GM Food Debated at DNA Exhibition
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In collaboration with the British Council, the Planetarium Science Center (PSC) at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA), hosts a video conference lecture on Monday, 16th August, at 7 p.m. in the Auditorium. The lecture is part of the DNA Exhibition, currently held a the BA’s Exploratorium. Given by Dr. Sue Mayer, Executive Director and founder member of GeneWatch UK, an independent policy research group based in Derbyshire that monitors developments in genetic technologies, the lecture will be chaired by Eng. Hoda Elmikaty, Deputy Director of Planetarium Science Center, and will be simultaneously translated into Arabic.
In 2003, genetically modified (GM) crops were grown on 68 million hectares of land, mostly in North America, however, they remain intensely controversial across the world with opinion divided as to their desirability
Throughout the lecture, Mayer will review the main issues in the GM debate, including the potential for harm to the environment and health; their performance in those countries that have adopted them; the role they may play in agriculture in developing countries; and the companies behind them. Other issues will touch upon how national, regional and international laws are evolving to cope with the GM debate. Tensions created by the complaint of main GM crop exporting countries, the USA, Canada and Argentina, against Europe, at the World Trade Organization will be addressed in this wider context.
Café Scientifique: After the coffee break, a café scientifique will be held for those
interested in further discussion.