The Ethics of GM Crops

Discussion/Review Questions

Use resources found on the internet or in the library to answer the following questions as
thoroughly as possible.

1. Differentiate between the terms genetically modified organism and GM crops. How are
they typically produced (brief explanation)
2. How is the production of GM crops different from selective breeding - the way we have
been modifying plants for our own purposes for thousands of years? Hint: corn provides a
good example.
3. What are the major potential benefits of GM crops?
4. What are two potential serious environmental costs of GM crops and two serious societal
or human health impacts of GM crops (why is there a controversy)?
5. What was The Green Revolution? What ethical questions surround(ed) this effort?
6. How did the GR spawn industrial agriculture, and what have the consequences of
industrial agriculture been - both positive and negative?
7. In what sense was the development of GM crops an extension of the Green Revolution?
8. Be able to give a thorough discussion of at least three ethical dilemmas associated with
the use of GM crops (nationally and globally).
9. What products do you eat/use currently that are the product of GM crop technology?
10. When applied to corn, soybeans, and cotton, what do the terms bt and Round-up Ready
mean? What are the environmental problems and benefits associated with each. What
ethical issues are associated with each?
11. Biotech firms such as Monsanto want to develop a variety of GM crops for the
developing world. Provide an ethical critique of Monsantos actions based on past events.

12. Ultimately, who gets decide what kinds of crops farmers plant? How much power do
farmers have? What are the consequences to society and the environment?

13. Given what you have learned, should all foods be labelled so that consumers know
whether or not their foods are genetically modified? What would someone on the pro
side of this argument say? What would someone on the con side say? What is your
conclusion?

Answer Key and related resources

1. A genetically modified organism is any organism whose DNA has been altered, usually
through the addition of genes novel to that organism, for human purposes. A non-crop
example is bacteria who have been genetically modified to contain the human insulin
gene, so these bacteria produce large amounts of human insulin. Genetically modified
(GM) crops are a subset of genetically modified organism, and include crops that have
been created using genetic technology to express specific traits, such as resistance to
certain chemicals. Genetic modification of bacteria often involves the use of restriction
enzymes and plasmids, while GM crops are often produced using gene guns, which shoot
 selected genetic material into undifferentiated plant tissue. This is not particularly
efficient, so the development of GM crops is time consuming and costly.
2. Humans have been selectively breeding crops for thousands of years, choosing to cross
specific plants that exhibit particular desirable traits. Over many generations of selection,
considerable genetic modification can occur, such that eventually, new species with new
genetic make-ups could appear. Genetically modifying crops using new technology
accomplishes the same end result in a very short amount of time long periods of
selective breeding are not required to change the traits of the plants in question.
3. GM crops can theoretically be developed to produce higher yields, to have higher
nutritional value (Golden Rice), and to grow under conditions that are less than optimal.
For example, GM rice is currently being developed for use in the Central Valley of
California, which is currently experiencing a severe drought. This GM rice will be
modified such that it requires less water to produce the same yield. GM crops designed to
flourish under warmer and drier conditions may be necessary as climate change continues
to worsen. Today, much of the corn, wheat, and cotton in the US is genetically modified
to produce the Bt protein, produced in nature by bacteria, and toxic to plant pests in the
moth and butterfly family. Because these crops produce this toxin, farmers dont have to
apply as much pesticides to their crops. Pesticides are toxic and spread throughout the
environment, so using less is environmentally beneficial.
4. Serious potential environmental costs include the possibility that the genetic modification
might spread into non-target species and have negative consequences. For example, if the
Bt gene moves into native plants, non-pest species of butterflies and moths, such as
Monarchs, could be impacted. This could produce serious ecosystem impacts. Another
environmental impact can be seen in the case of Round Up, an herbicide produced by
Monsanto. Monsanto has engineered crops that are resistant to Round Up, allowing
farmers to spray this chemical far and wide across their fields. The overuse of this
herbicide, which is toxic to many species of plants, leads to its spread, via water,
throughout the environment. As Round Up saturates the environment, those plants that
naturally become resistant will have an advantage, and may become super-weeds,
requiring applications of even more herbicide. Finally, development of GM crops furthers
the use of industrial agricultural methods, particularly the use of monocultures all of the
plants in a field are genetically identical to each other, and to those in the next farm over.
The loss of unique genetic varieties and loss of biodiversity makes our crops more prone
to devastation by pests and disease.

Societal issues include the potential health risks associated with GM crops. It is possible
for allergins to be transferred from one crop to another, unbeknownst to those allergic. A
major concern is that relatively few companies have the capital or technology to develop
these crops. If they become widely used these few companies, such as Monsanto, will
have tremendous control of our food supply.

http://www.ucsusa.org/our-work/food-agriculture/our-failing-food-system/genetic-
engineering-agriculture#.VjFqs7erTIU
 There is great controversy over the use of GM crops between those who feel that given
human population size and a changing climate, we need quick ways to increase the
amount of food the planet can produce, and some argue that using GM crops will lead to
a more environmentally sustainable solution to our food needs. On the other hand, those
opposing GM crops feel that these crops will spread the negative impacts of industrial
agriculture, result in losses of biodiversity, disrupt ecosystems, and ultimately leave small
farmers in the developing world at the mercy of the large multinational corporations who
supply their food.

5. The Green Revolution refers to the spread of new agricultural technologies throughout
the developing world between 1947 and the 1960s. Norman Borlaug, an American
scientists, established agricultural techniques that vastly improved the yield of certain
varieties of wheat. These new techniques relied on selective breeding and high inputs of
fertilizer, making use of the newly discovered Haber-Bosch process, which allows nitrate
fertilizer to be synthesized using nitrogen gas in the atmosphere (this was a result of
research during WWII). With help from philanthropic organizations such as the
Rockefeller and Ford Foundations, these new varieties were exported, along with help
providing inputs, throughout the developing world. Parts of southeast Asia benefited from
significant increases in yield, and some countries became grain exporters. Other parts of
the world did not experience the benefit.
The Green Revolution has both proponents and critics. Some circles lauded the changes
as a successful intertwining of science and public policy that helped save several
countries from mass starvation. It is possible to craft an ethical argument either
supporting or rejecting the Green Revolution, depending on your perspective.

Proponents pointed out that the changes:

Raised farmers' incomes
Slowed increases in rural poverty
Improved the nutritional value of wheat, maize, and rice
Decreased starvation rates
Helped avert worldwide famine in the late twentieth century

Critics responded that the changes:

Caused environmental harm through substantial use of chemical fertilizers and
pesticides
Made agriculture in the developing world dependent on Western agribusiness
products such as hybrid seed and fertilizers
Disrupted long-standing social systems in rural areas
Advocated a blanket solution to agricultural problems rather than regional
approaches
Significantly undermined regional foods and genetic biodiversity

http://www.onlineethics.org/Resources/Cases/GreenRevolution.aspx
 6/7.The techniques employed to get Borlaugs high yield varieties to bear the most fruit
works for all crops, and the practices of increasing yield through additions of industrial
fertilizer and large amounts of water became common practice in the developed world.
Because selectively bred individual plants produced the highest yields, they were cloned and
distributed, reducing the genetic variability in natural crops, and leading to todays common
practice of monoculture.
8. There are many possible ethical dilemmas associated with GM crops. Should Monsanto
be able to sue small farmers who replant their fields with seeds they collect from the
plants they purchase from Monsanto? Should Monsanto be allowed to insert terminator
genes into seeds they sell to small farmers in the developing world, so that these farmers
are beholden to purchase more seeds from Monsanto?

A classic case study of the ethical and environmental issues behind the use of GM crops
is that of Golden Rice. Here is a link to one version of the case study
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~ethics/GoldenRiceCaseStudy.pdf
I assign students to one of the four witness groups and have them argue, via a formal
debate, before a panel of judges, who decide whether or not Golden Rice should be
funded and developed.

9. In a Biology class, it is possible to use a kit from Bio-Rad to amplify genetic markers
associated with the process of genetic modification. Students can bring in food from home
and test it to see if its genetically modified. Otherwise, in general its a sure bet that corn
products, especially corn chips, Fritos, etc. are genetically modified, as are virtually all of
the papayas available in the US. At this moment, the only crops sold that are genetically
modified are corn, wheat, and soy. Other produce is not genetically modified. Much of the
controversy around labelling produce is thus not currently relevant, though may become
more so in the future.
10 and 11 have been answered above.
Different classes will arrive at different answers for question 12. The Golden Rice case
study is a great activity for helping students find their way.