| Description |
1 online resource (streaming video file) (52 min. 15 sec.) ; 316243181 bytes |
| Summary |
Around the world, a food crisis is looming. Global demand for crops is exceeding supply and even the most conservative estimates suggest that we will need to double food production over the next 50 years - still using the same amount of land and dwindling supplies of water. Many plant scientists believe genetic modification is the answer. Can GM Food Save the World? introduces Jimmy Doherty, pig farmer, environmentalist and former entomologist, who is on a mission to find out if GM can really save the world. Jimmy starts his investigation in a GM-free Europe and discovers that GM agriculture and organic farming have one similar aim - to reduce the amount of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. But whilst tests are taking place in some European countries, crops are under the constant threat of destruction. In the Americas, GM foods have been embraced. Using herbicide-resistant soy beans in Argentina has made the crop cheaper to produce, and savings in carbon emissions have been the equivalent to taking four million cars off the road. But it's not all good news. Local food crops have been squeezed out, leading to shortages. And weeds have been developing resistance to herbicides too, meaning in some areas, more rather than less weedkiller is being used.In the developing world, particularly Africa, concerns over the safety of GM food can seem remote. With no money for fertiliser, little water and few well-bred plant varieties, any innovations that can increase food production are desperately needed. But many African countries are banning the use of GM crops. If they can't sell their crops to Europe, they'll lose what little export market they have. (From the UK, in English) (Documentary) G CC WS |
| Event |
Broadcast 2010-02-01 at 15:30:00 |
| Notes |
Classification: G |
| Subject |
Agriculture.
|
|
Crops -- Genetic engineering.
|
|
Food supply -- Health aspects.
|
|
Genetically modified foods.
|
|
Soybean -- Seeds.
|
|
Argentina.
|
| Form |
Streaming video
|
| Author |
Doherty, Jimmy, host
|
|
Lachmann, Michael, director
|
|
