The Promised Land of Transgenic Crops

Cette conférence réunit des spécialistes de disciplines diverses dont la recherche scientifique remet en question « la terre promise des cultures transgéniques ».

Forty years ago, in 1974, gen technology took centre stage in scientific research. With unprecedented possibilities came also unprecedented responsibilities. There was a broad consensus amongst the scientists of the day concerning the applicability of the precautionary principle to their projects and practices. Now, forty years later, in a dramatically changed academic and societal environment, this precautionary principle seems further away than ever before. Research focuses largely on exploiting findings for commercialisation. Research indicating that there might be serious concerns with respect to containment, effectiveness and medical risks of GMO-organisms is systematically downplayed or even discredited. The on-going ecological degradation of our planet and the growth of the world’s population has opened an entirely new market for a ‘food technology’, based on genetic engineering, and sold to both the public and politicians as the panacea for the world’s destabilised agro-economy and agro-ecology. This conference brings together specialists from different disciplines who, through their scientific research, question that ‘promised land of transgenic crops’. 

Keynotes: