FEATURED ISSUE
Possible threat to organic standards?
GMOs (genetically modified organisms) areplants, animals, or other organismswhose genetic material is altered in a way that does not occur naturally. This genetic engineering is the basis for the current label for GMO foods, such as strawberries with a genetically introduced anti-freezing genefrom Arctic flounder to extend their growing season in northern climates. For those who are concerned about eating foods altered with foreign genetic material, it is important to maintain strict standards regarding labeling of foods as “organic” or “GMO” (recently legally changed to be “genetic engineered”). However, in July 2019 the U.S. Department of Agriculture heard arguments at a House Agriculture Subcommittee hearing to allow gene editing to be considered a part of organic production. Those supporting the purity of organic foods are closely following the discussions to ensure that the techniques for gene modification (including CRISPR, Genetic Engineering, Mutation Breeding) do not become confounded with the issue of whether or not added genetic material is foreign. Is it a distraction to the GMO/organic food issue when arguments favoring organic genetic engineering use examples of selective breeding techniques without foreign genetic material, but do not identify that these techniques could also be used to introduce foreign DNA?

ISSUE: Genetic modification and manipulation of organic products

AHHA strives to maintain a neutral position on issues and viewsknowledge as power. For those interested in this month’s issue and learning more about this topic the articles below were selected to offer you some resources to begin your research.

PRO
Organic farming with gene editing: An oxymoron or a tool for sustainable agriculture? {5/14/19) [originally published 10/10/18 by The Conversation]
by Rebecca Mackelbrang
Cornell Alliance for Science

Viewpoint: Organic food movement ‘shoots itself in the foot’ by rejecting CRISPR gene editing (8/20/19)
by Steven Cerier
Genetic Literacy Project

Are You Scared of GMO Foods? (7/31/199)
by Jonathon McPhetres
Scientific American

CON
Gene Editing and Organic Certification (9/8/19)
NODPA

Gene Editing is Prohibited in Organic (10/1/19)
National Organic Coalition

What Are GMOs and GM Foods? (7/8/19)
by Marc Lallanilla
LiveScience

We encourage you to go to our blog at https://ahha.org/blog and post your comments. You are invited to share additional resources you have found relating to this issue.