GMOs: Necessary in a Hot and Crowded World? (06/11/14)

Climate One

Earth Sciences, Social Sciences, Science, News, News Commentary

4.7 • 583 Ratings

🗓️ 4 July 2014

⏱️ 60 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Biotechnology promises weed-resistant crops, bigger yields, more food for a growing population. But are genetically modified fruits and vegetables safe? Are they healthy? “Man has been improving crops from the beginning of time, whether it’s the tomato or the corn or all of our fresh fruits and vegetables,” says Robert Fraley of Monsanto. “There’s a whole set of tools that we’re going to need to be able to meet the challenge of food production for the future.” “This is about chemical companies selling chemicals,” says Andrew Kimbrell of the Center for Food Safety. “It’s not about feeding the earth. We have yet to see a GMO crop that has greater yield, that does anything about malnutrition, about a better taste, a lower cost.” In the face of climate change and its agricultural challenges, is biotechnology the answer? Should we be working to strengthen the world’s rural farming communities? Or is there a sustainable balance between Big Ag and the family farm? This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California on June 11, 2014. Robert Fraley, Chief Technology Officer, Monsanto Company Nathanael Johnson, Food Writer, Grist; Author, All Natural: A Skeptic’s Quest to Discover If the Natural Approach to Diet, Childbirth, Healing, and the Environment Really Keeps Us Healthier and Happier (Rodale, 2013) Andrew Kimbrell, Founder and Executive Director, Center for Food Safety Jessica Lundberg, Seed Nursery Manager, Lundberg Family Farms Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:35.3	How will we power our future?
0:40.3	Can we create a healthy and clean economy? Climate One at the Commonwealth Club is at the forefront of the global debate about energy,
0:45.3	economy, and the environment.
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0:53.3	With thoughtful and insightful discussions
0:55.5	on policy, business, science, and culture, Climate One founder Greg Dalton gets to the heart of the
1:01.2	matter. It's our future. It's time to come together. Today on Climate One, we're biting
1:08.2	into the controversy over GMOs. Monsanto and other companies say GMOs are safe and can help feed a hot and crowded world
1:15.3	in which more than a billion people are expected to move into urban and middle class
1:19.4	lifestyles in the next 15 years. Food advocates say GMOs should be banned or labeled as a matter
1:25.7	of public health and consumers right to know.
1:28.7	Over the next hour, we will look at GMOs and related issues in our food system.
1:32.9	Joining our live audience at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, we're pleased to have
1:36.6	with us four guests on all sides of this lively debate.
	...

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