Core truths about GMO

June 10 is a highly-anticipated date because KFU Unics Hall will host the discussion “GMO: forbid not support» related to the bill imposing restrictions on import and distribution of GMO (genetically modified organisms) in Russian Federation.

The event is organized at support of Kazan Federal University and an initiative non-profit group “Think!”, which brings together people convinced that science and common sense promote rational thinking, help people to understand each other better, and become happier. Members of the group fall under different social categories: students, young scholars, entrepreneurs, PR-managers, yet all are united by the idea of anthropocentricity and importance of freedom and self-realization. They popularize science, critical thinking and humanism and believe that this will help Russia to reach for a better future. Leaders of the group are Petr Talantov, CEO of Florist.ru  and KSMU alumnus, and Yaroslav Shvecov, KFU alumnus and tech business entrepreneur.

A genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. GMOs are the source of genetically modified foodsand are also widely used in scientific research and to produce goods other than food. There is controversy over GMOs, especially with regard to their use in producing food. The dispute involves buyers, biotechnology companies, governmental regulators, non-governmental organizations, and scientists. The key areas of controversy related to GMO food are whether GM food should be labeled, the role of government regulators, the effect of GM crops on health and the environment, the effect on pesticide resistance, the impact of GM crops for farmers, and the role of GM crops in feeding the world population.

The upcoming dispute will gather:

• Mikhail Gelfand - a professor of the Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Moscow State University at and deputy director of the Institute for Information Transmission Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
• Andrey Tumanov – First Deputy Chairman of Russian State Assembly Committee  for information politics, IT and communication, journalist, TV and radio-presenter.
• Oleg Radin – Head of Technical Regulation Department         at Russian Grain Union, (Cand. Sc. Agriculture Science).

And their opponents:

• Irina Yermakova, director of the Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology Institute (PhD Biology), famous for her investigations of the influence cause by GM soya on reproduction function of animals.
• Natalya Olefirenko, Greenpeace Russia GE Campaign Coordinator
• Airat Khairullin, Member of Russian Federation State Assembly, First Deputy Chairman of Agriculture Committee, PhD Economics

Discussion moderator is to be Boris Dolgin, Science Editory of Polit.ru, and a highly-professional moderator of science and economics-related debates.

The event is free of charge, please register here.