The controversy over genetically engineered crops and the foods derived from them will be examined by speakers from organizations ranging from Greenpeace to Monsanto Nov. 15-16 at a Cornell University conference on agricultural biotechnology and genetically modified organisms. The event, hosted by the university's New York State College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), will be held at the Biotechnology Building on campus.

The two-day conference also will feature speakers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, food-processing companies and from Cornell and several other universities.

The November 15 morning sessions will focus on food and food safety, while the afternoon sessions will focus on genetically modified organisms and the environment.

The November 16 morning sessions will examine food systems and feature presentations from food-processing companies and organic agriculture organizations. The afternoon session will focus on growing crops in the developing world, featuring speakers from foundations and non-governmental organizations.

"Agricultural biotechnology, including the use of genetically engineered organisms, is the most important issue in agriculture today," says Anthony Shelton, a Cornell professor of entomology and the associate director of research at CALS. "This conference will examine the issues surrounding the debate and provide a forum for presenting various sides of the issues within an educational setting. There is an urgent need to provide such a forum and we believe this will be a unique conference because of the breadth of the issues covered, the prominence of the speakers and the opportunity for discussion through a series of moderated town-hall discussions."

To reserve a ticket to the conference, contact Karen Bechard, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at (607) 255-2552, or by e-mail at KLB39@cornell.edu. 

For more information, please contact: Blaine P. Friedlander Jr., Office: 607-255-3290, e-mail: bpf2@cornell.edu. 

Cornell U news release
N3047