GE Crops - Social, Legal, Ethical Issues

Question 1

What is a plant with a novel trait?

Answer 1

A plant that has a trait that is new to the environment or used in a new way

Question 2

How does Canada regulate new varieties of plants?

Answer 2

Based on the novel trait and not the breeding method

Question 3

How does the US regulate new varieties of plants?

Answer 3

Based on the breeding method. Mutagenesis and outcrossing are considered conventional methods and aren’t regulated, but GE crops are regulated

Question 4

What are Plant Breeder’s Rights?

Answer 4

The breeder of a new variety of plant is the only one with the rights to sell and produce that variety. Other breeders are able to use the variety to breed another new variety, and farmers are able to save and replant seeds

Question 5

How does patent protection differ from Plant Breeder’s Rights?

Answer 5

It doesn’t allow other breeders to use the variety to breed another new variety, and farmers are not allowed to save and replant seeds unless they pay the patent holder

Question 6

Why was Monsanto vs Schmeiser a landmark case?

Answer 6

First time patent law was tried in Canada. Upheld the patent protection on the Roundup Ready Canola

Question 7

What are confined research trials?

Answer 7

A new plant variety is grown in a confined space to collect data on any potential environment or health effects

Question 8

Why does legislation on GE crops in other countries affect us?

Answer 8

Export markets. We don’t grow any GE crops that could accidentally contaminate a shipment of the same conventionally grown crop being shipped to a country that has banned GE crops

Question 9

Why don’t we grow any GE wheat or flax in Canada?

Answer 9

Major importers of those crops have banned GMOs altogether, so we don’t grow any so we don’t contaminate shipments and cause market harm

Question 10

What is a crop production system?

Answer 10

How a product is farmed. Basically what can be added to soil, used as pesticides, what varieties can be grown, etc

Question 11

What are the rules that need to be followed to get an organic certification on a product?

Answer 11

• Only conventionally bred varieties
• Seed must be saved or purchased
• Only certain, natural pesticides and fertilizers

Question 12

Do organic and conventionally grown crops differ in terms in nutritional value, yield, or sustainability?

Answer 12

Not a lot of overwhelming evidence to support either side for all 3 things

Question 13

What does the Non-GMO verified label mean? How does a company get that label on their product?

Answer 13

Means there are no GMO ingredients in that product (above a certain threshold). The product will be tested for GE if there are GE varieties of an ingredient being grown, doesn’t need to be tested if there aren’t GE varieties on the market

Question 14

What are the organic and Non-GMO verified labels designed to do?

Answer 14

Increase profits

Question 15

What are the two things Health Canada considers when assessing a product for food safety?

Answer 15

Nutrition and risk

Question 16

What two things does Health Canada look at when determining the risk of a product? How do they do that?

Answer 16

Toxicity and allergenicity. Toxicity is determining the dose and exposure that people will be eating that crop at and comparing to known toxins or feeding to research animals. Allergenicity is determining how likely the product is to cause an allergic reaction, determined by stability of the novel protein and comparing to known allergens in a database

Question 17

How do we prove that GE foods are safe for human consumption?

Answer 17

Compare the nutrition to existing varieties of the same crop. It needs to be either more healthy or at least as healthy

Question 18

What are the 4 biggest concerns with GE foods?

Answer 18

1. Food safety
2. Consumer autonomy
3. Environmental safety
4. Corporate control of food

Question 19

Why might it be difficult to label GMOs on products? (3 reasons)

Answer 19

1. The label might be misinterpreted
2. Contamination from being processed in the same facility
3. Unconfined release

Question 20

What is unconfined release?

Answer 20

The crop no longer needs to be kept separate from conventional products

Question 21

Why does labelling GE crops disagree with Canada’s current labelling laws?

Answer 21

Law says food labels are for nutrition and risk. GE isn’t an ingredient, it is how something was produced, so it doesn’t fall under the same category

Question 22

What are the two biggest concerns about the environment and GE crops?

Answer 22

1. Loss of biodiversity

2. Increased use and reliance on pesticides

Question 23

Do GE crops increase our herbicide use?

Answer 23

Herbicide use has increased overall, not just for GE crops. Also hard to tell because we don’t have controls to figure that out

Question 24

What are 2 environmental benefits associated with GE crops?

Answer 24

1. No till crops that result in less soil erosion and greenhouse gas emission
2. Reduced insecticide use with Bt crops

Question 25

What are 2 benefits to producers associated with GE crops?

Answer 25

1. Increased productivity and profits

2. Reduced exposure to pesticides

Question 26

What are some potential benefits of GE crops to consumers?

Answer 26

Can remove allergens, improve nutrition, improve taste, waste less