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52 SEEDWORLD.COM JUNE 2016 Seed and grain cleanerS for the world Crippen Northland Superior Supply Co. 8-851 Lagimodiere Blvd. Winnipeg MB Ph 204-925-6141 www.northlandsuperior.com Air Screen Cleaners Indented Cylinder Length Separator Gravity Separator Although many species of animals have been genetically engineered the vast majority of this technology is used for research purposes and to date no GE animals are on super- market shelves. That could soon change with the FDAs recent approval of a GE salmon called AquaAdvantage which grows to marketable size in half the time as conventional farmed salmon. Also in 2009 the U.S. FDA approved the first biologi- cal product produced by a GE animal ATryn a drug used to treat a rare blood clotting disorder. Genetically Engineered Food Controversies There have been many controversies regarding GE technol- ogy with the majority relating to GE food. While some crit- ics object to the use of this technology based on religious or philosophical bases most critics object on the basis of envi- ronmental or health concerns. For instance a 1999 publication showed Bt toxin had nega- tive effects on butterfly populations in laboratory tests which lead to strong objections of Bt use. However follow-up studies in actual farm fields confirmed the safety of this technology. In a different example the economic stress of the poor yield of GE cotton crops in India during the late 1990s and early 2000s was associated by many organizations with a presumed increase in farmer suicides. However it was later concluded that suicide rates were actually unchanged after the introduction of GE cotton and that there were economic benefits of GE cotton for most Indian farmers. During the same time frame public awareness of the exist- ence of GE foods increased and calls for regulation of GE food grew louder resulting in labeling requirements for GE food in many countries. Today 64 countries have mandatory labeling laws for GE food. However the United States still does not have a manda- tory nationwide labeling law although many advocacy groups are lobbying to enact one. These groups argue that labeling GE food is important for consumer choice and for monitoring unforeseen problems associated with the technology. In con- trast groups opposing labels claim a law would unnecessarily eliminate consumer demand for current GE crops causing steep increases in food price and resource utilization. Although the debate about GE food is active and there is no shortage of opponents to the technology the scientific com- munity has largely come together and concluded consump- tion of GE food is no more dangerous than eating traditionally selected crops. This conclusion has not stopped businesses from capitalizing on the current fear of GE food. In 2013 Chipotle became the first restaurant chain to label menu items as GMO and in April of this year the company announced the elimination of all ingredients made with GMOs citing their food with integrity journey. With cases such as this it is safe to say the debate on GE food will continue for some time. The Future of GMO Technology There are countless potential uses of GE technology in develop- ment. These include plants with superior disease and drought resistance animals with enhanced growth properties and strat- egies for more efficient pharmaceutical production.Likewise GE technology itself is quickly advancing. Recently researchers have developed a new technology called CRISPR which takes advantage of bacterial systems to simplify genetic editing allowing for easier development of GE organisms. This technology could be used to expedite develop- ment of useful GE crops facilitate disease elimination or even alter entire ecosystems. Recent advances in plant breeding tech- niques may increase the utility and rebound the popularity of the more traditional GMO method of selective breeding. Indeed new drought resistant strains of various crops have been recently developed using traditional breeding methods. The United Nations predicts that by 2050 humans will need to produce 70 percent more food than we currently do in order to adequately feed the global population. Indeed innovative approaches will be required to solve this problem and geneti- cally engineering our food is a potentially useful tool. As scien- tists look forward at ways to create better crop survival yield and nutrition it is important that we remember where all of this work began and give credit to the pioneers who have made our advancements possible. Our ancestors that selectively bred wolves to eventually develop Corgis could not foresee that today we would be able to genetically engineer corn to withstand pests herbicides and drought. What is the future of GMO technology that we our- selves cant foresee now SW Note This article was originally published on the Science in the News Boston Blog.