Robert Paarlberg
Contents
Background
Robert Paarlberg is an American academic and author who lobbies for GM crops and foods.
Views
Paarlberg's book, Starved for Science: How Biotechnology Is Being Kept Out of Africa (Harvard University Press, March 2008), claims that poor African farmers are denied access to productive technologies, particularly GM seeds, which he says offer improved resistance to insects and drought.[1]
This is in spite of the fact that as of 2009, GM companies have patented plant genes involved in tolerance to drought, heat, flooding, and salinity — but have not produced a single new crop with these properties. This is because these functions are highly complex and involve many different genes working together in a precise way. It is beyond existing GM technology to engineer crops with these sophisticated gene networks for improved tolerance traits.
Conventional natural cross-breeding, which works holistically, is much better adapted to achieving this aim, using the many varieties of virtually every common crop that tolerate drought, heat, flooding, and salinity. This conclusion is backed by the IAASTD report on the future of agriculture (April 2008)[2] and many individual studies across the world[3]
An article for Voice of America, "US Academic makes Fiery Argument for Africa to Embrace Biotechnology" punts Paarlberg's book, Starved for Science.[4] In the article, Paarlberg is cited as blaming activists in rich countries for inadvertently denying "improved agricultural techniques" (read: GM) to millions of poor farmers in Africa. Paarlberg says there’s no “scientific evidence” of health risks posed by GMOs – ignoring the large body of evidence that has accumulated showing such risks.[5]
As a result of what he brands a “misinformed” anti-GM movement, he says crops that could eventually allow Africa to feed itself are being kept out of the continent.
Biography
Robert Paarlberg is the Betty Freyhof Johnson Class of 1944 Professor of Political Science at Wellesley College and Associate at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University. He received his B.A. in government from Carleton College in Minnesota and his Ph.D. in government from Harvard. He has served as visiting professor of government at Harvard, as a legislative aide in the U.S. Senate, and as an officer in the U.S. Naval Intelligence Command. Paarlberg's principal research interests are international agricultural and environmental policy.[6]
Biographical Information
History
Current activities
Affiliations
Publications, Contact, Resources and Notes
Publications
Contact
- Address:
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- Website:
Resources
Notes
- ↑ "Robert Paarlberg", Wellesley College website, accessed January 2009
- ↑ International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology for Development: Global Summary for Decision Makers (IAASTD); Beintema, N. et al., 2008.
- ↑ Applying Agroecology to Enhance the Productivity of Peasant Farming Systems in Latin America. Altieri M.A. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1: 197-217, 1999; More Productivity with Fewer External Inputs: Central American Case Studies of Agroecological Development and their Broader Implications. Bunch R. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1: 219-233, 1999; Can Sustainable Agriculture Feed Africa? New Evidence on Progress, Processes and Impacts. Pretty J. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1: 253-274, 1999; Organic Agriculture and Food Security in Africa. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, United Nations Environment Programme, 2008; Ecologising rice-based systems in Bangladesh. Barzman M. & Das L. ILEIA Newsletter, 2: 16-17, 2000; Genetic diversity and disease control in rice. Zhu Y et al. Nature, 406: 718-722, 2000.
- ↑ Darren Taylor, "US Academic makes Fiery Argument for Africa to Embrace Biotechnology", Voice of America, 15 January 2009, accessed January 2009.
- ↑ Some such studies are referenced at "Genetically modified (GM) foods - renewed threat to Europe" banGMfood website, accessed January 2009.
- ↑ "Robert Paarlberg", Wellesley College website, accessed January 2009
