Susanne Benner, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, former BASF Plant Science speaker, gave a keynote speak at the Comm4Biotech conference at the Ecole Supérieure de Biotechnologie de Strasbourg ESBS on the GM food & crop controversy. More information about the conference on http://www.comm4biotech.eu
This document outlines the potential negative impacts of genetically modified (GM) foods on society. It discusses health risks like allergic reactions and increased toxicity. Environmental hazards are also presented, such as the impact on soil and increased "super weeds." Finally, the document notes some economic, political and social threats of GM foods, including issues for religious dietary reasons. While GM foods could help address hunger, there are challenges around safety testing and regulation that must be addressed carefully to avoid unintended harm.
This presentation was given at a March 2013 meeting of the HEA STEM Special Interest Group on teaching ethics to bioscience students. The meeting was hosted at the University of Northampton, UK, and the principal focus was on teaching about Ethics and Risk.
Professor Joe Perry is a member of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Golden Rice – A Humanitarian Biotechnology Projectsol777
Presentation of Golden Rice Co-inventor Peter Beyer, professor at the university of Freiburg, at the Comm4Biotech conference 2011 in Strasbourg - more information on http://www.comm4biotech.eu .
The Paper: Monsanto coming to Europe is a failed mission. Not only that most GMOs are not allowed in Europe, most of the farmers don't even grow the one that are.
An analysis of misunderstandings.
The presentation: Monsanto coming to Europe is a failed mission. Not only that most GMOs are not allowed in Europe, most of the farmers don't even grow the one that are.
An analysis of misunderstandings.
This document discusses the potential for algae to serve as an energy source. It notes that algae have several advantages over traditional crops for fuel production, including higher photosynthetic efficiency and the ability to grow in saline water. However, challenges remain in developing cost-effective large-scale production methods. Open ponds are currently the most widely used cultivation method but are over 10 times too expensive, while bioreactors can produce high-value products but are over 100 times too expensive for fuel. The document outlines requirements for an algae startup and suggests that further research is still needed to optimize strains and cultivation methods to make algal biofuels commercially viable.
This document outlines the potential negative impacts of genetically modified (GM) foods on society. It discusses health risks like allergic reactions and increased toxicity. Environmental hazards are also presented, such as the impact on soil and increased "super weeds." Finally, the document notes some economic, political and social threats of GM foods, including issues for religious dietary reasons. While GM foods could help address hunger, there are challenges around safety testing and regulation that must be addressed carefully to avoid unintended harm.
This presentation was given at a March 2013 meeting of the HEA STEM Special Interest Group on teaching ethics to bioscience students. The meeting was hosted at the University of Northampton, UK, and the principal focus was on teaching about Ethics and Risk.
Professor Joe Perry is a member of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
Golden Rice – A Humanitarian Biotechnology Projectsol777
Presentation of Golden Rice Co-inventor Peter Beyer, professor at the university of Freiburg, at the Comm4Biotech conference 2011 in Strasbourg - more information on http://www.comm4biotech.eu .
The Paper: Monsanto coming to Europe is a failed mission. Not only that most GMOs are not allowed in Europe, most of the farmers don't even grow the one that are.
An analysis of misunderstandings.
The presentation: Monsanto coming to Europe is a failed mission. Not only that most GMOs are not allowed in Europe, most of the farmers don't even grow the one that are.
An analysis of misunderstandings.
This document discusses the potential for algae to serve as an energy source. It notes that algae have several advantages over traditional crops for fuel production, including higher photosynthetic efficiency and the ability to grow in saline water. However, challenges remain in developing cost-effective large-scale production methods. Open ponds are currently the most widely used cultivation method but are over 10 times too expensive, while bioreactors can produce high-value products but are over 100 times too expensive for fuel. The document outlines requirements for an algae startup and suggests that further research is still needed to optimize strains and cultivation methods to make algal biofuels commercially viable.
This document discusses the potential for algae to serve as an energy source. It notes that algae have several advantages over traditional crops for fuel production, including higher photosynthetic efficiency and the ability to grow in saline water. However, challenges remain in developing cost-effective large-scale production methods. Open ponds are currently the most widely used cultivation method but are over 10 times too expensive, while bioreactors can produce high-value products but are over 100 times too expensive for fuel. The document outlines requirements for an algae startup and suggests that further research is still needed to optimize strains and cultivation methods to make algal biofuels commercially viable.
2-3 million die every year because of Vitamin A deficiency, 500.000 people get blind, most of them children. With Golden Rice, a lot of these people could be saved. Learn how and why.
2-3 million die every year because of Vitamin A deficiency, 500.000 people get blind, most of them children. With Golden Rice, a lot of these people could be saved. Learn how and why.
This document summarizes the process of designing and purifying proteins, using insulin production as an example. It describes how insulin is produced using recombinant DNA technology by inserting the human insulin gene into E. coli bacteria. The bacteria then act as factories to produce human insulin. The document outlines the various purification techniques used, including cation exchange chromatography and precipitation with zinc, to isolate and purify the insulin protein. It emphasizes the importance of protein design and effective purification protocols for applications in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
Web 2.0 - a buzzword? Learn about rich internet applications, service orientated architectures and the social web in my presentation for my English course.
Encryption in Microsoft 365 - ExpertsLive Netherlands 2024Albert Hoitingh
In this session I delve into the encryption technology used in Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Purview. Including the concepts of Customer Key and Double Key Encryption.
GraphSummit Singapore | The Art of the Possible with Graph - Q2 2024Neo4j
Neha Bajwa, Vice President of Product Marketing, Neo4j
Join us as we explore breakthrough innovations enabled by interconnected data and AI. Discover firsthand how organizations use relationships in data to uncover contextual insights and solve our most pressing challenges – from optimizing supply chains, detecting fraud, and improving customer experiences to accelerating drug discoveries.
Essentials of Automations: The Art of Triggers and Actions in FMESafe Software
In this second installment of our Essentials of Automations webinar series, we’ll explore the landscape of triggers and actions, guiding you through the nuances of authoring and adapting workspaces for seamless automations. Gain an understanding of the full spectrum of triggers and actions available in FME, empowering you to enhance your workspaces for efficient automation.
We’ll kick things off by showcasing the most commonly used event-based triggers, introducing you to various automation workflows like manual triggers, schedules, directory watchers, and more. Plus, see how these elements play out in real scenarios.
Whether you’re tweaking your current setup or building from the ground up, this session will arm you with the tools and insights needed to transform your FME usage into a powerhouse of productivity. Join us to discover effective strategies that simplify complex processes, enhancing your productivity and transforming your data management practices with FME. Let’s turn complexity into clarity and make your workspaces work wonders!
Climate Impact of Software Testing at Nordic Testing DaysKari Kakkonen
My slides at Nordic Testing Days 6.6.2024
Climate impact / sustainability of software testing discussed on the talk. ICT and testing must carry their part of global responsibility to help with the climat warming. We can minimize the carbon footprint but we can also have a carbon handprint, a positive impact on the climate. Quality characteristics can be added with sustainability, and then measured continuously. Test environments can be used less, and in smaller scale and on demand. Test techniques can be used in optimizing or minimizing number of tests. Test automation can be used to speed up testing.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 6DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 6. In this session, we will cover Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI.
UiPath Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI webinar offers an in-depth exploration of leveraging cutting-edge technologies for test automation within the UiPath platform. Attendees will delve into the integration of generative AI, a test automation solution, with Open AI advanced natural language processing capabilities.
Throughout the session, participants will discover how this synergy empowers testers to automate repetitive tasks, enhance testing accuracy, and expedite the software testing life cycle. Topics covered include the seamless integration process, practical use cases, and the benefits of harnessing AI-driven automation for UiPath testing initiatives. By attending this webinar, testers, and automation professionals can gain valuable insights into harnessing the power of AI to optimize their test automation workflows within the UiPath ecosystem, ultimately driving efficiency and quality in software development processes.
What will you get from this session?
1. Insights into integrating generative AI.
2. Understanding how this integration enhances test automation within the UiPath platform
3. Practical demonstrations
4. Exploration of real-world use cases illustrating the benefits of AI-driven test automation for UiPath
Topics covered:
What is generative AI
Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI.
UiPath integration with generative AI
Speaker:
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
For the full video of this presentation, please visit: https://www.edge-ai-vision.com/2024/06/building-and-scaling-ai-applications-with-the-nx-ai-manager-a-presentation-from-network-optix/
Robin van Emden, Senior Director of Data Science at Network Optix, presents the “Building and Scaling AI Applications with the Nx AI Manager,” tutorial at the May 2024 Embedded Vision Summit.
In this presentation, van Emden covers the basics of scaling edge AI solutions using the Nx tool kit. He emphasizes the process of developing AI models and deploying them globally. He also showcases the conversion of AI models and the creation of effective edge AI pipelines, with a focus on pre-processing, model conversion, selecting the appropriate inference engine for the target hardware and post-processing.
van Emden shows how Nx can simplify the developer’s life and facilitate a rapid transition from concept to production-ready applications.He provides valuable insights into developing scalable and efficient edge AI solutions, with a strong focus on practical implementation.
Full-RAG: A modern architecture for hyper-personalizationZilliz
Mike Del Balso, CEO & Co-Founder at Tecton, presents "Full RAG," a novel approach to AI recommendation systems, aiming to push beyond the limitations of traditional models through a deep integration of contextual insights and real-time data, leveraging the Retrieval-Augmented Generation architecture. This talk will outline Full RAG's potential to significantly enhance personalization, address engineering challenges such as data management and model training, and introduce data enrichment with reranking as a key solution. Attendees will gain crucial insights into the importance of hyperpersonalization in AI, the capabilities of Full RAG for advanced personalization, and strategies for managing complex data integrations for deploying cutting-edge AI solutions.
This document discusses the potential for algae to serve as an energy source. It notes that algae have several advantages over traditional crops for fuel production, including higher photosynthetic efficiency and the ability to grow in saline water. However, challenges remain in developing cost-effective large-scale production methods. Open ponds are currently the most widely used cultivation method but are over 10 times too expensive, while bioreactors can produce high-value products but are over 100 times too expensive for fuel. The document outlines requirements for an algae startup and suggests that further research is still needed to optimize strains and cultivation methods to make algal biofuels commercially viable.
2-3 million die every year because of Vitamin A deficiency, 500.000 people get blind, most of them children. With Golden Rice, a lot of these people could be saved. Learn how and why.
2-3 million die every year because of Vitamin A deficiency, 500.000 people get blind, most of them children. With Golden Rice, a lot of these people could be saved. Learn how and why.
This document summarizes the process of designing and purifying proteins, using insulin production as an example. It describes how insulin is produced using recombinant DNA technology by inserting the human insulin gene into E. coli bacteria. The bacteria then act as factories to produce human insulin. The document outlines the various purification techniques used, including cation exchange chromatography and precipitation with zinc, to isolate and purify the insulin protein. It emphasizes the importance of protein design and effective purification protocols for applications in biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
Web 2.0 - a buzzword? Learn about rich internet applications, service orientated architectures and the social web in my presentation for my English course.
Encryption in Microsoft 365 - ExpertsLive Netherlands 2024Albert Hoitingh
In this session I delve into the encryption technology used in Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Purview. Including the concepts of Customer Key and Double Key Encryption.
GraphSummit Singapore | The Art of the Possible with Graph - Q2 2024Neo4j
Neha Bajwa, Vice President of Product Marketing, Neo4j
Join us as we explore breakthrough innovations enabled by interconnected data and AI. Discover firsthand how organizations use relationships in data to uncover contextual insights and solve our most pressing challenges – from optimizing supply chains, detecting fraud, and improving customer experiences to accelerating drug discoveries.
Essentials of Automations: The Art of Triggers and Actions in FMESafe Software
In this second installment of our Essentials of Automations webinar series, we’ll explore the landscape of triggers and actions, guiding you through the nuances of authoring and adapting workspaces for seamless automations. Gain an understanding of the full spectrum of triggers and actions available in FME, empowering you to enhance your workspaces for efficient automation.
We’ll kick things off by showcasing the most commonly used event-based triggers, introducing you to various automation workflows like manual triggers, schedules, directory watchers, and more. Plus, see how these elements play out in real scenarios.
Whether you’re tweaking your current setup or building from the ground up, this session will arm you with the tools and insights needed to transform your FME usage into a powerhouse of productivity. Join us to discover effective strategies that simplify complex processes, enhancing your productivity and transforming your data management practices with FME. Let’s turn complexity into clarity and make your workspaces work wonders!
Climate Impact of Software Testing at Nordic Testing DaysKari Kakkonen
My slides at Nordic Testing Days 6.6.2024
Climate impact / sustainability of software testing discussed on the talk. ICT and testing must carry their part of global responsibility to help with the climat warming. We can minimize the carbon footprint but we can also have a carbon handprint, a positive impact on the climate. Quality characteristics can be added with sustainability, and then measured continuously. Test environments can be used less, and in smaller scale and on demand. Test techniques can be used in optimizing or minimizing number of tests. Test automation can be used to speed up testing.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 6DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 6. In this session, we will cover Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI.
UiPath Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI webinar offers an in-depth exploration of leveraging cutting-edge technologies for test automation within the UiPath platform. Attendees will delve into the integration of generative AI, a test automation solution, with Open AI advanced natural language processing capabilities.
Throughout the session, participants will discover how this synergy empowers testers to automate repetitive tasks, enhance testing accuracy, and expedite the software testing life cycle. Topics covered include the seamless integration process, practical use cases, and the benefits of harnessing AI-driven automation for UiPath testing initiatives. By attending this webinar, testers, and automation professionals can gain valuable insights into harnessing the power of AI to optimize their test automation workflows within the UiPath ecosystem, ultimately driving efficiency and quality in software development processes.
What will you get from this session?
1. Insights into integrating generative AI.
2. Understanding how this integration enhances test automation within the UiPath platform
3. Practical demonstrations
4. Exploration of real-world use cases illustrating the benefits of AI-driven test automation for UiPath
Topics covered:
What is generative AI
Test Automation with generative AI and Open AI.
UiPath integration with generative AI
Speaker:
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
For the full video of this presentation, please visit: https://www.edge-ai-vision.com/2024/06/building-and-scaling-ai-applications-with-the-nx-ai-manager-a-presentation-from-network-optix/
Robin van Emden, Senior Director of Data Science at Network Optix, presents the “Building and Scaling AI Applications with the Nx AI Manager,” tutorial at the May 2024 Embedded Vision Summit.
In this presentation, van Emden covers the basics of scaling edge AI solutions using the Nx tool kit. He emphasizes the process of developing AI models and deploying them globally. He also showcases the conversion of AI models and the creation of effective edge AI pipelines, with a focus on pre-processing, model conversion, selecting the appropriate inference engine for the target hardware and post-processing.
van Emden shows how Nx can simplify the developer’s life and facilitate a rapid transition from concept to production-ready applications.He provides valuable insights into developing scalable and efficient edge AI solutions, with a strong focus on practical implementation.
Full-RAG: A modern architecture for hyper-personalizationZilliz
Mike Del Balso, CEO & Co-Founder at Tecton, presents "Full RAG," a novel approach to AI recommendation systems, aiming to push beyond the limitations of traditional models through a deep integration of contextual insights and real-time data, leveraging the Retrieval-Augmented Generation architecture. This talk will outline Full RAG's potential to significantly enhance personalization, address engineering challenges such as data management and model training, and introduce data enrichment with reranking as a key solution. Attendees will gain crucial insights into the importance of hyperpersonalization in AI, the capabilities of Full RAG for advanced personalization, and strategies for managing complex data integrations for deploying cutting-edge AI solutions.
GraphSummit Singapore | The Future of Agility: Supercharging Digital Transfor...Neo4j
Leonard Jayamohan, Partner & Generative AI Lead, Deloitte
This keynote will reveal how Deloitte leverages Neo4j’s graph power for groundbreaking digital twin solutions, achieving a staggering 100x performance boost. Discover the essential role knowledge graphs play in successful generative AI implementations. Plus, get an exclusive look at an innovative Neo4j + Generative AI solution Deloitte is developing in-house.
A tale of scale & speed: How the US Navy is enabling software delivery from l...sonjaschweigert1
Rapid and secure feature delivery is a goal across every application team and every branch of the DoD. The Navy’s DevSecOps platform, Party Barge, has achieved:
- Reduction in onboarding time from 5 weeks to 1 day
- Improved developer experience and productivity through actionable findings and reduction of false positives
- Maintenance of superior security standards and inherent policy enforcement with Authorization to Operate (ATO)
Development teams can ship efficiently and ensure applications are cyber ready for Navy Authorizing Officials (AOs). In this webinar, Sigma Defense and Anchore will give attendees a look behind the scenes and demo secure pipeline automation and security artifacts that speed up application ATO and time to production.
We will cover:
- How to remove silos in DevSecOps
- How to build efficient development pipeline roles and component templates
- How to deliver security artifacts that matter for ATO’s (SBOMs, vulnerability reports, and policy evidence)
- How to streamline operations with automated policy checks on container images
Securing your Kubernetes cluster_ a step-by-step guide to success !KatiaHIMEUR1
Today, after several years of existence, an extremely active community and an ultra-dynamic ecosystem, Kubernetes has established itself as the de facto standard in container orchestration. Thanks to a wide range of managed services, it has never been so easy to set up a ready-to-use Kubernetes cluster.
However, this ease of use means that the subject of security in Kubernetes is often left for later, or even neglected. This exposes companies to significant risks.
In this talk, I'll show you step-by-step how to secure your Kubernetes cluster for greater peace of mind and reliability.
Alt. GDG Cloud Southlake #33: Boule & Rebala: Effective AppSec in SDLC using ...James Anderson
Effective Application Security in Software Delivery lifecycle using Deployment Firewall and DBOM
The modern software delivery process (or the CI/CD process) includes many tools, distributed teams, open-source code, and cloud platforms. Constant focus on speed to release software to market, along with the traditional slow and manual security checks has caused gaps in continuous security as an important piece in the software supply chain. Today organizations feel more susceptible to external and internal cyber threats due to the vast attack surface in their applications supply chain and the lack of end-to-end governance and risk management.
The software team must secure its software delivery process to avoid vulnerability and security breaches. This needs to be achieved with existing tool chains and without extensive rework of the delivery processes. This talk will present strategies and techniques for providing visibility into the true risk of the existing vulnerabilities, preventing the introduction of security issues in the software, resolving vulnerabilities in production environments quickly, and capturing the deployment bill of materials (DBOM).
Speakers:
Bob Boule
Robert Boule is a technology enthusiast with PASSION for technology and making things work along with a knack for helping others understand how things work. He comes with around 20 years of solution engineering experience in application security, software continuous delivery, and SaaS platforms. He is known for his dynamic presentations in CI/CD and application security integrated in software delivery lifecycle.
Gopinath Rebala
Gopinath Rebala is the CTO of OpsMx, where he has overall responsibility for the machine learning and data processing architectures for Secure Software Delivery. Gopi also has a strong connection with our customers, leading design and architecture for strategic implementations. Gopi is a frequent speaker and well-known leader in continuous delivery and integrating security into software delivery.
In the rapidly evolving landscape of technologies, XML continues to play a vital role in structuring, storing, and transporting data across diverse systems. The recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) present new methodologies for enhancing XML development workflows, introducing efficiency, automation, and intelligent capabilities. This presentation will outline the scope and perspective of utilizing AI in XML development. The potential benefits and the possible pitfalls will be highlighted, providing a balanced view of the subject.
We will explore the capabilities of AI in understanding XML markup languages and autonomously creating structured XML content. Additionally, we will examine the capacity of AI to enrich plain text with appropriate XML markup. Practical examples and methodological guidelines will be provided to elucidate how AI can be effectively prompted to interpret and generate accurate XML markup.
Further emphasis will be placed on the role of AI in developing XSLT, or schemas such as XSD and Schematron. We will address the techniques and strategies adopted to create prompts for generating code, explaining code, or refactoring the code, and the results achieved.
The discussion will extend to how AI can be used to transform XML content. In particular, the focus will be on the use of AI XPath extension functions in XSLT, Schematron, Schematron Quick Fixes, or for XML content refactoring.
The presentation aims to deliver a comprehensive overview of AI usage in XML development, providing attendees with the necessary knowledge to make informed decisions. Whether you’re at the early stages of adopting AI or considering integrating it in advanced XML development, this presentation will cover all levels of expertise.
By highlighting the potential advantages and challenges of integrating AI with XML development tools and languages, the presentation seeks to inspire thoughtful conversation around the future of XML development. We’ll not only delve into the technical aspects of AI-powered XML development but also discuss practical implications and possible future directions.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 5DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 5. In this session, we will cover CI/CD with devops.
Topics covered:
CI/CD with in UiPath
End-to-end overview of CI/CD pipeline with Azure devops
Speaker:
Lyndsey Byblow, Test Suite Sales Engineer @ UiPath, Inc.
Building RAG with self-deployed Milvus vector database and Snowpark Container...Zilliz
This talk will give hands-on advice on building RAG applications with an open-source Milvus database deployed as a docker container. We will also introduce the integration of Milvus with Snowpark Container Services.
Generative AI Deep Dive: Advancing from Proof of Concept to ProductionAggregage
Join Maher Hanafi, VP of Engineering at Betterworks, in this new session where he'll share a practical framework to transform Gen AI prototypes into impactful products! He'll delve into the complexities of data collection and management, model selection and optimization, and ensuring security, scalability, and responsible use.
Generative AI Deep Dive: Advancing from Proof of Concept to Production
The GM controversy: Eight theses
1. The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
The GM controversy: Eight theses
Comm4Biotech
18.11.2011, Susanne Benner
2. The GM
controversy:
The GM controversy: Eight theses Eight theses
1. After decades the perception of GM plants has not improved
2. The general belief that GM plants can be introduced using good
communications strategies is wrong
3. Public knowledge about GM technology is not the limiting factor for acceptance
4. Convincing pro GM arguments have been hard to find
5. The GM debate is strongly ritualized
6. GM plants are an object of projection for several other conflicts and views
7. Public debate in the areas of red and white biotech is over
8. Only GM plant perceived to be of public benefit will bring the controversy to an
end
-2-
3. The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
1. Thesis:
After decades the perception of GM plants has
not improved
-3-
4. The GM
controversy:
Although more and more GM crops are grown… Eight theses
Source: ISAAA 2011
-4-
5. The GM
controversy:
…public opinion about GM foods is still sceptical Eight theses
Percentage agreement “GM food should be encouraged”
Source: Eurobarometer; Gaskell 2010
-5-
6. The GM
…although it varies significantly between EU controversy:
states Eight theses
Source: Eurobarometer; Gaskell 2010
-6-
7. The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
2. Thesis:
The general belief that GM plants can be
introduced using good communication strategies
is wrong
-7-
14. The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
3. Thesis:
Public knowledge about GM technology is not
the limiting factor for acceptance
- 14 -
15. The GM
Public knowledge about GM technology could be controversy:
improved… Eight theses
yes no
Source: Eurobarometer 2005
- 15 -
16. The GM
controversy:
…but is not the limiting factor Eight theses
• The relationship between knowledge and acceptance is not clear
• Fears, emotions are crucial to the acceptance
• The higher the objective knowledge is, the lower the proportion of
undecided consumers
Source: Tilman Becker https://www.uni-hohenheim.de/fileadmin/
einrichtungen/marktlehre/Forschung/Verbraucherverhalten/gentech.pdf 1999; Melanie Connor
http://www.plantsciences.ch/psc_events/Fachtagungen/presentations_2011/presentations_2011/connor, 2011
- 16 -
17. The GM
…because GM plants are perceived as a risk controversy:
that is personally not controllable Eight theses
“Please tell me to what extent or not you are worried about
the following issues”
Source: Special Eurobarometer on Food 2010
- 17 -
18. The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
4. Thesis:
Convincing pro GM arguments have been
hard to find
- 18 -
19. The GM
Convincing arguments would improve the controversy:
Eight theses
acceptance of GM food…
Source: Eurobarometer 2005
- 19 -
20. The GM
…since concrete benefits lead to significantly controversy:
higher acceptance Eight theses
“Are you in favor or against Amflora cultivation in Germany
and its use in industrial applications?”
14%
Support 26%
37%
Undecided
43%
Undecided
49% Support
Against
31%
Against
General attitude towards GM Attitude towards Amflora cultivation
Source: Allensbach 2007
- 20 -
21. The GM
…but the same arguments are being used since controversy:
decades Eight theses
Support for GM food tending to
decline in several states
% respondents who agree or totally agree
that GM food should be encouraged
Source: Eurobarometer 2010
- 21 -
22. The GM
…and the arguments will not change in the near controversy:
future Eight theses
• There are only 2 products on the EU market: MON 810 and Amflora
• There are very few consumer products in the pipeline
• Breeding and GM focus is on yield primarily farmer benefits
Source: BASF 2011
22
23. The GM
The market for consumer GM products is small in controversy:
comparison to GM crops delivering higher yields Eight theses
Consumers can´t experience GM food
Source: BASF 2010
- 23 -
24. The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
5. Thesis:
The GM debate is strongly ritualized
24
25. The GM
controversy:
Standard tool: panel discussions Eight theses
1997 2011
25
26. The GM
controversy:
The typical exchange of pros and cons Eight theses
…which often end
with the conclusion:
“Many arguments,
and many open
questions”.
26
30. The GM
controversy:
Search for “nanotechnology” Eight theses
30
31. The GM
controversy:
Search for “Gentechnik“ Eight theses
31
32. The GM
controversy:
Search for “Microsoft“ Eight theses
32
33. The GM
controversy:
Search for “Monsanto“ Eight theses
33
34. The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
6. Thesis:
GM plants are an object of projection for several
other conflicts or views
34
35. The GM
Other conflicts or views have a negative impact on controversy:
Eight theses
the debate about GM plants
Organic versus
Undefined safety GMOs Anti-
concerns (coexistence) Globalization
movement
Scepticism GM plants
towards modern
agriculture Mistrust against
multinationals and
governments
Rich-poor
conflict
Touching the
“Back to nature” General integrity of
movement skepticism about Creation
the future
- 35 -
36. The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
7. Thesis:
The public debate in the areas of red and white
biotech is over
- 36 -
37. The GM
controversy:
Consumer products make the difference Eight theses
Red (medical)
biotech
Drugs, e.g. Insulin Obvious benefits,
therefore public
acceptance
White (industrial)
biotech
Enzyms, Vitamins, e.g. Chymosin
Benefits still not obvious,
Green biotech
therefore lacking public
(GMOs):
acceptance
Plants, e.g. Canola
- 37 -
38. The GM
controversy:
Red biotech Eight theses
• At least every second new drug is
produced with GMOs
• In Germany in 2010 198 drugs have
Red (medical) been approved which are produced
biotech with GMOs
• Germany„s biotech-related sector
employes 250.000 people
Source: DIB, 2010
- 38 -
39. The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
8. Thesis:
Only GM products perceived to be of public
benefit will bring the controversy to an end
- 39 -
40. The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
“Contrary to scientific and industry opinion, the
European public see GM food as not offering benefits,
as unsafe, as inequitable and as worrying.”
Eurobarometer 2010
- 40 -
42. The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
9. Thesis which is not a thesis but a
recommendation:
Get involved into the discussions!
Do not leave the field to the unscientific!
It might become similar in your research area.
- 42 -
43. The GM
controversy:
Eight theses
Thanks to my current employer,
the Max Planck Society,
thanks to my former
communications team at
BASF Plant Science
and
thank you!
Disclaimer: This presentation reflects my personal opinion. It should not be taken to
represent the policy of BASF Plant Science nor of the Max Planck Society.
Susanne Benner, November 18, 2011.