Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Are we making a meal of GM foods?
#GMFoods
#fooddebate
#GMO
Twenty years ago, there was widespread anxiety about genetically modified (GM) foods. Newspapers referred to them as ‘Frankenfoods’ and consumers were suspicious of them, in part because of a vociferous campaign against them by some environmentalists. This campaign continues, most notably in the case of ‘golden rice’.
Yet, while the EU and UK have been tied up in knots about the wisdom of growing GM crops, the rest of the world has embraced them.
Most controversially, perhaps, the anti-GM campaign has held back the development and application of ‘golden rice’, which contains a modification that means that rice plants produce beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A.
Are GM foods safe, both for health and the environment? Why has there been such resistance to them in some parts of the world while they flourish elsewhere? Is it time for the UK and Europe to fully embrace GM? Do we need to utilise every means to increase food production when the world’s population is heading towards 10 billion?
The speakers on this panel are:
Adam Hibbert - chair of the south east, Social Democratic Party; author and journalist; corporate communications leader
Zion Lights - science communicator
Ed Rennie - founder and co-director, Climate Debate UK; political strategist
Harry Wilkinson - head of policy, Global Warming Policy Foundation
The chair is Rob Lyons-science and technology director, Academy of Ideas; convenor, AoI Economy Forum; author, Panic on a Plate
This video was filmed and edited by WORLDwrite volunteers attending the Battle of Ideas Festival 24. These are the introductory speeches only. To avoid duplication, the full debate will feature on the Academy of Ideas YouTube channel shortly.
WORLDwrite volunteers filmed over 40 sessions at the Battle of Ideas 24. To edit, sound clean and prepare these videos for the Academy & WORLDwrite channels, takes at least 2 days each. With no paid staff the charity needs your help to keep its edit suites switched on. Please chip in if you can by visiting the charity's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/campaign/worldwriteis30 Thank You.
Are we making a meal of GM foods?
#GMFoods
#fooddebate
#GMO
Twenty years ago, there was widespread anxiety about genetically modified (GM) foods. Newspapers referred to them as ‘Frankenfoods’ and consumers were suspicious of them, in part because of a vociferous campaign against them by some environmentalists. This campaign continues, most notably in the case of ‘golden rice’.
Yet, while the EU and UK have been tied up in knots about the wisdom of growing GM crops, the rest of the world has embraced them.
Most controversially, perhaps, the anti-GM campaign has held back the development and application of ‘golden rice’, which contains a modification that means that rice plants produce beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A.
Are GM foods safe, both for health and the environment? Why has there been such resistance to them in some parts of the world while they flourish elsewhere? Is it time for the UK and Europe to fully embrace GM? Do we need to utilise every means to increase food production when the world’s population is heading towards 10 billion?
The speakers on this panel are:
Adam Hibbert - chair of the south east, Social Democratic Party; author and journalist; corporate communications leader
Zion Lights - science communicator
Ed Rennie - founder and co-director, Climate Debate UK; political strategist
Harry Wilkinson - head of policy, Global Warming Policy Foundation
The chair is Rob Lyons-science and technology director, Academy of Ideas; convenor, AoI Economy Forum; author, Panic on a Plate
This video was filmed and edited by WORLDwrite volunteers attending the Battle of Ideas Festival 24. These are the introductory speeches only. To avoid duplication, the full debate will feature on the Academy of Ideas YouTube channel shortly.
WORLDwrite volunteers filmed over 40 sessions at the Battle of Ideas 24. To edit, sound clean and prepare these videos for the Academy & WORLDwrite channels, takes at least 2 days each. With no paid staff the charity needs your help to keep its edit suites switched on. Please chip in if you can by visiting the charity's JustGiving page at justgiving.com/campaign/worldwriteis30 Thank You.
