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Great GMO Debate
Debat | Ruben Maes | 105 min | Dutch spokenVoorstelling: Saturday 23 March 16:00 | Rabozaal (SK/3)
Proponents and opponents of the genetic modification of food crops have disagreed vehemently for years. Are we playing God? Do the benefits outweigh the risks? Is genetic modification a Pandora’s box or a horn of plenty?
In the Great GMO Debate we explore why genetic modification is such a controversial issue. If we are always pushing for more sophisticated computers and phones, why are we so afraid of technology in our food? Where does our hunkering for authenticity come from? And without technical solutions, can we keep producing enough food to feed everyone?
The debate on GMOs is much more than a classic discussion between proponents and opponents. Moderator Ruben Maes and guests including ethicist and philosopher Frans Brom (Rathenau Institute) will look for nuance in the GMO debate. What is the view of industry, consumers, farmers and policymakers for example? And why does this particular topic ignite such passions?
Het Grote GMO Debat - opnamedatum zaterdag 23 maart om 16:00
Het Grote GMO Debat - FFF 2013 from Food Film Festival on Vimeo.
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Michael Kester (director Syngenta) Michael Kester is director of Syngenta Benelux. This company wants to work towards more food security in a sustainable way. According to Syngenta, GMO's can be very imporant in achieving this. |
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Frans Brom (Rathenau Instituut) Philosopher and ethicist is Head Technology Assessment of the Rathenau Institute in the Hague and head of sub-department Ehics and Societal Aspects of the Commision GMO (the GMO advice commitee of the Dutch government). |
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Bas Eickhout (lid EP voor GroenLinks) Bas Eickhout is a member of the European Parliament for GroenLinks. He has good knowledge of the European laws according GMO's and likes to convince others of his nuanced critical opinion. |
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Bert Lotz (Wageningen UR) Bert Lotz, ecologist, is member of the Wageningse Plant Research International. Because of his work in the lab, he know the technical possibilities of GMO and is aware of the broader context of discussions about GMO. |
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Orlando de Ponti (voormalig Voorzitter International Seed Federation) Orlando de Ponti has gained knowledge about GMO through a variety of jobs. De Ponti has worked for the Wageningen UR, has been research director of Nunhems BV (part of Bayer Cropscience) and is former head of the International Seed Federation. |
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Herman van Bekkem (Greenpeace) Herman van Bekkem is the expert about GMO at Greenpeace. Van Bekkem's opinion is that GMO does not bring many positive things to us. However, he does not take his decisions based on gut feeling, but has knowledge about GMO's, and pleads for alternative techniques. @Hermanvb_GP |
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