A Quarterly Publication of Iowa State University Extension

Spring 2000 -- Home, Spring 2000 --

 

The GMO opportunity

Mention GMOs and watch the reaction: People who've never heard the term may wonder if it is a new car make or model. Protestors seek to ban it from the foods on grocery shelves, while supporters say it offers greater productivity, lower environmental risks, and the possibility of unprecedented health and nutritional benefits from foods. Iowa State University Extension is working to build a clearer understanding of GMO issues and provide producers the research-based information that will allow them to make better decisions.

The acronym GMO stands for genetically modified organism, a living organism that has had some characteristic changed by genetic engineering -- for example, the genes from one species inserted into another, according to Charles Hurburgh, an ISU Extension agricultural and biosystems engineer with the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative. GMO benefits include "being environmentally safe with improved nutritional quality," said Eileen Kennedy, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), speaking at one of two recent conferences partially supported by ISU Extension.

Jack Bernens of Novartis and Colin Scanes, interim director of the ISU Plant Sciences Institute and associate dean of the ISU College of Agriculture, discuss issues during the Feb. 24 conference at ISU, "GMO 2000: Assessing Risk and Seeking Opportunities."

U.S. citizens have the security of a safe food supply. Regulating agencies such as the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and USDA have supported GMO crop research and approved many varieties. However, in some areas of the world, including the European Union (EU), "consumers do not have the confidence in their government as we do in the U.S. in the safety of their foods," according to Patty Judge, Iowa's Secretary of Agriculture. As a result of consumers' lack of confidence, the EU last year issued trade bans on non-approved GMO products, and concerns arose over labeling products as containing GMOs.

Some see opportunity in GMO issues. Dan Curry, an ISU Extension industrial specialist in value-added agriculture, said Iowa producers can benefit by building a reliable, organized system that will preserve the identity of whatever type of crop they grow, GMO or non-GMO. Such a system would involve the entire food chain, from genetic suppliers to food processors. "Producers have the opportunity to create a positive relationship built on trust and continuity with the others in that chain -- the elevator, barge company and so on. Once that is in place, their buyers will return again and again, trusting the consistency," Curry said.

In Poweshiek County, Ray, Jerry and Paul Lang operate Natural Products Inc., processing and marketing non-GMO soy products. Paul Lang saw an opportunity for a niche market -- selling high-value, specialized products rather than selling mass quantities of grain. "The non-GMO market is an opportunity that requires other than a commodity mentality," he said.

By providing identity-preserved crops, GMO or non-GMO, producers can offer consumers a choice. Curry said, "First, a change needs to occur in the traditional spring planting, fall harvesting and winter marketing strategy. Marketing will need to occur prior to planting." Curry's idea has support from ISU Extension economist Roger Ginder. "The GMO issue is forcing production and marketing decisions to be made together." 

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