Should Organic Agriculture Maintain Its Opposition to GM? New Techniques Writing the Same Old Story

Abstract

Abstract:Biotechnology is diversifying rapidly through the development and application of new approaches to genome editing and ongoing research into synthetic biology. Proponents of biotechnology are enthusiastic about these new developments and have recently begun calling for environmental movements to abandon their campaigns against Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and for organic agriculture to reconsider its exclusion of Genetic Modification (GM). In this article, we begin by describing the diversity of practices that cluster under both the terms GM and organic and show that although there is a clash of different cultures of agriculture at stake, there is also a spectrum of practices existing between these two poles. Having established the terms of the debate, we then go on to analyse whether the organic movement should reconsider its position on GM in light of new plant breeding techniques (NPBTs), using the criteria highlighted as important by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) in their 2016 draft revised position on GMOs. Through this analysis, we suggest that given the in-context-trajectory of biotechnology development, the continued narrow framing of agricultural problems and the ongoing exclusion of important socio-economic, political and cultural dimensions, the organic movement is justified in maintaining its opposition to GM in the face of NPBTs.

Mass Releases of Genetically Modified Insects in Area-Wide Pest Control Programs and Their Impact on Organic Farmers

“…Furthermore, we suggest careful scrutiny of arguments linking the permitted use of GM vaccines in organic certified livestock [74,75] as somehow precedent setting with respect to organic produce and the mass release of flying GM insects (e.g., [78]). This is because any developments are unlikely to enhance coexistence efforts if they do not reflect the primary regulatory frameworks that have developed over the last 20 years governing the relationship between certified organic products and their conventional counterparts (particularly as GM insects can likely be detected as even trace contaminants in consumer products).…”

“…In this light we believe it is valuable to point out that any concerns about the application of GM techniques in the organic farming community may not be absolute. As discussed by Wickson et al [74] in this issue, the draft text of the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements public consultation on genetic engineering and genetically modified organisms [75] currently includes the following text:…”

I Have a Dream: Organic Movements Include Gene Manipulation to Improve Sustainable Farming

“…In contrast, Wickson, Binimelis and Herrero are rather skeptical about gene manipulation [2]. They differentiate between the classical genetic modifications that led to the GM crops used today and the NPBTs that have emerged within the last few years.…”

“…Wickson and coauthors further argue that the general process of technologically manipulating the genetic code of organisms is criticizable per se [2]. This position is very important for Nuijten, Messmer and Lammerts van Bueren [3].…”

“…To address the problem of whether organic farming and gene manipulation may be compatible, I initiated a Special Issue in Sustainability by inviting experts of both fields to express their views on this topic [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]. I am most thankful to all contributors for joining this discussion, but also to the reviewers for evaluating these manuscripts.…”