TED2015
Pamela Ronald: The case for engineering our food
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Pamela Ronald studies the genes that make plants more resistant to disease and stress. In an eye-opening talk, she describes her decade-long quest to isolate a gene that allows rice to survive prolonged flooding. She shows how the genetic improvement of seeds saved the Hawaiian papaya crop in the 1990s — and makes the case that modern genetics is sometimes the most effective method to advance sustainable agriculture and enhance food security for our planet’s growing population.
Pamela Ronald - Plant geneticist
Embracing both genetically improved seed and ecologically based farming methods, Pamela Ronald aims to enhance sustainable agriculture. Full bio
Embracing both genetically improved seed and ecologically based farming methods, Pamela Ronald aims to enhance sustainable agriculture. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
00:12
I am a plant geneticist.
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I study genes that make plants
resistant to disease
resistant to disease
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and tolerant of stress.
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In recent years,
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millions of people around the world
have come to believe
have come to believe
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that there's something sinister
about genetic modification.
about genetic modification.
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Today, I am going to provide
a different perspective.
a different perspective.
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First, let me introduce my husband, Raoul.
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He's an organic farmer.
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On his farm, he plants
a variety of different crops.
a variety of different crops.
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This is one of the many
ecological farming practices
ecological farming practices
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he uses to keep his farm healthy.
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Imagine some of the reactions we get:
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"Really? An organic farmer
and a plant geneticist?
and a plant geneticist?
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Can you agree on anything?"
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Well, we can, and it's not difficult,
because we have the same goal.
because we have the same goal.
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We want to help nourish
the growing population
the growing population
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without further destroying
the environment.
the environment.
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I believe this is the greatest
challenge of our time.
challenge of our time.
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Now, genetic modification is not new;
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virtually everything we eat
has been genetically modified
has been genetically modified
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in some manner.
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Let me give you a few examples.
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On the left is an image
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of the ancient ancestor of modern corn.
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You see a single roll of grain
that's covered in a hard case.
that's covered in a hard case.
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Unless you have a hammer,
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teosinte isn't good for making tortillas.
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Now, take a look at
the ancient ancestor of banana.
the ancient ancestor of banana.
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You can see the large seeds.
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And unappetizing brussel sprouts,
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and eggplant, so beautiful.
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Now, to create these varieties,
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breeders have used many different
genetic techniques over the years.
genetic techniques over the years.
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Some of them are quite creative,
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like mixing two different species together
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using a process called grafting
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to create this variety
that's half tomato and half potato.
that's half tomato and half potato.
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Breeders have also used
other types of genetic techniques,
other types of genetic techniques,
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such as random mutagenesis,
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which induces uncharacterized mutations
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into the plants.
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The rice in the cereal
that many of us fed our babies
that many of us fed our babies
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was developed using this approach.
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Now, today, breeders have
even more options to choose from.
even more options to choose from.
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Some of them are extraordinarily precise.
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I want to give you a couple examples
from my own work.
from my own work.
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I work on rice, which is a staple food
for more than half the world's people.
for more than half the world's people.
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Each year, 40 percent
of the potential harvest
of the potential harvest
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is lost to pest and disease.
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For this reason,
farmers plant rice varieties
farmers plant rice varieties
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that carry genes for resistance.
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This approach has been used
for nearly 100 years.
for nearly 100 years.
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Yet, when I started graduate school,
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no one knew what these genes were.
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It wasn't until the 1990s
that scientists finally uncovered
that scientists finally uncovered
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the genetic basis of resistance.
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In my laboratory, we isolated a gene
for immunity to a very serious
for immunity to a very serious
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bacterial disease in Asia and Africa.
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We found we could engineer the gene
into a conventional rice variety
into a conventional rice variety
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that's normally susceptible,
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and you can see the two leaves
on the bottom here
on the bottom here
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are highly resistant to infection.
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Now, the same month
that my laboratory published
that my laboratory published
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our discovery on the rice immunity gene,
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my friend and colleague Dave Mackill
stopped by my office.
stopped by my office.
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He said, "Seventy million rice farmers
are having trouble growing rice."
are having trouble growing rice."
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That's because their fields are flooded,
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and these rice farmers are living
on less than two dollars a day.
on less than two dollars a day.
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Although rice grows well
in standing water,
in standing water,
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most rice varieties will die
if they're submerged
if they're submerged
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for more than three days.
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Flooding is expected
to be increasingly problematic
to be increasingly problematic
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as the climate changes.
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He told me that his graduate student
Kenong Xu and himself
Kenong Xu and himself
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were studying an ancient variety of rice
that had an amazing property.
that had an amazing property.
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It could withstand two weeks
of complete submergence.
of complete submergence.
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He asked if I would be willing
to help them isolate this gene.
to help them isolate this gene.
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I said yes -- I was very excited,
because I knew if we were successful,
because I knew if we were successful,
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we could potentially help
millions of farmers grow rice
millions of farmers grow rice
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even when their fields were flooded.
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Kenong spent 10 years
looking for this gene.
looking for this gene.
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Then one day, he said,
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"Come look at this experiment.
You've got to see it."
You've got to see it."
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I went to the greenhouse and I saw
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that the conventional variety
that was flooded for 18 days had died,
that was flooded for 18 days had died,
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but the rice variety that we
had genetically engineered
had genetically engineered
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with a new gene we had discovered,
called Sub1, was alive.
called Sub1, was alive.
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Kenong and I were amazed and excited
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that a single gene could have
this dramatic effect.
this dramatic effect.
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But this is just a greenhouse experiment.
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Would this work in the field?
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Now, I'm going to show you
a four-month time lapse video
a four-month time lapse video
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taken at the International
Rice Research Institute.
Rice Research Institute.
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Breeders there developed
a rice variety carrying the Sub1 gene
a rice variety carrying the Sub1 gene
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using another genetic technique
called precision breeding.
called precision breeding.
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On the left, you can see the Sub1 variety,
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and on the right
is the conventional variety.
is the conventional variety.
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Both varieties do very well at first,
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but then the field is flooded for 17 days.
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You can see the Sub1 variety does great.
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In fact, it produces
three and a half times more grain
three and a half times more grain
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than the conventional variety.
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I love this video
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because it shows the power
of plant genetics to help farmers.
of plant genetics to help farmers.
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Last year, with the help
of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,
of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation,
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three and a half million farmers
grew Sub1 rice.
grew Sub1 rice.
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(Applause)
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Thank you.
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Now, many people don't mind
genetic modification
genetic modification
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when it comes to moving rice genes around,
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rice genes in rice plants,
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or even when it comes
to mixing species together
to mixing species together
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through grafting or random mutagenesis.
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But when it comes to taking genes
from viruses and bacteria
from viruses and bacteria
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and putting them into plants,
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a lot of people say, "Yuck."
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Why would you do that?
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The reason is that sometimes
it's the cheapest, safest,
it's the cheapest, safest,
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and most effective technology
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for enhancing food security
and advancing sustainable agriculture.
and advancing sustainable agriculture.
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I'm going to give you three examples.
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First, take a look at papaya.
It's delicious, right?
It's delicious, right?
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But now, look at this papaya.
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This papaya is infected
with papaya ringspot virus.
with papaya ringspot virus.
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In the 1950s, this virus
nearly wiped out the entire production
nearly wiped out the entire production
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of papaya on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
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Many people thought
that the Hawaiian papaya was doomed,
that the Hawaiian papaya was doomed,
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but then, a local Hawaiian,
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a plant pathologist
named Dennis Gonsalves,
named Dennis Gonsalves,
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decided to try to fight this disease
using genetic engineering.
using genetic engineering.
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He took a snippet of viral DNA
and he inserted it
and he inserted it
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into the papaya genome.
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This is kind of like a human
getting a vaccination.
getting a vaccination.
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Now, take a look at his field trial.
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You can see the genetically
engineered papaya in the center.
engineered papaya in the center.
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It's immune to infection.
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The conventional papaya around the outside
is severely infected with the virus.
is severely infected with the virus.
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Dennis' pioneering work is credited
with rescuing the papaya industry.
with rescuing the papaya industry.
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Today, 20 years later, there's still no
other method to control this disease.
other method to control this disease.
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There's no organic method.
There's no conventional method.
There's no conventional method.
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Eighty percent of Hawaiian papaya
is genetically engineered.
is genetically engineered.
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Now, some of you may still feel a little
queasy about viral genes in your food,
queasy about viral genes in your food,
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but consider this:
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The genetically engineered papaya
carries just a trace amount of the virus.
carries just a trace amount of the virus.
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If you bite into an organic
or conventional papaya
or conventional papaya
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that is infected with the virus,
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you will be chewing on tenfold
more viral protein.
more viral protein.
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Now, take a look at this pest
feasting on an eggplant.
feasting on an eggplant.
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The brown you see is frass,
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what comes out
the back end of the insect.
the back end of the insect.
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To control this serious pest,
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which can devastate the entire
eggplant crop in Bangladesh,
eggplant crop in Bangladesh,
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Bangladeshi farmers spray insecticides
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two to three times a week,
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sometimes twice a day,
when pest pressure is high.
when pest pressure is high.
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But we know that some insecticides
are very harmful to human health,
are very harmful to human health,
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especially when farmers and their families
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cannot afford proper protection,
like these children.
like these children.
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In less developed countries,
it's estimated that 300,000 people
it's estimated that 300,000 people
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die every year because of
insecticide misuse and exposure.
insecticide misuse and exposure.
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Cornell and Bangladeshi scientists
decided to fight this disease
decided to fight this disease
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using a genetic technique that builds
on an organic farming approach.
on an organic farming approach.
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Organic farmers like my husband Raoul
spray an insecticide called B.T.,
spray an insecticide called B.T.,
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which is based on a bacteria.
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This pesticide is very specific
to caterpillar pests,
to caterpillar pests,
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and in fact, it's nontoxic
to humans, fish and birds.
to humans, fish and birds.
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It's less toxic than table salt.
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But this approach
does not work well in Bangladesh.
does not work well in Bangladesh.
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That's because these insecticide sprays
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are difficult to find, they're expensive,
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and they don't prevent the insect
from getting inside the plants.
from getting inside the plants.
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In the genetic approach, scientists
cut the gene out of the bacteria
cut the gene out of the bacteria
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and insert it directly into
the eggplant genome.
the eggplant genome.
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Will this work to reduce
insecticide sprays in Bangladesh?
insecticide sprays in Bangladesh?
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Definitely.
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Last season, farmers reported they were
able to reduce their insecticide use
able to reduce their insecticide use
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by a huge amount, almost down to zero.
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They're able to harvest
and replant for the next season.
and replant for the next season.
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Now, I've given you a couple examples
of how genetic engineering can be used
of how genetic engineering can be used
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to fight pests and disease
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and to reduce the amount of insecticides.
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My final example is an example
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where genetic engineering
can be used to reduce malnutrition.
can be used to reduce malnutrition.
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In less developed countries,
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500,000 children go blind every year
because of lack of Vitamin A.
because of lack of Vitamin A.
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More than half will die.
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For this reason, scientists supported
by the Rockefeller Foundation
by the Rockefeller Foundation
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genetically engineered a golden rice
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to produce beta-carotene,
which is the precursor of Vitamin A.
which is the precursor of Vitamin A.
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This is the same pigment
that we find in carrots.
that we find in carrots.
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Researchers estimate that just one cup
of golden rice per day
of golden rice per day
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will save the lives
of thousands of children.
of thousands of children.
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But golden rice is virulently opposed
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by activists who are
against genetic modification.
against genetic modification.
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Just last year,
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activists invaded and destroyed
a field trial in the Philippines.
a field trial in the Philippines.
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When I heard about the destruction,
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I wondered if they knew that they
were destroying much more
were destroying much more
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than a scientific research project,
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that they were destroying medicines
that children desperately needed
that children desperately needed
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to save their sight and their lives.
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Some of my friends and family still worry:
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How do you know genes
in the food are safe to eat?
in the food are safe to eat?
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I explained the genetic engineering,
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the process of moving
genes between species,
genes between species,
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has been used for more than 40 years
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in wines, in medicine,
in plants, in cheeses.
in plants, in cheeses.
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In all that time, there hasn't been
a single case of harm
a single case of harm
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to human health or the environment.
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But I say, look, I'm not
asking you to believe me.
asking you to believe me.
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Science is not a belief system.
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My opinion doesn't matter.
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Let's look at the evidence.
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After 20 years of careful study
and rigorous peer review
and rigorous peer review
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by thousands of independent scientists,
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every major scientific organization
in the world has concluded
in the world has concluded
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that the crops currently
on the market are safe to eat
on the market are safe to eat
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and that the process
of genetic engineering
of genetic engineering
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is no more risky than older methods
of genetic modification.
of genetic modification.
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These are precisely the same
organizations that most of us trust
organizations that most of us trust
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when it comes to other
important scientific issues
important scientific issues
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such as global climate change
or the safety of vaccines.
or the safety of vaccines.
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Raoul and I believe that, instead of
worrying about the genes in our food,
worrying about the genes in our food,
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we must focus on how we can help
children grow up healthy.
children grow up healthy.
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We must ask if farmers
in rural communities can thrive,
in rural communities can thrive,
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and if everyone can afford the food.
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We must try to minimize
environmental degradation.
environmental degradation.
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What scares me most about
the loud arguments and misinformation
the loud arguments and misinformation
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about plant genetics
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is that the poorest people
who most need the technology
who most need the technology
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may be denied access because of
the vague fears and prejudices
the vague fears and prejudices
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of those who have enough to eat.
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We have a huge challenge in front of us.
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Let's celebrate scientific
innovation and use it.
innovation and use it.
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It's our responsibility
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to do everything we can to help
alleviate human suffering
alleviate human suffering
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and safeguard the environment.
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Thank you.
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(Applause)
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Thank you.
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Chris Anderson: Powerfully argued.
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The people who argue against GMOs,
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as I understand it, the core piece
comes from two things.
comes from two things.
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One, complexity and
unintended consequence.
unintended consequence.
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Nature is this incredibly complex machine.
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If we put out these brand new genes
that we've created,
that we've created,
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that haven't been challenged
by years of evolution,
by years of evolution,
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and they started mixing up
with the rest of what's going on,
with the rest of what's going on,
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couldn't that trigger some kind
of cataclysm or problem,
of cataclysm or problem,
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especially when you add in
the commercial incentive
the commercial incentive
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that some companies have
to put them out there?
to put them out there?
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The fear is that those incentives
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mean that the decision is not made
on purely scientific grounds,
on purely scientific grounds,
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and even if it was, that there would be
unintended consequences.
unintended consequences.
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How do we know that there isn't
a big risk of some unintended consequence?
a big risk of some unintended consequence?
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Often our tinkerings with nature
do lead to big, unintended consequences
do lead to big, unintended consequences
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and chain reactions.
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Pamela Ronald: Okay,
so on the commercial aspects,
so on the commercial aspects,
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one thing that's really important
to understand is that,
to understand is that,
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in the developed world,
farmers in the United States,
farmers in the United States,
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almost all farmers, whether
they're organic or conventional,
they're organic or conventional,
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they buy seed produced by seed companies.
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So there's definitely a commercial
interest to sell a lot of seed,
interest to sell a lot of seed,
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but hopefully they're selling seed
that the farmers want to buy.
that the farmers want to buy.
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It's different in the
less developed world.
less developed world.
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Farmers there cannot afford the seed.
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These seeds are not being sold.
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These seeds are being distributed freely
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through traditional kinds
of certification groups,
of certification groups,
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so it is very important
in less developed countries
in less developed countries
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that the seed be freely available.
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CA: Wouldn't some activists say that this
is actually part of the conspiracy?
is actually part of the conspiracy?
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This is the heroin strategy.
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You seed the stuff,
and people have no choice
and people have no choice
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but to be hooked on these seeds forever?
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PR: There are a lot of conspiracy theories
for sure, but it doesn't work that way.
for sure, but it doesn't work that way.
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For example, the seed that's being
distributed, the flood-tolerant rice,
distributed, the flood-tolerant rice,
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this is distributed freely
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through Indian and Bangladeshi
seed certification agencies,
seed certification agencies,
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so there's no commercial interest at all.
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The golden rice was developed through
support of the Rockefeller Foundation.
support of the Rockefeller Foundation.
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Again, it's being freely distributed.
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There are no commercial profits
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in this situation.
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And now to address your other question
about, well, mixing genes,
about, well, mixing genes,
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aren't there some unintended consequences?
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Absolutely -- every time
we do something different,
we do something different,
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there's an unintended consequence,
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but one of the points I was trying to make
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is that we've been doing
kind of crazy things to our plants,
kind of crazy things to our plants,
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mutagenesis using radiation
or chemical mutagenesis.
or chemical mutagenesis.
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This induces thousands
of uncharacterized mutations,
of uncharacterized mutations,
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and this is even a higher risk
of unintended consequence
of unintended consequence
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than many of the modern methods.
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And so it's really important
not to use the term GMO
not to use the term GMO
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because it's scientifically meaningless.
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I feel it's very important to talk
about a specific crop
about a specific crop
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and a specific product, and think about
the needs of the consumer.
the needs of the consumer.
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CA: So part of what's happening here
is that there's a mental model
is that there's a mental model
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in a lot of people that nature is nature,
and it's pure and pristine,
and it's pure and pristine,
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and to tinker with it is Frankensteinian.
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It's making something that's pure
dangerous in some way,
dangerous in some way,
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and I think you're saying
that that whole model
that that whole model
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just misunderstands how nature is.
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Nature is a much more chaotic
interplay of genetic changes
interplay of genetic changes
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that have been happening
all the time anyway.
all the time anyway.
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PR: That's absolutely true, and there's
no such thing as pure food.
no such thing as pure food.
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I mean, you could not spray
eggplant with insecticides
eggplant with insecticides
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or not genetically engineer it,
but then you'd be stuck eating frass.
but then you'd be stuck eating frass.
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So there's no purity there.
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CA: Pam Ronald, thank you.
That was powerfully argued.
That was powerfully argued.
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PR: Thank you very much. I appreciate it.
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(Applause)
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Pamela Ronald - Plant geneticistEmbracing both genetically improved seed and ecologically based farming methods, Pamela Ronald aims to enhance sustainable agriculture.
Why you should listen
As a proponent of sustainable agriculture using the most appropriate technologies, UC Davis researcher Pamela Ronald’s holistic vision startles some. But the success of her genetic tinkering is uncontroversial: it shows that genetic improvement is a critical component of feeding the world without further destroying the environment.
Her book Tomorrow’s Table (co-authored with organic farmer Raoul Adamchak) argues that to advance sustainable agriculture, we must not focus on how a seed variety was developed. Instead we must ask what technology most enhances local food security and can provide safe, abundant and nutritious food to consumers.
Pamela Ronald | Speaker | TED.com