4/6/2017 Biotechnology versus Organic Agriculture Biotechnology versus Organic Agriculture Legal issues-NOP and biotechnology Legal issues-NOP and biotechnology If a producer adheres to all aspect of the Organic certifying agents are USDA trained NOP requlations,including no GM seeds,but a and ensure that the organic operations follow certifying agent finds GM material in the the OFPA and NOP regulations crop,then the crop may still be "certified"as If all requlations are followed,then organic detectable residue does not constitute a violation of the regulations Organic certification is"processed-based" and not "product-based" When unintended GM substances are found, certifying agents work with the or This is opposite to FDA's view on GM food producers to find the source of the which is "product-based" substance Common Examples of GM Products Common Examples of GM Products Flavr Savr Tomato Flavr Savr Tomato .Developed by Calgene,Inc California Concept:flavr savr tomato First GM crop to be commercialized in the US -supress the enzymes responsible for ripening Concept:traditional commercial tomatoes polygalacturonase degrades pectin in the cell wall picked green to prevent damage during transportation without PG the fruit remains firm and artificial ripening is avoided ripened by ethylene gas,a growth hormone Result:vine-ripen flavor without the softening4/6/2017 10 Biotechnology versus Organic Agriculture Legal issues – NOP and biotechnology • If a producer adheres to all aspect of the NOP regulations, including no GM seeds, but a certifying agent finds GM material in the crop, then the crop may still be ”certified” as organic • Organic certification is ”processed-based” and not ”product-based” • This is opposite to FDA’s view on GM food which is ”product-based” Biotechnology versus Organic Agriculture Legal issues – NOP and biotechnology • Organic certifying agents are USDA trained and ensure that the organic operations follow the OFPA and NOP regulations • If all regulations are followed, then detectable residue does not constitute a violation of the regulations • When unintended GM substances are found, certifying agents work with the organic producers to find the source of the GM substance Common Examples of GM Products Flavr Savr Tomato • Developed by Calgene, Inc California • First GM crop to be commercialized in the US • Concept: traditional commercial tomatoes - picked green to prevent damage during transportation - ripened by ethylene gas, a growth hormone Common Examples of GM Products Flavr Savr Tomato • Concept: flavr savr tomato - supress the enzymes responsible for ripening  polygalacturonase degrades pectin in the cell wall - without PG the fruit remains firm and artificial ripening is avoided - Result: vine-ripen flavor without the softening