Sponsored by SEE Biotech, the USDA Consortium to address the social, economic and ethical implications of agricultural biotechnology, University of Wisconsin-Extension and the Center for World Affairs and the Global Economy -- WAGE .
Conference registration costs and materials are provided by SEE Biotech. |
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This conference addresses public concerns about the ethical dilemmas, economic ramifications and social and community effects of the use of biotechnology in agriculture. You will gain knowledge about the science of biotechnology. You will increase understanding of the agricultural production issues raised by transgenic crops. And you will take home tools for teaching or facilitating community discussion about agricultural biotechnology or any other issue that is controversial or raises questions about risk.
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Three consecutive sessions will examine specific topics from the point of view of producers, consumers, distributors, scientists, advocacy groups, and industry and government officials. |
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Agricultural Production Issues
Tuesday, Nov 19
8:30 a.m. to noon
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| Tackle the changes in agricultural production resulting from introduction of biotech crops. This session will focus on refuges, pollen drift and identity preservation in the distribution network. These are real issues for farmers industry and rural residents. Can neighboring production types (i.e. GMO and non-GMO) get along? Will the increasing number of types of product, up from maybe 5 or 6 kinds of corn to more than 20, confound the distribution and marketing of commodities? Will farmers actually plant enough refuge acreage to delay the emergence of resistant pest populations? The session will give you tools and information you need to answer these questions. |
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Plant Improvement Technologies
Tuesday, Nov 19
1 - 4:30 p.m.
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| Look at the science of biotechnology in a way you may never have encountered before. The science unit will examine in detail the technologies that have been and are used to create new varieties of plants for agricultural production. From selective breeding through embryo rescue, genomics, proteomics and somatic cloning, the development of new life science technologies is revolutionizing how plants can be improved. For example, research suggests that unlocking powerful latent genes in existing crops could provide plants with better and more flexible and durable defenses against pests, drought and toxic chemicals than introducing new genes from outside the species genome. |
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Risk and Risk Perception
Wednesday, Nov. 20
8:30 a.m. to noon
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| Gain skills for talking and teaching about risk, risk perception, food safety, environmental issues and consumer concerns raised by genetically modified foods. In this workshop, you will consider questions about consumer-driven market pressures, the positions of advocacy groups and the food industry, and how risk -- or the perception of risk -- can trigger the "outrage factor." You'll also learn how the media frames the public debate about these issues. This session will challenge participants to look at the question of biotechnology at the supermarket from new perspectives. |
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What lies ahead?
Nov. 20
Noon — 1:30 p.m.
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| UW Biotechnology Center director Micheal Sussman, an internationally renowned scientist, will offer perspective on what we still don't know about how biotechnology and how our world may change in the future. Lunch will be upstairs at Luther's, across the street from Genetics/Biotechnology, featuring New Orleans/Cajun cuisine. Registrants should pre-order their lunch entree. See description of entrees. |
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| From The
University of Wisconsin-Madison/Extension |
Sponsored by a grant from USDA
CSREES
IFAFS |
Copyright © 2003 The Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System. /Extension
Created: Jan. 24, 2002
Last updated
November 7, 2002
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