Ag Issues & Public Relations Webinar - March 18th at noon PST

Ag Issues & Public Relations Webinar - March 18^th at noon PST

Webinar Topic: GMO

Food Choices and GMO.

Genetically engineered crops, better known as GMOs, have become an item of interest and controversy for consumers, farmers, food companies and policy makers. What are the concerns from the consumer perspective and what are scientists saying about GMOs? How is food labeling impacting consumer choice and purchasing patterns? Join this session to explore the history of GMOs and why they are an important part of food production today. Identify foods commonly containing GMOs and understand the risks and benefits of genetic engineered crops from different perspectives of nutrition, crop yield, and the environment.

Understanding the Facts and Issues Surrounding Genetically Engineered Crops and Foods.

Are current engineered crops safe and beneficial?  Are they being used in a sustainable manner?  How are they regulated by the federal government? Can they coexist with organic crops?  And what do consumers really know about them?  This talk will cut through the rhetoric espoused by proponents and opponents of GE crops and provide the facts surrounding the current GE crops grown in the United States.  While answering each of those questions, Greg Jaffe will bring the Center for Science in the Public Interest's unique science-based consumer perspective to this topic in a way that is both informative and relevant to different professionals involved in agriculture.    

March 18^th at noon PST

To participate on March 18th – please log-in to http://breeze.wsu.edu/foodchoice/

About the speakers

Diane Smith is WSU Extension Regional Food Access and Nutrition Specialist for Skagit and Whatcom counties in western Washington. Her work includes community food planning, nutrition education and health promotion. Recent ballot initiatives on GMOs and food labeling raised questions from local residents which prompted Ms. Smith to explore the subject to help better understand the risks and benefits of GMOs and provide information to consumers to help in their decision-making process.  

Gregory Jaffe is the Director of the Project on Biotechnology for the Center for Science in the Public Interest (“CSPI”), a non-profit consumer organization located in the United States.  Mr. Jaffe came to CSPI in 2001 after a long and distinguished career in government service as a Trial Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Environmental and Natural Resources Division and as Senior Counsel with the U.S. EPA, Air Enforcement Division.  He is a recognized international expert on agricultural biotechnology and biosafety and has published numerous articles and reports on those topics.  He was worked on biosafety regulatory issues in the United States and throughout the world, including the countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, Malawi, South Africa, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Nigeria.  He was a member of the Secretary of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee on Agricultural Biotechnology and 21^st Century Agriculture from 2003-2008 and was reappointed for a new term in 2011.  He was also a member of FDA’s Veterinary Medicine Advisory Committee from 2004-2008.  Gregory Jaffe earned his BA with High Honors from Wesleyan University in Biology and Government and then received a law degree from Harvard Law School. 

For questions –please contact National Agricultural Issues & Public Relations Chair Don McMoran at dmcmoran@wsu.edu or by calling Don at (360) 428-4270, ext 225