PSGRNZ

In this discussion Dr Charles Merfield 'Merf', of the Future Farming outlines how regenerative farming, agroecology and organics fit together, how research patterns have shifted over the decades, and the importance of interdisciplinary scientific research and information sharing in agriculture that includes farmers, scientists and farmer extension services. PSGR's JR Bruning and Merf discuss the importance of social media platforms for information sharing, and the declining role of the public sector in making a place for basic science and interdisciplinary research. Merf's primary interest is in sustainable horticulture and agriculture research (agronomy), extension and consulting, with a particular focus on physical and ecological weed management including weeding machinery and special expertise in thermal (flame and steam) weeding. Merf was a coauthor on a recent white paper: Grelet, G., Lang, S., Merfield, et al (2021). Regenerative agriculture in Aotearoa New Zealand – research pathways to build science-based evidence and national narratives. https://mro.massey.ac.nz/server/api/core/bitstreams/a6c8c77d-e9b8-4177-9e8b-342c3ff87e4d/content Merf can be contacted at the Future Farming Centre www.bhu.org.nz/future-farming-centre/ PSGR.org.nz Physicians and Scientists for Global Responsibility, New Zealand

This remarkable interview covers many of the questions people seek to answer concerning the biology of cancer, the predominant drivers of pro-cancer environments, how treatment can work and how patients can do their utmost to prevent secondary cancer. '‘The science of cancer knows that it’s an injury response, but the clinical management of cancer has not yet figured this out for the most part. Hence no-one is instructing the patient to take the food (I.e. foot) off the gas pedal.’ In the video, which is also available in audio form on PSGR’s Substack Podcast page, US trained Dr Goodwin, a retired oncologist discusses: - Tumour streams, common and rare. - The biological basis of cancer - and why cancer cells aren’t cunning or conspiratorial, but quite dumb! - How stem cells are involved in the aetiology of cancer. - Surgery, and why Goodwin likes to see patients before surgery. - How the metastatic process works and why some secondary cancers end up in commonly recognised places. - The keto and glucose factor. - The multifactorial nature of cancer: Including immune tolerance, chronic inflammation and disrupted cell signalling. - Epigenetics. - Why conventional medical oncologists tend to dismiss nutritional science - and why they (ethically) shouldn’t. - Simple hacks to promote cell health and improve cell signalling pathways. - Recognising that healing is biological, chemical & emotional/spiritual. - The microbiome and diet (this is covered more extensively in a second interview). - Allied health professionals that might follow the diabetes model of reversing health risk. www.PSGR.org.nz

Professor Jack Heinemann PhD Molecular Biology (Oregon), BSc(hons) Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Professor of Molecular Biology and Genetics, (School of Biological Sciences). University of Canterbury. Director, Centre for Integrated Research in Biosafety (INBI) UC. This interview is essential viewing for scholars, scientists & policy-makers interested in ethics, biotech, policy & the stewardship of biotech. Have you ever wondered about the ways new biotechnologies are speeding up, the efficiency of production increases, which inevitably increase tech output into the environment? How then do we judge risk? The product is a hazard - but how do we identify the potential for a hazard (the product) to cause harm? Harm is a complex equation of the potential to cause harm [x] where a technology can cause harm. Risk is not the same as hazard. This is why risk assessment is so important. The potential for risk to scale up, what happens at scale - the scale gearing - is key. As Heinemann notes 'Where harm can accumulate at scale transition, that's precisely where regulation is a solution to mitigate risks... if we say the technique is inherently safe & no product has to be regulated, then I can use those techniques out in the field. By deregulating the hazard, which is the organism I intend to change, unless you have commensurate regulations on the process, you deregulate when & how people use these techniques.' This really important issue with Professor Jack Heinemann discusses complex scientific, & ethical issues critical for stewardship of biotech, including common assumptions & the dilemma of tech promises. It contains insight that can help look at risk with other, non-biotech technologies. These issues are often neglected in public discussions. Yet how we steward technology impacts the potential for benefit or harm. The case study of null segregants forms an important background to the discussion. Paper under discussion: Heinemann JA, Clark K, Hiscox TC, McCabe AW and Agapito-Tenfen SZ (2023), Are null segregants new combinations of heritable material and should they be regulated? Front. Genome Ed. 4:1064103. doi: 10.3389/fgeed.2022.1064103 Professor Heinemann was interviewed by JR Bruning (sociologist) of Physicians & Scientists for Global Responsibility (PSGR), a New Zealand based charity, in January 2023. For more interviews of scientists & doctors, please go to PSGR.org.nz

Dr Glen Davies (ReversalNZ, Taupō, New Zealand) discusses his experiences, working with people and communities to reverse Type 2 diabetes. In 2021 Dr Davies was awarded New Zealand, General Practitioner of the Year, at the New Zealand Primary Healthcare Awards for his work in this field. This fascinating discussion looks at the drivers that led to Glen’s shift in professional focus. This includes a key patient urging that Glen looked into keto, which then led to Glen researching the scientific evidence, and the experiences of other doctors. Glen’s shift to focussing on reversing T2 diabetes with ketogenic dietary protocols, has been rapid. It's not just Glen - community groups meet to discuss their own dietary transition, and patients are supported by health coaches. This talk will appeal to GPs and non-GPs alike and is heavily referenced. Dr Davies success has arisen from a multi-pronged approach, supporting the individual, helping them understand the science, and understanding that change happens differently for all patients/clients. The community working/information groups have been a major force for change. The Reverse Type 2 Diabetes Taupō (RT2DT) group works to support community-driven lifestyle and dietary change to nourishing whole unprocessed foods and natural fats; and away from refined/processed carbohydrates, industrial seed oils and sugar. Glen can be found at ReversalNZ.co.nz and on Youtube Glen Davies https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtLkx7jsHtHh2FehC72VByQ/videos Dr Davies was interviewed by JR Bruning of PSGR.org.nz, October 2022.

After 20+ years in clinical medicine Dr Emma Sandford (MBChB, FRCOphth, B.NatMed) found that she ‘got into trouble’ when she advised her patients - diabetic and otherwise - on changing their diet to improve eye health and prevent the continued decline in vision that their patient was experiencing. Sandford solved this problem by returning to academia and securing a Bachelor in Natural Medicine. Sandford is now a doctor of integrative medicine, and her consultancy combines conventional medical practices with complementary and alternative therapies to promote eye health and overall well-being. This podcast explores this journey, discusses what Sandford sees in her clinic, her patient experiences and includes tips for change.

Professor Philippe Grandjean is a professor of environmental medicine at the University of Southern Denmark and a research professor at the University of Rhode Island. ‘We have to do everything we can to remove toxic exposures to support brain development.’ This study lead by Grandjean brought together 3 cohort studies, from Mexico (ELEMENT study), Canada (MIREC) and Denmark (OCC) of mothers and infants. With over 1500 mother child pairs participating, this study was highly powered. The dose levels overlapped. REFERENCE LIST: https://psgr.org.nz/component/jdownloads/send/1-root/111-23-pg • Maternal urine-fluoride concentrations were measured, and child IQ was determined at age 7 years • Higher-level fluoride exposures in North America and lower-level exposures in Denmark gave the researchers a broad basis to arrive at a joint benchmark dose level, where at that level one IQ point would be lost. This was 0.45 mg/l fluoride in urine. • Regulators need to know the lowest level at which harm (a lowered IQ as a result of exposure) might commence, the approximate threshold for fluoride neurotoxicity, benchmark dose confidence level. In this study it was found to be at 0.33 mg/l fluoride in urine. • The WHO's guideline value in drinking water is 1.5 mg/l (1500 µg/l). This was set in 1984. • Background levels are found low level in nature. Fluoride is not a nutrient, rather it is a toxicant. Humans might have evolved a degree of tolerance at lower levels. • This study contributes to 20 years of research into developmental neurotoxicity and fluoride. • Developmental exposures which alter intelligence impact the capacity of that child to progress in life. • The 'optimal level' for addition to drinking water has been in place since the 1950's 'In areas with a hot climate, the "optimal" fluoride concentration is below 1 mg/litre while in cold climates it may be up to 1.2 mg/litre (Galagan & Vermillion, 1957). See 1984 WHO EHC 36: https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/37288/9241540966-eng.pdf?sequence=1 • Philippe Grandjean and Jodie Bruning discussed a 40-year history of stacking scientific committees considering fluoride and health, with oral and dental experts. Oral and dental experts may be more likely to support fluoridation of water, and thus have a bias, or weight their decision-making to support fluoridation. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Grandjean P, Meddis A, Nielsen F, Beck IH, Bilenberg N, Goodman CV, Hu H, Till C, Budtz-Jørgensen E. (2023) Dose dependence of prenatal fluoride exposure associations with cognitive performance at school age in three prospective studies. Eur J Public Health. 2023 Oct 5:ckad170. doi: 10.1093/eurpub/ckad170. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37798092 University of Southern Denmark press release: https://www.sdu.dk/en/om_sdu/fakulteterne/sundhedsvidenskab/nyheder/fluor-paavirker-intelligensen (in English) PSGR.org.nz for a PDF copy of the references cited at the end of the interview.