The Plant World and Genetic Engineering Part III Public Issues Jana Klose, Greg Lampard UBC Biotechnology Laboratory.

The Plant World The Plant World and and

Genetic EngineeringGenetic EngineeringPart IIIPart III

Public IssuesPublic Issues

Jana Klose, Greg Lampard

UBC Biotechnology LaboratoryUBC Biotechnology Laboratory

Whoa! Who is Keeping us Whoa! Who is Keeping us Safe?Safe?

• CanadaCanada– Health Canada Health Canada

• Human SafetyHuman Safety• Stringent evaluation of safety of GM foodsStringent evaluation of safety of GM foods

– How was the product made?How was the product made?– Is the GM product different from the non-modified Is the GM product different from the non-modified

product (Composition and Nutritional value)?product (Composition and Nutritional value)?– Is there potential for toxicity of allergic reactions?Is there potential for toxicity of allergic reactions?

SafetySafety

• Canadian Food Inspection Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)Agency (CFIA)– Regulation of the non-human effects Regulation of the non-human effects – Stringent Safety testingStringent Safety testing

• Environmental impact – field trialsEnvironmental impact – field trials

• Impact on Livestock – feeding trialsImpact on Livestock – feeding trials

– Registration of all crop products Registration of all crop products under the under the Seeds ActSeeds Act

Food SafetyFood Safety

• GM products must meet ALL standardsGM products must meet ALL standards

• Additional testing can be requested at any Additional testing can be requested at any time – before or after approvaltime – before or after approval

What about allergic reactions?What about allergic reactions?

• All new food products (GM and non-GM) All new food products (GM and non-GM) must undergo strict testingmust undergo strict testing

• Testing includes:Testing includes:– Potential for an allergic responsePotential for an allergic response– Comparison of the food versus all known Comparison of the food versus all known

allergensallergens

What about allergic reactions?What about allergic reactions?

• Many people have food allergiesMany people have food allergies• The brazil nut example:The brazil nut example:

– AA transgenic soybean with an inserted gene from Brazil transgenic soybean with an inserted gene from Brazil nuts nuts was createdwas created

– It was later found that this gene encoded a major It was later found that this gene encoded a major allergenallergen

– As a result of this assessment, commercial interest in As a result of this assessment, commercial interest in this transgenic soybean variety was abandonedthis transgenic soybean variety was abandoned

– Steve L. Taylor Steve L. Taylor Department of Food Science & Technology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE Department of Food Science & Technology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE 68583-0919, USA68583-0919, USA

http://www.agbios.com/articles/2000151-A.htmhttp://www.agbios.com/articles/2000151-A.htm

Are GM Foods Labeled?Are GM Foods Labeled?

• Policy is controlled by Health Policy is controlled by Health Canada and the CFIACanada and the CFIA

• Currently approximately 70% Currently approximately 70% of foodstuffs in North of foodstuffs in North America contain components America contain components derived from GM cropsderived from GM crops

• Voluntary labellingVoluntary labelling

Labeled can of tomatoes in Britain

Source: Nature, April 22, 1999

Public AcceptancePublic Acceptance

• What is it? What is it?

• What do I get out of it? What do I get out of it?

• Is it safe? Is it safe?

• Do I have choice? Do I have choice?

• Is it natural? Is it natural?

Public AcceptancePublic Acceptance

• What is it?What is it?– Producers and consumers must come together Producers and consumers must come together

to educate each other on what the technology is to educate each other on what the technology is and also what consumers wantand also what consumers want

– Producers have not done a good jobProducers have not done a good job– Consumers must decide!Consumers must decide!

Public AcceptancePublic Acceptance

• What do I get?What do I get?– Much of the current products directly benefit Much of the current products directly benefit

farmersfarmers– What would the reaction be if a non-allergenic What would the reaction be if a non-allergenic

peanut or edible vaccine was produced?peanut or edible vaccine was produced?– Perhaps resources should be devoted to Perhaps resources should be devoted to

“useful” products“useful” products

Public AcceptancePublic Acceptance

• Is it safe?Is it safe?– Safety testing is stringent, but short term onlySafety testing is stringent, but short term only– Results made public?Results made public?– LabelingLabeling

• Do I have a choice?Do I have a choice?– Labeling products would give consumers the Labeling products would give consumers the

choice to use or not to usechoice to use or not to use

Public AcceptancePublic Acceptance

• Is it natural?Is it natural?– Genetic modification of plants is a natural Genetic modification of plants is a natural

process – Recall the process – Recall the AgrobacteriumAgrobacterium example example from lecture 1from lecture 1

SummarySummary

• Transgenic plants have potential to impact Transgenic plants have potential to impact many areas, including our food supply and many areas, including our food supply and our healthcare systemour healthcare system

• There is no doubt that the technology worksThere is no doubt that the technology works

• It is essential that proper testing of all It is essential that proper testing of all products be carried out prior to products be carried out prior to commercializationcommercialization

SummarySummary

• Labeling products would allow consumers Labeling products would allow consumers to choose what they want to consumeto choose what they want to consume

• Educate yourself!Educate yourself!