Student: Jacob Weiss
Graduation date: May 2016
Type: Concentration (single major)
Date approved: November 2013
Summary
Genetically engineered (GE) crops are a very controversial topic in contemporary agriculture. Today, companies, such as Monsanto are proponents of GE crops because of their ability to increase yields and reduce the use of pesticides. Opponents of GE crops claim that they may have negative health affects and are environmentally damaging. Many of these claims, however, lack substantial scientific review. In order to improve the scholarly debate surrounding the use of GE crops, I aim to examine the pro’s, con’s, and tradeoff’s of GE corn, specifically used for animal feed in the United States. I will examine the role of corn in animal feed because in the U.S., corn plays an important role in the meat and dairy industry—the majority of corn produced goes to feeding animals that will later be slaughtered for human consumption (Roberts, 2009).
Genetic Engineering of different species began in the 1970s. In 1972, Paul Berg devised a method by which individual genes could be isolated and inserted into mammalian cells or into rapidly growing organisms like bacteria. Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen expanded on Berg’s research and discovered how to construct functional organisms using combined and replicated genetic information from different species. Their experiments drastically demonstrated the potential impact of DNA recombinant engineering on medicine, industry, and agriculture (Genome News Network). Today GE seeds are used in many agricultural sectors because they offer increased yields, reduced need for pesticides and drought resistance.
Genetically modified crops are not new to human’s history. For centuries, humans have been mixing different strands of crops, especially Maize, in order to produce hybridized genes that have desirable traits. This is significant because when companies today apply for seed technology patents, it is possible that they will be contested by indigenous groups who were the first people to genetically modify food.
Monsanto has been criticized because of its ability to patent seeds–essentially patenting life itself. Because of this Monsanto has been taken to court many times over whether or not seed patents are legal. However, the 1930 Plant Patent Act allowed people to legally patent asexually reproduced plants. This law was amended several times and in 1975, Earl Patterson of the University of Illinois was issued a patent for Maize seed.
The environmental effects of GE seeds are still highly contested. On the one hand, GE crops reduce the amount of pesticides necessary for crops. Drought resistant seeds also allow farmers in areas of severe drought to conserve water. On the other hand, GE seeds can contaminate biological diversity, the effects of which may not be noticeable for decades.
References:
Allan, Stuart. 2002. Media, Risk and Science. Open University Press.
Ferdoroff, Nina and Brown, Nancy Marie. 2004. Mendel in the Kitchen: A Scientist’s View of Genetically Modified Food. Joseph Henry Press: Washington D.C..
Genome News Network. “Herbert Boyer (1936-) and Stanley N. Cohen (1935-) Develop Recombitant DNA Technology, Showing that Genetically Engineered DNA Molecules may be Cloned in Foreign Cells”. Genetics and Genomics Timeline.
Roberts, Paul. 2009. The End of Food. Houghton Mifflin Company: New York.
Questions
What are the pro’s, con’s, and tradeoffs of using genetically engineered (GE) corn in the United States?
What lessons should be considered for researchers, policy makers, and public advocacy groups surrounding biotechnology?
To what extent is biotechnology a tool to reduce poverty?
Concentration courses
- ENVS 350-01 (Environmental Theory, 4 credits), spring 2014. This class will help me to better gauge theories in discourse surrounding environmental thought, giving me a better basis of understanding for my concentration. After completion, I hope to better understand the meaning of nature in relation to agricultural areas.
- IA 238 (Political Economy of Development, 4 credits), fall 2015. This course will help me to understand how economies develop. This will be especially important in understanding the corn system in southern Africa.
- SOAN 498 (Green Capitalism, 4 credits), fall 2014. This course will help me to analyze the actors and processes in the renewable energy economy. I am learning how to identify leverage points in econmic systems and create change. This will be useful when I analyze the economics of the food system and examine solutions.
- ENVS 460 (Environmental Law/Policy, 4 credits), fall 2014. This course will help me understand the laws and policies that drive agricultural policy in the United States.
Arts and humanities courses
- HIST 261 (Global Environmental History, 4 credits). Pre-approved A&H course; no justification required.
- PHIL 103 (Ethics, 4 credits). Ethics gave me the tools necessary to make difficulty decisions in situations of environmental justice and future policy planning.