Feeding The World… Are GM Crops fit for Purpose? If not, then what?
A conference to examine, searchingly and honestly, the claims and counter claims of one of the most critical issues of our time.
Conference took place on 12 Nov 2008 at the QEII Conference Centre, Westminster, London.
| “We have made a good start in picking up the Woolas Challenge, set down by the previous GM Minister at Defra, Phil Woolas, who last month told anti-GM campaigners that the UK Government considers they have just twelve months to put up or shut up about their safety, environment, food supply and social concerns.”Lawrence Woodward, former director of the Organic Research Centre |
Over 130 delegates and speakers took part in hot debate about the failure of GM crop technology to deliver anything on the promises of twenty years ago. In stark contrast, speaker after speaker pointed to agro-ecological approaches (including organic agriculture) as extremely attractive sustainable farming and food options, especially in a world fast running out of oil.
Presentation slides and audion recordings are available:
| Speaker presentation | Sound file |
|---|---|
| Dr Michael Antoniou | Why GM technology is not going to deliver |
| Dr Brian Johnson | GM Crops and Biodiversity: is this solely a GM issue? |
| Eric Kisiangani | Presented by Kath Pasteur – Why the GM Route won’t feed a hungry Africa |
| Prof Jack Heinemann | No sound file available. |
| Dr Jeremy Cherfas | Killing Hunger: Magic Bullet or Murder on the Orient Express? |
| Prof Janice Jiggins | Systemic Risk in Food and Farming… IAASTD |
| Dr Charlie Clutterbuck | What is Feeding the World and Food Security anyway? |
| Dr Julia Wright | Successful examples: Agro-ecology and Drought |
| Panel discussions | Sound file |
| Plenary 1 | Panel Session 1. Chaired by Dr Jeremy Cherfas. |
| Plenary 2 and conference end | Panel Session 2. Chaired by Prof Dr Hartmut Vogtmann. Speakers on the panel included: Dr Jeremy Cherfas, Dr Charlie Clutterbuck, Cinzia Scaffidi, and Dr Julia Wright. Summing up by Hartmut Vogtmann. |