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How to Change the Hearts and Minds of a Concerned Public
- 1. Food and Farm Conversations How to Change the Hearts and Minds of a Concerned Public Kevin M. Folta Professor and Chairman Horticultural Sciences Department kfolta.blogspot.com @kevinfolta kfolta@ufl.edu www.talkingbiotechpodcast.com
- 2. How do we ensure thatHow do we ensure that everyone has access toeveryone has access to agricultural innovation?agricultural innovation?
- 3. Where weWhere we areare Technology weTechnology we wantwant
- 4. What They Think “Farmers are poisoning us” “Corporations want to control the food supply” “We aren’t’ sure what to believe” “We’ll make choices to protect our families” What We Know “Safest and most abundant food supply in history” “Use every safe technology possible to farm profitably and sustainably”
- 5. Why They Think This Way “Farmers are poisoning us” “Corporations want to control the food supply” “We aren’t’ sure what to believe” “We’ll make choices to protect our families”
- 7. How do we learn from our mistakes, from social science, from psychology, to better communicate what we do? How do we become trusted sources? How do we do this effectively? 1.Basics of plant breeding and genetic improvement 2.Some things I’ve learned about communicating the science
- 8. What Plant Genetic Improvement Is More varieties Grow better under given conditions Improved yields Safer products Improved nutrtion
- 9. What Plant Genetic Improvement Is People t hink Improved yields
- 10. Why Do We Need to Genetically Improve Plants? Native plants have little/no food value Many plants produce toxins Plants don’t survive well in cultivation Adjustments of genetics can help plants adapt to human need
- 11. Humans have always manipulated crop genetics
- 13. A new variety is like a needle in a haystack
- 14. What about geneticWhat about genetic engineering?engineering?
- 15. • Why do we need genetic engineering? We can move genes/traits, that we cannot move by breeding and selection. Allows us to solve problems that have no other solution, and have positive effects on the environment. Recombinant human insulin, 1983 Papaya Ringspot Virus, 1998
- 16. • Why do we need genetic engineering? We can move genes/traits, that we cannot move by breeding and selection. Move traits much more rapidly than breeding Recombinant chymosin in cheese
- 17. How Do We Add a Gene to a Plant?
- 18. How do we explain the mechanism to people? Describe it as a simple as adding a book to a library Sometimes we take a book out of a library
- 19. GM Crops Available Now 10 potato apple
- 20. What are the Three Main Traits? Virus Resistance Insect Resistance Herbicide Resistance Google “Biotechnology Literacy Day” if you are interested in mechanisms
- 21. Know a Few Central Core Concepts Humans have always participated in plant genetic improvement. Genetic Engineering is a precise extension of conventional plant breeding. “The techniques used pose no more risk (actually less risk) than conventional breeding.” (NAS, AAAS, AMA, EFSA many others) In the 18 years these products have been used, there has not been one case of illness or death related to these products In the USA there are several traits used in only 8 (- +) commercial crops, with risks and benefits.
- 22. HOMEWORK: Watch LICENSE TO FARM.
- 23. You are both warm and competent!
- 24. How Do You Communicate this Effectively? This is not a formula for insincerity. If you don’t believe it, don’t say it. These are just hints of how to better communicate science more effectively, and there is a method to earning trust.
- 25. Relativenumberinpopulation Relative scientific understanding Nonexperts Farmers, scientists, Etc. MOST PEOPLE!!!! FEAR FACTS
- 27. LOGOS PATHOS ETHOS Start with ETHOS to establish common ground
- 28. LOGOS PATHOS ETHOS Start with ETHOS to establish common ground Use LOGOS to provide evidence
- 29. LOGOS PATHOS ETHOS Start with ETHOS to establish common ground Use LOGOS to provide evidence Use PATHOS to reinforce and visualize
- 30. State your larger priorities up front FarmersDeveloping World The NeedyFood Safety Environment Consumers
- 31. Augment shared values with personalize your message. Tell your story. Start with your concerns. Why do you do what you do? Talk about points that everyone can agree upon Refer to your family, your personal goals.
- 32. Glyphosate resistant and insect resistant crops, while helpful to farmers, do not win the hearts and minds of the general public These are not “Big Ag” technologies! Win back emotional capital with lost opportunities – Where did we fail to address our shared values?
- 33. Who’s technology is this? Technology exists TODAY that can: -Provide needed micronutrients to hungry populations -Add virus resistance to key crops in the developing world -Help plants grow in changing climates and weather extremes, such as heat, drought, flooding, cold. -Plants that protect themselves from pests, cutting need for insecticides -Why don’t we use them? Success Stories (We Can’t Use)
- 34. Golden Rice X Farmers Consumers Environment Needy Opposition to golden rice cost $2 billion to farmers in developing countries and 1.4 million human years – Wesseler et al., 2014
- 35. Cassava Virus Resistant Cassava (VIRCA) Biocassava Plus (BC Plus) 250 million depend on cassava 50 million tons lost to virus. X X Farmers Consumers Environment Needy
- 36. Golden Bananas Beta carotene producing X Farmers Consumers Environment Needy
- 37. Bacterial Wilt in Bananas >70% of carbohydrate calories for some areas GM trials in Uganda X X Farmers Consumers Environment Needy X
- 38. Hypoallergenic Peanuts Peanut – RNAi suppression Ara h2 X Farmers Consumers Environment Needy
- 39. GE chickens do not pass on Avian Influenza Episode 007 X Farmers Consumers Environment Needy X X X X Animal welfare
- 40. AquaBounty Salmon – attains market weight in less time. Salmon may be farmed on inland pools, generating high protein food on fewer inputs. Episode 008 X Farmers Consumers Environment Needy X X X X Wild populations
- 41. Low Acrylamide, non Browning Potatoes X X Farmers Consumers Environment Needy
- 42. BS2 Tomato A pepper gene in tomato eases black spot and wilt. X X Farmers Consumers Environment Needy
- 43. Stopping Citrus Greening Spinach defensin NPR1 Lytic peptides Many show promise Earliest deregulation is 2019
- 44. More Barriers: Avoid these Mistakes Avoid “feed the world” rhetoric Always discuss strengths and limitations Don’t ever claim it is a single solution. Don’t discount all facets of “organic” ag, discuss common goals Don’t criticize other forms of genetic improvement…
- 45. Maximizing your e-Real Estate The Discussion is Happening in Social Media! Producers have the most credibility and need to get involved. Obtain a dedicated Gmail account- use your real name. Sign up for facebook, twitter, instagram, pintrest, etc. Get a blog space on blogspot.com or wordpress. Answer questions in comments sections of news articles.
- 46. Our farmers are the solution. Jennie Schmidt Brian Scott Sarah Schultz
- 47. Work Smart Speak to your strengths Talk about what you know on your operation Know when to disconnect Don’t lose your cool Recognize the concerned and the difficult
- 48. Your Allies in Academia are Under Attack
- 49. 43 Scientists get FOIA requests – Funded by Organic Consumers Association I turned over 4600 pages
- 51. Effects -- I’ve had to step back from the discussion -- I’ve been UN-invited from an extension event, CBC interview -- Other scientists refuse to get involved -- My future?
- 52. Conclusions
- 53. Thank you kfolta.blogspot.com @kevinfolta www.talkingbiotechpodcast.com My funding: arabidopsisthaliana.com/funding.html kfolta@ufl.edu Dr. Norman Borlaug