Eating Unnaturally, Naturally

Some people think the future of agriculture is in the marriage of organic farming and genetically engineered food. Two of those people are Raoul Adamchak, an organic farmer, and Pamela Ronald, a plant genetic scientist, who lead a seminar titled “Organically Grown and Genetically Engineered: The Food of the Future.” They’re also married, which makes the idea of wedding genetics to organics much more adorable than we had any right to expect. It also makes genetically engineered foods much more palatable to your average overreacting reactionary, who could probably keep down a bowl of Ronald’s flood-and-disease–resistant rice if it were grown in accordance with strict organic guidelines, such as the ones Adamchak followed as an inspector for California Certified Organic Farmers and later on the board of directors. The pair’s book, Tomorrow's Table: Organic Farming, Genetics, and the Future of Food, provides such a blueprint for the future. Also, recipes for cornbread and cookies. See, the future isn't so scary.
Tue., July 28, 7:30 p.m., 2009