Ballard County CES

Title:

Living with GMO's and Biotechnology

MAP:

Ballard County Agriculture Stability

Agents Involved:

Tom Miller

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Grains

Situation:

The adoption and use of Biotech products has exploded for the grain producers of Ballard County. Over 85% of all corn acres and 95% of the county’s soybean acres use a Biotech product. The scientific aspects of GE crops (=GMOs) are not widely understood. Furthermore, credible scientific information is sometimes misrepresented in the public domain. While value judgements rightfully drive public decision-making, the public has the right to credible scientific information as it deliberates controversial issues such as this.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Agricultural producers and consumers will:

•Understand the science of agricultural biotechnology

•Be confident to make informed decisions on crop/food selection

•Be able to critically evaluate biotechnology information in the media and on-line

Improved communication between consumers and producers within communities

Intermediate Outcomes:

Consumers will:

•Evaluate their personal position on labeling of GE foods

•Make informed food choices with respect to biotechnology

•Relate the use of biotechnology to major issues confronting agriculture (nutrition, invasive pests and disease, pesticide use, etc.)

•Be able to locate unbiased information on Ag biotechnology

Agricultural producers will:

•Make informed decisions about use of GE in Ag production

•Discuss how they use biotechnology to residents within their communities (schools, churches, etc.)

Initial Outcomes:

Consumers will be able to:

•Define biotechnology

•Describe how it is used in agriculture

•Understand why biotechnology is used in agriculture

•Discuss its benefits, risks and limitations

•Distinguish between GE and non-GE foods

•Restate the issues with labeling GE food

•Seek non-biased, scientific information and analyze it to evaluate the issue of genetically-engineered foods

•Understand how biotech information on the internet and through the media may be prejudiced

Agricultural producers will:

•Acquire the resources related to explain Ag biotechnology to others in their communities

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increased Knowledge

Indicator: Consumers can define Biotech, understand why it is used

Method: Biotech team survey

Timeline: Spring 2017

Intermediate Outcome: Ag producers will share knowledge of Biotech with consumers

Method: Producers survey

Timeline: Spring 2018

Long-term Outcome: Consumers and Farmers will understand the science of Biotechnology

Indicator: Increased understanding of Biotech

Method: Consumer and farmer Biotech survey

Timeline: 2019

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Ballard Ag producers and Consumers

Project or Activity: Media stories on history, uses and regulation of GMO crops

Content or Curriculum: Newspaper articles on the GMO story

Inputs: in-service training, specialist articles, Dr. Paul Vincelli, BioTech Program Development Team

Date: Start fall 2016 and ongoing

Audience: 2nd Grade

Project or Activity: Where Food Comes From

Content or Curriculum: Food from Grocery back to Farm plus intro to GMO

Inputs: in-service training, specialist articles, Dr. Paul Vincelli, BioTech Program Development Team

Date: March 2022

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