Opinion Chris Vogliano Opinion Chris Vogliano

The good, the bad, and the future of GMOs.

The good, the bad, and the future of GMOs.  This article critically examines the current evidence of GMO technology and suggests a path forward for the technology.  Our food system is the literal lifeline of the human race, and we should keep it open and transparent for all.  

Love them or hate them, genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are alive and well in our modern day food system.  Some argue they are essential to solving world hunger, while others are convinced they are slowly and silently killing us.

I don't fully believe either argument... at least not yet.

What are GMOs?

There's a statement I often hear from GMO advocates stating that all foods have been genetically modified.  While I agree, and this is technically true, I feel it's muddling the conversation.  Genetic modification does indeed happen each time a plant or animal breeds - whether in nature or in a lab.  Nature has been naturally selecting stronger genetic varieties of plants and animals since the beginning of life – a wonderful phenomenon known as evolution.  Humans have learned we can speed up this natural process through techniques such as cross-pollinating or grafting.

However when discussing GMOs, most people are referring to the transgenic modification of a plant or animal.  This means splicing the genes from one species to another unrelated species to produce a desired outcome.  This would not happen in nature unless you’re exceptionally good at coaxing an arctic fish to breed with a strawberry. 

Should we be concerned? 

To date, there is no compelling evidence that transgenic GMO foods themselves are harmful to human health. This is a good thing. 

However some are concerned about the ecological impact that transgenic species could have on varieties that already exist in nature.  As an example, there is concern over GMO salmon escaping into the wild and breeding with native varieties, which could disrupt the wild fish ecology and aid in the collapse of fish species. 

Present Day USE Of GMOs

The vast majority of GMOs in our food system are present in only a small number of crops, namely soy, corn, canola, papaya, and a few others.  Corn and soy are the primary golden children when it comes to transgenic GMO crops around the world. 

GMO corn and soy are designed to be 'round-up ready'.  This means that these crops are designed to be coupled with the herbicide known as glyphosate (aka round-up).  When sprayed with glyphosate, the GMO corn or soy lives, and all other weeds die (or are supposed to).  

Glyphosate is marketed as a safe and low-residue herbicide, which is true compared to many previous herbicides.  However the sheer use of this herbicide has grown an extraordinarily amount (see USDA charts below), and its use at this quantity is garnering global controversy. Round-up ready soy requires significantly more glyphosate than non-GMO varieties.  

Glyphosate Controversy

It is estimated globally that we are spraying 19 billion pounds of glyphosate globally every year. If you sprayed 19 billion pounds of anything on the planet (with the exception of maybe water), it would likely cause serious detriments. Just look at fertilizers. 

In 2015, a cancer research branch of the World Health Organization known as International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) labelled glyphosate as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’.  I was aware that this claim received heavy pushback, but I did not know the half of it.

IARC has been consistently and heavily attacked by industry for releasing their statement, which led them to publish a public monograph in response.  Below are the first two lines, released in Jan 2018.  

"Since the evaluation of glyphosate by the IARC Monographs Program in March 2015, the Agency has been subject to unprecedented, coordinated efforts to undermine the evaluation, the program and the organization. These efforts have deliberately and repeatedly misrepresented the Agency’s work. The attacks have largely originated from the agro-chemical industry and associated media outlets." - Read the entire monograph here. 

Excuse the vulgarity, but holy shit!  Industry's answer to disagreement is to legally rough-house and discredit this trans-disciplinary government health agency, rather than civilly engaging them?  Not cool. 

Whether or not the conclusion around glyphosate being cancer causing or not is correct, there is no reason to discredit a global health organization that is seeking to protect people's wellbeing.  Bullying and intimidation do not lead to open discourse and transparency, which is desperately needed in our food system. 

The next few years will surely be interesting for glyphosate:

So, is creating a GMO crop that is designed to be coupled with a controversial and potentially harmful chemical the path to a sustainable food system? Nature doesn't think so.

Nature's Resistance

Around the world, more and more weeds are becoming resistant to glyphosate (see chart below).  This is putting its utility in jeopardy.  In response, industry has now created a much stronger GMO crop known as dicamba-resistant soy.  Same concept as round-up ready soy, but this time coupled with the herbicide 'dicamba'. Independent weed scientists across the country have been strongly advising against the use of this volatile herbicide, and for good reason.

Benbrook, Charles M. "Trends in glyphosate herbicide use in the United States and globally." Environmental Sciences Europe 28.1 (2016).

During this past year's planting season (2017), millions of acres of crops were destroyed across numerous states due to dicamba application. 

Farmers are furious. Some are even joining together to sue for the loss of their crops.  Even crops not directly sprayed with this herbicide are often killed due to the drifting to nearby fields. Industry blames the crop destruction on improper herbicide application, while some farmers say the instructions were too difficult to understand.  

Arkansas' plant board decided to ban the use of this chemical for the next growing cycle in 2018 amid concerns. This board is now under attack.  Industry sued the board, and as well as every member on the board calling their decision "unlawful and capricious".  Not all farmers support these restrictions and want to see the ban overturned.  

Are all GMOs linked to herbicides?

Not at all.

Take papaya, a popular varietal of our favorite tropical fruit was destined for downfall due to widespread disease.  A  GMO variety of papaya was developed, which ultimately saved this variety from extinction. Great success story! 

Sythetic human insulin used to treat diabetes also deserves a mention here.  With transgenic GMO technology, insulin is able to be synthesized in a lab.  This is much more practical than the previous method of extracting it from pigs and cows.  Awesome! 

The Golden Rice Saga

Golden rice has been the poster child for GMOs for decades. It is special because it is genetically modified to contain Vitamin A - an important nutrient that's lacking in many developing countries. 

This GMO rice is often touted as the key to saving the world.   It even made a debut on the front cover of Time Magazine. Celebrity status!... at least in the developed world.

Local cultures have not been quick to accept this rice, and often rejected it due to its golden color.  Some communities reject the GMO technology altogether.  To date, most societies have not accepted it.

Rice fields in Northeastern Thailand

The Bigger Picture

Even if golden rice was accepted, would this multi-million dollar effort solve malnutrition? Probably not.  

While this approach is admirable, it's also reductionistic.  Instead of trying to solve for one nutrient deficiency at a time, we should be advocating to support the production of local fruits and veggies that are naturally higher in missing essential nutrients – including vitamin A. 

There's an incredible story of how researchers found a variety of banana on the islands of Micronesia that has hundreds of times more Vitamin A than a typical cavendish banana.  Worth reading about!

We need to be prioritizing whole, nutrient-rich foods over single nutrients. Focusing on single nutrients is short sighted and again, reductionistic.  The truth is, we don't know what the tens of thousands of phytochemicals in fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains do for us, but we know they are extremely beneficial to our health.  We don't fully understand how fiber-rich fruits and vegetables positively impact our gut microbiome, but the evidence is strong that it does.

Rice is still rice. It's a great cultural staple and an efficient source of calories, but it is still nutrient poor. Our efforts should be focused on promoting an affordable, well-balanced, and culturally appropriate diet. Anything less is a band-aid.

So am I Anti-GMO? Not at all.
Am I concerned with how we are using some of them today?  Absolutely. 

Genes on the horizon

There is a new kid on the genetic modification block known as CRISPR.  CRISPR is advanced technology that essentially switches genes on and off in a plant or animal to produce a desired outcome. This newer technology is much more precise and significantly cheaper.  The lower price point is key, as this technology can now be utilized by a wider range of players such as universities and non-government organizations (NGOs).

I look forward to the further development of CRISPR technology and its potential to allow us to quickly adapt to climate change.   For instance, researchers are trying to use this technology to create salt water tolerant and drought resistant crops.  These tools can play an important adaptive role as our climate continues to change. 

A project I find extremely intriguing is the C4 Rice Consortium, largely sponsored by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  Here scientists are trying to make rice more efficient by maximizing the process of photosynthesis to produce more rice on the same amount of land.  These seeds would not be monetized, but are open source.  Producing more on less land is an admirable goal.

Final Thoughts

I am frankly tired of hearing both sides of this issue exaggerate the benefits and harms of transgenic GMO technology.  They are not going to kill us slowly, and as it stands today, they are not saving the planet from eminent destruction.

They can however, if used appropriately, be an important tool in helping to adapt our agriculture system to the changing climate. I’d love to see the future of GMOs be used to support the natural biodiversity and promote a climate-smart, sustainable food system that isn't as reliant on pesticides or herbicides. 

There’s a massive lesson to be learned by industry and pro-GMO advocates.  Building consumer trust is key.  Trying to push GMOs behind the public’s back failed miserably.  Had industry led with science and transparency, I truly feel we wouldn’t be having this conversation today.

Moving forward, we need to stop bullying and shaming each other for opposing views and find common ground.  This bullying needs to stop from both sides (looking at you, Natural News...). It is extremely important for scientists, the public, and industry to play fair, rely on science, and remain transparent about new technologies that affect our food system. 

Our food system is the literal lifeline of the human race, and modifying it should not happen behind closed doors or without public consent.

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Sustainability Chris Vogliano Sustainability Chris Vogliano

Is Organic Food Worth Buying? Advice from a Dietitian

Organic foods are a rapidly growing consumer trend, but are they worth the cost?  This article is written by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist on the topic of organic and conventional foods.  

Many people choose organic produce to reduce their risk of pesticide exposure, while others cite they want to support a method of agriculture with a lower carbon footprint.  While there are many motives, some hold more scientific rigor than others.  Whatever the reason, it is undeniable that organic food is a market trend that has been growing rapidly since 1999 and is showing no signs of slowing down.  This begs the question: is the increased price actually worth it?

Brief overview of Organics in the United States

It is often a misnomer that organic farmers are resorting back to old technologies and practices.  This is not true.  In fact, quite the opposite. Organic farmers use modern equipment, improved crop varieties, soil and water conservation practices, and technological innovations in feeding and handling crops and livestock.  Studies do show that organic growing practices produce slightly less food per acre, depending on the type of crop and region the food is grown in.[1] However, there are notable benefits that many experts believe are worth the slight reduction in output.

Organic agriculture has been shown to have a variety of sustainable benefits, including: [2],[3]

  • Improved soil quality
  • Reduced energy use
  • Increased crop biodiversity
  • Reduced water pollution
  • Reduced worker and environmental exposure to pesticides
  • Reduced antibiotic resistance (via animal agriculture)
  • And much more…

While not exclusive to organic agriculture, conservation practices are used more often in organic production when compared to conventional agriculture systems. Learn more about what it means to be “Certified Organic” - Organic Certification from the United States Department of Agriculture.

Does this mean that organic is the only way to go?

Not necessarily. Organic foods do have a myriad of social, environmental, and health benefits (see chart below), but there are still many health benefits to eating conventional foods too.    

Reganold, John P., and Jonathan M. Wachter. "Organic agriculture in the twenty-first century." Nature Plants 2 (2016): 15221.

What are pesticides?

  • Pesticides are any substance used to kill, repel, or control certain forms of plant or animal life that are deemed "pests". This includes herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, disinfectants, and compounds used to control rodents. (EPA)

Will eating organic foods lower my risk of pesticide exposure?

  • Yes. It is important to note that certain natural pesticides can still be used in organic agriculture (link).  However, studies show that organic foods have lower pesticide residues, meaning that our exposure to them is lessened.[1],[2] 
  • Some researchers have even studied organophosphate pesticide metabolites in the urine of children, and found significantly less in those children that ate only organic diets.[4],[5]   
  • There is however debate if these pesticide residues are harmful to our health in the quantities in which we consume them.   More long term studies are needed. 

Are farm workers impacted by pesticide application?

Photo Credit: Pixabay.com

  • Yes. Over 1 billion pounds of pesticides are used in the United State each year and approximately 5.6 billion pounds are used worldwide -  link.

  • Farmers are often exposed to very high levels of pesticides,and cite frequent symptoms including headaches, fatigue, insomnia, dizziness, hand tremors, and other neurological symptoms.  

    • Pesticide exposure is also strongly linked to diabetes type 2 in farm workers - link.  

Should I skip conventionally grown produce if I can’t find or afford to buy organic produce?

  • Absolutely not. The risks of pesticides are real, but the myriad of health benefits of fruits and vegetables are too. Research indicates that not eating the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables is much more detrimental to one’s health than eating fruits and vegetables with pesticide residue. [2]

Is organic produce higher in nutrients?

  • Sometimes.  However, the debate continues if the increased quantity of nutrients in organic produce is significant enough to make a meaningful difference.[6],[7]

Are Organic produce GMO free?

  • Yes. The USDA definition of organic means that the food must be free from genetically modified organisms.  However, to date, there have been no credible studies proving that GMOs are unsafe to eat. Check out the National Academy of Science Safety Report for more info on this.
  • Personal health aside - many are concerned about the ethical and environmental considerations of GMOs.  From years of studying this topic, I have found valid points on both side of the debate. 
  • We do know that the most commonly grown GMO crops in the U.S. are corn, soy, and canola. These three crops are in a significant portion of the foods we eat everyday, which means we must grow a lot of these crops. GMO corn, soy, and canola are reliant on a monoculture system that relies heavily on pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and discourages plant and insect biodiversity.
  • Check on my blog post: The Good, The Bad, and the Future of GMOs. 

Are Organic foods a better choice for the environment?

  • Mostly yes.  Not only does eating organic lower your personal exposure to pesticides, but by choosing organic you are also choosing to support a method of agriculture that aims to be more sustainable than conventional growing methods. Pesticides are often applied by farm workers, and exposure to these toxic chemicals have harmful impacts on the health of the workers, environment, soil, river, and air.  Excess nutrients from fertilizers are also one of the leading causes of water pollution in the United States. EPA website here.  
  • Studies have found that organic farming systems consistently have greater soil carbon levels, better soil quality, and less soil erosion compared to conventional systems. They also found increased plant and insect biodiversity among organic farming systems. [9],[10],[11]  
    • Soil health and biodiversity are two topics cited by top global health organizations as foundational pieces feeding our growing population sustainably. So much so, that the Food and Agriculture Organization declared 2015 as the International Year of the Soil.

Can I wash away pesticide residues on my fruits and vegetables?

  • Some of them.  It is always a smart idea to rinse your fruits and vegetables under cold water.  Rinsing can remove the surface residues, as well as potentially harmful dirt and pathogens. 
  • Some pesticides are systemic; they are taken up by the plant’s root system and get into the fruit or vegetable flesh so they can’t be washed off.

What’s the best way to wash my produce?

  • Wash your produce—conventional and organic—in running water. Be sure to scrub the outside of hard, porous produce such as cantaloupe.  This will decrease your risk for foodborne illness and may also reduce pesticide residue.  
    • You don’t need any special washes. Researchers at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station compared rinsing fruit and vegetables in plain water for one minute with washing them with vegetable washes (four different ones) and a solution of dishwashing soap and water.

Okay, so tell me - should I buy organic produce?

  • Buying organic produce is a personal choice that is up to you and your family.  There are cited benefits to a properly managed organic farm that are beneficial for both people, farm workers, and the planet. 
  • If organic foods are within your budget and you want to support a style of agriculture that aims to be more sustainable, then go for it!  However, if you cannot afford or don’t have access to organic produce, then buying and eating conventional produce is much better than not eating any produce at all. 
  • Aim to eat 5 (or more!) servings of fruits and vegetables daily.  Free resource – 20 ways to eat more fruits and vegetables.

 

At the end of the day, most of us want the same thing - a productive, sustainable, profitable, and equitable food system.  We must work together to find solutions to these pressing issues if we are going to continue to feed a growing global population.  We have the opportunity to vote for the food system we want to see three times a day, every day.  

Thanks for reading – and if you like what you're reading, please share / comment / like! 

Chris Vogliano MS, RDN

 

 

Main Photo Credit:
Pixabay.com - https://pixabay.com/en/agriculture-plant-protection-1359862/

Additional Resources:

  1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/a-diet-rich-in-fruits-and-vegetables-outweighs-the-risks-of-pesticides/2017/01/13/f68ed4f6-d780-11e6-9a36-1d296534b31e_story.html?utm_term=.1531f97ef9da
  2. https://www.epa.gov/tsca-inventory
  3. https://www.ams.usda.gov/datasets/pdp
  4. https://depts.washington.edu/ceeh/downloads/FF_Pesticides.pdf
  5. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/health/natural-health/pesticides/index.htm
  6. http://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/science/pesticides

References 

[1] Ponisio, Lauren C., et al. "Diversification practices reduce organic to conventional yield gap." Proc. R. Soc. B. Vol. 282. No. 1799. The Royal Society, 2015.

[2] Reganold, John P., and Jonathan M. Wachter. "Organic agriculture in the twenty-first century." Nature Plants 2 (2016): 15221.

[3] Średnicka-Tober, Dominika, et al. "Environmental impact of organic vs. conventional agriculture-a review." Journal of Research and Applications in Agricultural Engineering 61.4 (2016).

[4] Curl, C. L., Fenske, R. A. & Elgethun, K. Organophosphorus pesticide exposure of urban and suburban preschool children with organic and conventional diets. Environ. Health Persp. 111, 377–382 (2003).

[5] Lu, C. et al. Organic diets significantly lower children’s dietary exposure to organophosphorus pesticides. Environ. Health Persp. 114, 260–263 (2006).

[6] Smith-Spangler, C. et al. Are organic foods safer or healthier than conventional alternatives? Ann. Intern. Med. 157, 348–366 (2012).

[7] Brandt, K., Leifert, C., Sanderson, R. & Seal, C. J. Agroecosystem management and nutritional quality of plant foods: the case of organic fruits and vegetables. Crit. Rev. Plant Sci. 30, 177–197 (2011).

[8] USDA Agricultural Marketing Service National Organic Program Handbook (USDA, 2015); available at www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic/handbook

[9] Gattinger, A. et al. Enhanced top soil carbon stocks under organic farming. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 109, 18226–18231 (2012).

[10] Alföldi, T. et al. in Organic Agriculture, Environment, and Food Security (eds Scialabba, N. E.-H. & Hattam, C.) Ch. 2 (FAO, 2002); www.fao.org/docrep/005/y4137e/y4137e00.htm

[11] Tuomisto, H. L., Hodge, I. D., Riordan, P. & Macdonald, D. W. Does organic farming reduce environmental impacts? A meta-analysis of European research. J. Environ. Manage. 112, 309–320 (2012).

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Chris Vogliano Chris Vogliano

The Bees and You: Why Bees are Important and How to Save Them

THRILLED to have guest blogger, Anthony Dang on the blog for Earth Day, writing about pollinators and BEES! Please be sure to check it out - as it gives some great tips on how you can help create "bee-friendly" environments to help keep our planet healthy and happy! 🐝🌏 #earthday #bees

This post was written by a dear friend and a lover of all things bees, Anthony Dang. Grateful to have his passion and expertise on my blog - hope you all enjoy! 

Spring is upon us, and the Earth’s creatures are beginning to come out of hibernation. Honeybees that retreated to their hives to stave off the cold will start venturing out to forage for food, and queen bumblebees that burrowed for the winter will search for habitat to start new colonies.  Now is the perfect time to consider why bees are so important and what we can do to help stop the serious population decline.

Pollinators like bees are responsible, either directly or indirectly for one of every three bites of food we humans eat [i]. Here are just some of the reasons why bees are important to the health of the planet, the economy, and you:

Health of the planet. Bee pollinators act as keystone species in a rich ecosystem, not only for plant pollination, but also for forming the basis of an energy rich food web. Many fruits and seeds derived from bee pollination are responsible for feeding a wide range of species, from birds to grizzly bears. In many ecosystems, certain plants thrive from wild bee pollination. Without adequate bee pollination these plants risk having fewer progeny or even going extinct.

The Economy. Honeybees alone contribute an estimated $15 billion to the US economy and an estimated $235 billion worldwide [ii],[iii]. The number of honeybee colonies in the US has decreased drastically, from 4.5 million colonies in 1940 to 2.5 million today. One example of honeybee disruption and its consequence to the economy is the almond industry. Honeybee colonies sold to almond farmers have tripled in costs. These farmers in California used to pay $51.99 per hive in 2003, and in 2009 paid $157.03, raising prices for domestic almonds [iv]. This is because it costs beekeepers more money to replace hives that have collapsed. Honey and wax industries have taken similar hits to their business as the population of bees decreases.

You. Einstein had predicted we would all perish within four years if bees go extinct. That is no longer believed to be true. Without bees though, our diets would be much less vibrant and varied. Over the generations our diets have shifted from wind-pollinated crops to insect-pollinated crops. Some of these bee-benefitting foods we love are avocados, almonds, blueberries, apples, and many more. Farmers could still produce crops (such as cereals) that manage without bees. However, they may not even be able to farm those effectively without the extra income from the high-value insect-pollinated crops that previously supported their farm. On top of that, animal fodder would suffer without bees, resulting in less meat and milk production. Continuing bee shortages could mean losing healthy variety in our diets and having food become much more expensive.

Needless to say, these little critters pack a huge punch worldwide yet they still continue to reduce in numbers at an alarming rate. They face a diverse range of pressures that promote colony collapse disorder, including:

Pesticides. This is the big one we hear most about. Neonicotinoids are a seed dressing that is taken up by the plant and wards off pests. In theory, this should have been safer for our bee friends because they wouldn’t be directly exposed to insecticide sprays anymore. It was discovered later that the neonicotinoid seed dressing didn’t stick to the seeds effectively. This produces highly toxic dust that is blown onto the pollen bees are eating, weakening their immune systems[v],[vi]. With weakened immune systems they are more susceptible to disease and mites.

Disease and mites. A factor that promotes colony collapse disorder in honeybee colonies is the Varoa mite, one of many pests. These pests are able to transfer a host of different viruses to the bees. Researchers have mapped worldwide beehive losses that correlate with locations the Varoa mite is found. Mites as well as other diseases are transferred from hive to hive around the world through human shipping of beehives for agricultural purposes. To compound this issue, domesticated and diseased bees inevitably spill back into the wild, leaving their disease-causing microbes on flowers for wild bees to pick up[vii]. Bumblebees experience the same thing with their own specific diseases.

Habitat Loss. Urbanization is a pretty obvious cause of decreasing bee populations, but doesn’t get as much focus. Neonicotinoids get the most attention because they have a simple solution: ban them, which some European countries have already done. Undoing the negative effects of urbanization is a more puzzling question. Our modern life with it’s farmland, cities, and sprawling suburban lawns have damaged habitat and fragmented where bees live and where they can find food, putting nutritional stress on them.

These are just a few threats bees face, not to mention monsters like climate change, monocultures, and decreasing biodiversity. It’s popular to romanticize the idea of saving bees, but it’s much less common to see people actually doing something about it. But there are three easy ways you can help!

Use fewer pesticides. If you’re a gardener, don’t use pesticides that could harm bees! Try natural home remedies instead. When you’re in the grocery store, shopping organic is an easy way to support sustainable and safe agriculture for bees.

Create Habitat. Planting diverse native species in your gardens is an important and fun way to help bee populations where you live. Some bees are dietary generalists, meaning they’re equipped to forage food from a variety of flowers. Others are pollen specialists; these bees are equipped with certain traits like a long tongue for tubular flowers or an extra small body size to land on flowers their size. Planting a wide variety of native flowers means you’re feeding all the bees in your backyard.

VOTE! This is the easiest and most important way to protect bees and the health of our planet. Vote for initiatives that support creating urban gardens, green space, and pollinator habitat in and around your city. Vote with your dollar by buying from organic farms. Vote for politicians that believe in climate change! Flex that voting muscle and make sure you’re letting your voice be heard!

The recent political climate shift in the United States has brought hope to some, and uncertainty and worry to others. Whatever lies ahead, each of us has the power to help shape the world we want to live in. It’s more important now than ever before to be educated about how the health of the planet, pollinators, and us are all connected. For more information on this topic and good organizations to donate to, check out the links below!

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