Difference between revisions of "Team:Goettingen/Human Practices/Survey"
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | <p>To get people involved from all kinds of social and educational backgrounds, our survey was distributed during our interactive informational booth, after the panel discussion, at the Master’s information day and online. One important part was to understand how much the public knows about glyphosate. We also wanted to get an overview of the opinions of the general public towards glyphosate. Most importantly, we wanted to understand what the public thinks about our project and if they had the chance, what they would change about it. </p><p> | + | <p>To get people involved from all kinds of social and educational backgrounds, our survey was distributed during our interactive informational booth, after the panel discussion, at the Master’s information day and online. One important part was to understand how much the public knows about glyphosate. We also wanted to get an overview of the opinions of the general public towards glyphosate. Most importantly, we wanted to understand what the public thinks about our project and if they had the chance, what they would change about it. The survey was conducted by people of various occupations such as student, teacher, farmer, biologists, hair dresser, electronic technician, pensioner and public officials of ages between 20 to over 50 years. 60 % of those were men and 40% were women living mostly in Lower Saxony, Bavaria and Hamburg. </p><p> |
The survey showed, that the people think that far more glyphosate is produced and used in Germany than it is actually the case. In addition, even though the majority wanted the usage of glyphosate to be reduced or forbidden, not all of them knew that it is an herbicide and its mode of action. This shows, that more must be done to educate the public about the scientific background so that they can form a well-grounded opinion. </p> <p> | The survey showed, that the people think that far more glyphosate is produced and used in Germany than it is actually the case. In addition, even though the majority wanted the usage of glyphosate to be reduced or forbidden, not all of them knew that it is an herbicide and its mode of action. This shows, that more must be done to educate the public about the scientific background so that they can form a well-grounded opinion. </p> <p> | ||
Participants also underlined the fact that the highest risk of glyphosate are its effects on biodiversity and accumulation in the soil. In addition to this survey, we also talked to politicians who expressed their uncertainty about the removal of glyphosate from the soil. Hence, we modified the path of our project and made it our task to find a way to decrease the risks of glyphosate in the soil. The aim was to engineer bacteria to disarm glyphosate. You can find out if we were successful in creating bacteria that can deactivate glyphosate by following this link: | Participants also underlined the fact that the highest risk of glyphosate are its effects on biodiversity and accumulation in the soil. In addition to this survey, we also talked to politicians who expressed their uncertainty about the removal of glyphosate from the soil. Hence, we modified the path of our project and made it our task to find a way to decrease the risks of glyphosate in the soil. The aim was to engineer bacteria to disarm glyphosate. You can find out if we were successful in creating bacteria that can deactivate glyphosate by following this link: | ||
| Line 98: | Line 98: | ||
<p class="survey-quest_number">6/2</p> | <p class="survey-quest_number">6/2</p> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | <p> | + | <p>In december a European Citizen' s Initiative which demanded: "Ban glyphosate and protect people and the environment from toxic pesticides" was signed by 1 070 865 people of 22 different European countries after the <a href="https://www.iarc.fr/" target="_blank">World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer</a> classified glyphosate as "probably <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/citizens-initiative/public/initiatives/successful/details/2017/000002?lg=en" target="_blank">carcinogenic</a>carcinogenic in humans" and after EU member states agreed on a five-year renewal period for the controversial herbicide glyphosate, used by Monsanto in its Roundup product. (November 2017). The <a href="https://euobserver.com/environment/140042" target="_blank">decision</a> was taken by EU member states' experts, with 18 votes in favour, nine against and one abstention.</p> |
| + | <p>In the beginning of 2018 Julia Klöckner, the Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the CDU party announced that she wants to agitate for a reduction of glyphosate usage in Germany.</p> | ||
| + | <div class="survey-heading"> | ||
| + | <h3>Why?</h3> | ||
| + | <p class="survey-quest_number">6.1/2</p> | ||
| + | </div> | ||
| + | <p>“It is a very effective weed killer. Therefore the application in small amounts is okay. But by its wide use arable landscapes turn into monotonous fields and insects don‘t find enough food anymore. It should not be forbidden until there will be better alternatives but it should at least be reduced.”</p> | ||
| + | <p>“ new alternatives should be searched for”</p> | ||
| + | <p>“There are good, purely natural alternatives, therefore the use of glyphosate should be forbitten or at least reduced.”</p> | ||
| + | <p>“poison is poison, it harms the biodiversity and its long term effects are not known. I think the use should be at least reduced until we are sure that it is not cancerogenic! “</p> | ||
| + | <p>“It is a very effective and ecological agent. It should not be reduced neither be forbitten.”</p> | ||
| + | |||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> <div class="team-container survey-container"> | </div> <div class="team-container survey-container"> | ||
| Line 109: | Line 120: | ||
<p class="survey-quest_number">7/2</p> | <p class="survey-quest_number">7/2</p> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
| − | <p> | + | <p>“It is a very effective weed killer. Therefore the application in small amounts is okay. But by its wide use arable landscapes turn into monotonous fields and insects don‘t find enough food anymore. It should not be forbidden until there will be better alternatives but it should at least be reduced.”</p> |
| + | <p>“ new alternatives should be searched for”</p> | ||
| + | <p>“There are good, purely natural alternatives, therefore the use of glyphosate should be forbitten or at least reduced.”</p> | ||
| + | <p>“poison is poison, it harms the biodiversity and its long term effects are not known. I think the use should be at least reduced until we are sure that it is not cancerogenic! “</p> | ||
| + | <p>“It is a very effective and ecological agent. It should not be reduced neither be forbitten.”</p> | ||
</div> | </div> | ||
</div> <div class="team-container survey-container"> | </div> <div class="team-container survey-container"> | ||
Revision as of 11:35, 15 October 2018
Team Göttingen
iGEM 2018
Glyphosate on my plate?
| E-mail: | igem2018@gwdg.de |
|---|---|
| Adress: | c/o iGEM 2018 |
| Department of General Microbiology | |
| Grisebachstraße 8 | |
| 37077 Göttingen | |
| Germany |
We are especially grateful to our numerous sponsors on gofundme, who supported our project and made it possible.
Every public donor, who helped us to achieve our goals got a special place on our bacterial wall of fame and a handdrawn microbe to show our appreciation. A link to that wall can be found here:
Survey
To get people involved from all kinds of social and educational backgrounds, our survey was distributed during our interactive informational booth, after the panel discussion, at the Master’s information day and online. One important part was to understand how much the public knows about glyphosate. We also wanted to get an overview of the opinions of the general public towards glyphosate. Most importantly, we wanted to understand what the public thinks about our project and if they had the chance, what they would change about it. The survey was conducted by people of various occupations such as student, teacher, farmer, biologists, hair dresser, electronic technician, pensioner and public officials of ages between 20 to over 50 years. 60 % of those were men and 40% were women living mostly in Lower Saxony, Bavaria and Hamburg.
The survey showed, that the people think that far more glyphosate is produced and used in Germany than it is actually the case. In addition, even though the majority wanted the usage of glyphosate to be reduced or forbidden, not all of them knew that it is an herbicide and its mode of action. This shows, that more must be done to educate the public about the scientific background so that they can form a well-grounded opinion.
Participants also underlined the fact that the highest risk of glyphosate are its effects on biodiversity and accumulation in the soil. In addition to this survey, we also talked to politicians who expressed their uncertainty about the removal of glyphosate from the soil. Hence, we modified the path of our project and made it our task to find a way to decrease the risks of glyphosate in the soil. The aim was to engineer bacteria to disarm glyphosate. You can find out if we were successful in creating bacteria that can deactivate glyphosate by following this link: Results.
In which year was glyphosate placed on the market?
1/2
Glyphosate was first synthesized by the chemist Dr. Henri Martin in 1950, while working for the Swiss pharmaceutical company Cilag, which was founded in 1936 in Schaffhausen. Unfortunately (fortunately?), Dr. Martin did find out that glyphosate may serve as a very efficient herbicide. About 20 years later, the American chemist Dr. John E. Franz who was working for the American company Monsanto (recently bought by Bayer) observed that glyphosate specifically inhibits the 5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase in plants, fungi, bacteria and archaea. Hence glyphosate was registered an placed on the market in 1974 (1-4).
How much glyphosate was used in Germanys agricultural sector (2014)
2/2
In 2011 a survey by the University of Göttingen (partly lead by our panel discussion guest Horst-Henning Steinmann) was carried out among ~900 german arable farmers. Based on their statements, an application of glyphosate on an area of 4.3 million hectare arable land was estimated. This represents ~ 40% of the total arable area.
A newspaper article by the “Deutsche Welle” published on the 25.09.18 talks about the same data of glyphosate usage in the agricultural sector.
How many tons of glyphosate are produced globally each year?
3/2
From 1994 – 2014 various data of glyphosate application and production were collected globally. These data show that during this 40 years the glyphosate production increased significantly from ~ 50 000 tons to ~826 000 tons per year. The statistic also indicates that the glyphosate production is constantly increasing (approximately 40 tons/year).
In Germany about 5000 tons of glyphosate are used per year which makes up ~ 0.6 % of the global use.
Which company introduced glyphosate to the market?
4/2
Glyphosate was registered and placed on the market in 1974 by the American company Monsanto for agricultural use under the trade name Roundup after the chemist Dr. John E. Franz who was working for the company realized its mode of action against the enzyme EPSP Synthase in plants, fungi, bacteria and archaea.
In September 2016 Monsanto was acquired by the German multinational pharmaceutical and life sciences company Bayer (for US$66 billion). The German chemical company BASF however bought it´s share in the herbicide glufosinate
Ghlyphosate is ...
5/2
As mentioned before, glyphosate inhibits the the 5-enolpyruvyl-shikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase in plants, fungi, bacteria and archaea and was therefore placed by Monsanto as a herbicide.
Since glyphosate inhibits the aromatic biosynthetic pathway in many bacteria and parasites, glyphosate might also be effective as an antimicrobial (antibiotic). In 2003 Monsanto has filed a patent for the invention that the herbicidal agent glyphosate can be used in combination with the polyvalent anion oxalic acid to prevent and treat pathogenic infections caused by protozoan parasites of the phylum Apicomplexa (Patent No.: US7,771,736B2) (Background).
Should the usage of glyphosate be forbidden or reduced?
6/2
In december a European Citizen' s Initiative which demanded: "Ban glyphosate and protect people and the environment from toxic pesticides" was signed by 1 070 865 people of 22 different European countries after the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogeniccarcinogenic in humans" and after EU member states agreed on a five-year renewal period for the controversial herbicide glyphosate, used by Monsanto in its Roundup product. (November 2017). The decision was taken by EU member states' experts, with 18 votes in favour, nine against and one abstention.
In the beginning of 2018 Julia Klöckner, the Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection of the CDU party announced that she wants to agitate for a reduction of glyphosate usage in Germany.
Why?
6.1/2
“It is a very effective weed killer. Therefore the application in small amounts is okay. But by its wide use arable landscapes turn into monotonous fields and insects don‘t find enough food anymore. It should not be forbidden until there will be better alternatives but it should at least be reduced.”
“ new alternatives should be searched for”
“There are good, purely natural alternatives, therefore the use of glyphosate should be forbitten or at least reduced.”
“poison is poison, it harms the biodiversity and its long term effects are not known. I think the use should be at least reduced until we are sure that it is not cancerogenic! “
“It is a very effective and ecological agent. It should not be reduced neither be forbitten.”
The gylphosate target, the EPSP synthase, exists in ...
7/2
“It is a very effective weed killer. Therefore the application in small amounts is okay. But by its wide use arable landscapes turn into monotonous fields and insects don‘t find enough food anymore. It should not be forbidden until there will be better alternatives but it should at least be reduced.”
“ new alternatives should be searched for”
“There are good, purely natural alternatives, therefore the use of glyphosate should be forbitten or at least reduced.”
“poison is poison, it harms the biodiversity and its long term effects are not known. I think the use should be at least reduced until we are sure that it is not cancerogenic! “
“It is a very effective and ecological agent. It should not be reduced neither be forbitten.”
To use glyphosate genetically modified organisms are needed
8/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
I feel well informed about GMO
9/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
Where do you see the highest risks concerning glyphosate?
10/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
Microorganisms can be used in various ways (ecological recovering etc). Do you feel well informed about the possibility to use microorganisms in the envrionment?
11/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
Would you visite information events about glyphosate or genetechnology?
12/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
Which alternative ways to inform yourself would you prefer?
13/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
Do you think more has to be done to inform the public?
14/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
Are you willing to pay more for glyphosate free food?
15/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
Do you know a way to detect glyphosate in your food?
16/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
Would you use a test to detect glyphosate in your food?
17/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
Did you reduce your beer consumption after glyphosate was detected in various beer brands?
18/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
How much glyphosate was used in Germanys agricultural sector (2014)
1/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
How much glyphosate was used in Germanys agricultural sector (2014)
1/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
How much glyphosate was used in Germanys agricultural sector (2014)
1/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
How much glyphosate was used in Germanys agricultural sector (2014)
1/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
How much glyphosate was used in Germanys agricultural sector (2014)
1/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
How much glyphosate was used in Germanys agricultural sector (2014)
1/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
How much glyphosate was used in Germanys agricultural sector (2014)
1/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
How much glyphosate was used in Germanys agricultural sector (2014)
1/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
How much glyphosate was used in Germanys agricultural sector (2014)
1/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo
How much glyphosate was used in Germanys agricultural sector (2014)
1/2
reprehenderit domesticarum tempor nam irure varias imitarentur amet proident appellat cillum irure a culpa velit incurreret si eiusmod distinguantur o do dolore consectetur et ullamco fidelissimae eiusmod et aliqua occaecat offendit exercitation distinguantur sed de expetendis ubi coniunctione ea qui tempor voluptate aute singulis sempiternum enim probant dolor culpa quo