Genetically-altered foods was the subject of a debate at
the recent Chester County extension meeting. From left,
farm management Extension Agent Tim Fritz; Eric Miller,
extension board member and co-planner of the meeting;
Andrew Dinniman, Chester County Commissioner and dis
cussion mediator; Terry Medley, vice president of biotech
nology regulatory affairs at Dupont; Paul Backman,
director, Pennsylvania Agricultural Experiment Station at
Penn State University; Chester County Extension Director
Trudy Dougherty; and Bill Freese, policy analyst for Wash
ington D.C. organization, Friends of the Earth.
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Water Master 90
Genetic Foods Debate
At Chester Extension Meet
(Continued from Page A 1)
sources.
Backman stated that Penn
State was a neutral party in the
biotechnology discussion as the
university is a neutral forum for
testing genetically-engineered
organisms.
“That’s why we’re in this
game. It’s important not only as
a tool to answering problems,
but we’re aware of citizens’ con
cerns and the environment,”
said Backman.
Medley emphasized that he
was giving his perspective as
bioengineering as a tool.
There are a number of differ
ent issues facing agriculture,
said Medley. Feeding the world,
the aging population, dealing
with environmental stewardship
issues, and the economic viabil
ity of agriculture are challenges
today which biotechnology
could help answer.
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will freeze, track and tear.
“Biotechnology tends to be
safer and lower in cost than tra
ditional solutions,” said Medley.
Freese raised several ques
tions about the safety and eco
nomic viability of genetic
engineering. Freese is concerned
about genetically-engineered
foods. “Is it really a precise pro
cess?” asked Freese, citing use
of a gene gun to insert DNA into
cells.
“Do genetic engineers under
stand what’s going on between
DNA and the cells, or the plant’s
defense mechanisms to foreign
DNA, or where the genes end up
in the core chromosome and
how may copies are made?” he
asked.
A gene in the cell disrupts ex
isting genes, possibly creating al
lergens and toxins. Freese
pointed out the use of the “Star
link” strain of corn which was
not approved for food use but
insulated valve cover that
is eas> to lemove tor quick
access to valve compart
ment No tools required.
A water trainer device
that encourages new
cattle to drink.
Lancaster Farming, Saturday, November 18, 2000-A29
ended up in foods intended for
human consumption.
Freese also questioned
whether there has been thor
ough testing on genetic organ
isms by the FDA and ERA, and
wondered whether genetically
altered strains of crops are actu
ally economically viable, saying
that herbicide-resistant crops
may have a yield drag.
Genetically-altered crops may
also facilitate insects’ developed
resistance to biotech crops, said
Freese. He also pointed out that
the problem may not be so much
in production of food to feed the
world, but in distribution.
Medley outlined his view of
the two greatest benefits to
bioengineering. “It’s a tool used
to solve myriads of issues, an ap
plication of science,” said
Medley. He stood by the
stringent testing and safety
standards passed by genetically
altered foods.
“If you look at the products
on the market, they have been
tested; the tomatoes had five
years of testing before they were
commercialized.”
One problem facing America is the contin
ued growth of the aging population, he said, a
problem which could be addressed with the
connection between diet and health. Bioengi
neering is now a tool to enhance nutrients
available in soy to prevent diseases.
Bioengineering also addresses agriculture
production problems. “One-half of the
world’s population is in two countries, India
and China,” said Medley. Genetically-altered
crops would improve developing countries’
production. Since these countries do not have
the technology of more developed countries,
genetically-altered crops would make the
playing Held more “scale neutral.”
At left, Extension Director Trudy
Dougherty and Tim Fritz, farm man
agement extension agent, right, honor
Laurie Szoke for 15 years of service as
a 4-H coordinator for Chester County.
“It can allow increase yield in small plots
of and without equipment and technology
without changing production practices.”
Again, said Medley, bioengineering is “not
a panacea to be used by itself, but a tool.”
Freese followed Medley’s statements by
stating, “Biotechnology follows a pattern to
wards ever-new technological fixes.” Freese
cited examples of the demise of family farm
ing in last 50 years. Genetic engineering, said
Freese, is the wrong way to improve agricul
ture, and questioned its role in sustainable ag
riculture.
Freese also pointed out implications of
using genetically-altered crops in the third
world, such as the “Terminator” variety of
seed, where the crop grows normally but the
subsequent seeds are sterile, which keeps pro
ducers coming back to the seed supply com
pany year after year.
Backman noted that there are tradeoffs for
genetic engineering. The bottom line at the
college of agricultural sciences is balancing
the best interests of agriculture sustainability,
environment, and community.
The Terminator strain of seeds, said Back
man, was developed as a beneficial tool to
prevent outcropping and guard against genes
spreading between crops.