genetically modified foods

Genetically Modified FoodsJaak Kalja

Method

• Insertion(lisamine) or deletion(kustutamine) of genes.

• Artificial transfering between different organisms.

• Gene gun.

Growing Genetically Modified Crops•Between 1997 and 2005, the total surface

area of land cultivated with GMOs had increased by a factor of 50, from 17,000 km2 (4.2 million acres) to 900,000 km2 (222 million acres).

•Growing intrest in developing countries.•MONSANTO

MONSANTO ( total monopoly in that area )•Bought ~ 90% of the agricultural seed

companies. ( funded by the government )•Roundup•10% tax to the farmers•Total addiction – once you go GMO, there’s noturning back!•Farmers had no other option.

Economic and Political Effects

• Genetically engineered crops claim they lower pesticide usage and have brought higher yields and profitability to many farmers

• USAs export to Europe has decreased by 20%

• Numerous bans to reduse GMO usage

Helpful or Harmful?Helpful Harmful

• Pest resistance.• Herbicide tolerance.• Disease resistance.• Cold tolerance.• Drought tolerance/salinity

(soolsus) tolerance.• Helpful for malnutrition in

developing countries.

• Unintended harm to other organisms

• Reduced effectiveness of pesticides

• Gene transfer to non-target species

• Unknown risk that the future might bring.

Human Health Risks•Allergenicity•Unknown effects on human health•Toxicity•Specific components thought to have nutritional or toxic properties•Stability of the inserted gene•genetic modification(täiustus, muutus)

The Most Toxic Foods

• Peaches

•Apples

•Sweet bell peppers

•Celery

•Nectarines

•Cherries

•Potaoes

•Pears

•Lettuce

•Grape

•Strawberry

•Tomatoes

•Spinac

And ofcourse basically every soybean and crop of corn is produced by genetical modification.

•Soybean Corn

GMOs in Estonia

•Most of the GMOs are found in junk foods - ( burgers – meat ( soy etc ) )

•Tests on processed foods ( 49 )•About 75% of soy; 5% corn

•Estonia and all Europe is fighting against GMOs and so far Estonia don’t have very much of it

THANK YOU FOR LISTENINGDo hesitate to ask !