This presentation was delivered to a group from Kansas Farm Bureau in Wichita KS, October 14, 2016. The main theme is how do ag producers communicate what they do using a values-based approach. How can we better discuss farming science and technology, including the seeds used in growing cattle feed and human food products.

1. What is Biotechnology?
Real risks and benefits
Kevin M. Folta
Professor and Chairman
Horticultural Sciences Department
kfolta.blogspot.com
@kevinfolta
kfolta@ufl.edu
www.talkingbiotechpodcast.com

2. Research
Funding and Reimbursement: www.kevinfolta.com/transparency
Slides: www.slideshare.net/kevinfolta

3. QUESTION:
What is important to you about food and
farming?

4. Why I’m a Public Scientist
FarmersAnimal Care
The NeedyFood Safety
Environment
/Conservtion
Consumers

5. Humans have always manipulated crop genetics

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

7. QUESTION:
What are our current crops that have been
genetically engineered?

8. GM Crops Available Now
10
potato
apple

9. A Few Central Core Concepts
Humans have always participated in plant genetic improvement.
Transgenic crop 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 20 years there has not been one case of illness or death related to
these products
In the USA there are several traits used in only 10 (- +) commercial
crops, four that provide ingredients in the human diet.
Genome editing techniques will revolutionize food and medicine.

10. Three Main Commercialized Traits
How the traits work lecture online – (google “ UF biotechnology literacy day”)
Bt Corn – protects itself Glyphosate Tolerant Virus Resistance

11. Three Main Commercialized Traits
How the traits work lecture online – (google “ UF biotechnology literacy day”)
Bt Corn – protects itself Glyphosate Tolerant Virus Resistance
Helps Farmers
environment
Helps Farmers
environment
Helps Farmers
consumers

12. Three Main Commercialized Traits
How the traits work lecture online – (google “ UF biotechnology literacy day”)
Bt Corn – protects itself Glyphosate Tolerant Virus Resistance
Concerns:
resistance
Concerns:
Pollen Drift
Concerns:
resistance

13. QUESTION:
Why is there such a problem?

14. Why is there even a problem?
We are looking for
honest answers
about food and
farming!
We’re actually
farmers, producers
and scientists, but
we’re too busy.
How can we help
you? We’re sorta
farmers, producers
and scientists.

15. Negative effects
Scientists won’t communicate with the
public
Higher costs for the poor
Introduction of bad public policy
Innovation arrested

16. Vitamin Enriched 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

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

18. X
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
Episode 009

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

20. 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

21. Changing
domestic pigs’
DNA to provide
resistance to
African Swine
Fever
Episode 037

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

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

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

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

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

28. QUESTION:
How do we solve the problem?

29. QUESTION:
How do we solve the problem?
Better science communication.

30. How do we communicate more effectively?
Don’t dismiss people’s concerns.
Talk about your values.
Talk about how technology helps us reach
our values.
Share your stories, and the stories of
others.

31. How do we communicate more effectively?
Take part in social media discussions.
Be nice
Practice aggressive transparency
Avoid simple mistakes

32. More Barriers: Avoid these Mistakes
Avoid “feed the world” rhetoric
Always discuss strengths and limitations
Don’t ever claim it is a single solution
Understand the ‘backfire effect’
Don’t inappropriately criticize other techniques and
production systems. We’re in this together.

33. Conclusion

34. kfolta.blogspot.com
@kevinfolta
kfolta@ufl.edu
www.talkingbiotechpodcast.com
iTunes, Stitcher, Player FM
Reach out if I may be of assistance

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