LECTURELECTURE

GEOG 270GEOG 270Fall 2007Fall 2007

November 19, 2007November 19, 2007

Joe Hannah, PhDJoe Hannah, PhDDepartment of GeographyDepartment of Geography

University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington

Debating GMOs in the Debating GMOs in the Third WorldThird World

““Naming and Framing”Naming and Framing”

To Do TodayTo Do Today

► Recap last time: Kacy McKinney’s talkRecap last time: Kacy McKinney’s talk► Two GMO technologiesTwo GMO technologies► “ “Naming and Framing” in the GMO Naming and Framing” in the GMO

debatedebate

Kacy McKinney’s talk:Kacy McKinney’s talk:MST, Land and GMOs in BrazilMST, Land and GMOs in Brazil

► Interesting case of Interesting case of stakeholder responsestakeholder response

► ““Landless Peasants”Landless Peasants”

““Land should be used Land should be used to fulfill its larger to fulfill its larger social functions.”social functions.”

GMOs: A threat? A rallying GMOs: A threat? A rallying point?point?

► Against legalization of Against legalization of GMOs GMOs (successful until 2004)(successful until 2004)

► Lobby, demonstrate, Lobby, demonstrate, raise awarenessraise awareness

► Exposed illegal plantingsExposed illegal plantings

► GMOs promoted by MNCs: GMOs promoted by MNCs: “Privatization of “Privatization of development?”development?”

► Roles of state, corporations, Roles of state, corporations, social movements: social movements: Peaceful? Violent?Peaceful? Violent?

Two TechnologiesTwo Technologies

► “ “Roundup ready” cropsRoundup ready” crops

►““Bt” cropsBt” crops

One GMO Technology:One GMO Technology:“Roundup Ready”“Roundup Ready”

Another Technology:Another Technology:Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)

http://www.biotech.iastate.edu/biotech_info_series/bio9.html

http://www.scq.ubc.ca/?p=262

http://www.ent.iastate.edu/imagegal/plantpath/corn/ecb/bteardam.html

““Naming and Framing” in the Naming and Framing” in the GMO DebateGMO Debate

► Food Security / Feeding the WorldFood Security / Feeding the World► Increased yields – fact or fiction?Increased yields – fact or fiction?► Environmental riskEnvironmental risk►Capitalism & Farm IncomesCapitalism & Farm Incomes

McGloughlin vs. Altieri & Rossett

Will GMO crops help feed the Will GMO crops help feed the world’s exploding population?world’s exploding population?

► Population swellingPopulation swelling► Hunger has complex Hunger has complex

roots; more food will roots; more food will helphelp

► Not increasing Not increasing productivity will lead to productivity will lead to faminefamine

► Integrated agr is Integrated agr is inefficient and will lead inefficient and will lead to under-productionto under-production

► GMOs are humanitarian-GMOs are humanitarian-drivendriven

► Hunger problem Hunger problem notnot due to too little food due to too little food oror to large populationto large population

► More productivity is a More productivity is a distraction from distraction from massive social/political massive social/political problemsproblems

► Integrated agr will give Integrated agr will give household food secruityhousehold food secruity

► GMOs are profit drivenGMOs are profit driven

Altieri & RossettMcGloughlin

Do GMOs give higher yield?Do GMOs give higher yield?

► Yes! (cites studies)Yes! (cites studies)► (But much of the (But much of the

argument is argument is centered around centered around economics of GMOs economics of GMOs for farm profits)for farm profits)

► No! No real No! No real difference in yields difference in yields in most cases (cites in most cases (cites a study)a study)

Altieri & RossettMcGloughlin

Environmental risksEnvironmental risks

► ReducedReduced use of use of agricultural agricultural chemicalschemicals

► Increased Increased biodiversitybiodiversity

► Risks of eating Risks of eating GMOS “alarmist”GMOS “alarmist”

► IncreasedIncreased use of use of chemicalschemicals

► Decreased Decreased biodiversitybiodiversity

► Risks of eating Risks of eating GMOs understudied, GMOs understudied, “unpredictable”“unpredictable”

Altieri & RossettMcGloughlin

Capitalism and Farm IncomeCapitalism and Farm Income

► Conventional systems Conventional systems use more chemicals, use more chemicals, cost morecost more

► GMOs GMOs reducereduce costs, costs, increase yieldsincrease yields

► Why such high rates of Why such high rates of adoption?adoption?

► GMOs tie farmer into GMOs tie farmer into neoliberal world neoliberal world economyeconomy

► Self-sufficiency, seed Self-sufficiency, seed sharingsharing

► Need to build agric. that Need to build agric. that nurtures communitynurtures community

McGloughlin Altieri & Rossett

Political Agendas???