South Korean Consumer Group Hosts ISAAA Brief 52 Seminar

Highlights of the ISAAA Brief 52 Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops for 2016 were presented by Dr. Paul S. Teng and Dr. Rhodora R. Aldemita to some 50 participants composed of representatives from the government, academia, industry, and media at the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corp., Seoul, South Korea on June 9, 2017.  

Korean Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Scientist Emeritus Dr. Hang Ryol Liu, who is also the president of consumer group Future Food Resources Forum (FFRF), opined that in South Korea, vocal critics hinder adoption of biotech crops. "GMOs are being met with unconditional opposition without scientific basis, but the Korean public must appreciate the contributions of biotech crops in solving hunger by increasing productivity and enhancing the quality of the products," he said in his message.

Sejong University Emeritus Professor Dr. Kyu Hang Kyung moderated the event and provided short summaries of the presentations. He emphasized that through more interaction with biotech critics on the safety and nutritive potentials of biotech crops, negative perceptions by consumers will definitely be minimized. He also reiterated the fact that biotech crops and products have been in the Korean diet since 1996 and there has not been any recorded ill effects.

The event was co-organized by FFRF, Korean Biotechnology Information Center and CropLife Korea. For further details, contact knowledge.center@isaaa.org.