Biotech Updates

UC Davis Scientist Discusses Biotech to Journalism Students at MU

October 7, 2011

University of Missouri (MU) invited experts to discuss views on biotechnology. This debate is in line with Biotech University, a seminar and reporting contest that aims to introduce biotechnology to journalism students. Biotech University is funded by the United Soybean Board and co-sponsored by the MU School of Journalism and the National Center for Soybean Biotechnology.

One of the experts invited was Martina Newell-McGloughlin, director of the International Biotech Program at the University of California, Davis. Newell-McGloughlin has been known for her contributions in the field of disease resistance in plants. She discussed the opportunities and challenges for biotech crops as well as their advantages which include cost benefits for farmers, reduced environment impact, and food safety.

"Every single thing we eat today is genetically modified in one way or the other. We don't see large scale problems," said Newell-McGloughlin. "There is nothing natural about agriculture…We treat our crops like pampered princesses — if we were to leave them back in the wild they would never make it."

Read more at http://128.206.6.41/stories/2011/10/01/biotech-boon-or-bane/.