Recently a significant player in the natural foods trade circulated a survey seeking comment and opinion on synthetic biology. Unfortunately, the survey was salted with an deceptive definition of synthetic biology -- on which respondents were told to base their answers. This article begins by sharing that stilted definition verbatim, then amplifies each claim critically in light of extensive research into the technology and its consequences for people and planet.
Here is the definition that kicks off the survey, with each section numbered for reference:
- "Precision fermentation technology, also known as GMO 2.0 technology, is a form of synthetic biology that has been around for a few decades, and more recently has been tapped to produce consumables."
- "The technology, which is rapidly entering the mainstream, uses genetic modification to alter bacteria, yeast, algae, or plants, which are then fed water, nutrients, sugar and cultivated in brewery-style fermentation tanks."
- "These modified microorganisms produce edible fats or proteins, which are biologically similar to plant or animal products."
- "Common applications of this technology have included the production of human insulin for treating diabetes, creating enzymes for food production, manufacturing vitamins and supplements, as well as rennet for cheese production."
- "More recently, the technology has been used to create nutrients, food additives and ingredients for CPG [consumer packaged goods] products (i.e., milk protein, honey, collagen, egg whites, etc.)."
- "The FDA does not require these foods to be labeled as GMO because they do not contain genetically engineered organisms; they only contain the edible fats or proteins produced by those organisms'.
- "Having said that, such products would not qualify for Non-GMO Project Verification."
[Note, the definition above was partly cribbed from this critical article in Forbes by the agency that drafted the survey for this client. It did not ask permission to use the text nor did it attribute to the author.]
Now what if the preamble to the survey was more thorough and accurate, like, say this one?
- Precision fermentation technology, also known as GMO 2.0 technology, is a form of synthetic biology that has been used in pharmaceutical production for several decades and in a limited way to produce food processing aides. More recently the technology has become the focus of tech investors who claim, without proof, it can reduce animal agriculture because, without proof, all animal agriculture is unnecessary and contributes to global warming.
- The technology, which is entering the mainstream but is not creating demand with shoppers, uses gene-editing to alter the metabolic behavior of pathogens like e. coli, and bacteria, viruses, yeast, algae, mammalian stem cells, or other microorganisms, which are then exposed to GMO-derived sugar solutions and other nutrients, antibiotics, and chemicals to force them to produce targeted substances. Genetically mutated mammalian cells are reverted to stem cell state using antibiotics, and the growth factor regulation genes are circumvented to prompt unlimited replication similar to how cancer cells grow. The patents for these processes claim the exclusive right to use a vast number of different methods to replicate or express a vast number of target materials during the fermentation process. Some patents claim the exclusive right the reproduce human blood and muscles, and others the exclusive right to use the SARS-COVID virus. No company has published the full pathway of its production methods or the source and preparation of the formulation of the fermentation steep or micro-organisms used.
- These modified microorganisms produce edible fats or proteins, which are biologically similar to plant or animal products. This process also results in a unknown number of entourage organisms that may be genetically modified and may continue to replicate novel and unexpected behaviors resulting form those modifications. This process also results in a unknown number of entourage molecules, gene segments, potentially antibiotic resistant organisms, and other materials. The manufacturing process attempts to extract the target substance by using centrifuges and ultra-filtration, but this is considered to be only 80% to 95% effective unless treated in very small quantities in an advanced laboratory setting. Thus some unidentified, undetected, and unknown materials, including genetic material from novel living organisms, may be present in the finished ingredient and/or packaged product.
- Common applications of this technology have included the production of human insulin for treating diabetes, creating enzymes for food production, manufacturing vitamins and supplements, as well as rennet for cheese production. However, the natural products industry has always focused on developing naturally-occurring sources of these ingredients and supporting the farmers and communities that produce them. Most of the natural products communities has recently focused on ensuring regenerative sourcing practices. The current allure of substituting sugar ferments and gene-edited pathogens in place of nutrient-dense plants grown in healthy soil, or in place of land-regenerative livestock, appears to be an investment play largely by venture groups from outside of the industry and unconcerned with its current integrity or future viability. In any case, the branding and marketing claims by these companies clearly show they are divorced from engagement in agriculture or community.
- More recently, the technology has been used to create nutrients, food additives and ingredients for CPG [consumer packaged goods] products (i.e., milk protein, honey, collagen, egg whites, etc.). These products have not been well received, which has puzzled investors used to pitching technology ideas and rolling them up into a lucrative exit via acquisition by a larger entity. The customer here is not the next largest tech firm, its millions of individual savvy shoppers who are being asked to not buy a known natural brand in favor of a more expensive unknown brand whose raw materials and production methods are kept secret. Shelf space for these products is not expanding and sales are sluggish. Many brands are selling product at or below cost to fast food and institutional buyers to bolster revenue reporting. Both SENPA and INFRA have rejected these technologies, as has Natural Grocers and other leading natural food stores.
- The [federal government] does not require these foods to be labeled as GMO because they [claim to] not contain genetically engineered organisms; they [claim they] only contain the target materials that have been extracted from the ferment. However, no bona fide scientific analysis of the content of these novel foods has been conducted by independent researchers or brands themselves, and certainly not by the government. Were up-to-date laboratory techniques used, it is likely that genetic material would be found in these products as they appear on shelves, along with any number of other adulterants and contaminants, known and unknown, resulting from the genetic mutation processes and fermentation regimen.
- Having said that, such products would not qualify for Non-GMO Project Verification." The Non-GMO Project will not verify products made using new gene modification methods regardless of the lack of detectable GMO content in the finished product. As a reminder, GMO ingredients are not allowed under the Non-GMO Project standard, so fermentation or gene-edited organisms using steeps derived from GMO corn, beets, cane, soy or other GMO crops are doubly nonconforming. The USDA National Organic Program also does not allow the use of GMO methods. However, the certification protocols are not specific enough to verify the entire supply chain for a particular product. The Program undertakes periodic surveillance testing for know GMO ingredients, seeds, and inputs, but this results in almost no enforcement activity.
So now, take this survey: was the first definition fair and balanced, or does the detailed explanation of its bias provided here actually matter to the results? Comment below.
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