From: Phil deHaan (dehp@calvin.edu)
Date: Mon Mar 03 2003 - 15:10:57 EST
March 3, 2003 == MEDIA ADVISORY
An April conference at Calvin College will bring together scientists, policy
advisors, ethicists and laypeople for wide ranging conversations on
agricultural biotechnology, a topic with scientific and societal implications.
Up for discussion will be such things as the benefits and risks of genetically
modified foods, the role of biotechnology in corporate and organic farming and
the future of poor subsistence farmers.
"Agricultural Biotechnology and Sustainability: Food For Thought" will be
held April 25 26 at Calvin's Prince Conference Center.
It's an important topic says Calvin biotechnology professor and conference
organizer Dave Koetje.
"Agbiotech may have wide ranging implications for food production systems,
food security, conservation and world trade," he says. "It has sparked
intensive debate. Yet how we relate to these issues is strongly influenced by
our fundamental value system, our worldview, and we rarely consider this in our
public discussions. This conference is a chance for participants to explore the
relationships between fundamental values and concerns about agbiotech and
sustainability."
The issues, says Koetje, are numerous. What are the potential risks and
benefits of agbiotech? What are ways to manage risks and share the benefits?
What are the ethical considerations for scientists, producers, consumers and
others? Should there be limits on the development of genetically modified
foods? How can a pluralistic society reach consensus on these issues?
The conference is aimed at a broad audience: farm and food industry groups,
consumer groups, policy makers, ethicists, environmentalists, clergy and more.
"Anyone," says Koetje with a smile, "who is concerned about food production.
This will be an opportunity to learn more through presentations and discussions
in everyday language that involve real people in open dialogue."
Among the presenters will be:
*Gary Comstock, director of the ethics program at North Carolina State
University, advisor on the ethics of genetically modified foods and author of a
book on the ethical case against agbiotech.
*Maarten Chrispeels, a plant molecular biologist at the University of
California at San Diego and an agbiotech advisor to the U.S., Chilean and
Mexican governments.
*Deborah Letourneau, an environmental biologist at the University of
California at Santa Cruz and a member of a National Research Council committee
studying the environmental impact of genetically modified plants.
*Egbert Schuurman, a Dutch philosopher and author of numerous books on the
philosophy of technology.
*Elbert van Donkersgoed, a policy advisor for the Christian Farmers Federation
of Ontario in Canada and a frequent participant in agricultural working
groups.
The conference is funded through a grant from the Calvin Center for Christian
Scholarship with additional support from the Calvin biology department (which
offers both a biotech major and minor) and the Calvin Summer Seminars in
Christian Scholarship program.
For details, on line registration forms and more, see
www.calvin.edu/agbiotech
Contact David Koetje (COO CHEE) at 616 526-7047 or dkoetje@calvin.edu
-end-
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