By SUSAN MYKRANTZ
Ohio Correspondent WOOSTER, Ohio — When it comes to genetic engineering in plants, producers and consumers alike maintain that science supports their side of the story. The introduction of “Food Evolution,” a documentary produced by Scott Hamilton Kennedy, brings the discussion to the public through events such as a recent screening on the Wooster campus of the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center. Following the screening – which was viewed by about 900 students, farmers, consumers and industry people – was a panel discussion featuring Dr. Cathann Kress, dean of the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Also speaking were Dr. Jarrod Tudor, dean of University of Akron Wayne College; Glenn Mott, VP of Compliance with Gerber Poultry, Inc.; and Dr. Gabe Middleton, president-elect of the Council for Agriculture Science and Technology (CAST) and a local veterinarian. While consumers may want non-genetically modified (GMO) products, it comes at a cost, according to Mott. He said Gerber’s growers do not own enough land to produce the feed for their flocks, so the feed is sourced from an Ohio feed mill. Feed costs represent roughly 30 percent of every dollar of production cost. If the company had to source non-GMO feed, it would raise that to about 44 cents of every dollar. “It is not the feed, but the cost of handling the feed and the extra paperwork that makes it expensive,” he said. “All non-GMO feed needs to be kept separate from conventional feed, requiring separate storage and handling facilities. We have 25 bulk trucks of feed delivered to our growers every day.” Mott said that is money which could be used for employee benefits, new equipment and facilities. “Our customers are not asking for chickens fed with non-GMO feed. Chickens completely break down any GMOs in the digestive process, so they do not show up in the meat, feathers or bones of the birds.” At the same time, he said Gerber has been antibiotic-free in its flocks since the early 2000s. Prior to that, it had been using antibiotics in the feed as a nutritional additive. When its nutritionist told the company it wasn’t needed, it changed its focus to look at how the birds are raised and how to keep the flocks healthy. “We are teaching our farm team how to manage the flock’s health,” he said. Mott said non-GMO supporters may not want transparency in labeling, because they would have to disclose their “false arguments” about the content of GMOs and put those claims on the label. Kress said in her role as dean of the college, she is often asked about food and agricultural research. “There is no easy answer to a complex problem,” she said. “But when we can’t give an easy answer, we may be reducing consumers’ trust.” She said with fewer people involved in the ag industry, there is sometimes a negative perception that technology is bad and older practices are positive. In reality, farmers are concerned about water quality, animal care, food quality and the environment, she noted. Education is critical, according to Kress. “We can’t just assume that people have a firsthand exposure to agriculture. We have an opportunity to educate people about food production.” She said the education may have to start with young people, much the same way new agricultural production methods were introduced a century ago. “4-H started because the adults would not adopt the research from the land-grant universities,” she explained. Kress said young people were taught the new technology, something that may need to happen again with genetic engineering in plants – and possibly introducing them to new career opportunities. Middleton concurred, noting that social media drives many food-related issues. “We want consumers to think critically about food and social media,” he said. “The GMO issue is market-driven.” He said consumers should use caution when faced with social media information, as some of the biggest names aren’t selling nutritional information, but rather, a product of some type. Kress added that while it may be market-driven, it is also about keeping food affordable. “We are not necessarily in a food crisis yet, but we need to think about countries faced with food insecurity,” she said. Tudor said when it comes to GMOs and food there is a need for critical thinking. “Policy can be a motivator for change,” he said. “The world has a food problem and a lot of people. We have a responsibility to take care of those people. Innovation can be a way to solve the (food) scarcity problem.” For information on how to watch “Food Evolution” and more about the film itself, visit www.foodevolutionmovie.com |
