The debate over the
potential for GMO (genetically modified organism) corn continues in
the national media, but here in Pennsylvania we seem to be mostly
on the sidelines on this issue. I see our position similar to that
of a backup quarterback in a football game: while all of the action
taking place now only has an indirect effect on us, we better pay
attention because we could be in the game quickly. Generally our corn
markets, which are mainly poultry and livestock feed have not sent
any signals to producers regarding a market for non-GMO corn. As a
result most producers in our area seem to be continuing to purchase
GMO corn and soybean seeds. Let's just review a few of the issues
surrounding the national debate over GMOs.
One of the largest issues is food
safety. Are the products from GMO derived foods as safe as those
from non-GMO crops? Approved GMO products have undergone a comprehensive
review by the FDA on this issue and they have concluded that the
food and feeds produced from these crops are not different than
from normal corn. This is based on an analysis of the composition
of the grain, the properties of the introduced compounds, and feeding
trials that have been conducted on animals. Nevertheless, some are
questioning the thoroughness of the FDA approval process. Opponents
of the technology are suggesting that the FDA should ban the use
of GMO crops in foods until long term testing can be completed or
at least label products that contain GMO crops. The FDA has had
a long-standing policy on labeling stating that they "will require
labeling if the composition differs significantly from its conventional
counterpart." Up to this point the FDA has not endorsed labeling.
Since such a wide range of products contain corn, and since much
of the corn supply in the US contains some GMOs, many consumer food
products on the market contain GMO corn. A decision to label GMO
foods by the FDA would mean that that the food industry would either
need to label many products or begin to secure large supplies of
non-GMO corn. In the last several weeks, Midwest corn processors
have been sending letters to corn producers that typically supply
them. In these letters the companies note that while they support
the use of biotechnology, they are concerned about the market signals
requiring non-GMO corn. They go on to suggest that producers should
plan on segregating GMO and non-GMO corn next fall.
The issue of segregation
causes lots of headaches for Midwest corn producers. One of the
first issues is how they can be sure their crop is GMO free. Testing
procedures are being developed that should be cost effective, quick
and relatively accurate for next falls harvest. Possible sources
of contamination include cross pollination from an adjacent GMO
crop, GMO seed in a non GMO hybrid, or incomplete cleanout from
combines, elevators, trucks or grain bins. The next issue would
be acceptable tolerance levels- would it be any detection, 1%, 2%
or 5% GMO in a shipment of grain? Now it's not clear. Liability
is a concern as well. If a mistake is made along the way in the
grain production or delivery process- who is liable for the contamination?
Another area of frustration with producers is whether non-GMO corn
will command a premium. The marketplace will likely determine this.
If it does command a premium, then some corn users may be reluctant
to make a switch to non-GMO.
Another issue with the
GMO crops is their impact on the environment. Will they cause resistance
in target species and increased mortality of non-target species?
Most scientists agree that there is potential for corn borer resistance
to Bt corn but it is remote. A resistance management program that
consists of not planting 20% of our corn acres to BT corn has been
adopted by the seed industry and the National Corn Growers Association.
This would allow any resistant insects a greater possibility of
mating with susceptible insects, thereby producing susceptible offspring
that could be controlled with Bt corn the next year. Otherwise a
resistant corn borer might be forced to mate with another resistant
corn borer, and this would increase the likelihood of a resistant
population developing. Consequently, it's important to pay attention
to refuge requirements of Bt corn.
The issue of increased
mortality of non-target insects came to light earlier this year
when an article was published in Nature, a prestigious British journal,
that showed that Bt corn pollen was toxic to the larva of the Monarch
butterfly. This started quite a controversy early in the summer.
Numerous entomologists around the country began to look at the issue.
In November they met and shared their findings with the press. According
to Dr. Dennis Calvin, Penn State's extension entomologist, a few
of the conference conclusions were that 1) Bt corn pollen does have
some toxicity to Monarch larvae, 2) toxic levels of corn pollen
do not occur far from corn fields, and 3) it is likely the Bt corn
pollen is not a significant mortality factor to Monarch butterfly
larva. Thus the Monarch issue was probably overblown in the press
but there do appear to be some effects of the pollen on off target
organisms.
There are many other
issues in the GMO debate. With the large overhead needed to develop
these crops the genetics of farm seeds are concentrated in the hands
of a few companies- is this good or bad? If we ban GMOs or make
it difficult to produce and market them are we sacrificing what
could be one of the greatest agricultural innovations of all time?
Who will fund the application of GMO technologies for self pollinated
crops like rice and wheat in the less developed countries? All of
these are legitimate questions and each of us has to develop our
own position on these issues. In some ways this debate is not that
much different that others that have occurred with the introduction
of other new technologies: television, nuclear power, the internet
to name a few.
Take time to research
and monitor this topic as it unfolds. Visit my webpage for more
links to other sources of information: http://www.agronomy.psu.edu/Extension/CornManagement/CornManagement.html
Keep informed… that way you'll be ready if we get called in
the game.
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