The Vail Symposium held a debate on GMOs and the future of food. The debaters:
- Gregory Stock is a biophysicist, best-selling author, and the former director of the Program on Medicine, Technology and Society at UCLA’s School of Medicine, and a defender of genetic engineering.
- Jeffrey Smith is a former Natural Law candidate, graduate of the Mahirishi University, proponent of yogic flying, founder of his one-man band NGO, the Institute of Responsible Technology, author of two self-published books critical of GMOs, and producer of an anti-GMO documentary.
Consumer advocate Smith and biotechnology entrepreneur Stock debated the safety of genetically modified food (GMOs). Each gave an illustrated presentation, and then they offered rebuttals. Smith in his argument talked about the health risks of GMOs and said government and industry had covered up the risks with “rigged research.” Stock disputed everything Smith said and said he lacked a scientific background. Following their debate, they responded to audience members’ questions. Topics included the ethics of GMOs, the role of the government, GMO labeling, and the potential to solve world hunger.
View full debate here: Genetically Modified Foods: Gregory Stock vs. Jeffrey Smith
