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GMO wins Intelligence Squared debate

A debate sponsored by Intelligence Squared in New York City last night on whether to Genetically Modify Food was won by the pro-GMO supporters.

They were Rob Fraley of Monsanto and Alison Van Eenennaam, Biotechnology Researcher at U-C Davis.

They squared off with Charles Benbrook with the Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources and Margaret Mellon, senior scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists.

Mellon argued that GMOs have not lived up to their early promises, saying, “You know, we really haven’t heard a single piece of evidence tonight that supports the notion that somehow genetically engineered crops are important for helping hungry people eat.”

Van Eenennaam says GMO technology HAS delivered, adding, “I guess as a public sector scientist I get a little bit frustrated by the same groups that are there kind of scare-mongering about the technology are at the same time saying ‘why hasn’t anything come to market?’ because it’s really that that’s stopping the public sector from developing those products…{applause}.”

In the FINAL vote right after the debate –  60 percent voted in favor of the GMO side and 31 percent in favor of the non-GMO debaters. The audience voted before the event and at that time 30% were in favor of GMO Foods, 30% against and 38% undecided. The side with the biggest change after the debate is deemed the winner.

Intelligence Squared is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization founded in 2006 which regularly hosts debates on national and international issues.

AUDIO:  Intellegence Squared GMO Modify Food Debate, part one, recorded already in progress (1 hour, 11 min. mp3):

AUDIO:  Closing remarks from GMO Modify Food Debate, part two, recorded already in progress (14:30 min. mp3):