Genetically Engineered and Organic Foods Flashcards
What are greenhouse gases?
gases that pollute the air and cause the warming of the Earth’s
atmosphere.
■ Trap heat and make the planet warmer.
■ Human activities responsible for almost all
of the increase in GHG in the atmosphere
over the last 150 years
What are Agriculture Sector emissions?
NITROUS OXIDE N2O is used in synthetic and organic fertilizers, the growth of nitrogen fixing crops, the drainage of organic soil, and irrigation practices
Management of agricultural soils represents >50% of emissions from
agriculture sector.
METHANE, CH4:
–Livestock, such as ruminants (cattle), part of normal digestive processes
(enteric fermentation)
■ Represents ~1/3 of emissions from agriculture sector
MANURE MANAGEMENT-TREATMENT AND STORAGE METHODS
■ Represents 15% of total GHG from agriculture sector.
SMALLER SOURCES OF EMISSIONS
■ Rice cultivation
■ Burning crop residues (both N20 and CH4)
ways to reduce emissions?
Land and Crop Management:
–
Adjust methods for managing and growing crops
■ Fertilization with just enough nitrogen for crop production
■ Draining water from wetland rice soils during growing season
■ Livestock Management:
–
Adjust feed to reduce CH 4 from enteric fermentation
■ Improve pasture quality and breeding practices to increase animal productivity
■ Manure Management:
–
Decomposition methods to reduce emissions
–
Capture CH 4 for renewable energy
Ways to reduce food waste?
Buy what you need, store correctly, cook the right amount, eat it all or store leftovers after, recycle what you can’t eat
Genetic modification definitions
What is biotechnology?
what is genetically modified?
Foods produced through genetic modification known as Genetically
modified organism (GMO), genetically engineered (GE), bioengineered,
and transgenic.
Biotechnology is a collection of scientific techniques, including genetic engineering used to create, improve, or modify plants, animals, and
organisms.
genetically modified means the transfer of genes between organisms using
laboratory techniques (Recombinant DNA technology): Cloning genes, Splicing DNA segments together, Inserting genes into cells
What GMO foods are approved in the U.S. and their genetic traits?
apples- non browning
potato- reduced bruising and black spot, non-browning, low acylamie, blight resistance
field Corn- insect resistance, herbicide tolerance, drought tolerance
canola- herbicide tolerance
alfafa- herbicide tolerance
soybean- insect resistance, herbicide tolerance
rainbow papaya- disease resistance
cotton- insect resistance, herbicide tolerance
sugar beet- herbicide tolerance
sweet corn- insect resistance, herbicide tolerance
summer squash-disease resistance
What are possible applications for biotechnology?
potentioal for increasing yield and quality of the food supply
like making crops disease resistance or other favorable traits
application for addressing the problem of world hunger and malnutrition, improving nutritional quality like enriching with vitamins to prevent nutrient deficiencies in populations
increasing functional foods
advanceing the appeal of food as well as quality, non-browning less bruising
improving food safety like removing naturally occurring allergens, toxins
What are safety concerns for biotechnology?
concerns regarding increased ALLERGIES AND TOXINS
Genes code for proteins, so a new gene in a food means
a new protein.
■ If this new protein is an allergen, allergic individuals may react
to a food that was previously safe for them.
Recombinant-DNA microorganisms may remain viable in
foods & interact w/ the immune system in the intestinal
tract.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS about reducing biodiversity if everyone grows the same variety other varieties die off
promoting the evolution of pesticide resistant insects, supersedes
What are organic livestock practices under USDA?
Living Conditions:
Must support animal health and natural behavior.
Required access to:
Outdoors
Shade & shelter
Space to exercise
Fresh air, sunlight, and clean drinking water
Shelters must protect from extreme temperatures and allow ventilation.
🔹 Grazing:
Ruminants (e.g., cows, goats) must graze on pasture.
Their manure is used as organic fertilizer.
🔹 Animal Health:
Focus on prevention: good nutrition, exercise, low-stress environment.
Use of vaccines allowed.
No antibiotics or growth hormones.
🔹 Organic Feed:
Animals must eat certified organic feed.
Pasture, forage, and plant-based bedding must be organic.
Non-organic micronutrients allowed in trace amounts.
🔹 Animal Origin:
Must be raised organically from the last third of gestation.
Poultry must be raised organically from the 2nd day of life.
What are organic farming practices under USDA?
Soil Fertility:
Use compost, animal manure, or green manure.
Grow cover crops to prevent wind/water erosion.
Seeds & Planting Stock:
Prefer organic seeds.
Conventional seeds allowed if organic unavailable, but must not be GMO or fungicide-treated.
Crop Rotation:
Rotating crops interrupts pests and diseases.
Helps prevent erosion and builds organic matter.
Fixes nitrogen and supports biodiversity.
Composting:
Decomposed organic matter (leaves, skins, manure).
Enhances soil structure and drainage.
Adds nutrients → boosts fertility and yield.
Improves water retention and reduces pests/disease.
Green Manures (Cover Crops):
Crops grown and turned into soil to enrich it.
Can be plowed under or left in the ground.
Adds nutrients and organic matter.
What is the state of the science for safety of genetically engineered foods?
National academy of science performed systematic review of all evidence regarding new technology
Found that:
animals consuming foods derived from GE crops were not harmed
longterm data on livestock health found no adverse effects associated with GE crops
found no evidence to support that GE crops were less safe than NON-GE crops when concerning human health problems like cancer
GE soybean, cotton, and maize → generally improved economic outcomes for farmers.
Bt crops contain a gene from a bacterium that lets them produce their own insecticide, which led to educed overall pesticide use, reduced
pest populations (and therefore benefited even non-GMO crops), and increased insect
diversity
Is there conclusive evidence that organic foods are more nutritious than conventionally
grown foods?
No, there is no conclusive evidence that organic foods are significantly more nutritious than conventionally grown foods. While some studies show slight nutritional advantages in organic foods, the findings are inconsistent and affected by numerous variables.
Limitations of studies
–Heterogeneity of the studies
■ Differences in testing
methods.
■ Physical factors
affecting the food
(weather and soil type).
■ Great variation among
organic and
conventional
farming methods.
What is sustainable agriculture?
farming in such a way to protect the environment, aid and expand natural resources and to make the best use of nonrenewable resources.
