Talking Biotech
The Talking Biotech Podcast is dedicated to the topic of biotechnology. These powerful methods have been extremely useful in medicine and agriculture, and hold great potential for the future. Despite their promise, there is substantial skepticism in the public regarding these technologies. A food-secure population, a profitable fear-driven anti-biotech industry, and a lack of scientific literacy hinders application of these technologies from reaching those that could use them. The companies and scientists that understand biotechnology are not explaining it well to the concerned public.
Below is the complete archive of related articles sorted by date.
Talking Biotech: Ethos Chocolate—the pro-GMO candy brand winning over biotech skeptics
Ethos chocolate hypes its use of GMO ingredients to promote crop biotechnology ...
Talking Biotech: How AAAS, world’s largest science organization, promoted ‘data-less conspiracy’ linking glyphosate to kidney disease
There is no evidence that glyphosate causes kidney disease. Why does the AAAS say otherwise? ...
Talking Biotech: Recruiting bees as soldiers in the war on plant pests
The company Bee Vectoring Technologies uses bees to control deadly plant pests ...
Talking Biotech: Regulating gene-edited animals as drugs will stifle food innovation
Animal gene editing could revolutionize food production. But FDA regulation stands in the way ...
Talking Biotech: Extreme GMO skeptics know the least about genetics—how should science communicators respond?
People most opposed to GMOs know little about them. How does this impact science communication? ...
Talking Biotech: Genetic engineering could protect at-risk forests—but regulation blocks progress
Changing climates and pathogens threaten forests. Biotechnology could help, if regulators get out of the way ...
Talking Biotech: Turning GMO plants into carcinogen-catching air filters
Could GMO houseplants purify the air in our homes? ...
Talking Biotech: Environmentalist Erin Brockovich is wrong about Monsanto, glyphosate and cancer
Famous environmental advocate Erin Brockovich says glyphosate causes cancer. Here's why she's wrong ...
Talking Biotech: How do we get consumers to think like scientists?
Thomas Zinnen and Kevin Folta tackle a perennial question: How do you communicate science to a hostile audience? ...
Talking Biotech: Tough questions about genetic engineering—a listener interviews Dr. Kevin Folta
Roles are reversed on this week's podcast. Science enthusiast and blogger Gary Nolan interviews Dr. Folta ...
Talking Biotech: As demand for food rises, the world needs more plant scientists
The world needs plant scientists. Two experts explain how you can join the field ...
Talking Biotech: Corporations corrupt science research? What are real conflicts of interest?
A closer look at how money influences science ...
Talking Biotech: Meet the liquor store owner boycotting Smirnoff’s ‘non-GMO’ vodka
Meet Allison Nondorf, a farmer and co-owner of A&C Liquid Assets in Kansas. The liquor store refuses to sell Smirnoff's ...
Talking Biotech: How regulation threatens the future of biotechnology
Technology is revolutionizing health care and food production. But excessive regulation slows these important developments. What does this mean for ...
Talking Biotech: How insects could make our food supply more sustainable
Producing feed for animals we eat has led to overfishing and other environmental challenges. Feeding our livestock insects might solve ...
Talking Biotech: Mango is a vital food crop worldwide. But where did it come from?
Mango is popular worldwide, but especially important in India and southeast Asia. On this episode, Emily Warschefsky and Kevin Folta ...
Talking Biotech: Does LaCroix sparking water really contain cockroach insecticide?
Join Kevin Folta as he tackles recent concerns that LaCroix sparkling water contains cockroach-killing insecticides ...
Beyond pesticides: Engineered crops that fertilize themselves from air
Plants are surrounded by nitrogen, but it's unusable as found in the atmosphere. Scientists may be able to change that ...
Talking Biotech: Thalidomide once caused birth defects—now it treats cancer
The sleep medication thalidomide caused thousands of birth defects in the 1960s. But experts say it's also a powerful cancer ...
Talking Biotech: There’s a worldwide vanilla shortage. Can science save our favorite food flavoring?
Vanilla is the world's favorite food flavoring—but there's not enough to go around. Thankfully, scientists are developing new ways to ...
Talking Biotech: Using psychology to disarm anti-GMO activists
Activists use fear to spread doubt about GMO safety. How can scientists counter this powerful debate tactic? ...
Talking Biotech: 30-year study confirms environmental benefits of glyphosate use
Anti-GMO activists continue to warn about the dangers of glyphosate, but 30 years of data show the controversial herbicide is ...
Talking Biotech: The Kevin Folta—Biofortified controversy: When transparency and confidentiality conflict
Transparency helps scientists earn public trust. But what happens when their research requires confidentiality? Kevin Folta and Paul Vincelli tackle ...
Talking Biotech: Artemisinin—the malaria treatment that could help prevent 400,000 deaths a year
University of York's Dr. Ian Graham joins Kevin Folta to discuss how the plant-derived compound artemesia could help beat back ...
Talking Biotech: Chicken is the most widely grown animal in the world, but where did this popular bird come from?
Chicken is essential to modern agriculture, but where did it come from? Oxford University's Dr. Greger Larson explores this popular ...
Talking Biotech: Winning the disease resistance ‘arms race’ against plant pathogens to ensure food security
The disease resistance arms race between plants and pathogens continues. But scientists have entered this war on the side of ...
Talking Biotech: Probing the psychology of consumers who fear GMOs
Why do consumers fear technologies that have generated an abundant food supply? Economist Dr. David Just explains how emotion influences ...
Talking Biotech: How scientists outsmart cancer-causing fungi that threaten our food supply
Alfatoxins are a significant threat to human health and world food security. They are naturally-occurring toxic compounds produced by the ...
