Genetically Modified Foods and Crops

Editor: Justin Healey ISBN 978 1 921507 20 5 Year 2010 Price: $20.95		Genetically Modified Foods and Crops Volume 309, Issues in Society Recent advances in gene technology are increasingly having impacts on how we produce crops and food for animal and human consumption. Australia already allows the commercial growing of genetically engineered canola and cotton for the purposes of herbicide tolerance and insect resistance, and bans are being lifted in most Australian states after extensive crop trials amid ongoing concerns about cross contamination. This book reveals the latest advances in biotechnology and how Australia is regulating this new agricultural science. Should there be mandatory labelling to declare the presence of GM ingredients in our food? The book also explores the GM debate – what are the risks and benefits, ethics and concerns involving genetic modification when applied to food, agriculture, human and animal health and the environment? Glossary; Fast Facts; Web Links; Index

		FAST FACTS from this volume
Genetic modification (GM), genetic manipulation (GM) and genetic engineering (GE) all refer to the same thing – the use of modern biotechnology techniques to change the genes of an organism, such as a plant or animal. A genetically modified organism (GMO) is a plant, animal or other organism that has been changed using genetic modification. GM does not necessarily mean that a gene from another organism has to be used to create the GMO. GM can mean that the organism’s own genes are changed. For example, gene silencing turns down the activity of certain genes already within an organism, such as in oilseed crops where it is being used to turn down the production of unhealthy oils. GM is also used for purely research purposes, for example, to discover genes. Products derived from GM crops for use in processed foods sold in Australia are: soybeans – for use in soy-based products and as an ingredient in processed foods such as bread, pastries, snack foods and edible oils products; corn products – can be corn oil, cornflour or corn syrup; used in snack foods, fried foods and confectionery (not including corn cobs); potatoes – can be used in processed products such as snack foods (this does not include fresh potatoes); sugar beet – can be used as sugar in some imported processed foods; canola oil – can be used in cooking oils, and a variety of tinned foods, and snack foods; cottonseed oil – can be found in edible vegetable oils and margarines. GM food products on sale in Australia and New Zealand – either as a whole food or as an ingredient in a processed food – must have their GM status identified if introduced genetic material or protein is present in the final food. This identification will appear on the packaging label or near the food if it is unpackaged. There are, however, some exceptions. Products that do not need to be labelled include: highly refined food, such as sugar or cottonseed oil, where the refining process removes any GM material; processing aids and food additives, where there is no GM material present in the final food; flavours which are present in an amount less than 0.1% (1 in 1000 parts) in the final food; food prepared in restaurants or takeaway shops. A food may also contain up to 1% of unintended GM product. Genetic modification has the potential to provide foods that have specific consumer benefits, such as being healthier, safer, cheaper, or can be grown more efficiently. GM crops may also have some environmental benefits – for example, the use of fewer chemicals during their production. However GM crops may also pose risks to the environment, which is why proper procedures set out by the OGTR must be followed. Researchers are planning to develop foods that directly benefit consumers by: increasing concentrations of vitamins and improving ratios of fats and other constituents; removing the allergy-causing substances and potential toxins that occur naturally in many plants; inserting substances known to help prevent chronic diseases e.g. cancer and heart disease. Some foods have been modified to make them resistant to insects and viruses and more able to tolerate herbicides. Crops that have been modified for these purposes, with approval from the relevant authorities, in a number of countries, include: maize, soybean, oilseed rape (canola), chicory, squash and potato. Modified genes may be present in whole foods, such as soybeans, maize and tomatoes. These GM whole foods are not presently available in Australia. Genetically modified food ingredients are, however, present in some Australian foods. For example, soy flour in bread may have come from imported GM soybeans There is a need to produce inexpensive, safe and nutritious foods to help feed the world’s growing population. Genetic modification may provide: better quality food; higher nutritional yields; inexpensive and nutritious food, like carrots with more antioxidants; foods with a greater shelf life, like tomatoes that taste better and last longer; food with medicinal benefits, such as edible vaccines – for example, bananas with bacterial or rotavirus antigens; crops and produce that require less chemical application, such as herbicide-resistant canola. Some concerns that have been raised by scientists, community groups and members of the public include: new allergens could be inadvertently created; antibiotic resistance may develop; cross-breeding between GM crops and surrounding vegetation, including weeds may occur; pesticide-resistant insects could render the spray ineffective; biodiversity may be compromised; cross-contamination been GM and non-GM crops can occur. Ethical concerns about genetic modification include: the possible monopolisation of the world food market by large multinational companies that control the distribution of GM seeds; using genes from animals in plant foods may pose ethical, philosophical or religious problems; animal welfare could be adversely affected; new GM organisms could be patented so that life could become commercial property through patenting. Since December 2002, the law in Australia states that food labels must show if food has been genetically modified or contains genetically modified ingredients, or whether GM additives or processing aids remain in the final food. There are around 20 GM foods, additives, flavourings, growth hormone (bovine somatotropin) and enzymes (like rennet, used to make cheese) currently approved in Europe. In the USA, there are more than 40 approved GM foods. Genetically modified (GM) crops have been rapidly adopted across the world, covering more than 114 million hectares of agricultural land in 23 countries by 2007. The most notable expansion has been in the emerging economies of Argentina, Brazil, India and China. The most widely adopted GM crops by area in 2007 were those with traits for herbicide tolerance (HT crops) (63%) and resistance to pests (mostly Bt crops) (18%), as well as newly developed varieties that have a combination of herbicide tolerance and pest resistance traits (stacked trait crops) (19%). Soybean, maize, cotton and canola are the most widely adopted GM crops, accounting for more than 99% of the GM crop plantings globally. These crops are widely traded internationally, with more than 50 importing countries. Around 98% of soybean, 80% of maize, 73% of canola and 57% of cotton traded globally is sourced from countries growing GM crops.

Genetic modification (GM), genetic manipulation (GM) and genetic engineering (GE) all refer to the same thing – the use of modern biotechnology techniques to change the genes of an organism, such as a plant or animal. A genetically modified organism (GMO) is a plant, animal or other organism that has been changed using genetic modification.
GM does not necessarily mean that a gene from another organism has to be used to create the GMO. GM can mean that the organism’s own genes are changed. For example, gene silencing turns down the activity of certain genes already within an organism, such as in oilseed crops where it is being used to turn down the production of unhealthy oils. GM is also used for purely research purposes, for example, to discover genes.
Products derived from GM crops for use in processed foods sold in Australia are: soybeans – for use in soy-based products and as an ingredient in processed foods such as bread, pastries, snack foods and edible oils products; corn products – can be corn oil, cornflour or corn syrup; used in snack foods, fried foods and confectionery (not including corn cobs); potatoes – can be used in processed products such as snack foods (this does not include fresh potatoes); sugar beet – can be used as sugar in some imported processed foods; canola oil – can be used in cooking oils, and a variety of tinned foods, and snack foods; cottonseed oil – can be found in edible vegetable oils and margarines.
GM food products on sale in Australia and New Zealand – either as a whole food or as an ingredient in a processed food – must have their GM status identified if introduced genetic material or protein is present in the final food. This identification will appear on the packaging label or near the food if it is unpackaged.
There are, however, some exceptions. Products that do not need to be labelled include: highly refined food, such as sugar or cottonseed oil, where the refining process removes any GM material; processing aids and food additives, where there is no GM material present in the final food; flavours which are present in an amount less than 0.1% (1 in 1000 parts) in the final food; food prepared in restaurants or takeaway shops. A food may also contain up to 1% of unintended GM product.
Genetic modification has the potential to provide foods that have specific consumer benefits, such as being healthier, safer, cheaper, or can be grown more efficiently. GM crops may also have some environmental benefits – for example, the use of fewer chemicals during their production. However GM crops may also pose risks to the environment, which is why proper procedures set out by the OGTR must be followed.
Researchers are planning to develop foods that directly benefit consumers by: increasing concentrations of vitamins and improving ratios of fats and other constituents; removing the allergy-causing substances and potential toxins that occur naturally in many plants; inserting substances known to help prevent chronic diseases e.g. cancer and heart disease.
Some foods have been modified to make them resistant to insects and viruses and more able to tolerate herbicides. Crops that have been modified for these purposes, with approval from the relevant authorities, in a number of countries, include: maize, soybean, oilseed rape (canola), chicory, squash and potato.
Modified genes may be present in whole foods, such as soybeans, maize and tomatoes. These GM whole foods are not presently available in Australia. Genetically modified food ingredients are, however, present in some Australian foods. For example, soy flour in bread may have come from imported GM soybeans
There is a need to produce inexpensive, safe and nutritious foods to help feed the world’s growing population. Genetic modification may provide: better quality food; higher nutritional yields; inexpensive and nutritious food, like carrots with more antioxidants; foods with a greater shelf life, like tomatoes that taste better and last longer; food with medicinal benefits, such as edible vaccines – for example, bananas with bacterial or rotavirus antigens; crops and produce that require less chemical application, such as herbicide-resistant canola.
Some concerns that have been raised by scientists, community groups and members of the public include: new allergens could be inadvertently created; antibiotic resistance may develop; cross-breeding between GM crops and surrounding vegetation, including weeds may occur; pesticide-resistant insects could render the spray ineffective; biodiversity may be compromised; cross-contamination been GM and non-GM crops can occur.
Ethical concerns about genetic modification include: the possible monopolisation of the world food market by large multinational companies that control the distribution of GM seeds; using genes from animals in plant foods may pose ethical, philosophical or religious problems; animal welfare could be adversely affected; new GM organisms could be patented so that life could become commercial property through patenting.
Since December 2002, the law in Australia states that food labels must show if food has been genetically modified or contains genetically modified ingredients, or whether GM additives or processing aids remain in the final food.
There are around 20 GM foods, additives, flavourings, growth hormone (bovine somatotropin) and enzymes (like rennet, used to make cheese) currently approved in Europe. In the USA, there are more than 40 approved GM foods.
Genetically modified (GM) crops have been rapidly adopted across the world, covering more than 114 million hectares of agricultural land in 23 countries by 2007. The most notable expansion has been in the emerging economies of Argentina, Brazil, India and China.
The most widely adopted GM crops by area in 2007 were those with traits for herbicide tolerance (HT crops) (63%) and resistance to pests (mostly Bt crops) (18%), as well as newly developed varieties that have a combination of herbicide tolerance and pest resistance traits (stacked trait crops) (19%).
Soybean, maize, cotton and canola are the most widely adopted GM crops, accounting for more than 99% of the GM crop plantings globally. These crops are widely traded internationally, with more than 50 importing countries. Around 98% of soybean, 80% of maize, 73% of canola and 57% of cotton traded globally is sourced from countries growing GM crops.