No Class: October 9 & 30

Genetically modified (GM) foods remain a subject of controversy. Are they safe to eat? What are the ecological and economic impacts on farming? These questions were a matter of life or death in Durban, South Africa in 2002. Six African leaders met to decide whether to accept GM corn from USAID to avert famine. This course examines the science and politics that led to this situation.

We will begin with the basics of how and why crops are genetically modified. We will also examine the legal constraints on USAID and the reasons the European Union opposes GM foods. In 2002, the US and the EU were engaged in a trade war over GM foods, and African nations were caught in the middle when famine began. Two sessions will involve students playing a simulation game based on the Durban meeting. Representatives from the US and the EU will present arguments for and against GM crops in the context of the African situation. The African leaders must then decide whether to accept the corn or risk starvation for millions of their citizens. It may seem like an easy choice on the surface, but there are complex issues that the class will discover.

After the simulations, we will discuss the current state of GM manipulation of crops, including the new Crisper/CAS9 methods and the successes and failures of GM based agriculture. We may also watch a movie that includes interviews with the actual people involved in the decision and their reasoning.