"It’s interesting that the public has come to believe that organic farming is diametrically opposed to genetics. That’s untrue … organic farmers also rely on genetic improvements. I’m lucky to have a chance to talk to people about this. And I’m happy – as is Raoul – that people are interested. Twenty-five years ago, farmers and geneticists were boring. Now we walk into a room and everyone’s interested in our work. The public interest in the topic is gratifying.”
Dr. Pam Ronald, professor in the Department of Plant Pathology and the Genome Center at the University of California, Davis, talked about genetic engineering, sustainable farming, and science literacy in a recent Q&A with UC Food Observer. As UC Food Observer explains, "she’s embracing both genetically improved seed and ecologically based farming methods, as a means to enhance sustainable agriculture.” Her book, co-authored with husband and organic farmer Raoul Adamchak, “…argues for a food system that is both organic …and genetically engineered." Pam recently gave a popular TED Talk, “The Case for Engineering Our Food”, available below.
What does she want people to understand about her work? How can we inject more science into public policy? What are her thoughts on private labeling systems? Read the answers to these questions and more in Dr. Pamela Ronald’s Q&A with UC Food Observer.