STS

Biodiversity and
Healthy Society
Genetically Modified Organisms:
Science, Health and Politics
Biodiversity
- the vast variety of life forms in the entire Earth. Its
definition is in structural and functional perspective and
not as individual species. (Villaggio Globale, 2009)
- Also known as biological diversity
- Significant decline in biodiversity has direct human
impact when ecosystem in its insufficiency can no
longer provide the physical as well as social needs of
human beings
- We, as human inhabitants of the ecosystem, must
preserve and conserve the biodiversity of all creatures.
Types of Biodiversity

01 02 03
ECOSYSTEM SPECIES GENETIC
Variation among groups of Variety of species within a Variation in genes contained
organisms in terrestrial and community by an organism
aquatic environments
Threats to Biodiversity

Habitat loss Over-exploitation

and destruction Over-hunting, overfishing, or
over-collecting of species

1 2 3 4

Alterations Pollution
In ecosystem and contamination
 Consequences of Biodiversity Loss

01 02 03 04
Loss of Food Decrease in Collapse of Loss of keystone
biomass food web species

05 06 07
Reduction of ecosystem Loss of medical Increase vulnerability
efficiency and supplies of species to disease
community and predation
productivity
Health, Biology & Biodiversity
• Basic needs of living organisms such as air, water, food, and habitat are provided by its
environment
• Lack of basic necessities is a significant cause of human mortality
• Environmental hazards increase the risk of cancer, heart, disease, asthma, and many other
illnesses.
• The interrelation between human health and biological diversity is considerable and
complex.

Environment-related illnesses
Some human illnesses that are found to be related with its environment include:
 Parkinson’s disease Heart disease
 Cancer Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
 Asthma Diabetes
 Obesity Occupational injuries
 Dysentery Arthritis
 Malaria Depression
Environment-related illnesses
• Many of the issues at the intersection of health and the environment have to do with
managing benefits and risks:
 Pesticides play an important role in increasing crop yields, but they can also pose
hazards to human health and the environment.
 Energy production and use helps sustain human life, but it can also pose hazards to
human health and the environment.
 Increasing taxes on fossil fuels would encourage greater fuel efficiency and lower
carbon dioxide emissions, but it would also increase the price of transportation.

• Managing benefits and risks also raises social justice concerns:

 People with lower socioeconomic status have greater exposure to certain harmful
environmental conditions.
Genetically
Modified
Organisms
The Golden Rice Case
 Genetically Modified
Organisms
• A GMO is a plant, animal, microorganism, or other organisms whose
genetic makeup has been modified using recombinant DNA methods
(also called gene splicing), gene modification, or transgenic
technology. It is the result of a laboratory process where genes from
the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially inserted into the
genes of unrelated plant or animal, also called genetic engineering
(GE) or genetic modification (GM). Because this process involves
the transfer of genes, GMOs are also known as “transgenic
organisms”
• Genetic modification aims to address issues with regard to food
security, agriculture, drug production, and nutrition.
Genetic Modification
The World Health Organization (WHO, 2014) has been taking an active role concerning GM foods,
predominantly for two (2) aims:

Benefit of public health from the
potential of biotechnology, such
as:
Possible undesirable effects on human health
of the consumption of GM foods with
the purpose of protecting public health.

 Lessened allergenicity;  Systematic evaluation of contemporary

 Proliferation in nutrient content of technologies that are being used for food
foods; and enhancement and production.
 Sustainable and efficient food
production
Cartagena Protocol
on Biosafety
• The CPB to the Convention on Biological Diversity is
an international treaty that seeks to protect biodiversity
from possible risks posed by living modified
organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern technology
from one country to another
• It was finalized and adopted on January 29, 2000
with 135 countries as a supplementary
agreement to the convention on biodiversity and
in 2003, it entered the science force.
• In this agreement, necessary information must be
provided to make decisions and to seek consent
from importing countries before shipment of
LMOs. This is known as Advance Informed
Agreement (AIA).
Cartagena Protocol on
Biosafety
• The protocol covers the following:
 Handling and using of all LMOs;
 Possible risks to human health;
 Transboundary movement; and
 Transportation

• The protocol does not cover the following:

 Product derived from living modified organisms (e.g. paper
from genetically modified trees); and
 LMO, which are treatments for humans that are addressed
by other pertinent international agreements or associations
Golden Rice
Case
Golden Rice case
• Experiment to study the effects of genetically engineered rice
• Primary school in China with children 6-8 y/o (68 children)
• Researchers from Tufts University in Boston, USA
• study of the preventive measures in Vit. A deficiency in
children
Agroecolog
y
Agroecology
- ‘the application of ecological concepts and principles to the design and management of sustainable agro-
ecosystems’

What can Agroecology do?

A growing body of evidence reveals agroecology’s multiple advantages over conventional high-external input farming:

• A multi-functional approach to farming, capable of meeting environmental, economic and social needs
• Greater environmental sustainability and resilience, especially in marginal areas subject to
environmental degradation and extreme climatic events, and higher agrobiodiversity
• The ability to support farmers’ food sovereignty, reducing their dependence on costly and sometimes
difficult-to-access chemical inputs
• Higher overall productivity achieved through a diverse range of agricultural products and environmental
services, which reduce risks of crop failure in the long term
 Examples of Agro ecological Practices

Conservation tillage Mixing crops in a single pot, such as

No or minimum tillage improves soil
structure – including aeration and water
infiltration and retention capacity – and
organic matter
intercropping and poly-cultures
Biological complementaries improve
nutrient and input efficiency, use of space
and pest regulation, thus enhancing crop
yield stability
 Examples of Agro ecological Practices

Crop rotation and fallowing Cover crops and mulching

Nutrients are conserved from one season to Reduce erosion, provide nutrients to the soil
the next, and the life cycles of insect pests, and enhance biological control of pests
diseases, and weeds are interrupted
 Examples of Agro ecological Practices

Agroforestry Use of local resources and renewable

Especially the use of multifunctional trees:
maintains and improves soil fertility through
nitrogen fixation, enhances soil structure and
modifies the microclimate
energy
Allows a reduction in the use of external
inputs as well diminishing pressure on the
natural resource base
What can agroecology offer?
Food sovereignty is the right of people to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through
ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems. Food
sovereignty is founded on six interlinked and inseparable principles: it

(1)Focuses on food for people;

(2)Values food providers;
(3)Localizes food systems;
(4)Puts control locally;
(5)Builds on knowledge and skills; and
(6)Works with nature.

Food sovereignty uses the contributions of nature in diverse, low external input agro-ecological production of
harvesting methods that maximize the contribution of ecosystems and improve resilience and adaptation, especially
in the face of climate change; it seeks to ‘heal the planet so that the planet may heal us.’
Conclusion

 We have to consider the entire Earth as a single unit, a loss of single-celled species or a
family of wild grass can have adverse effects in the entire biosphere
 Biodiversity loss will have a great negative effect especially to us humans.
 We must recognize the value of the organisms with which we share the planet
 A mitigating plan and a workable plan of action should be studied in order to not
compromise biodiversity, while at the same time, promote good health among the society.
 Do you think that Earth can exist without human beings taking care of it? Or
biodiversity also needs human beings for it to be in a continuous growing process?
What are small ways that you think would promote safekeeping our biodiversity?
What can you think are the common human activities that can harm biodiversity?
What would be the consequences if these human activities are stopped and prohibited?
Resources
• Sean Xavier O. Alquilita, M. Phil. (YouTube) Dec. 3, 2021 STS Chapter Lesson 2 Biodiversity and Healthy Society (Biodiversity and
Healthy Society) https://youtu.be/CQGuO2PMWE8
• Dr. Ken Paul M. Espinosa, PhD, DHum, MAEd, MAN, LPT, RN (YouTube) Oct. 21, 2020. Biodiversity and Genetically Modified Organisms
STS (Chapter 4 Biodiversity and GMO) https://youtu.be/54qtBuNKkj4
• Kay Science. (YouTube). April 20, 2020. Genetic Engineering Golden Rice | GCSE Biology (9-1) https://youtu.be/PZ5SmhVUfQk
• Discover Agriculture. (YouTube). Aug. 21, 2020. What is GOLDEN RICE..? How does it works..?! Genetically Modified Rice |
Biotechnology. https://youtu.be/AjAV6w1N1CI
• Adrian Dubock (2014) The politics of Golden Rice, GM Crops & Food, 5:3, 210-222, DOI: 10.4161/21645698.2014.967570 pp. 995-999
• Duguet, A.-M., Wu, T., Altavilla, A., & Man, H. (2012). Ethics in Research with Vulnerable Populations and Emerging Countries: The
Golden Rice Case, 38 N.C. J. INT'L L. 979 pp 219
• Silici, L. (2014). Agroecology. What it is and what it has to offer. IIED, Issue Paper . pp 4, 11-12, 26
 Thanks!
Does anyone have any questions?

Presented by:
Arganda, Rachele Ann
Nazarita, Remie
Quiroz, Joselle Lou Airis
BSN 2A

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