Placeholder Image

Subtitles section Play video

  • Rather than engage on points that are factual, you'll often hear that GMO

  • is unnatural. Which of course is completely true like computers, cars and modern medicine too.

  • But people still feel there's a hidden danger.

  • Editing genes, what could be stranger?

  • So let us give these bad feelings some precedents and discuss them in light

  • of the evidence.

  • 130 studies, 25 years, independent research says have no

  • fears.

  • While we can add more papers to the balance sheet,

  • GM is as safe as any other food you eat.

  • GM changes organisms with a cut and paste. More nutritious, more resistant,

  • allergens erased. Slow to spoil, makes medicines, fossil fuels replaced. Is there

  • no problem it can solve?

  • Well, actually now you mention it. Modest GM yield increases won't stop

  • starvation,

  • the real solution needed: better administration.

  • Breeding management and sustainability, still play a huge part in farm fertility.

  • Insect killing genes from bacteria called BT, means we should use

  • insecticides less intensively. But on the other hand, herbicide-tolerant breeds

  • keep up the spraying and creating super weeds. Yes, cross-contamination can colonize

  • crops,

  • but evolution and breeding all cause

  • gene-hops.

  • Many consumers view GM with suspicion,

  • some transparency might just change their position.

  • For example, labelling might be a big pain, but consumer choice is a reasonable

  • claim.

  • Big companies predicting genes with patent deeds,

  • need to understand farmers want to own their own seeds.

  • Corporate misbehavior's not GM specific,

  • plenty of players in the field are terrific.

  • Regardless of the side you're on there is no doubt,

  • the gene-engineering genie is already out.

  • Let's bring together hopes, fears, values, trade-offs, facts

  • and scientists will stop with their 'we know best' act.

  • If we walk a path between research and caution,

  • we can have solutions and safety in equal proportion.

Rather than engage on points that are factual, you'll often hear that GMO

Subtitles and vocabulary

Click the word to look it up Click the word to find further inforamtion about it