Food, Inc. Discussion Guide - TakePart

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B a c k g r o u n d I n f o r m at i o nPeople have been tinkering with the genetic makeup of plants and animals sincethe earliest farmers recognized variations among wild plants and selected thosewith desirable traits to sow. However, that tinkering has been taken to a new levelwith molecular genetics, which has enabled scientists to pinpoint the specificgene sequence that produces a particular trait and to transfer desirable genesbetween species. Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are developed bytransferring genes and their traits from one organism to another.GMO technology offers the potential benefits of increased yield, enhancednutrition, and increased drought resistance to help feed the world’s poor. Atthe same time, it also raises concerns of antibiotic resistance and other humanhealth impacts, unintended transfer of genes through cross-pollination, loss ofbiodiversity, and the control of world food production by private companies. 2Genetically modified crop seeds began to be sold in the United States in 1996.By 2008, over 309 million acres—or 483,000 square miles—of GMO cropswere planted worldwide.3 Despite the potential for nutritional advances, mostcommercially available GMO crops today have been developed solely for theirtolerance to a particular herbicide (weed killer). Herbicide-tolerant crops enablefarmers to apply that herbicide to kill weeds without damaging the crop; forexample, Monsanto’s Roundup Ready soybean described in the film can toleratethe herbicide Roundup, which is also produced by Monsanto. According to a2008 report by Friends of the Earth, over 80 percent of the world’s GMO cropacreage is planted with herbicide-tolerant soybean, corn, cotton, and canola. 42 U.S. Department of Energy (2008, November 5). “What are genetically modified (GM) foods?” HumanGenome Project Information. http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml.3 GMO Compass (2009, February 12). “Rising trend: Genetically modified crops worldwide on 125million hectares.” http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/agri_biotechnology/gmo_planting/257.global_gm_planting_2008.html.4 Friends of the Earth International (2008, January). “Who benefits from GM crops?” Agriculture and <strong>Food</strong>,Issue 112. http://www.foei.org/en/publications/food-sovereignty/publications.7 2F o o d , I n c . D I S C U S S I O N G U I D E© P a r t i c i p a n t M e d i a
As depicted in the film, companies like Monsanto can patent their geneticallymodified seeds. 5 That means that they own the specific genetic sequencingcontained in the seed and can control the use of all seeds with that particularsequence. It used to be that seeds could not be patented, and that farmers wereallowed to save and exchange seeds. But in 1985, the U.S. Patent and TradeOffice began granting patents for genetically modified seeds. A U.S. SupremeCourt decision in 2001 upheld a company’s right to patent these seeds andeffectively banned the saving of genetically modified seeds in the United States.As shown in the film, Monsanto and other companies have actively sued farmersfor allegedly saving their patented seeds.Some people believe that companies should have the right to patent geneticmaterial that they spent money and resources developing. They might pointout that if companies are unable to protect these patents and other forms ofintellectual property, future innovations that could benefit the world will bethwarted. Others believe that genetic material is not the same as intellectualproperty and that patenting seeds gives companies excessive power oversomething that is vital for everyone. They might point to the fact that most of theworld’s commercial seed today is owned by a handful of agrichemical-biotechcompanies.O p e n e rBefore showing the chapter, provide students with copies of A Review of Seedsand Plant Reproduction student handout, pages 76–77. Instruct them to read thearticle, underlining sentences that describe the importance of seeds and circlingsentences that describe a societal conflict involving seeds. Have students refer towhat they circled and write a one-sentence statement or question summarizingthe debate. Ask individuals to share their responses.5 International Center for Technology Assessment (2001, December 19). “ICTA analysis of Supreme Courtdecision in patent case.” http://www.cropchoice.com/leadstrya594.html?recid=540.7 3F o o d , I n c . D I S C U S S I O N G U I D E© P a r t i c i p a n t M e d i a
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L e t t e r f r o m Z e n o b i a B
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U s i n g t h i s G u i d eThis gui
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N at i o n a l S ta n d a r d s C o
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g Analyze the extent to which group
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About SocraticDiscussionsFood, Inc.
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to a deeper understanding of the is
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A s s e s s i n g S o c r at i c D
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Page 26 and 27: • If we are in consensus that eve
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Page 32 and 33: eakfast cereals, salad dressings, m
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Page 39 and 40: c h a p t e r 3Unintended Consequen
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Page 60 and 61: R e f l e c t i o nThe film describ
Page 64: On the face of it, cheap, abundant
Page 67 and 68: easons. Do you think economics is a
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Page 77 and 78: genetic material—called deoxyribo
Page 79 and 80: c h a p t e r 8The VeilS y n o p s
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Page 87 and 88: c h a p t e r 9Shocks to the System
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Page 93: Things You Can DoYo u c a n vot e t
Page 96 and 97: ResourcesFor additional information
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Page 102 and 103: A b o u t P a r t i c i p a n t M e
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Food, Inc. Discussion Guide - TakePart

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