Genetically Modified

Organisms (GMOs)
What are they & how they affect health,
bodies, animals & the environment

Agenda

What are GMOs?

Where are GMOs grown & labeled?
Why are GMOs made?
Who makes GMOs?
How are GMOs made?
Do GMOs affect the environment?
Why do some people avoid GMOs?
How to avoid GMOs
More information, Q & A

Raise Your Hand

Do YOU know what a GMO is?

Genetically Modified Organism
Genetic Engineering
Genetically Modified

Hint: its NOT evolution

GMO: What is it?

DNA from two different species are combined

to create a new species

Examples that exist:

Goat & spider

Salmon & ocean pout
Soybean & BT (bacteria)
Corn & bacteria

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GMO: What is it?

US Crops

Main food for US

Corn*

Soy*
Canola
Sugar beets

Cornstarch, corn syrup,

corn oil
Soymilk, tofu, soy lecithin
Canola oil
Sugar

Cotton
Squash
HI Papaya

Cottonseed oil, tampons

Zucchini, crooked neck
Papaya from Hawaii

* Main ingredient of US raised cows, pigs & chickens

80% of what you buy in the grocery store contains GMOs

GMO: Where are they

grown?

GM crops & food introduced in mid 1990s

2005 world production map of GMOs.
Solid orange - produce more than 95% of GMO products
Orange stripes - produce commercialized GMO products.
Orange dots - participating in experimental GM crops.
Image by pixeltoo

GMO: Where are they

labeled?

GMO: Why are they made?

Pest/insect resistant crops

Weed resistant crops

Ex: BT Corn or BT Soy

Ex: Round-up Ready

Increased yields for first 2-3 years, then decreasing

yields thereafter

Chemical fertiziler + chemical plant = chemical crop

Crops need more & more chemicals to control the
superweeds
Agent orange resistant crop is awaiting approvals
2009 Failure to Yield, UCS Study
Rodale Institute, Chemical vs. Organic, 30-yr Farming Trial

GMO: Who makes them?

Bio-tech companies:
(Monsanto, Dow
AgroSciences, ConAgra,
DuPont)

Make chemical
fertilizer and chemicalresistant crops
Sell both products to
farmers

FDA role:
Expects the bio-tech
companies to test their
own products

GMO: How are they made?

Equipment:

DNA gun
Petri Dish

Ingredients:

Species 1 DNA
Species 2 DNA
Virus
Promoter
Marker Gene

GMO: Do they affect the

environment?

Increased herbicides in ground & water

Cross pollination with other plants
Contaminates organic crops
Increased super weeds
Push heirloom crops into extinction
Creates nutrient-deficient soil
Kills insects
GMO crops DO NOT feed the world

GMO: Why do some people

avoid them?

No long term human feeding studies done

It kills bugs (we have good bugs in our
digestive tracts)
Unpredictable side effects of
genetic engineering
Increased infertility and
miscarriages amongst farm
animals when fed GMO feed

GMO: How to Avoid GMOs

Buy Organic, when products contain corn, soy, canola,

sugar, cotton, squash, & hawaiian papaya

Look for the NON GMO Verified Logo

Download free app from
www.nongmoshoppingguide.com
Avoid at-risk ingredients

GMO: More information,

Q&A

Local Label GMOs Chapter (http://www.labelgmos.org/ ),

Email me at sas.hadden@gmail.com
More information
Movies:
ovies!
Must w atch m

Interview:

Food Inc.
King Corn
Genetic Roulette
Future of Food

Dr. Mercola Interviews Dr. Don Huber about GMO ~(2 parts) http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4swW9OFmf8

Websites:

GMO crops & sources

http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-basics/gmos-in-food
GMOs FAQs - http://www.responsibletechnology.org/faqs
Educational Brochures and more - http://seedsofdeception.com/store/