NOVA Frontline Harvest of Fear 9 of 12 captioned

Summary

The video script discusses the potential of genetically modified (GM) crops to address food scarcity, particularly in developing nations like Kenya. It contrasts traditional farming methods with GM technology, which offers built-in resistance to pests and diseases. The script highlights the success of GM sweet potatoes and maize in improving yields and overcoming soil challenges. However, it also addresses the controversy surrounding GM crops, with environmental groups like Greenpeace opposing them due to safety concerns. The debate centers on the need for increased food production versus the potential risks of GM technology, with the script suggesting that the benefits of GM crops could be crucial in combating global hunger.

Takeaways

• 🚜 Genetically Modified (GM) sweet potatoes outperformed traditionally grown varieties in terms of size and health, suggesting GM technology could be beneficial for African farming.
• 🌱 Wan boo goo argues that advanced technology, such as GM seeds, could be the answer for the least developed regions, as it is built into the seed and requires no additional chemicals.
• 📚 Kenya has been training researchers and regulators to develop a national regulatory system for overseeing GM technology, ensuring responsible implementation.
• 🌟 Catherine Ives' program at Michigan State University aims to help developing nations increase food production, highlighting the importance of making land more productive.
• 🌾 Poor soil quality, particularly in tropical regions, is a significant challenge for farmers; GM technology has been explored as a potential solution to combat issues like soil acidity and aluminum toxicity.
• 🌽 Scientist Luis Herrera genetically modified maize to produce citrate, which binds to toxic aluminum and enhances root growth, demonstrating the potential of GM technology to improve crop productivity.
• 🛑 Despite promising results, Herrera's field trials were halted due to pressure from environmental groups like Greenpeace, who protested the safety of GM maize.
• 🏛️ There is a debate between the necessity of GM technology for global food security and the concerns raised by environmentalists who believe the technology is not needed and could be harmful.
• 🌳 Environmental groups argue that the problem of hunger is not due to a lack of technology but rather a lack of money and equitable food distribution.
• 🌍 The world produces enough food for nearly 9 billion people, yet 800 million go hungry due to distribution and access issues, suggesting that technology alone may not solve the problem.
• 🔥 An act of arson by the Earth Liberation Front destroyed offices at Michigan State University, which were involved in GM research, illustrating the extreme opposition to GM technology.

Q & A

What was the difference observed in the growth of GM versus non-GM sweet potatoes?

The GM variety of sweet potatoes was large and healthy, while unmodified sweet potatoes grown with traditional organic methods could not compete, indicating that GM technology might be more effective in certain conditions.

What does Wan boo goo suggest as a solution for the least developed people in the world?

Wan boo goo ironically suggests that the most advanced technology, such as GM technology, might be the answer for the least developed people in the world.

Why is GM technology appealing to farmers according to the script?

GM technology is appealing because it is built into the seed, which means all the farmer has to do is plant it. It does not require the farmer to be educated on how to use it, and it provides resistance to pests and diseases.

What challenges does Kenya face in overseeing new GM technology?

Kenya faces the challenge of overseeing GM technology without the equivalents of the USDA, EPA, and FDA. However, they have trained researchers, regulators, and extension workers to develop a national regulatory system.

What is the main goal of the program run by Catherine Ives at Michigan State University?

The main goal of the program is to help developing nations produce more food, with the understanding that increased food production can lead to healthier families and better opportunities, such as education.

What is one of the biggest obstacles poor farmers face, especially in the tropics?

One of the biggest obstacles poor farmers face is poor soil loaded with excess minerals like aluminum or salt, which greatly reduces crop productivity.

How did scientist Luis Herrera address the issue of toxic aluminum in crops near Irapuato, Mexico?

Luis Herrera genetically modified maize to produce a natural chemical called citrate, which binds to the toxic aluminum, keeping it in the soil and away from the plant, resulting in improved root growth and productivity.

What was Greenpeace's reaction to Herrera's GM maize research?

Greenpeace arrived in Mexico to protest, claiming that Herrera's GM maize was unsafe. This led to the Mexican government halting his field trials.

What is the main argument against GMOs by environmental groups as mentioned in the script?

Environmental groups reject the premise that GMOs are needed to feed the world, arguing that the biggest problem behind hunger is lack of money, not technology, and that the world already produces enough food.

What incident occurred at Michigan State University related to the GMO controversy?

On New Year's Eve 1999, the offices of researchers working on GMOs at Michigan State University were destroyed in an arson attack claimed by the Earth Liberation Front.

What is the potential impact of destroying the progress made in GM technology according to the script?

The script suggests that destroying the progress made in GM technology could be akin to tearing down a house that took years to build, emphasizing the years of research and resources invested in developing this technology.

Outlines

00:00

🌱 GM Technology's Potential in African Agriculture

The first paragraph discusses the significant yield advantage of genetically modified (GM) crops, specifically sweet potatoes, over traditionally grown varieties in Africa. It highlights the challenges faced by organic farming methods and the potential of GM technology to provide a sustainable solution. The narrative suggests that advanced technology, embedded within the seed itself, could be the answer to food scarcity for the world's least developed populations. The paragraph also touches on the simplicity of GM technology for farmers, its user-friendliness, and the efforts made to train researchers and regulators in Kenya to safely and effectively manage this technology. Catherine Ives, from Michigan State University, emphasizes the importance of increasing food production in developing nations to improve health and education. The benefits of GM technology in addressing soil issues, such as aluminum toxicity near Irapuato, Mexico, are also presented, alongside the controversy stirred by environmental groups like Greenpeace, who oppose the technology.

05:00

🛑 Controversy and Challenges of GMOs in Feeding the World

The second paragraph delves into the debate surrounding the necessity of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to address global hunger. Critics argue that the technology is a ploy exploiting the guilt of affluent societies and that the real issue is the lack of money, not technology. They point out the irony of hunger persisting in a world with surplus food, suggesting that distribution and access are the core problems. The paragraph also addresses the pride and dignity of farmers and the importance of self-sufficiency. Proponents of biotechnology, however, insist that with a growing global population, innovative agricultural solutions like GMOs, combined with ecological practices, are essential to meet future food demands. The narrative includes a personal account of an arson attack on Michigan State University's offices, presumably linked to the GMO controversy, and the broader implications of such actions on years of research and development in the field of genetic modification.

Keywords

💡GM variety

GM stands for 'Genetically Modified,' referring to organisms that have had changes introduced into their DNA using genetic engineering techniques. In the script, the GM variety of sweet potatoes is described as large and healthy, contrasting with unmodified sweet potatoes grown with traditional organic methods. This highlights the potential of GM technology to enhance crop quality and yield, which is a central theme of the video.

💡Organic methods

Organic methods are agricultural practices that avoid the use of synthetic chemicals, genetically modified organisms, and other industrial interventions. The video script mentions that unmodified sweet potatoes grown with traditional organic methods could not compete with the GM variety, suggesting a comparison between conventional and modern agricultural practices and their impact on crop viability.

💡Technology in seeds

The script discusses the idea of technology being 'built into the seed,' which refers to the genetic modifications that make the plant resistant to pests and diseases. This concept is central to the video's narrative on how GM technology can provide sustainable solutions for farmers by integrating beneficial traits directly into the plant's genetic makeup.

💡Regulatory system

A regulatory system is a set of rules and processes that govern a particular activity or industry. The script mentions the development of a Kenyan national regulatory system for overseeing GM technology, indicating the importance of establishing frameworks to ensure the safe and effective use of such technologies, especially in developing countries.

💡Field tests

Field tests refer to the process of testing plants or crops in their natural environment to evaluate their performance and safety. The script describes ongoing field tests for GM plants in various locations, which is a critical step in the development and approval process for new agricultural technologies.

💡Soil toxicity

Soil toxicity is a condition where the soil contains harmful substances that negatively affect plant growth. The script discusses how toxic aluminum in the soil near Irapuato, Mexico, reduces crop productivity. This concept is tied to the broader theme of environmental challenges and how GM technology might offer solutions to overcome them.

💡Citrate

Citrate is a natural chemical that can bind to toxic elements like aluminum, preventing them from harming plants. In the script, scientist Luis Herrera genetically modified maize to produce citrate, which improved root growth and plant health in acidic, aluminum-rich soil. This example illustrates the potential of GM technology to address specific agricultural challenges.

💡Greenpeace

Greenpeace is an international environmental organization known for its activism and protests against practices it deems harmful to the environment. The script mentions Greenpeace's protest against GM maize in Mexico, reflecting the ongoing debate and controversy surrounding GM technology and its impact on safety and the environment.

💡Food distribution

Food distribution refers to the process of getting food from producers to consumers. The script touches on the issue of world hunger and the argument that the problem is not a lack of food production but an issue of distribution and access. This highlights a broader societal and economic discussion about how to ensure that food reaches those who need it most.

💡Biotechnology

Biotechnology is the application of biological processes and organisms to create products and technologies. In the context of the video, biotechnology is presented as a potential solution to feed a growing global population, with GM technology being a key component. The script suggests that biotechnology, along with agricultural ecology, will play a crucial role in addressing future food security challenges.

💡Earth Liberation Front

The Earth Liberation Front (ELF) is an underground group that the script identifies as claiming responsibility for an arson attack that destroyed offices at Michigan State University. This incident is used in the script to illustrate the extreme measures taken by some activist groups against institutions involved in GM research, reflecting the intensity of the debate around this technology.

Highlights

GM sweet potatoes outperformed unmodified ones, showcasing the potential of GM technology in agriculture.

Traditional organic farming methods struggle to compete with the advantages of GM technology.

Advanced technology like GM could be the solution for the least developed regions.

GM technology is user-friendly, requiring no additional education for farmers.

Kenya has developed a national regulatory system for overseeing GM technology.

Michigan State University runs a program to help developing nations increase food production.

GM technology can address soil issues like aluminum toxicity, improving crop productivity.

Herrera's GM maize produced citrate to combat aluminum toxicity, leading to significant root growth improvement.

Greenpeace protested against GM maize in Mexico, leading to halted field trials.

Environmental groups argue that GMOs are not necessary for feeding the world and are a ploy.

The issue of world hunger is more about distribution and access to food rather than production.

Biotechnology and agricultural ecology are seen as key to feeding the growing world population.

The potential benefits of GM technology should not be denied to developing countries.

Michigan State University was targeted by the Earth Liberation Front, resulting in arson.

The arson attack destroyed Michigan State University's offices involved in GM research.

The importance of GM technology research is compared to building a house that takes years, not to be destroyed easily.

Transcripts

the ground the difference was even more

pronounced the GM variety was large and

healthy unmodified sweet potatoes grown

with traditional organic methods could

not compete may I say that

olynyk farming has not worked in Africa

and it has it is no good no work it's

not the answer

ironically says Wan boo goo the answer

for the least developed people in the

world maybe the most advanced technology

in contrast to complicated and costly

chemicals GM technology is built into

the seed all the farmer has to do is

plant it what farmers need is technology

that is packaged in the seed the seed

that actually is resistant to the pests

and diseases and they planted the way

they have always planted that to be

sustainable the GM technology is

appealing and to me ICS user-friendly it

does not demand the farmer to go and be

educated how to use it but can a poor

country like Kenya oversee this powerful

new technology without the equivalents

of the USDA EPA and FDA we have trained

some of their researchers we've also

supported training of the number of

their regulators to develop a Kenyan

national regulatory system which they

have done and we have trained their

extension workers so that when it comes

time to field test these plants in a

number of different locations which is

currently ongoing that they would know

how to do that Catherine Ives runs a

program at Michigan State University to

help developing nations produce more

food people understand that if they can

produce more food they can feed their

families and keep their children

healthier now they understand that if

they can make their land more productive

maybe they can send their children to

school as opposed to have them out in

the field all day

one of the biggest obstacles poor

farmers face especially in the tropics

is poor soil loaded with excess minerals

like aluminum or salt near Irapuato

Mexico for example toxic aluminum

greatly reduces productivity of crops

like corn scientist luis herrera

wondered whether GM technology might

offer a solution

this mace is not growing very well

because it has problems of soil acidity

which lead to aluminum toxicity and low

so what happens is that the root system

of the plant doesn't grow and it cannot

make it cannot supply the plant with

enough nutrients to grow what the

farmers finds is that the productivity

of the plant is usually you should have

this big and you have a little

production

in his laboratory Herrera genetically

modified the maize so it would produce a

natural chemical called citrate which

binds to the toxic aluminum keeping it

in the soil and away from the plant the

results were dramatic so you can see

here that the root formation of a normal

plant in an acidic soil is not very good

and in plants that we produce citrate

the root growth is much better and this

is a way we have to demonstrate that the

system is working when word of Herrera's

research got out greenpeace arrived in

mexico protesting that his GM maize was

unsafe under pressure

the Mexican government halted his field

trials we are not sure whether because

of the pressure of these groups the

government will never allow us to field

test our technology or if they will not

allow us to to provide it to the farmers

for commercial juice these people speak

selectively only the negative thing and

they totally ignore the positive

benefits not only to humans but also to

the environment the potential benefit is

so important that this technology cannot

be stopped it must not be stopped

Herrera says there's much more at stake

than his own research we need more food

there is people daily dying because of

lack of food but environmental groups

reject the whole premise that GMOs are

needed to feed the world I think it's a

ploy it's playing on the guilt of

relatively well-off people that somehow

if they don't approve of this technology

by agreeing to buy the products that

somehow the result will be people dying

of starvation in the developing world

you don't believe this technology can

help people in the developing world the

biggest problem behind hungry people is

lack of money it's not technology

we live in a world today where 800

million people a year are going hungry

in a world that produces enough food for

almost 9 billion people yet we only have

six billion people on the planet why

isn't that food being distributed more

equitably it's because people who can't

afford to buy food simply aren't being

given it it just isn't being given to

them they don't have a clue what they're

talking about because most of these

people who talk like that get all their

food from the supermarket and they just

think how it cannot be in another place

in another supermarket the transport

costs in this country are huge even if

that food was donated for free it would

have to cost something when it arrives

here and there is the pride if you

cannot feed your family you cannot feed

yourself you have a main Terrace that

makes you feel you're useless people

have pride in feeding their family to

have pride in be able to parties

everybody how anybody like to be a

beggar how like to be there waiting that

until some food comes they're going to

stay hungry whether or not people in

developed countries like biotechnology

they should not deny those potential

benefits to the developing countries

we've got 800 million people who are

chronically undernourished we've got 1.5

billion more people who will be added to

the world population by the year 2020

now that's an enormous number of people

to be fed and we believe that

biotechnology along with agricultural

ecology is going to be able to feed that

population

are the dreams of raising Africa out of

poverty on a collision course with the

concerns of people living in rich

nations half a world away to beaut this

house where we are today

there was a designer there was a nice

texture there were people it took some

time to breathe this house it'll need

the expertise to build GM technology has

taken years has taken leave sources has

taken time now if you want to destroy

and bring down this house you don't need

expertise all you need is some some

people from the streets hooligans give

them hammers they'll beat this house

down within a day I believe that's what

is happening Greenpeace and many of

those activists and just beating down a

house that took years to build years of

research

[Music]

one of the universities that supports

Florence Wambugu work in Africa is

Michigan State University

they were largely unaffected by the GMO

controversy until New Year's Eve 1999 I

was walking into Downtown East Lansing

to go out for New Year's Eve and we saw

the fire trucks and the engines going

towards the area where we worked on

campus and saw smoke and we said just

the real fire and I looked up and I

counted the floors and I said that's my

office

[Music]

our offices were totally destroyed they

were pretty much reduced to ash we

assumed that there was an electrical

fire but it became clear to the

investigators that it wasn't arson the

initial investigation the issue was did

he have any ex boyfriends or girlfriends

that would be mad at us

after three weeks police still had no

idea who was behind it

then a communique arrived from an

underground group the Earth Liberation

Front there's an earth abrasion front

action at Michigan State University on

December 31st this last year

and it was a fire that burned down part

of a bill