The New Science of Food: Facing Up to Our Biotechnology Choices Prepared by Mark Edelman, Iowa State University David Patton, Ohio State University A Farm Foundation Project

The Problem: Use of biotech tools such as genetic engineering in our food has increased dramatically during the1990s. The new tools of biotechnology transfer genetic material from one plant or animal to another to create new characteristics. Many consumers have not been aware of biotechnology in the foods they eat.

The Biotech Food Opportunity Better food More nutritious Increased farm productivity Improved environment Helps solve malnutrition

The Potential Uncertainty Potential for human health impacts Potential for environmental impacts Potential contamination and costs for non- biotech foods & producers Long-term impacts difficult & costly to assess

The Issues Involve: Ethics Individual to International Decisions Views about humanitarianism Economics Quality of Life

The Challenge To reconcile the promise & uncertainty To decide the incentives and approaches that should be used to shape the choices for –individuals buying food, –national food policy, and –the global food system.

# 1:Let Science & Enterprise Guide Our Food System Encourage rapid development to –Feed the world, prevent diseases, make foods healthier, improve the environment, and protect our food crops from harmful pests. Greater incentives for innovation Regulatory approval based on science –by agency experts & required tests and information supplied by biotech companies. Product liability laws help assure safety.

Approach 1: What Can Be Done? More research on biotech benefits for consumers with findings available to public. Increase patent rights to reward innovation & have patents accepted by other nations. Adopt science-based food safety standards internationally. Shorten approval for biotech products if no content difference to other approved foods.

Approach 1: Potential Benefits & Drawbacks Better foods & environment. Free enterprise incentives & rewards. Unnecessary costs avoided. No evidence of harm to health. Long-term health & environment impacts? Inadequate disclosure for some people. Concentration of control. Product liability may not stop contamination.

Approach 1: A Key Tradeoff Increases opportunity to produce healthier foods, reduce world hunger, and fight human, animal and plant diseases and pests. However, costs may increase for non- biotech foods and people may remain concerned about the health and environmental risks.

# 2: Safety First: Protect Our Health & Environment Mixing genes not mixed by nature. Precautionary principles, extra tests & independent review before approval. If concern, do not proceed until the broader scientific community verifies. Agencies have broader authority to monitor and take quick action to address any problems.

Approach 2: What can be done?  Require verification of public concerns and case- by-case testing before approval.  Require independent testing and review. Biotech firms seeking approval currently do most tests.  Establish independent biotech centers & networks to improve monitoring and assess health, economic, and environmental impacts.  Alter patent laws for living matter to reduce barriers on sharing data, test verification, collaboration and future discovery.

Approach 2: Potential Benefits & Drawbacks Avoid health & environ. impacts. Better monitoring may prevent harm. Access to patent info helps verify test & new prod. Wider access to broader science. Unnecessary rise in food prices. Delays benefits, discoveries & life may be lost. Adds politics & hurdles. Ethical issues not resolved.

Approach 2: A Key Tradeoff Extra precautions help ensure that all consequences are identified before potential harm occurs. However, more regulation and monitoring may increase food costs & reduce innovations.

# 3. Encourage Multiple Food Sources & Full Disclosure Alternative foods--organic, natural, biotech, and conventional non-biotech foods. Flexibility to keep future options open. Avoid more concentrated control. Biotech not likely to decline unless more evidence of harm. Right to know what is in food & methods. Benefits and risks may vary by individual/ right to protect self & apply preferences.

Approach 3: What can be done?  Incentives to encourage a wide variety of foods & production systems.  Organize community food systems, networks, & new ways of marketing food.  Disclosure & labeling provides clearer choices. Identity preserved to strengthen monitoring and long-term research.  Strengthen laws to assure competition & countervailing market power in food system.

Approach 3: Potential Benefits & Drawbacks More options & flexibility for people & system. Disclosure helps track impacts. Potentially more assurance. Potentially more informed choice. Flexibility only for those with ability to pay. May not result in healthier, safer, less costly food. Too much info is confusing. Wasted $ if no food difference.

Approach 3: A Key Tradeoff Alternatives and disclosure provide opportunity for individuals & system to make more informed choices. However, too much information confuses people & food costs may increase.

Let the Deliberation Begin.