Science, Technology and

Sustainability
Integrated pest management,
organic food, sustainable
agriculture, genetically modified
food

Integrated Pest
Management
Management of pests w/ combination of
natural and biological controls rather
than indiscriminate application of
pesticides
Developed in 1959 by University of
California entymologists
Incorporates some pre-pesticide ideas
about how to control pest problems

Steps of IPM
1. Prevention

Take steps to discourage pest build-up

2. Identify pests
3. Set action thresholds

Set a level of loss that is acceptable

Past that threshold, action is warranted

4. Control, in this order:

Mechanical control
Biological control
Chemical control

IPM Techniques
Crop Rotation
Change crops each year to discourage pest
buildup. Disrupts life cycles of insects
Biological control
Use living organisms to reduce pest
problems, i.e. release natural predators
Increase natural resistance
Breed plants that are resistant to various
pests
Genetic Engineering
Modify genes in an organism using
recombinant DNA technology

Complications of IPM
IPM philosophy:
Pests should be managed, not completely
eradicated
Pesticides should be used only as a last resort, if
at all
BUT, managing pests is more complex than killing
them
IPM relies heavily on farming skills
Farmers must be in fields almost continually
monitoring conditions

Complications of IPM
IPM must be custom-developed for
each farm depending on crop, local
insects, climate
Farmers can work with local universities
to develop individual programs
IPM appeals to younger, bettereducated farmers
15-25% of farmers are practicing IPM

IPM: Key elements for

Success
1. Responsiveness to farmers needs
A. community organization as a base for
implementation and sharing of knowledge
B. partnering among institutions with two-way flow
of information (university researchers,
government agencies, local farmers groups)
2. Absence of subsidies and incentives for nonsustainable agricultural practices
3. Policies that support sustainable practices

Organic farming
Based on use of
Naturally-derived, not synthetic, pesticide and
fertilizers
Farming practices that restore, maintain, and
enhance ecological harmony

Methods used
crop rotation, mechanical cultivation,
biological pest controls

Difference from IPM

no genetically-modified organisms, no
synthetic chemicals

USDA National Organic

Program
Not allowed:
antibiotics (for prevention) or growth
hormones
genetically-modified organisms
irradiation, synthetic pesticides
petroleum-based or sewage sludge-based
fertilizers
animal feed that contains manure, parts of
slaughtered animals, plastic pellets, or urea

Animals must have outdoor access and

freedom of movement
Farming should minimize erosion and runoff

Biopesticides
Microbial Pesticides
Contain a micro-organism as an active agent
The compound is a specific strain of bacteria:
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)
Non-toxic to animals, including humans
Various strains of Bt bacteria make proteins toxic
to specific classes of insects

Biochemical Pesticides
Include naturally occurring substances that
control pests by interfering with growth cycle

Certification Process
Certification agencies are registered with
govt
Fields must be organic for 3 years
(transition) before they can be labeled and
sold as such
Annual inspections
Must document all soil inputs in fields
Farmers must develop soil fertility and pest
control plans
Buffer zone between them and conventional
farms

Organic Definitions
100% Organic label only organic
ingredients
Organic label 95% organic
ingredients
Made with organic ingredients label
70% organic

Why does organic food cost

more?
Not a mass-market item (this is changing)
Produce is picked ripe, so shorter shelf-life
Environmentally-friendly practices are more
labor intensive
Methods used are not subsidized by
taxpayers
Therefore, consumers are paying the full
cost of growing the food

Organic Controversies
Cost for small farmers may be prohibitive,
both in terms of time and money
Ideal diluted by large agribusinesses?
Beyond organic movement: farmers have
opted out of organic certification
Some small farmers burdened by new
requirements - example: new antibiotic
regulations

Shop Wisely: Organics

Consider buying organic:
The Dirty Dozen
Dairy products or rBGH-free
Things you eat daily
On the other hand:
Dont fall for organic junk food, organic wild
fish
Eat more locally produced whole foods
(farmers markets, CSAs), less processed
food

EWGs Dirty Dozen & Clean 15

Environmental Working Group lists
Updated periodically, latest version
http://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php
Description of the criteria used to develop
these rankings and the complete list of fruits
and vegetables tested www.foodnews.org
Smart phone apps available

The Dirty Dozen Plus (Buy

Organic)
1. Apples
2. Strawberries
3. Grapes
4. Celery
5. Peaches
6. Spinach
7. Sweet bell peppers

8. Nectarines - imported
9. Cucumbers
10. Cherry Tomatoes
11. Snap Peas - imported
12. Potatoes
13. Hot Peppers +
14. Kale/Collard greens +

The Clean 15 (Lowest in

Pesticides)
1. Avocados
2. Corn
3. Pineapples
4. Cabbage
5. Sweet peas - frozen
6. Onions
7. Asparagus
8. Mangoes

9. Papayas
10. Kiwi
11. Eggplant
12. Grapefruit
13. Cantaloupe
14. Cauliflower
15. Sweet potatoes

Sustainable Agriculture
Integrates 3 main goals:
Environmental health
Economic profitability
Social and economic equity

Sustainable AgricultureThemes
We must meet needs of present without
compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their needs
Stewardship of both natural and human
resources is of prime importance
Stewardship of human resources includes:
working and living conditions of laborers
the needs of rural communities
consumer health and safety in present and future

Sustainable AgricultureThemes
A systems perspective: system is envisioned
in its broadest sense, from the individual
farm, to the local ecosystem, and to
communities affected by this farming system
both locally and globally
A systems approach gives tools to explore
interconnections between farming and other
aspects of our environment
A systems approach implies interdisciplinary
efforts in research and education

Sustainable AgricultureThemes
Transition to sustainable agriculture is a
process: for farmers, transition to sustainable
agriculture normally requires a series of
small, realistic steps
Reaching toward goal of sustainable
agriculture is responsibility of all participants
in system, including farmers, laborers,
policymakers, researchers, retailers, and
consumers

More Principles: Sustainability

Dealing transparently and systemically
with risk, uncertainty and irreversibility
Ensuring appropriate valuation,
appreciation and restoration of
nature
Conservation of biodiversity and
ecological integrity

More Principles: Sustainability

Ensuring inter-generational equity
Recognizing the global integration of
localities
A commitment to best practice
No net loss of human or natural capital
Principle of continuous improvement
The need for good governance

Precautionary Principle of
Sustainability
If there is risk that an action could cause
harm, and lack of scientific consensus on the
matter, the burden of proof is on those who
would support taking the action
If competing "experts" recommend
diametrically opposing paths of action
regarding resources, carrying capacity,
sustainability, and the future:
Serve cause of sustainability by choosing
conservative path
Leaves society in less precarious position if
chosen path turns out to be wrong path

Biotechnology
Any technique that uses living organisms or
parts of organisms to make or modify a
product OR to improve an organism for a
specific use
Cross breeding/selective breeding
Crossing different strains within closely
related species in attempt to re-create desired
characteristics

Genetic Engineering
Manipulation on molecular or genetic level to
transfer specific genes

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic
Acid)
Genetic code of DNA: instructions specifying
amino acid sequence of all proteins
synthesized by an organism
Organisms inborn characteristics are
determined by their DNA
The portion of DNA that codes enough
information to build one protein is called a
gene

Advantages of Genetic
Engineering
(When compared to cross-breeding)
Precision
Only transfer genes that code for the
characteristics you are interested in

Speed
Can involve distantly-related
organisms
Tomato and fish!

How to add a fish gene into

a tomato
Scientists attempted to create a frost-resistant
tomato plant by adding an antifreeze gene
from the cold-water flounder, a fish that can
survive in very cold conditions, to the tomato:
The flounder has gene to make chemical
antifreeze. This is removed from the
chromosomes within a flounder cell
The antifreeze DNA is joined onto a piece of
DNA called a plasmid. This hybrid DNA,
which is a combination of DNA from 2
different sources, is known as recombinant
DNA

How to add a fish gene into

a tomato (cont.)
The recombinant DNA, including the
antifreeze gene, is placed in a bacterium
The bacterium is allowed to reproduce many
times producing lots of copies of the
recombinant DNA
Tomato plant cells are infected with the
bacteria. As a result, the antifreeze gene in
the plasmids, in the bacteria, becomes
integrated into the tomato plant cell DNA

How to add a fish gene into

a tomato (cont.)
Tomato cells are placed in a growth medium
that encourages cells to grow into plants
Tomato plant seedlings are planted
GM tomato plants contain copy of flounder
antifreeze gene in every one of their cells;
plants are tested to see if fish gene still works
and whether they are now frost resistant

Examples of Genetic
Engineering
Medicine
Insulin
Decreased allergic response

HIV

Food Processing
Chymosin/rennet
Delayed ripening, Flavr-Savr tomato

Examples of Genetic
Engineering
Agriculture
Insect resistant plants
Herbicide-tolerant plants

Nutrition
Increased protein quality
Increased micro-nutrient content
Decreased fat absorption

Aquaculture
GM salmon under consideration, FDA review
process has been stalled, and consumers are
increasingly against approval
Whole Foods, TJs say they wont sell it

Who regulates
biotechnology?
In U.S., regulation by 3 federal agencies:
Environmental Protection Agency
Evaluates the production process of creating
genetically altered organisms

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Evaluates whole foods and the production process

Food and Drug Administration

Evaluates whole foods, food ingredients, and food
additives

Concerns about Genetic

Engineering
Environmental Issues
Pesticide-resistant insects
Increase in use of herbicides
Transfer of characteristics to undesirable
species (outcrossing)
Decrease in biodiversity
Unintended harm to other organisms

Concerns about Genetic

Engineering
Safety issues
unnaturally occurring hormones, i.e.
rBGH
Food allergies
Unintentional change in nutrient
content
Unintended changes to DNA

Concerns about applications of

genetic engineering
Who will it benefit?

Farmers in developed nations?

Farmers in developing nations?
People in developing countries?
Biotech industry?

Ethical and Religious concerns

To label or not to label
Anti-competitiveness in the seed industry
Anti-trust issues

Cloned Animals
In January, 2008, the FDA concluded that
food from cloned cattle, pigs and goats and
their offspring is safe to eat
USDA immediately cleared the offspring of
cloned animals for sale but asked owners of
clones to continue to observe a voluntary
moratorium on marketing them
USDA is working with industry
representatives on a plan to usher clones into
the food supply

Cloned Animals Controversy

Consumer groups maintain FDA's study
based on insufficient evidence; are pushing
for government programs to track and label
food derived from cloning
Animal welfare organizations also object to
cloning, which often produces malformed
newborns
Biodiversity issues