European scientists have never been able to persuade European consumers to embrace genetically modified (GM) crops. Now, some are hoping that scientists from developing countries can make the argument more convincingly. A group called European Action on Global Life Sciences (EAGLES) plans to expose the European public to voices such as those of former World Bank vice-president Ismail Serageldin, who now leads the Library of Alexandria in Egypt. It's an attempt to drive home the message that GM crops are key to addressing food shortages around the world.
At ESOF, EAGLES organized a session about science in the developing world that carried a strong pro-GM message.
Yang Huanming, director of the Beijing Genomics Institute (left in photo) and EAGLES vice-president David McConnell (right) hammered the Old World for being irrational. "Europe is the cradle of science! Europe has the best science in the world!" exclaimed Yang, who partly blames European fears for his own government's refusal to admit a single GM rice variety on the market.
EAGLES group started as a group of like-minded friends within the European Federation of Biotechnology who were fed up with Europe's stubborn refusal of GM foods, McConnell says. With money from the European Commission, they developed into an activist group of their own. EAGLES offers grants to send pro-GM representatives from developing countries on speaking tours.
Can they win Europe's hearts and minds--and stomachs? Let's just say it's an uphill battle.
--Martin Enserink
Awesome! I whole heartedly agree.