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Gordon Conway Impatient With The Debate Over GM Food
(Summary)

"Crude polarisation in the debate over genetically modified crops is preventing proper discussion", says Gordon Conway, president of the Rockefeller Institute.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Professor Conway compares environmentalists and biotechnology firms to a pair of professional wrestlers fighting it out.

Instead, the scientist calls for more a more subtle level of debate on the issue.

As president of a foundation dedicated to improving "the well-being of mankind", Prof. Conway has funded research into golden rice, genetically engineered to tackle vitamin deficiency in the third world.

According to Prof. Conway, "GM crops are one of a range of tools needed to feed a surging global population". "It is important to realise biotech is not the only answer", he said. "We are working on nitrogen-fixing legumews, intercropping techniques and traditional breeding. But biotech has to be part of the answer."