Address to Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association 2015 annual meeting in Palm Beach, FL. Discusses the role of biotechnology in the future of the state's ag crops and how our industries and farmers can better communicate the topic to a concerned public.

1. Food Crop Industries and
GMO: Talking to a Concerned
Public
Kevin M. Folta
Professor and Chairman
Horticultural Sciences Department
kfolta.blogspot.com
@kevinfolta
kevinfolta@gmail.com
www.talkingbiotechpodcast.com

3. We have a wonderful situation
Our food supply in the USA has never been
more diverse, safe and plentiful.
Food costs, as a function of annual income,
have never been lower.
The fact that 99% of the country does not have
to produce food, means there’s plenty of time for
other innovations, leisure, etc.

4. What is the problem?
Genetic engineering has been extremely valuable to
farmers, yet there is tremendous public push-back
Amplification of known limitations
Leads to high regulatory time and costs
Slows deployment of potentially useful solutions
The most credible voices have not participated in the
discussion. The companies were not helpful.

5. But Florida is not a “Genetic Engineering State”
Relatively small acreage of GE crops
Need for innovative solutions in many specialty crops
Many opportunities in animals
Fragile environment
Solutions needed fast, now and future

6. What Plant Genetic Improvement Is
More varieties
Grow better under
given conditions
Improved yields
Safer products
Improved nutrtion

7. What Plant Genetic Improvement Is
People t hink
Improved yields

8. How do our industries discuss this issue with
a concerned public
1.Know the fundamentals
2.Memorize a a few core concepts
3.Understand your audience
4.Dispel the appeal to nature
5.Establish your shared values
6.Personalize your message, engage with
honesty, transparency, and establish trust.
7.Emphasize missed opportunities
Last- Your eReal Estate- Go Get It.

9. Why is there a problem?
Our most credible sources of
information are not engaging

10. We are warm and competent! Why do we hide?

11. Free Time + Internet Connection = Instant Experts!
Never before in history
have humans enjoyed
such immediate access to
bad information.

12. Why is there even a problem?

13. Why is there even a problem?
We need to
understand
food, farming
and technology!
We’re actually
farmers, producers
and scientists, but
we’re too busy.
How can we help
you? We’re sorta
farmers, producers
and scientists.

14. We have a problem.
We have the power.
We decided not to use it.
Farmers are 2.0% of the population, yet are
barely a presence in social media.
Activist groups want to outlaw animal practices,
use of biotechnology, limit use of safe ag
chemicals.

15. F
Relativenumberinpopulation
Nonexperts
Farmers,
scientists,
Etc.
MOST PEOPLE!!!!
FEAR FACTS
Favorable views of genetic engineering

16. YOUR AUDIENCE
NOT
YOUR
AUDIENCE
1. Understand your audience

18. WHO IS YOUR AUDIENCE?
The center of the curve is composed of
people that don’t know about food
production, farming, and science.
They are concerned about food.
Share your story with them.

19. What is Natural?
2. Dispel the appeal to nature
Humans have played a
pivotal role in plant and
animal improvement.
Genetics
Management
Nutrition, etc.

20. What Animal Genetic Improvement Is

21. What Animal Genetic Improvement Is
Thanks Alison Van Eenennaam for the slide!

22. Humans have always manipulated crop genetics

23. All existing crops and animals
have been radically reshaped by
humans, to enhance performance
that has aided the human
condition.

24. 3. Identify and Appeal to Shared Values
FACTS DON’T MATTER.
You have to start from SHARED VALUES.
What are some common themes shared by those that
embrace the technology and those that deplore it ?
The human brain responds to stories. Tell yours.
Q: What are your values around food and food production?

25. Shared Values?
FarmersDeveloping World
The NeedyFood Safety
Environment
Consumers
Animal Welfare

26. 4. Personalize your message.
Understand why they feel the way they do.
Tell your story. Start with your concerns.
Talk about points that everyone can agree upon
Refer to your family, your personal goals.
Be transparent. Establish trust.

27. 5. A Few Central Core Concepts
Humans have always participated in plant and animal genetic
improvement.
Transgenic technology (familiar “GMO”) is a precise extension of
conventional plant breeding.
“The techniques used pose no more risk (actually less risk) than
conventional breeding.” (NAS, AAAS, AMA, EFSA many others)
In 18 years of use in plants, there has not been one case of illness
or death related to these products. No approved animals.
In the USA there are several traits used in only 10 (- +) commercial
crops

28. How Do We Add a Gene to a Plant?

29. How Do We Add a Gene to a Plant?
Agrobacterium tumefaciens

30. GM Crops Available Now
10
potato
apple

31. What are the Three Main Traits?
Virus Resistance
Insect Resistance
Herbicide Resistance
(how the traits work lecture online – (google “ UF biotechnology literacy day”)

32. Glyphosate resistant and insect resistant
crops, while helpful to farmers, do not win
the hearts and minds of the general public
Stress how we have solutions in-hand that
cannot be deployed
6. Win interest with innovations and non
“Big Ag” solutions

33. Let’s Talk about Papaya

34. Papaya Ringspot Virus
Good example of RNAi suppression

37. Golden Rice
X
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
Opposition to golden rice cost $2 billion to
farmers in developing countries and 1.4
million human years – Wesseler et al., 2014

38. Cassava
Virus Resistant Cassava (VIRCA)
Biocassava Plus (BC Plus)
250 million depend on cassava
50 million tons lost to virus.
X
X Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy

39. Golden Bananas Beta carotene producing
X
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy

40. Bacterial Wilt in Bananas
>70% of carbohydrate calories for
some areas
GM trials in Uganda
X
X
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
X

41. Over expression of rice
Xa21 gene
Tripathi et al, 2014

42. Overexpression of Ferredoxin like protein

43. Allergy-Free Peanuts
Peanut – RNAi suppression Ara h2
X
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy

44. GE chickens do not pass on Avian Influenza
Episode 007
X
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
X
X
X
X Animal welfare

45. AquaBounty Salmon – attains market weight in less time.
Salmon may be farmed on inland pools, generating high protein food
on fewer inputs.
Episode 008
X
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
X
X
X
X Wild populations

46. Thanks Alison Van Eenennaam for the slide!
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
X

47. Low Acrylamide, non Browning Potatoes
X
X
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy

48. Non Browning Apples
Silencing a gene that leads to discoloration
X
X
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
Small Business!X

49. What innovations can help Florida farmers?

50. BS2 Tomato
A pepper gene in tomato eases bacterial wilt.
X
X Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy

52. BS2 Tomato
A pepper gene in tomato eases black spot and wilt.
X
X Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy

54. Stopping Citrus Greening Spinach defensin
NPR1
Lytic peptides
Many show promise
Earliest deregulation is
2019
X
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
X
X

55. X
X
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
X
Fungicide-Free Strawberries?
Silva et al., 2015

56. Communications BarriersCommunications Barriers

57. Avoid these Mistakes
Avoid “feed the world” rhetoric– Provide specifics.
Always discuss strengths and limitations
Don’t ever claim it is a single solution– it is not.
Embrace integration around other production methods.

58. Grab your e-Real Estate
Talking to public audiences – Get Involved!
1. Obtain a dedicated Gmail account- use your real name.
2. Sign up for facebook, twitter, instagram, pintrest, etc.
3. Get a blog space on blogspot.com or wordpress.
4.Answer questions in comments sections of news articles.
I’m glad to help you set up your accounts and get
connected

59. Farmers taking action.
Jennie Schmidt
@FarmGirlJen
Brian Scott
www.thefarmerslife.com
@thefarmerslife
Sarah Schultz – Nurse Loves Farmer
@NurseLovesFarmr
Amanda
@farmdaughterusa

60. #farm365
AMPLIFICATION

61. Who will talk to the concerned consumer?
Science
Reason
Truth
Facts

62. Florida Producers Can Benefit from Taking
the Lead in Communicating About New Ag
Innovations
Diverse crops
Diverse populations
Sensitivity to environment
Industry leadership

63. Conclusions:
We live in a time with the best food supply- safe and
abundant.
A few vocal critics are dominating a science-limited public
conversation. Scientist engagement questionable.
There are many good opportunities for crop and animal
improvement that can benefit the farmer, the environment,
the consumer and the needy.
Future solutions may be extremely valuable to the Florida
producer
Find your electronic real estate and start using it.

64. I work for you.
kfolta.blogspot.com
@kevinfolta
kfolta@ufl.edu
"There is a path to truth and
sincerity that you must guard
and defend“
-- Teruyuki Okazaki
“It is our mission to
stand up for the truth
that science gives us.”
Dr. Jack Payne
Follow FOIA developments using #Science14
www.talkingbiotechpodcast.com
iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM
Sponsors:
Research: USDA
Outreach: www.talkingbiotech.com
Today’s talk – FFVA, department

65. “Don’t tell me it can’t be done,
tell me what needs to be done
and help me do it.”