Food Security & GM Flashcards
(20 cards)
What SDGs can plant biotech help with?
SDG 2 - zero hunger
SDG 1 - no poverty
How many people are there on earth without sufficient food?
800 million
Who were responsible for feeding the growing population and why?
Norman Borlaug - green revolution
Fritz Haber - Haber-Bosch process
When is population predicted to peak?
Predicted to peak at ~10 billion between 2050-2060
How many GM meals have humans eaten?
Humans have eaten more than 3 trillion GM meals, with no documented case of harm
What proportion of GM crops in 2019 were soybeans?
48.2%
Who are the biggest growers of GM crops?
USA and Brazil
How many biotech crops grown in 2019?
190.4 million ha of biotech crops grown in 29 countries
How can biotech crops help protect biodiversity?
- Pest resistance (less pesticides)
- Less competing weeds
- Less compaction from machinery
- Reduced GHG emissions
- Contributes to food, feed and fibre security
What is a worry about the commercialisation of GM crops?
Could lead global food economy under the control of a few big corporations
What are some examples of bad press that GM crops have received?
- Press suggest GM causes health issues (organ damage and cancer)
- Kenya banned all GM crops (ban lifted in 2022)
- Zambia refused to accept American food donations (much of it was GM corn and soy)
- People not in food poverty are precious about what they eat
What GM crops are on sale in the UK?
- GM tomatoes (pureed)
- GM soya
- GM maize
Are GM crops currently grown in the UK?
None currently grown, only in trials
Can livestock be fed GM crops?
20% of imported animal feed contains GM derived soya and maize
Currently, animal products that were fed GM do not have to be labelled as such
Why did the UK become anti GM due to mad cow disease?
- Mad cow disease: attacks CNS, causes death. 1
990, gov said beef was safe
8 years later 32 people died.
Caused lasting public mistrust
Why did the UK become anti GM due to media scares?
1998, said on TV that GM potatoes expressing snowdrop lectin “caused toxicity to rats”
1999, public demonstrated that the findings were flawed but the damage was already done
Why did the UK become anti GM due to King Charles?
Articles were published with him doubting GM
“We should not be meddling with the building blocks of life this way”
“Guaranteed to cause the biggest disaster environmentally of all time”
How much more expensive are non GM crops than GM?
Non GM soya and maize are 10-15% more expensive
Costs UK £24 million a year
What is the UK’s genetic technology act 2023?
Covers plants and animals developed through techniques such as gene editing, easier to do trials due to this
Are younger generations more supportive of GM?
Yes
67% agree that GM is important for sustainable agriculture
20% object to the use of gene editing
