Mark Lynas is on a mission to spread a positive message about biotechnology, including genetic modification. The author and environmentalist, who was once an influential anti-gm activist, will present his views through a free public lecture Tuesday, Sept. 24th at 7:00pm at the Broadway Theatre as part of National Biotechnology Week.
“If we are to win the battle for food security, we need our researchers to be free to use all the tools of modern science. We need our policymakers and media to lead society away from the pervasive cloud of negative mythology and denialism that have held back agricultural progress in recent years,” says Lynas.
Following his presentation, the audience will have a chance to ask questions of Lynas and a panel of experts from the biotech and organics communities.
The panel includes moderator Chris Barker (Genome Prairie); Janice Tranberg (Council for Biotechnology Information); Wallace Hamm (Pro-Cert Organic Systems); Stuart Smyth and Cami Ryan (University of Saskatchewan).
Ag-West Bio, Saskatchewan’s bioscience industry association, coordinates National Biotech Week events in Saskatchewan. Wilf Keller, president and CEO at Ag-West Bio, says “Genetic modification is one of many tools that scientists have to work with; it is effective and has been proven safe by independent research around the world. We are pleased to have Mark Lynas here to tell his story and talk about the importance of biotechnology for food security.”
The event is free with no registration required. For more information, please visit the event website: http://www.agwest.sk.ca/kaizen/NBW2013/Mark-Lynas-2013.htm.
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