editing in organisms is  not new, in fact, it’s been honed and tested for  

more than 40 years, and over those years genetic  modification has become easier and more precise  

as the technology advances. So, then why has  genetically modified food become so controversial?

The debate, quickly recapped

That conversation on the Indian news network NDTV  epitomizes the GMO debate. Full of passion and at  

times, hyperbole. Often, it seems like there  is very little common ground in the genetic  

modification debate. Indeed in 2015, a Pew  research poll found that in just the U.S.  

only 37% of adults believed that GMOs were safe to  eat. A percentage which stands in stark opposition  

to 88% of scientists from the American Association  for the Advancement of Science who believe GMOs  

are safe. How does a gap like this happen? In  part misinformation, and politicization. But,  

also, as we’ll see a little later on, fear of GMOs  can also be fears of a much larger problem. First,  

though, let’s quickly look at the general  outlines of the GMO debate. On the anti-GMO  

side of the conversation lies those who view  Genetically modified food as mutated Franken-food.  

Poisonous crops that will harm humans if we eat  them. While on the other side, GMO advocates  

claim that genetically modified foods can help  solve world hunger, mitigate climate change,  

create more durable, drought-resistant plants,  and increase yields. These are extreme cases  

of a more nuanced conversation but they are some  of the core through-lines of the conversation.  

Some of these claims though are just false.  For one, GMOs are not bad for your health,  

and they are not mutated Frankenfood. A  meta-analysis of 698 studies found that all  

of the research concluded that in terms of health  there have been no observable differences between  

genetically engineered and conventional foods. And  yes, while genetic engineering might help create  

more durable crops or drought-resistant varieties  they are by no means a panacea for world hunger  

or climate change. There are only a handful of  drought-resistant crops on the market right now,  

and most, like Bayer’s DT crops, only  perform a couple of percentage points  

better than conventional crops, and that’s only  in specific drought scenarios. Also, as a whole,  

most GM crops in the U.S. are commodity  crops--used to create ethanol, to feed cows,  

or as base ingredients for products like  high-fructose corn syrup. So, most of these crops  

are not solving a food shortage problem, instead  they’re adding unneeded products to the market  

like corn syrups. And considering that  we waste ⅓ of food produced every year,  

world hunger is not an issue of more or better  food, it’s about infrastructure and logistics.  

Genetically engineered crops have been used to do  good, however, like in the case of the Hawaiian  

papaya. From the 1950s to the 1990s Hawaiian  papaya farms suffered a 50% drop in production  

as a result of the ringspot virus. Farms were  decimated and their owners were reeling. But in  

1998, a new breed of papaya genetically modified  to withstand the virus hit the market. Called the  

Rainbow papaya, it began to replace conventional  papaya plants for its durability in the face of  

the disease, and after a decade of use accounted  for 75% of all Hawaiian papaya production.

The real problem with GMOs

So we know that GMOs are safe to use and, in some  instances, can be applied in beneficial ways.  

Then what’s the issue? The real problem with  GMOs is not actually GMOs themselves, but the  

industrial farming system behind them. We’re using  GM foods to bolster an unsustainable system. One  

of the more popular GM varieties of crops in the  U.S., Monsanto’s Roundup Ready seed, exemplifies  

this interwoven nature of GMOs and industrial  agriculture. From corn to soybeans to sugarbeats,  

the Roundup Ready plants are resistant to the  herbicide glyphosate, which is commonly referred  

to as Roundup. This resistance means that farmers  can indiscriminately spray over their fields  

without worrying about damaging their crops. As a  result, glyphosate use has skyrocketed in the U.S.  

toxic runoff from overspraying is causing dead  zones throughout U.S. waterways, and Monsanto,  

which is now owned by the German company Bayer,  not only profits off of their roundup ready seeds,  

but receive bumper profits from the additional  increase in glyphosate demand. To top it off,  

companies like Bayer patent and restrict seed  saving claiming that the research and development  

of these seeds takes time and money. This means  that not only are the seeds more expensive  

because one company has a monopoly on them, but  also once a farmer has bought seed, they’re not  

allowed to practice seed saving to cut costs  in the next year. The problem with GMOs then,  

is that it allows for a system in which  just a few companies hold immense power  

over our food supply. Through that power  these companies perpetuate a food system  

wherein highly toxic chemical sprays are the  only solution to pests and weeds, just a few  

“perfect” and “uniform” crops trump a variety of  diverse plants, and size is valued over taste.

Real solutions or how we  can actually feed the world

At the end of the day, GMOs are just a technology.  They’re not a food system. So GMOs, like most  

technologies, can do good when used in a just,  ethical, and sustainable manner. But unfortunately  

in our modern agricultural system the history of  GMOs is fraught with unsustainable applications,  

and they most often fall into the wrong hands.  Just four companies control 60% of the seed market  

and thus, can influence what food is grown. GMOs,  however, might be able to help us tackle issues  

like climate change by transferring traits  from the American chestnut, a carbon storage  

powerhouse, into other plants to crops, but  they are a small part of a much larger needed  

overhaul of our food system. GMOs are not  a silver bullet to climate change, hunger,  

or drought. And while it is important to  continue exploring genetic engineering,  

it’s equally essential to relearn and foster  a more ethical relationship with our land and  

food. In fact for many of the problems GMOs seek  to solve, we already have solutions. Agroforestry,  

integrated weed and pest management systems,  no-till, and polycultural systems represent  

just a few of the diverse paths forward, and not  only are these techniques sustainable but they can  

also increase yields, create more durable crops,  and suck carbon from the air. Within these systems  

GMOs might have a place, but not until they are  produced as public goods untethered from the bonds  

of patents and large multinational corporations.  Genetically engineered plants should be seen as  

just one small addition to the collection of  thousands of other rich varieties of crops in  

the world. It is a technology that can be used to  perpetuate a destructive and extractivist system,  

but it also has the potential to do better, it  has the potential to create crops that can work  

in conjunction with a sustainable food system  that produces nutritious, diverse and tasty food.

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