University of Wisconsin - Extension

Why do some consumers want food products that contain transgenic grains labeled, and why does the food industry oppose mandatory labeling?

Will biotechnology make agriculture more profitable?

Why do some people seem to favor developments in biotechnology that lead to new drugs or medical treatments, but to be suspicious about transgenic foods?

These are just a few of the complex questions discussed during a conference on biotechnology in agriculture sponsored by Cooperative Extension's Agriculture and Natural Resources Education (ANRE) program, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 in Madison.

About 70 faculty and staff participated in lively debates with presenters representing a variety of perspectives on the issues-ethics, risk communications, sociology, economics, and ecology-as well as on the biology, production agriculture and the biotechnology industries.

Rick Klemme, ANRE program director and associate dean in the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS), says the conference was designed to help Extension agents deal with a variety of complicated issues.

"Extension county-based agents get many questions from farmers and consumers about everything from labeling GMO (genetically modified organisms) products at the supermarket to considerations for marketing GMO crops. They need good research-based information to answer those questions."

In addition, Klemme notes that much of the public debate about biotechnology in agriculture has focused on clearly defined pro and con arguments.

But, he says, "There are no simple answers, and there are many perspectives on the issues. This conference was a attempt to begin to provide balanced, objective information to answer people's questions."

Speakers included the CEO of a major Wisconsin-based animal genetics company, a medical doctor who does research on allergens, a food industry consultant, and UW and other university professors of biology, sociology, ecology, ethics, agronomy and communications. They addressed questions such as risks of allergic reactions from transgenic foods and other food safety issues, concerns about unanticipated negative environmental effects, potential for reducing the use of pesticides because of development of resistance plants, and social and economic implications of increasing adoption of biotechnology in agriculture.

They also considered the role of the university in biotechnology research, development and education, a role that CALS Dean Elton Aberle said should be unbiased and objective.

"This is true for any technology," Aberle explained. "Our role is to discover new knowledge, to evaluate it and to disseminate it. It is not our role to promote a new technology or to detract from it."

The university's duty, he says, is to pose important questions: Is it safe? Does it work? Is it profitable? What are the ethical considerations and the social effects?