Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) vs Organic Styled farming Chemical Food Safety and the Future

GMO vs Organic: What does it all mean?

The world of food science is rapidly growing and developing and some ideas that are gaining popularity and controversy are GMO or Genetically Modified Foods/Organisms and the prospect of organic farming. The USDA states that “Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off-farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.” This is different from the common misconception that organic foods are simply foods grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and other chemical treatments of crops.

Visiting an Organic Farm in Sacramento

After visiting the Lockewood Acres, an organic farm, it was very apparent that there is a misconception about the different styles of organic farming that fall under the umbrella term of “organic.” Lockewood acres is a small 10 acre farm that was founded nine years ago and is uses concepts presented in a pamphlet about Earthworms that was published in 1954. The pamphlet discussed the importance of Earthworms as natural fertilizers to the health and livelihood of the soil. Ben Lyons, the founder and farmer of Lockewood acres was also inspired by a place called Security Acres that was publicized in 1948. Security Acres presented a farm layout that was integrative in all aspects of the farm ecosystem to make it “self-sustaining.” On the farm, Ben uses his chicken, sheep and pigs to help fertilize and break plant matter into the soil.

Holistic Management for Farming

This approach that Ben took to organic farming is very similar to an approach popularized by Allan Savory called Holistic Management. This basically utilizes the fundamentals of biology and nature to sustain and replenish the land that is used for farming purposes. The main goal is to take advantage of the microbiome in the soil and allow it to flourish so that the entire quality of life on the farm improves naturally. Thus instead of relying on things like synthetic chemicals to combat pesticides and herbs Ben uses natural means to control pests, bugs and disease by aiding the insects, plants and animals that prey on the predatory species that hurt the plants. In addition to this, cover crops and other plants that are typically considered weeds are left to grow on the land as a way of protecting the land from soil erosion and weathering. The controlled grazing of the pigs and sheep allow for the distribution of manure which contains microbes from those animals guts and nutrients form their urine to help nourish the soil. The movement of the animals also aids to help incorporate and breakdown these components as well as dying plant matter into the soil to help it turn into fertilizer for the soil. Ben also mentioned that one of the regulations associated with this free-range movement throughout his crops is that if an animal creates feces, it must be marked and recorded so that no produce is picked near that area in case of contamination by harmful bacteria such as shigella, salmonella or Escherichia coli. This method of organic farming relies heavily on the natural development of fertilizers and defense mechanisms instead of relying on harmful chemicals. Ben uses homemade soaps and other solutions to combat insects like aphids that are harmless, but are plentiful in his crops and don’t leave a pleasant appeal in his produce. Ben also addressed why his farm is not too concerned about cross-contamination by other farms as he notes that the area in which his farm resides in is a heavily suburban area where there are more houses than commercial farms. Most of the larger commercial farms that use sprays are located on the other side of the 505 freeway and thus are far enough to not have much impact on his farm.

The Pros and Cons of Synthetic Plant Protectants

This holistic strategy is a very important in combating the use of synthetic chemicals that are known to be harmful to humans. While there are synthetic chemicals that are not harmful; however, a majority of the pesticides used in the agricultural industry today are harmful. Some common subcategories of pesticides are insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, fumigants and rodenticides. Insecticides are chemicals that are used primarily to kill insects that are known to inhabit and consume the crops. Over the past 50 years, the use of insecticides has decreased, but are still common and harmful to humans. Three main classes of insecticides that are used to day are organochlorines, organophosphates and carbamates.

Organochlorines are known to be one of the more common and persistent insecticide classes as they are stable and can adhere to soil and air. Their stable characteristic allow them to cause damage through bioaccumulation in the body once exposed. Organochlorines are known to cause neurological damage, endocrine disorders and chronic health effects. The organochlorines are subcategorized in the three more sub groups. Group A consists of the dichlorodiphenylethanes. Common chemicals found in this sub-class include DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), DDD(1,2-dichloro-2,2 bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethane), Dicofol (C14H9Cl5O), Perthane, and Methoxychlor (C16H15Cl13O2). Group B consists of the cyclodines. Common chemicals in this sub-class include Aldrin (C12H8Cl6), Dieldrin (C12H8Cl6)O), Heptachlor (C10H5Cl7), chlordane (C10H6Cl8), and endosulfan (C9H6Cl6O3S). The third is Group C which consists of chlorinated benzene cyclohexanes, some of which include HCB< CHC and Lindane (C6H6Cl6). The subgroups help to distinguish the different chemical structures found within the organochlorines. The next class of insecticides is the organophosphates, these chemical include organic compounds that contain a phosphate group and are known to cause neurological and neurophysiological issues. Common chemicals in this class include parathion, malathion, methyl parathion, chlorpyrifos, diazion, dichroyos, phosmet, fenitrothion, tetrachloryinphos, azamethiophos and azinphos methyl. The last class are the carbamates which also have neurological side effects when exposed in toxic amounts. Common chemicals in this category include aldicarb sulfoxide, aldicarb sulone, oxamyl, methomyl, aldicarb, carbofuran, carbaryl, and methiocarb. All of the insecticides are known to have neurological effects due to that fact that they interrupt the signaling pathways between neurons and develop over time causing chronic effects. Each of the classes act in a similar way in inhibiting the neurological pathway.

Herbicides are chemicals that are used to control the growth of weeds within a crop species. Herbicide use, unlike insecticide has increased significantly within the past 50 years. Glyphosate or Roundup is one of the most commonly used herbicide in the United States. Herbicides are known to cause respiratory damage, cancer, and birth defects. This is concerning as many of the symptoms do not show immediately and thus those who are being exposed to the herbicide chemicals may not realize any adverse effects before it is too late to do anything about the toxic exposure to it. Other common chemicals found in this class of pesticide include 2,4-D, MCPA and 2,4,5-T. Fungicides are used to control the growth of harmful fungi and fungal spores. Fungicides are relatively safe to humans unless used improperly and inhaled in large amounts. One of the larges adverse effects of fungicides is that they impact bees. Bees are a very important natural pollinator of crops and are already slowly dying out due to human development in their natural habitats and now also through the impact of fungicides.

Fumigants are biocides that are used for overall pest control and is exposed in a vapor form into the air or soil. Common chemicals found in fumigants include things like acrylonitrile and carbon disulfide to carbon tetrachloride, ethylene dibromide and ethylene oxide. Most chemicals used in fumigants are not harmful to humans is not exposed to toxic levels. Rodenticides are also used to control pests and also have little adverse health effects on humans. Rodenticides do have an adverse impact on the plants and crops they are being used on. This is why rodenticides need to be used sparingly as damaged and infected crops may lead to adverse health effects in humans.

The use of pesticides is cautioned as there is no accurate way of measuring how much is being accumulated in the soil, air and water surrounding crops that use these pesticides. Since insecticides are known to bioaccumulate, it is important that consumers are aware if their products have these chemicals and take the necessary precautions to wash off and use processes that remove these chemicals from their food products. In addition, because these chemicals typically lead to chronic health effect, symptoms are not seen until there is accumulation of toxic levels in the body and thus the symptoms are harder to reverse once they are in full effect. This is why organic farming is an effective strategy to try to reduce the amount of pesticides used. Organic farming seems like the best solution; however, the reliance on natural mechanisms can only last for so long without facing major setbacks.

The "new" plant disease transmitter: You

Plants have evolved to become resistant to harmful predators and diseases in nature thus so far so what makes it any different? Humans. The answer is humans and that is what makes everything so different. The organic farming approach is restrained by the through emergence of humans as a rapidly globalizing species, we need to be mindful of the rapid spread of disease not only to people but also to plants. For example, there is currently a rampant citrus disease called Huanglongbing (HLB). The disease was first discovered in Asia and through grating has spread to America. Florida, one of the top producers of oranges was infected and a large part of their orange industry has been affected by this disease. The Florida citrus industry has been at the mercy of this disease since 2005 and it is slowly making its way to California. Currently there is research being done at UC Davis as a way to combat this disease, but this disease is just one example of things that are outside of the regulatory scope of organic farming. This is why organic farming may need to expand its definition to include some forms of GMO for organic farming to be sustainable in the future.

Perspectives on GMOs

Genetically modified organisms are not as harmful and unnatural as many people seem to thing. As I was talking to Ben, he explained to me how he thought that GMO was like cheating to make perfect unnatural produce and that the GMO industry would hold a monopoly over the farming industry. While I cannot dispute the possibility of individuals taking advantage of this technology I think it is important for the organic farming industry to take GMO foods into consideration for the future. GMO has been researched to show that there are no adverse health effects associated with the consumption of GMO foods. The utilization of GMO food could lead to a higher quality of food supply for the future through potential fortification and uniformity throughout the food supply. GMO foods can have difference defense mechanisms placed into them to help reduce the contamination by harmful bacteria, fungi and other concerns of farmers and consumers. This would aid in the elimination of usage of pesticides as well as the spread and development of other diseases. There may be less natural diversity in the food supply; however, due to the dramatic rise in population expected by 2050, there needs to be thought of not only how to reduce the use of synthetic chemicals in the food supply but how to make a safe food supply in large enough quantity. Organic farming is a good step in reducing the use of harmful chemicals in the farming process; however, GMO offers a possibility to reducing food contamination at all steps of the farm to table process.