Marquette, Michigan – April 24, 2019 – Marquette West Rotary welcomed James DeDecker, specialist and director of the MSU Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center, to discuss the facts and myths of Genetically Modified Crops. He brought his perspective as an expert in sustainable agriculture, agricultural decision-making and integrated pest management to this often controversial topic.

James DeDecker Talks GM Crops at the Marquette Rotary West Forum - April 24, 2019
James DeDecker Talks GM Crops at the Marquette Rotary West Forum – April 24, 2019

Traditional plant breeding has been going on for 10,000 years, selecting desirable traits to cross-breed with other plants with desirable traits, planting the resulting seeds, and then repeating the process to accumulate positive traits with each new generation. Genetic modification means moving genes around in the same species or into another crop. “Examples and in food crops include resistance to certain pests, diseases, environmental conditions, reduction of spoilage, resistance to chemical treatments (e.g. resistance to a herbicide), or improving the nutrient profile of the crop.” — Wikipedia – Genetically Modified Crops

DeDecker focused his presentation on the science, business, and perception of transgenic crops:

Over the years, older techniques of modifying crops gave way to newer ways, with the scientific basis started with Gregor Mendel’s experiments with plant hybridization. In the last 150 years, the pace of improvements increased greatly as seed distribution was commercialized and further subject to scientific techniques to identify traits that could be passed on and those traits arising from environment. By the mid-twentieth century, while scientific techniques had quickly sped up the process of positive trait development, these techniques were slow and somewhat random. Example techniques include using cytoplasmic male sterility in the hybridization process or simply shooting genetic material into cells with the hope the seeds would incorporate the material into their DNA.

Seed Genetic Transformation with Agrobacterium - WIkipedia
Seed Genetic Transformation with Agrobacterium – Wikipedia

Today, with the role of DNA and RNA much better understood, virus or bacterial genes are sent into the cells to

GMO Crops - The Science, Business, Perception of Transgenic Crops by James DeDecker - MSUE and AgBioResearch
GMO Crops – The Science, Business, Perception of Transgenic Crops by James DeDecker – MSUE and AgBioResearch

directly modify genetic material. However, technology and these improved techniques come at a cost. To get a trait expressed takes a lot of effort.

The process is very expensive and takes several years to bring the results to market. According to a study by Phillips and McDougal “The cost of discovery, development and authorization of a new plant biotechnology trait introduced between 2008 and 2012 is US $136 million” and over 13 years.

Despite some fairly prevalent urban myths, only a limited number of plants are GMO crops, including apples, potatoes, field corn, soy beans, sweetcorn, papaya, and summer squash. Most GMOs are focused on pest and herbicide resistance, such as inserting genes to help crops resist disease and to avoid using excess fungicides.

The United States is the leader in genetically modified crops. Our crops are now using less fresh water but still thrive. Additional efforts including making crops even more tolerant to droughts. This is important as the climate changes.

James DeDecker at Landmark Inn in Marquette for the Marquette Rotary West Forum on GMO Crops
James DeDecker at Landmark Inn in Marquette for the Marquette Rotary West Forum on GMO Crops

Other goals being pursued using genetically modified crops:

Marquette West Rotary Genetically Modified Crops Forum on April 24
Marquette West Rotary Genetically Modified Crops Forum on April 24

Risks and Concerns with GMO Crops

Only a Few Plants Are GMO Crops
Only a Few Plants Are GMO Crops

Questions to consider for the future:

  1. Do we need GMO’s?
  2. Who benefits from use?
  3. How are we informed? What is the source of our information?
  4. When we see non-GMO labels on products like maple syrup, is it relevant?
  5. What are all the long-term potential consequences?