CROPS FOR CHANGE
CHANGE THE WORLD WITH GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS
"Action indeed is the sole medium of expression for ethics."
-JANE ADDAMS
The Issues
With most scientific breakthroughs - including the numerous beneficial products created in the agricultural biotechnology industry - there are issues. Issues that involve government's regulations (legal)and society's pre-existing norms (ethical). Also, with anything, there is also a public perception (social). By identifying the issues, considering the perception, and working with opponents of biotechnology, we can create products that best fit the values and expectations of the majority of our general population. So, here are the main legal, ethical, and social issues regarding GM crops (with the focus being the United States).
Legal
Ethical
Social
According to the Library of Congress, genetically modified crops are regulated mainly by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The EPA is concerned about the effects of GM crops on the environment. The FDA deals with the consumption of GM crops by animals and people. The APHIS is responsible for creating regulations for GM organisms that can be potentially harmful to plants. Genetically modified crops - including their research, production, effects on the environment/animals, safety, marketing, and crossover into the market - are regulated by these three agencies.
People who oppose GM crops are concerned with the health risks involved with GM crops. However, genetically modified crops are the most tested foods in the market; they are regulated by the EPA, FDA, and APHIS and do not enter the market without a thorough inspection of possible risks. Furthermore - according to the World Health Organization, British Royal Society, U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and American Medical Association - eating foods made with genetically modified crops is at the same risk level as eating foods made with traditionally grown crops. In fact, the European Commission released a report in 2010 that summarized the findings of fifty research projects on GMOs and concluded that there is no proof that GMOs have higher risks regarding consumption and the environment.
Additionally, if a person is still concerned about eating genetically modified crops despite the strict regulations, they can purchase foods labeled "certified non-GM product" or "certified organic". The movement to label genetically modified foods is understandable but in fact repetitive since non-GM foods are already labeled "organic".
People are concerned that genetically modified foods are unethical. However, they are ethical in a broader extent because they help farmers produce crops more efficiently (with less pesticide, higher yields, and/or lower costs) as well as have the potential to alleviate malnutrition and hunger in poor populations. For more information on how farmers and poor populations can benefit from GM crops, click here.
The public - whether it be American or international - has mixed feelings about genetically modified foods.
On one hand, they acknowledge the benefits that GM crops have for farmers (in terms of production costs and yield) as well as consumers (like cheaper costs with the same quality). On the other hand, people are opposed to GM crops because of the possible health risks and labeling issues. To address this, it is important to skip back to the "Ethical" section and repeat that 1) there is no concrete proof that genetically modified foods are unsafe, and 2) if a person wants to eat non-GMO foods, they can easily find organic food. Both of these concerns are not valid without having sufficient proof to back up the concerns. However, each person has their own opinion as well as reasons to support their opinion. Therefore, it is safe to say that - on a social viewpoint - genetically modified crops receive mixed reviews.
In the long term, genetically modified foods are here to stay because of their long list of benefits. The greatest impact that GM crops can have is on populations in rural areas that have little food and/or lack proper nutrition. For example, golden rice - which has high levels of vitamin A - can provide calories and alleviate VAD (vitamin A deficiencies) around the world. For more information on golden rice, click here.
IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
1. Are risks and benefits fairly shared across all members of society?
The benefits of genetically modified crops (more efficiently grown, cheaper, and relatively similar quality to non-GMO crops) can be shared amongst all members of society because anyone can purchase GMO foods. However, knowing that GMO foods are cheaper to purchase than non-GMO foods, the poor/middle-class population is more likely to benefit from and take the risk for GMO foods.
2. When dealing with biological materials, how do we decide issues of intellectual property and ownership?
When a company/institution develops or discovers a new biological material, they can obtain ownership of intellectual property by filing for a biological patent. Each country has separate rules for what can be patented or not. In the United States, biological substances that occur naturally (ex. insulin) can be patents if they are adequately separated from the natural state. However, in June 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that human genes (specific DNA sequences) cannot be patented.
If one party wants to utilize (but not legally possess) another party's biological material, they create a MTA (material transfer agreement). A MTA is a legal document that discusses the terms of biological material transfer.
3. Are current ethical norms, regulatory and legal practices sufficient to address societal concerns regarding GM crops? Why or why not?
Currently, the biggest societal concerns regarding genetically modified crops is the possible health risks and lack of labels.
As addressed underneath the "Social" section, the possible health risks should not be a major concern because there is no concrete proof for any health problems; also, associations like the FDA, EPA, and APHIS strictly regulate the safety of GM foods.
As for the pushes on labeling GM foods, it is important to note that any food labeled "organic" or "non-GMO" is not genetically modified. So, in a sense, we are already labeling our food. In order to make the public more empowered about their food, though, labeling GM foods with specific "GMO" wording could be a viable option. People would have to consider higher costs in this decision. However, if the people are in agreement with labeling (despite the added costs) and the government pushs "GM" labels, it would definitely help ease the societal concerns regarding genetically modified foods.
