2010 World Food Prize

The 2010 World Food Prize Laureates David Beckmann and Jo Luck were introduced by the President of Iowa State University Gregory Geoffroy for a talk titled: Grassroots Efforts in the Fight against Global Hunger. The speakers were met with record attendance for this annual event, about 500 students, faculty, and community members. Tonight’s lecture is part of a week long series of events celebrating the legacy of Norm Borlaug and looking to what we can do to solve hunger in the US and across the world.

Many World Food Prize Laureates have been scientists, and scientists are undoubtedly important in developing new crop varieties and new methods that can produce more food with fewer inputs, particularly for small famers. This year’s Laureates have a new message to share. As David Beckmann pointed out during his talk, great scientists are important, but it also takes groups like Bread for the World and Heifer International to organize and mobilize people to help. This year’s Laureates share a message of hope and inspiration.

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Substantial equivalence

One important concept that is used in most countries to regulate products of genetic engineering is substantial equivalence. The way to determine substantial equivalence is comparative assessment. What do substantial equivalence and comparative assessment mean? Depending on the source we use, we might find different definitions and different opinions of how useful they are in determining the safety of products of genetic engineering. The USDA provides information on Food Safety Assessment and Considerations as part of their Focus on Food Biotechnologypage at the Food Safety Research Information Office.

What substantial equivalence can do is give us a starting point.

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Community Contest #1 and more!

Hi everybody! Frank N. Foode here. Biofortified is workin’ on building its community of editors, contributors, and readers with the new profile system. We’re also coming up on our first Biennial celebration on the 31st of the month, making this an exciting month for talking about plant genetics. Plus we’ll have more to say about our own Rally to Restore Sanity in the debate over genetic engineering, and if that was not enough, there will be opportunities for everyone to be able to win fabulous prizes – and I’m going to tell you about your first chance!

The first Biofortified Community Contest is on, and it will be a contest for the best comment or comments. That’s right, just by writing just one awesome comment that contributes to the discussion here, you can win a prize! It could be about some of the many things we talk about on the blog such as the science, politics, social and philosophical issues, personal beliefs, or a collection of helpful links that you have scoured the internet for.

Here are the rules:

  • Anyone can nominate someone for this contest, but must link to at least one comment (can be several) by that author.
  • You may nominate yourself!
  • Editors (and me) are ineligible for the contest – but contributing authors can get in on the action.
  • Comments can be from any date in the past, present, or future. They can be comments on posts or in the forum.
  • In order to accept the award, comment author must be registered, fill out at least some of their profile, and have a picture uploaded for their avatar. (Profile can be done after the winner is announced. Picture need not be a human photo – how about a cool plant?)
  • The winner(s) will be judged on how awesomely smart, cool, funny, and productive their comments are. We want to reward people that help elevate the discussion and give them a special status in the community.
  • Nominations will close on Friday October 15th at midnight Pacific Standard Time. (End of the day, not the beginning!)
  • Winner(s) will be decided by Biofortified’s editors, and will be announced on the 17th of October.

What do you win, aside from eternal glory? Why, some genetically engineered  blog schwag.

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Obsessive precaution leaves us with no choice but to defer to our fate.

From GMO Pundit.

Fear is key to irresponsibility
Frank Furedi From: The Australian October 09, 2010 12:00AM

In a world rife with conspiracy theories, there’s little scope for human agency

WHO decides our individual fate? How much of our future is influenced by the exercise of free will?

Humanity’s destiny has been a subject of controversy since the beginning of history. So it is not surprising that, back in ancient times, different gods were endowed with the capacity to thwart our ambition or bless us with good fortune.

The Romans worshipped the goddess Fortuna (sometimes depicted with the blindfold of disinterest and a cornucopia) and conceded her great power over human affairs. But they still believed her influence could be contained and even overcome by men of true virtue. As the saying goes, “fortune favours the brave”…

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This post was syndicated from GMO Pundit. You may comment here or on the original entry.

GM regulations move slowly forward in Africa

From GMO Pundit.

Transgenic harvest
Editorial. Published online 06 October 2010
African nations are laying foundations to extend the use of GM technology on the continent.

The use of genetically modified (GM) crops for food divides opinion, especially when it comes to Africa. Sharp views on the technology in the developed world, honed by more than a decade of arguments in Europe and elsewhere, are too easily projected onto Africa, with the continent portrayed as a passive participant in the global melodrama over GM food. So it is heartening to see a group of 19 African nations working to develop policies that should make it clear to all sides in the debate that Africa can make up its own mind.

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This post was syndicated from GMO Pundit. You may comment here or on the original entry.