Genetically Engineered Food Could Be Lifeline For Developing World, Cornett Researcher Suggests WASHINGTON, D.C.-In the developed world, societies enjoy abundant diets more varied now than at any other time in his tory. That’s in stark contrast to the developing world where mil lions of people confront pro found food insecurity every day. Part of the solution to righting this imbalance might involve something that is increasingly controversial in the developed world: genetically engineered food. Cornell University’s Susan McCouch, associate professor of plant breeding, asks if it is ethi cal for well-fed people in the United States, Canada, and Europe to ignore the potential of biotechnology to improve the nutritional status of hungry people around the world, partic ularly when the same technol ogy is being used to extend life expectancy by producing phar maceuticals. McCouch made her observations in her talk, “Is Biotechnology the Answer?” at the annual meeting of the Amer ican Association for the Ad vancement of Science in Washington, D.C. If used appropriately, agricul tural biotechnology can help al leviate world hunger and malnutrition, said McCouch, noting the development of genetically engineered rice to produce iron or provitamin A (beta carotene) as an example of a product that has the potential directly to improve the quality of life for millions. “People who suffer from mal nutrition generally lack essential levels of micronutrients because they lack the purchasing power to obtain sufficient diversity in their diet,” said McCouch. 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Some opinion surveys show that people ini tially are uncomfortable with the idea of using biotechnology to transfer genes between organ isms, she said, but those reserva tions can be overcome if people perceive a particular ethically or morally persuasive benefit. McCouch said that careful consideration must be given to different kinds of agricultural systems around the world, and the risks weighed against the benefits to those different sys tems. “Clearly, not all people have the same choices nor will they have the same prefer ences,” she said. While the term biotechnology was originally coined during the industrial revolution, it has evolved into its contemporary meaning only in the last 25 years, which McCouch defined as modifying living things to suit human needs and preferences. “According to this definition, humans have practiced biotech nology for about 10,000 year, or as long as they have practiced agriculture,” she said. Our 20,000 Sq. Ft. Facility Enables Us To Serve You Better “Most of our domesticated food and fiber species have been altered through traditional crossing and selection to such an extent that they are no longer capable of surviving in the wild,” said McCouch. Instead they prosper when nurtured and cultivated by human beings. The interaction of natural processes and human activity has given rise to novel agro-ecosystems and is responsible for generating and sustaining a vast array of genetic and ecological diversity on the planet. Today, most people associate biotechnology with genetic ma- LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.)-The annual tree seedling sale of the Lancaster County Conservation District is in prog ress. Deadline for placing orders is March 10. All prepaid orders can be picked up April 7 at the Kiwanis Pavilion located in Lancaster County Central Park. For the past 26 years, the dis trict has been a local source of affordable plant materials for tree, shrub, and groundcover plantings. Proceeds from this sale benefit environmental edu cation activities in the county. Among the sale items this year are bare-rooted conifer and hardwood seedlings, three types Est. 1979 nipulation at the DNA level, said McCouch. But not all biotechnology involves genetic engineering. “A large part of what biotechnology represents today is new knowledge about the natural processes of DNA replication, breakage, ligation and repair that has paved the way for a much deeper under standing of the mechanics of cell biology and the hereditary pro cess itself.” This new knowledge, she said, has brought us to the edge of an ethical dilemma. While the abil ity to manipulate the hereditary process is not new, the depth of Lancaster County Conservation District Conducts Seeding Sale of groundcover, an assortment of potted stock including native shrubs, ornamental grasses, hosta, day lilies, and ornamental flowering fruit trees. 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