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food for thought lecture series

The Food for Thought Lecture Series brings internationally recognized experts to OSU to speak about ways that biotechnology can support sustainable agriculture.  Lectures are free and open to the public. 

At 7:00pm on Nov. 19, the 2009/2010 series will continue with Jason Clay, who will give a lecture titled "Freezing the footprint of agriculture while feeding 9 billion people".

In his FFT lecture, Clay focuses on creating global standards for producing and processing raw materials from plants, particularly in terms of carbon dioxide emissions and water use.

Jason is Senior Vice President of Market Transformation at World Wildlife Fund, where he influences the way governments, foundations, researchers, and NGOs identify and address risks and opportunities for their work. 

berating beets: a court decision affecting Oregon's farmers

Federal judge overturns approval of GE sugar beets

San Francisco Chronicle, 22 September 2009 
Nearly all of America's sugar beet seeds are grown in Oregon's Willamette Valley.  Most have been genetically engineered (GE) to withstand the weed killer, glyphosate.

To alleviate concerns that GE sugar beet pollen will contaminate nearby fields, a federal judge has ordered the US Department of Agriculture to conduct exhaustive environmental impact studies. 

Farmers plant glyphosate-resistant sugar beet because it requires fewer herbicide applications and facilitates no-till agricultural practices, both of which have economic and environmental benefits.  The judge's ruling was based on "the potential elimination of a farmer's choice to grow non-genetically engineered crops, or a consumer's choice to eat non-genetically engineered food."  Seed producers were barred from giving evidence or calling expert witnesses.

environmental and socioeconomic impacts of GE foods

background, regulation, and safety of GE foods

Annual Review of Plant Biology, June 2009
Peggy Lemaux is a Cooperative Extension Specialist at the University of California Berkley, responsible for statewide outreach and educational programming related to agriculture and foods. She has published these comprehensive, readable reviews of the food and environmental safety records of genetically engineered crops, and is involved in developing ucbiotech.org, a site providing scientifically based information about agricultural biotechnology to educators.

The quest to develop fortified genetically engineered plants has yielded mixed results

The Scientist, September 2009
The UN estimates that one in every six people on this planet is starving, and one in every two is nutrient deficient. People suffering from the "hidden hunger" of micronutrient malnutrition may consume sufficient calories, but not enough nutrients. Scientists have genetically engineered several biofortified food plants to tackle this problem. Because of scientific, social and political hurdles, the crops have yet to be planted on a wide scale, but that may be about to change.

Texas author James McWilliams takes on the food fundamentalists.  Is he just a shill for agribusiness?

Forbes, 31 August 2009
With the world population headed toward 9 billion by 2050, Texas author James McWilliams supports producing more, healthier food on less land using fewer resources. His new book, "Just Food: Where Locavores Get it Wrong and How We Can Truly Eat Responsibly" downplays the importance of shopping locally and is sure to irritate organic food fundamentalists.

 "The crops [McWilliams] proposes to replace grains actually have a far higher carbon footprint/acre, cannot be farmed no-till (the most sustainable way) and generate little protein," commented Steven Savage.  "For a meat alternative it would be better to plant lentils or quinoa."

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