Advantages of Genetically Modified Food | USA | Dr. Klaus Ammann

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Conversations about plant biotechnology
Dr. Klaus Ammann: Botanist, Switzerland
Position: Honorary Professor Emeritus,
University of Berne, Switzerland
Education: University of Berne;
Duke University
Notable: Former Director, Botanical
Garden, University of Berne. Member,
Biosafety Committee of the Government
of Switzerland. GMO Expert Group,
European Commission Directorate
General. Chairman, Section
Biodiversity, European Federation of
Biotechnology. Editor in Chief
(Ecology), Environmental Biosafety
Research. Member, Board of
Directors, Africa Harvest. Member,
Advisory Board, African Technology
Development Forum.
“Biotechnology will
help to lower the
negative impact of
agriculture on
biodiversity – that’s
for sure.”
Video Transcript:
My name is Klaus Ammann. I’m professor of botany in Bern … and director of the botanical garden …
Biodiversity … mankind is depending on it, and it’s essential for all life on earth. And …
all kinds of agriculture – including organic farming – is a threat to biodiversity. And the
priority is to feed the people, but we must do it in a way to keep as much biodiversity as
possible. …
There are many ways of doing better in agriculture … but one of the most efficient and best
ways … is biotechnology.
… I have screened thousands of studies and scientific peer-reviewed papers. And not in a
single one I have seen a documentation of permanent negative impact on biodiversity done
by genetically engineered crops. It’s a myth that this has happened. …
… On the contrary … agricultural biotechnology is a real help for maintaining biodiversity.
… It’s about … strategies … clearly related to biotechnology. … No tillage – no tillage is
absolutely beneficial to soil biodiversity … because plowing is a catastrophe for the soil …
… We are going to reduce the use of pesticide in a dramatic way in the future by inserting
new proteins … to the crops to fight off pests in a very elegant way. …
… It’s also a help for conservation, because the less land you use for production of food, the
more is set aside for conservation use. …
… and biotechnology will help to lower the negative impact of agriculture on biodiversity
– that’s for sure. …
And I cannot understand why people are against this technology. … If we want to survive as
human beings on this planet … we need to produce more food on smaller amount of land.
This is certainly done best with biotechnology. … We cannot do that by just romantically
following on old-fashioned agriculture. …
… We must come to terms with using modern technology.
Editor’s Note: Dr. Ammann retired from the Botanical Garden at the University of Berne in February 2006.
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