AFFIRMATIVE BIOTECHNOLOGY - BIO DEBATE

Videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TmcXYp8xu4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PmM6SUn7Es

Prime Minister:

Biotechnology is the branch of applied science that utilizes living organisms and their derivatives
in order to produce products and processes. And in this debate, the products we are tackling
are food products.

Food security, as defined by the United Nations' Committee on World Food Security, means that
all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and
nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy
lifestyle.

Let me emphasize of those three: Sufficient, Safe and Nutritious Food

Now let me focus on why these GM Foods are safe.

GM plants that are destined to be eaten are checked for possible dangers, and the results are
evaluated by multiple agencies. So here is the process: As soon as the product is done, its
developer would run a series of laboratory tests to determine deficiencies such as toxicity (if
there is still toxins that would cause diseases to us), allergenicity (if there are still allergens that
would trigger allergies), nutritional effects, stability of the inserted gene, and elimination of
possible unintended effects. Afterwards, these results would be reviewed and verified by
different agencies or even do additional examinations and clinical trials as well for these
products. The Food and Drug Administration or Department of Agriculture would then issue a
permit if the product is approved for commercialization or not. Therefore these products undergo
a long and thorough process to ensure it is safe and nutritious.

However, there are still issues about these products. One issue on this are the BT crops which
are designed to be toxic. These crops create their own pesticide so that the pests would die if it
is eaten. That would probably be the main concern of the people of the opposition. However,
this is one of the common misconceptions. They would jump to the conclusion that if these can
cause death to the pests, these might also cause harm to humans. However this is certainly not
a big deal. What is harmless to one species may kill the other. For example, chocolates are our
favorite but it is toxic to dogs. Same goes for these BT crops. These crops produce a protein
that is tailored to the specific design of the digestive tract of certain insects and would attack
them. Thus it is completely harmless to us.

Our team is well aware of the potential risks of Biotechnology. And these potential risks can be
prevented. But it does not mean that the only preventive measure out there is to get rid of
biotechnology. There are still other ways. And that way is to run thorough laboratory tests,
examinations, re-evaluation of results by multiple agencies, awareness campaigns, and
education to consumers regarding these products. If you think of it, biotechnology itself is an
advancement, and this advancement will continue in advancing. And by doing it this way, we
can hit two birds with one stone: we can eradicate the possible risks it brings and at the same
time, we can harness the great benefits biotechnology has to offer and one of which is to
provide food security.

Advantages of applying Biotechnology in Agriculture

1. Higher crop yield (2nd speaker)

With the rising population demand for food, it has become somewhat necessary to increase the
yields of farms to fulfill that demand.

Biotechnology has made it possible by strengthening disease and drought resistance. What
they do is that they select specific genes of disease resistance and inject them into the DNA of
plants to make them resistant.

An example is how Cornell University and University of Hawaii worked together to develop two
seed varieties of papaya that were resistant to the papaya ringspot virus, the commercial
availability of which was in 1998 after hundreds of field trials.

Drought resistance is also quite the need for crops growing in dry climates.

2. Higher Protection of Crops

Farmers use newer developments in the section of pest control because if not, there is a risk of
severely lowering of yields.

As we were discussing a few minutes before of how insect pests are killed when they bite into
Bt crops, this is because the plants have been transformed in a way to make such a protein that
is toxic to those pests.

This protein from Bacillus Thuringiensis has been an ingredient of many ‘natural’ insecticides.

It’s mostly about economics. Sometimes it’s much more economical to make use of transgenic
crops rather than applying the Bt insecticide externally.

This way, the whole plant is insect-resistant rather than just the part where the insecticide is
applied. This leads to higher yields as well, thereby making the technology more effective and
economically viable.

However, some farmers who insist on growing ‘organic’ are recommended to and make use of
applying the natural insecticide externally.

3. Increased Nutritional Value (4th speaker)

Biotechnology doesn’t only make plants be more resistant to worsening climate change but
literally makes them better. Specific isolated genes can even be inserted into the genome of
plant species to increase their nutritional value.

This theory was initially put into practice with rice, one of the most eaten foods of the world.

It was discovered that rice contained Vitamin A in their genes but while growing those genes
would not be ‘turned on’ so as to say. So what scientists did was to reverse the process and
thereby activate those genes during growth.

This means the nutritional value of many other food crops could possibly be increased using
recombinant dna technology. Considering the rising food demand in coming years, this could be
the answer on how to solve malnutrition.

Other similar examples would be higher protein content in soybeans or potatoes with increased
amino acids and starch content.

4. Enhancements in Food Production Processes

Chymosin is an enzyme produced from genetically engineered bacteria.

It was the first food product to get approval for commercial production. It replaces an active
ingredient calf-rennet used in cheese-manufacturing processes.

The genetically engineered enzyme has become so integrated into the process that it’s now in
60% of all cheese manufactured worldwide.

There are a few reasons for that; Higher purity, continuous supply and up to a 50% cost
reduction!

5. Better Flavors

Believe it or not, genetic engineering can also alter the taste of food products.

This is done by promoting the activity of enzymes that work to transform aroma precursors into
flavoring compounds. Transgenic melons are being researched on and are undergoing field
trials nowadays.

6. Fresher Produce/ Increased Shelf-life

Agricultural biotechnology can also increase the shelf life of gm food products which could help
in reducing waste as well as allow consumers access to fresher produce.

By allowing the food products to stay ripened and prevent them from over-ripening, minimal
food would go to waste.

An example would be how Transgenic Tomatoes are vine-ripened and then transported without
being bruised.

7. Benefits to the Environment; My Favorite!

As we discussed above of how transgenic crops became inherently resistant to pesticides, this
led to much reduced used of pesticides.

Only the organic farmers now have the need of applying the ‘natural’ insecticides externally
which is quite the win.

With reduced use of pesticides, there is reduced pesticide residues on food products and
reduced leeching of pesticides into the groundwater and nearby rivers and lakes.

This also sometimes completely eliminates the exposure of farmers to hazardous pesticide
chemicals. Introduction of transgenic bt cotton has led to 15% decline in use of pesticides in all
of United States!

The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) also suggested that in herbicide-tolerant soybeans there
were minor increases in profit margins and crop yields but the use of herbicides had decreased
significantly.

8. Improvements in Developing Countries (3rd speaker)

PH - BT Corn

Hawaii - papaya ringspot virus

Eggplant stuff - bangladesh

As i was discussing before in the section of increased nutritional value about how recombinant
dna technology was used to activate and increase the amount of beta-carotene in what came to
be known as ‘golden rice’.

The higher amount of beta-carotene was finally able to fulfill the Vitamin A requirements in
developing countries with populations which have rice-based diets, which was necessary since
Vitamin A deficiency leads to blindness.

Other than that, it can save people from malnutrition due to vitamin deficiencies where buying
vitamin supplements is very expensive.

If it’s so good, then what’s stopping us from implementing this in full speed?

Quite a few things actually; environmentalists, policy makers and legislates believe that we
haven’t made sufficient effort to understand the risks associated with mixing biotechnology and
agriculture.

And that it could have long term impacts as well, especially when one mistake could affect the
generations to come.

We conducted a survey into asking people a few questions about biotechnology and agriculture.

What we found was that people got quite confused in statements regarding biotechnology
products and suffered great anxiety which was possibly derived from a lot of misinformation and
in many cases, inadequate information.
The concern of humans regarding their food products is understandable. The issues associated
with these concerns should be addressed fully.

Some of the issues related to applications of biotechnology are discussed ahead.

Disadvantages of Biotechnology in Agriculture

Let’s start with the most invasive and immediate concerns first, like health-related issues and
then move ahead to environmental and social implications as a result of applications of
biotechnology.

1. Allergens and Toxins

Most of us know what an allergic reaction is; it’s just an immune response to a protein (allergen)
that the body is specifically allergic to.

These proteins are called allergens and are present in food products. About 2% of the total
population in the world is allergic to one or two food products.

A major concern is the risk of introducing new allergens into foods that were initially considered
safe and free of all allergens.

Hence, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) now has to keep strict checks to make sure that
the concentration of naturally occurring allergens in conventional varieties has not been
enhanced in the transgenic food products.

However, good news would be how scientists are trying to remove the allergens from peanuts,
one of the most common causes of serious food allergy.

2. Antibiotic Resistance

When plants are infused with new desirable traits, the antibiotic resistance genes are used to
find and trace the traits. This technique tells us that the gene transfer was successful.

However, since this technique uses these antibiotic resistance genes, there is a concern that
new antibiotic-resistant bacteria could emerge which would be difficult to tackle with
conventional antibiotics.

This has led to FDA advising food developers to abstain from using such type of a gene,
although the chance of this gene making it’s way into the DNA of bacteria is very minute.

3. Potential of ‘superweeds’

As we were discussing how the antibiotic resistance gene in plants could escape and end up in
bacteria.

A similar concern is that transgenic plants could pollinate with the unwanted plants (weeds) and
thereby relay the gene of herbicide-resistance or pesticide-resistance into them, thereby
converting them into ‘superweeds’.

An example would be how glyphosate-resistant plants could cross-pollinate with weeds and
make them glyphosate-resistant as well.
This may be possible but the chances of it happening are very low. But this doesn’t mean the
plants would be resistant to all herbicides, other herbicidal products could also work.

4. Gene Escape

Some believe the genes could get into the weeds and then those plants could ‘escape’ into the
wild and lead to damaging changes to Ecosystems.

But the thing is, these biotech crops have limited growth and seed dispersal habits which
doesn’t allow much of a chance to pollinate. Other than that, these plants need constant
attention by humans for them to grow properly.

This is what some people believe happened with the Coronavirus pandemic.

5. Effect on ‘non-target species’

Many environmentalists believe that once these transgenic plants are released into the
environment, there is a lot of uncertainty on what could happen.

Although the transgenic crops are tested more times than one could count, but one can’t
foresee what could happen.

An example would be Bt corn, the plant is specifically toxic to harmful pests that feed on the
plant. However, later researchers found out that the pollen from transgenic Bt corn plant could
kill unrelated caterpillars of the Monarch Butterfly.

Other than that, Recent studies have indicated an effect on the lifespan and cognitive abilities of
insects that feed on these plants.

What’s more to say is, these could as easily be keystone species!

6. Insecticide Resistance

A valid concern is that insect pests could develop resistance to the insecticide which is
embedded in the biotech crops.

Hence, they could bypass the crop-protection features of those plants and be quite damaging.

However, the main example we talk about is bt corn plants, which, even after being planted
widely have not led to the development of any insecticide tolerance.

7. Loss of Biodiversity in Organisms

The extensive use of agritech varieties of seeds have made some agriculturists fearful as this
may hurt the biodiversity of plant species.

The extensive use of GMO varieties is because of the fact that they are more profitable and
drought resistant which has made farmers abandon their traditional varieties of plants.
The newer developed crop would dominate the farms and the traditional varieties would be on
the brink of extinction which would mean that if in any case the dominating crops were to wither
(maybe due to climate change) we would not have anything to resort to, which puts an
enormous risk on food security.

However, there are many ‘heritage’ collection sites in USA where different seed varieties from
all around the world are stored to ensure food security.

8. Food Labels

People argue ha they have a right to know exactly what they are consuming, this is why they
request that special labels be put on food products derived from genetically engineered crops.

As of now, in the US, companies are only to place a label if the new gm food product is different
in its nutritional value, composition or if they pose any health risks.

However, organic foods are usually from family farms that specifically avoid using any biotech in
growing crops.

9. Suicide Seeds

This is also known as genetic use restriction technology. Farmers are forced to buy new hybrid
seeds every season because the second generation seeds from biotech crops are always
infertile.

This infertility is due to ‘terminator genes’ present inside gm seeds. It’s like a single-use product.

In conventional family farms, farmers used to store the seed to plant in the next season but that
cannot happen if you would like to plant transgenic crops.

This means that, to reap the benefits of plant biotechnology, the farmers will have to enter the
economic cycle of major biotech seed companies.

Are there any checks or safety regulations on Biotechnology food products?

There are three federal government agencies that keep checks on associations between
biotechnology and agriculture.

Each of the three has different responsibilities.

1. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)

USDA concerns itself with the fact that the new gm crops are safe to grow in farms.

2. U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

FDA has the highest authority in deciding if the agricultural product can come into the markets,
because it tests if the product is safe for the consumers to eat.

3. U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

EPA ensures if the product has any implications on the environment.

Should we Embrace Biotechnology in Agriculture (agritech)? Or should we risk it?

The fine line that divides traditional methods from plant biotechnology is the use of genetic
engineering in which scientific tools and practices such as molecular markers, tissue culture
molecular diagnostics and vaccines are utilized to genetically modify living organisms with
recombinant dna to enhance desired traits.

Let’s just say it’s more invasive when compared to the traditional selective plant breeding
practiced by farmers.

But it’s a necessary evil we have to bear if we are to counter the rising food demand.

Analyzing the population graphs, a food crisis is inevitable by 2050 as there will be a 70%
higher demand of food. The only way we can fulfill this high demand is by using such
applications of biotechnology to improve crops and increase food supplies.

The development of plants is also necessary as they will be encountering worse weather
conditions as climate change worsens.

Given these pros and cons, it’s difficult to make a firm decision if we should embrace the use of
Biotechnology in agriculture.

What is firmly believed is that genetically modifying these crops could have some
unprecedented results on human health and environment. This is why the companies that make
GMO crops should extensively test these products before introducing them into the markets.

Well, if they don’t; now we know there are at least three more agencies which surely will.
2nd Speaker

(Insert rebuttal) Moreover, i am going to introduce my argument which is that biotechnology is

actually strategic for food security since it increases crop yields as well as giving higher
protection to crops. With the rising population demand for food, it has become somewhat
necessary to increase the yields of farms to fulfill that certain demand. Biotechnology allows
farmers to grow more food on less land using farming practices that are environmentally
sustainable --environmental sustainability meaning the responsible interactions with the planet
to maintain natural resources and not jeopardize the ability for future generations to meet their
needs.

The use of biotechnology is very essential in terms of reducing the amount of crops wasted
because of diseases and pests. It can reduce CO2 emissions from the farming process as well
as the amount of pesticides used to produce foods.

Moving towards giving crops higher protection, Biotech crops provide enhanced quality traits
such as increased levels of beta-carotene in rice in order to reduce vitamin A deficiencies and
improved oil compositions in canola, soybean, and corn.

Going back to pest protection, farmers use newer developments in the section of pest control
because if not, there is a risk of severely having very low crop yields.An example where
biotechnology is applied in these type of situations is that insect pests are killed when they bite
into Bt crops, this is because the plants have been transformed in a way to make such a protein
that is toxic to those pests.Bt Crops are transgenic crops that produce the same toxin as the
bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis in the plant cell, thereby, protecting the crops from pests. This
bacterium is actually not toxic to humans or other mammals but is toxic to certain insects when
ingested. Over two decades of review, the EPA and numerous scientific bodies have
consistently found that Bt and engineered Bt-crops are not harmful to humans.

3rd Speaker

Eight hundred million people go to bed daily with an empty stomach, and there are
approximately 40,000 hunger-related deaths every day. In developing countries where many
farmers support themselves, albeit with difficulty, through meager livings and the ability to
provide enough food for survival is often less assured, crops such as rice, sweet potato,
cassava and many more hold vital importance with which such importance cannot be
overstated. The loss of a crucial crop to pests, diseases, or natural weather can mean the
difference between life and death for many people and can even strain resources and threaten
the welfare of numerous communities. That is where biotechnology comes in to alleviate the
difficulties established by a growing population.
For example, the papaya ringspot virus nearly eradicated the crop in Hawaii. It first hit the state
in the 1940s and by the 1990s had reached almost every area that grows papaya. Fifty percent
of production fell between 1993 and 2006 due to this virus. However, Dennis Gonsalves, a
Hawaiian-born scientist at Cornell University, developed a genetically modified papaya that was
designed to be resistant to the virus. His team planted the GMO papaya on the island of Puna,
and within 11 months, non-GMO papaya became infected with the virus. After 2 years, the GMO
papaya trees provided 125,000 pounds of fruit per acre in a year, whereas the conventional
trees or the non-GMO ones averaged at only 5,000 pounds.

In the Philippines, corn farmers would have a recorded 30-50 percent loss due to the Asian corn
borer, the most destructive pest in the major corn-producing regions of the country which had
previously destroyed the nation’s corn production. Prior to the introduction of Bt corn, Dr.
Rhodora Aldemita, director of the global knowledge center on crop biotechnology at the
International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications (ISAAA), said that the cost
of corn went up because the country had been importing due to the need of feeds for livestock.
Corn is the second most important crop in the Philippines after rice, and approximately 1.8
million Filipino farmers produce it as a major source of livelihood. With its introduction in 1996
and commercialization in 2003, 400,000 farmers are now planting Bt corn as of 2019. Edwin
Paraluman, one of the first farmers to plant Bt corn, said that biotechnology has helped and has
been helping farmers. He also mentioned that with our ever-growing population and our
decreasing land, there is a need for modern technology in agriculture so that we can plant and
harvest more on less land. Adopting biotechnology has made the Philippines sufficient in its
corn production, has dramatically reduced corn imports, and its farmers are even planning to
export due to surplus.

4th Speaker

Plants are traditionally part of the human diet containing bioactive components that may
exert physiological effects beyond nutrition promoting human health and well‐being. Regular
consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with reduced risks of chronic diseases such
as cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, cataract and age‐related
functional decline.

Biotechnology doesn’t only make plants be more resistant to worsening climate change
but literally makes them better. Specific isolated genes can even be inserted into the genome of
plant species to increase their nutritional value. It can also increase the shelf life of gm food
products which could help in reducing waste as well as allow consumers access to fresher
produce. By allowing the food products to stay ripened and prevent them from over-ripening,
minimal food would go to waste.

An example would be how Transgenic Tomatoes are vine-ripened and then transported
without being bruised

Enhancing the nutritional levels and shelf life of these crops would improve nutrient
intake without requiring an increase in consumption. Genetic engineering offers opportunities to
significantly raise the nutritional levels of crops

It was discovered that rice contained Vitamin A in their genes but while growing those
genes would not be ‘turned on’ so as to say. So what scientists did was to reverse the process
and thereby activate those genes during growth.
 This means the nutritional value of many other food crops could possibly be increased
using recombinant dna technology. Considering the rising food demand in coming years, this
could be the answer on how to solve malnutrition.

Other similar examples would be higher protein content in soybeans or potatoes with
increased amino acids and starch content.

In this context, the use of this beneficial innovation will not only improve the growth and
yield but also the nutrient quality and shelf life of crops that represents a promising tool that may
respond to the challenges for food security.