World Food Prize Stirs Controversy This year’s World Food Prize laureates called on a hungry world to embrace the seeds they helped develop, despite controversy that threatens to limit the reach of biotech crops. Three researchers who played prominent roles in developing genetically modified crops—Mary-Dell Chilton of Syngenta, Robert Fraley of Monsanto and Marc Van Montagu of Belgium—were awarded the World Food Prize at the Iowa Capitol. The music- and history-filled ceremony highlighted the prize’s biggest and most controversial week yet. “My hope is this will put to rest the misguided opposition” to the crops, Chilton said after receiving the award. She called genetically modified organisms a “wonderful tool” in the fight against hunger. Fraley emphasized the necessity of the seeds in addressing “the greatest challenge the world faces”—feeding a global population that will grow by a third by 2050. But he said Monsanto and the industry have struggled to explain their importance and safety. He called on the public, universities and nonprofits to help change that. Outside the ceremony, activists protested and fired off press releases.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 14:00:00 +0000
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