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Bio-Talk-Nowledge-y
Communicating the Science of Science Communication
Kevin M. Folta
Professor and Chair
Horticultural Sciences Department
kfolta.blogspot.com
@kevinfolta
kfolta@ufl.edu
"There is a path to truth and sincerity that you must
guard and defend“
-- Teruyuki Okazaki
Structure:
9:00 Introductions, justification, nuts and bolts on how
biotech crops work
9:45 Why is there a problem? Mythbusting.
10:30 Break
3:45 Rethinking biotech communication / missed
opportunities
Goal
You should be able to:
Discuss these topics with authority
Organize public discussions, participate in debate
Forward the scientific discussion in social media
Today is the first step.
Take home messages:
Agricultural biotechnology is a precise extension of plant genetic improvement, a human-mediated effort performed over 10,000+ years.
There is an industry profiting form manufactured risk around good technology.
The main audience is not the activist– it is the concerned person that doesn’t understand. Be a teacher.
To change hearts and minds, focus on future traits and how biotechnology can support our common values.
What happens if we do nothing?
Introduction of bad public policy
Misdirection from legitimate problems
Delaying emerging science that could benefit
Suspicion of proven successes
Mistrust of science/scientists
Reliance on less useful technology
Public labs, small co’s can’t compete
Harming non-GMO industries
Communicating the Message (Specific)
• Master a central core of key concepts
• Understand mechanisms of current traits
• Know how to convey concepts to the scientifically illiterate without “dumbing it down”
• Be able to address basic mythology
• Emphasize lost opportunities
• Active engagement and participation
Incre
asin
g d
ifficu
lty
Nuts and Bolts of Frankenfoods
Kevin M. Folta
Associate Professor and Chair
Horticultural Sciences Department
kfolta.blogspot.com
@kevinfolta
kfolta@ufl.edu
Central Core Concepts
Humans have always participated in plant genetic improvement.
Transgenic crop technology (familiar “GMO”) 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 18 years there has not been one case of illness or death
related to these products
In the USA there are several traits used in only nine commercial
crops
“It’s not natural”
The first step is to diffuse an appeal to nature, that is, the notion that nature is superior to human technology and that human meddling is dangerous.
All due to mutations and genomic
alterations
All required human intervention for
breeding and/or selection
GM Adoption-- Farmers are trusted. The most rapidly-adopted farm technology.
Keeping it Simple -- a big part of communicating the science is removing the mystery
Three basic traits commercialized.
Virus Resistance
Insect Resistance
Herbicide Resistance
Only 8 GM Crops Available Now
How do we make a transgenic plant?
Get gene of interest into a single cell
Exploit the property of “Totipotency”
How Do We Add a Gene to a Plant?
Totipotency
Introduce the concept of
plant cellular plasticity.
Cuttings, rooting
Plant cells can change
identity
Some single cells can
regenerate into a whole new
plant, a clone.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
A plant pathogen that injects its DNA into the plant
upon infection. This allows the bacterium to create
an environment where it can best survive.
Agrobacterium species occur naturally and are
responsible for causing “galls” in infected plants.
Scientists have exploited this
property of the organism to perform
gene transfer in the laboratory!
New plants contain new gene
constructs
How Do We Make this Understandable?
Turn OFF something that normally is ON
Turn ON something that is normally OFF or not there
Central Dogma of Molecular Biology
DNA – genetic material, Hard
copy safe in the nucleus of a cell
RNA – Transient copy of the
same information (+/-)
Protein – Does the work!
Enzymes, structures, etc.
Papaya Ringspot VirusGood example of RNAi suppression
Gene Silencing
GM papaya saved an industry, not a Big Ag product
Share the vision, what else could we silence?
- allergens
- anti-nutrients
- physiology associated with post-harvest decay
- many others!!
Turn something ON that isn’t there normally
GMO Crops Make Pesticides
Bt is one of many natural anti-insect proteins
Bt is one of many
natural anti-insect
proteins
How Bt Works
bt
Advantages
Decrease in broad-spectrum
insecticide use on corn and
cotton
Lower fuel and labor costs for
farmers
Solid dividends in the
developing world
No effect on beneficials
Limitations
Need to plant refugia to slow
resistance
Pockets of resistance are seen
and require use of insecticides
Requires careful scouting
Roundup Ready Products
A gene is inserted that
allows plants to survive in
the presence of the
herbicide. Farmers can
spray to kill non-transgenic
plants.
How Herbicide Resistance Works
A B CAmino
acidsproteins
epsps
glyphosate
XPlants
How Herbicide Resistance Works
A B CAmino
acidsproteins
epsps
glyphosate
X
A B CAmino
acidsproteins
epsps
Plants
Bacteria
glyphosate
How Herbicide Resistance Works
A B CAmino
acidsproteins
epsps
epsps
Plants
X
glyphosate
A B CAmino
acidsproteins
Bacteria
glyphosate
How Herbicide Resistance Works
A B CAmino
acidsproteins
epsps
Plants
glyphosate
Resistance!
•Talk about limitations
The point is– this is not a scientific debate.
- benefits far outweigh limitations and new solutions are
coming.
This is not a farming debate.-farmers freely choose the technology because it works.
This is a SOCIAL debate fueled by fear and
misinformation.
The point is– this is not a scientific debate.
- benefits far outweigh limitations and new solutions are
coming.
This is not a farming debate.-farmers freely choose the technology because it works.
This is a SOCIAL debate fueled by fear and
misinformation.
The Anti-Biotech Movement and
Mythbusting
Kevin M. Folta
Professor and Chair
Horticultural Sciences Department
kfolta.blogspot.com
@kevinfolta
kfolta@ufl.edu
Who is most influential in the discussion?
Oz Smith Shiva Adams Mercola Food Babe
There is money to be made in manufacturing risk.
Activists can hijack venues that appear scientific
Predatory publishing allows publication of work that lacks scientific rigor
Much based in a handful of anti-corporate activists
Manufacturing Risk
True or False?
“Terminator” Seeds
True or False?
Kathage and Qian 2012
True or False?
What the Report Really Said:
You could detect glyphosate at a few ng / m3
Glyphosate replaced other herbicides
The use of GM cotton has reduced insecticide use, massively
Relative number of Starbucks
Organic food sales
Manufacturing the Perception of Riskconfusing correlation and causality
The risk around this topic is based on misinformation
One-off studies
Poor quality science
Good science that is misinterpreted
Making mundane facts inflamatory
Part 3 – How to Talk About How to
Talk About Science
Kevin M. Folta
Professor and Chairman
Horticultural Sciences Department
kfolta.blogspot.com
@kevinfolta
kfolta@ufl.edu
Everyone Loves New Technology
New Awareness
FarmersDeveloping World
The NeedyFood Safety
Environment
Consumers
But What About Agricultural Biotechnology?
Generally:
People don’t have any idea what it is.
People don’t know how biology works.
Few understand farming and supply chains.
The just know that they don’t like biotech crops.
Rel
ativ
e n
um
ber
in
po
pu
lati
on
Relative scientific understanding
Activists
Farmers,scientists,
Etc.
MOST PEOPLE!!!!
Based on findings from UF PIE Center
1996 Today Wide Application
Smart Regulation
Public Participation
Minor Crops
Consumer Traits
Acceptance Gap
X years
Minor effectors:
Continued safe implementation
Consumer-centric traits
Major effectors:
Decreasing credibility of vocal minority
Recognition as complementary / synergistic
with organic/sustainable
#1 Effector
Communication via high-credibility channels
Less impact of “leaders”
Lost opportunities rise
Shifting the Middle
Communicating the Message (General)
• Communication is listening and responding• You must prove that you understand their
concern• Always discuss strengths and limitations• If you don’t know, offer to find out• This is about sharing science, not beating people
to death with it.
• This is not as much a scientific exercise as a communications exercise.
Communicating the Message (Specific)
• Master a central core of key concepts
• Understand mechanisms of current traits
• Know how to convey concepts to the scientifically illiterate without “dumbing it down”
• Be able to address basic mythology
• Emphasize lost opportunities
• Active engagement and participation
Incre
asin
g d
ifficu
lty
Reinforce the Central Core Concepts
Humans have always participated in plant genetic improvement.
Transgenic crop technology (familiar “GMO”) 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 18 years there has not been one case of illness or death related
to these products
In the USA there are several traits used in only nine commercial
crops
How do we fix this?
First – Dispelling the Naturalistic Fallacy
Remind audiences that genetic improvement of food is
a continuum.
Very little of the food you eat comes from here.
None of the food you eat is like its “natural” form
GM technology is simply the most precise version of an
age-old practice.
COMMUNICATION BARRIERS
“FACTS DON’T MATTER.”- Tamar Haspel
People reject the validity of scientific conclusions if they
contradict their deeply held views
“Backfire Effect”- when confronted with evidence that is
contrary to their views, people tend to believe that the
evidence is distorted. They also “dig in the heels” with their
beliefs
Cultural Cognition – belief in trangenic harm as part of a
package of beliefs
False Equivalence, “no consensus among scientists”
To win hearts and minds we have to come at it from a
different angle.
Humanization- I’m a parent… I care about my community… My
family’s health is my priority…
Your Priorities- Profits for farmers… low environmental impacts…
Food for those that need it… affordable, safe food in the
industrialized world…
You can lead smart people to a conclusion- Ask questions, based
on impacts for people and the environment.
Your Role is to be a More Trusted Source
1. Your job- Who do you work for? Who is your client?
2. “I work for you”, “I would not be able to sleep at night
knowing I did something dangerous”
2. Your funding- “all public record”, “companies sell to farmers,
if they are not happy, we don’t profit”, “if anyone were to be
harmed we’d be out of business”
3. If you have connections to ag companies, talk about them.
4. Know the role of your institution in sponsorship, etc.
Transparency builds trust, trust helps communication.
Avoid these Mistakes
Avoid “feed the world” rhetoric
Discuss strengths and limitations
Not a panacea, not a disaster
Never get backed into the “science no”
“Can you guarantee that these are absolutely safe?”
Rely on Graphics Over Words
Instead of “glyphosate is relatively
harmless- don’t worry about it.”
Emphasize the acceptance of technology by farmers.
• Farmers have credibility
• Farmers are tough customers
• Emphasize yield trials, farm trials
Emphasize Scientific Consensus
Social Media Action Step
Start a blog. Write weekly
Get a Twitter account. Post daily
Talk to one person a week that does not understand biotechnology
Contact your representatives and make your voice heard.
Know how to find the educators and reach out to them.
Watch the News, Engage the Comments, Create the Contrast
Use your real name
Provide an email address
Offer to help interpret the media
Always be as kind as possible
My outreach program centers on biotech education
• Improved public understanding• Teaching scientists to be better communicators• Engaging public audiences• Contributing to the social media discussion• Helping to teach those that do not understand
the technology.
Outreach program
Funding from Federal, State sources, some hort crops industry• “How much from Monsanto?”
• Folta = $0• Folta Research = $0• Horticultural Sciences Department (5 years) = $0• UF (5 years) =~$21,000
How do we participate effectively?
Winning the Emotional Capital
Consequences and Lost Opportunities
Opposition to this technology has significant costs.
The needy
The environment
Farmers
Consumers
Technology Exists NOW
Research has been published demonstrating that
transgenic techniques can:
Help farmers.
Biofortify foods with vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients
Grow plants in marginal areas
Grow plants with fewer inputs
Efficient use of fertilizers
Insect resistance
Disease resistance
GMO 2.0
Kevin M. Folta
Associate Professor and Chair
Horticultural Sciences Department
kfolta.blogspot.com
@kevinfolta
kfolta@ufl.edu
Technology Exists NOW
Research has been published demonstrating that
transgenic techniques can:
Biofortify foods with vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients
Grow plants in marginal areas
Grow plants with fewer inputs
Efficient use of fertilizers
Insect resistance
Disease resistance
Strawberries requiring less fungicide
Strawberries are the most fungicide-intensive crop
Overexpression of the NPR1 gene allows them to grow
in presence of high fungal pressure.
Plants overexpressing NPR1 were inoculated with a
series of pathogens and moved to warm, humid
conditions.
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
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
Golden Bananas Beta carotene producing
X
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
Survives moderate drought, especially at key times like flowering
It is based on overexpression of a maize stress gene
Non transgenic transgenic
X
X Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
Allergy-Free Peanuts
Peanut – RNAi suppression Ara h2 X
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
Allergy Free Wheat Using RNAi to repress gliadin levels
BS2 TomatoA pepper gene in tomato eases black spot and wilt.
X
X Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
High Anthocyanin TomatoA transcription factor excites anthocyanin production in fruits
X
X Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
X
Longer shelf life too.
Acrylamide Free, non Browning Potatoes
X
X
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
Non Browning ApplesSilencing a gene that leads to discoloration
X
X
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
Small Business!X
Grapes resistant to Pierce’s Disease
X
X
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
X
Virus Resistant Beans
Embrapa, Brazil
Important Central American Crop
transgenic
Non-transgenic
Improved Oil Composition
One acre of omega-3 producing soybeans yields as much oil as
10,000 fish!
Stopping Citrus Greening
Spinach defensin
NPR1
Lytic peptides
Many show promise
Earliest deregulation is
2019
Edible Cotton Seeds!
Gossypol- free
Defense compound to
protect seeds
Protein rich seeds
could feed 500 M
people
Transgenic cotton with
suppressed gossypol
synthesis
Edible Cotton Seeds!
Chestnut blight has
destroyed the American
Chestnut.
A single gene confers
resistance to the
disease.
Not food… so
deregulation is an
interesting question.
Water Use EfficiencyBetter yields during water deficit
X
X
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
X
X
Bacterial Wilt in Bananas
>70% of calories for some areas
GM trials in Uganda
X
X
Farmers
Consumers
Environment
Needy
X
Where to Learn More
About the Pipeline?
www.isaaa.org
National Academies of Sciences
Academics Reviews
kevinfolta@gmail.com
@kevinfolta
Illumination (blog)
Biofortified.org
Genetic Literacy Project.com
gmoanswers.com
Provide a Trail to Good Information
Academics Review : GMOLOL on Facebook : GMO Skeptiform (facebook)
Illumination (my blog) :
Conclusions:
The pipeline started with farm-centric products
Few horticultural crops are commercialized due to cost
and high barriers in deregulation.
The future products emphasize traits with direct
consumer benefit
Emphasizing benefits for consumers, the environment,
the developing world and the farmer helps to change
hearts and minds.
Other countries will independently pursue the technology.
Action StepStart a blog. Write weekly
Get a Twitter account. Post daily
Talk to one person a week that does not understand biotechnology
Contact your representatives and make your voice heard.
Know how to find the educators and reach out to them.
In Conclusion
Our mission is to develop genetics and production
methods to generate more food on the same space with
fewer inputs.
Learn the basics, or at least learn where to find the basics
When communicating these topics, remember, DON’T BE
SUCH A SCIENTIST. Facts don’t matter. You need to be
a trusted conduit first, before information can be
persuasive.
Remember is that people are concerned. You need to be a
teacher, be compassionate and connect around shared
values.
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