Monsanto reps to talk about GMO crops, other ag issues

Honeybee health, the vegetable seed business and safety and testing procedures for biotechnology are among the topics to be covered during presentations from Monsanto Co. on Dec. 12 at Southeast Missouri State University.

The university's Horticulture Club invited representatives of the company to discuss "The Future of the American Food Chain: Healthy Plants = Healthy Planet." Three 50-minute sessions are planned, scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon in Academic Hall Auditorium, with question-and-answer sessions to follow.

Dr. Sven Svenson, associate professor of agribusiness and co-adviser to the Horticulture Club, will moderate the discussion along with Horticulture Club co-adviser Heidi Clark and officers of the club. The club organized the program, which is open to the public, after hearing about a similar program at Mineral Area College.

The discussion at Southeast will be a little different, said Svenson. The question-and-answer segment was included at request of the students.

"They see so much in printed press and so much on the Internet, so much of someone telling them what someone else said or did," he said. "You've got all this secondhand information. ... 'Can we hear from them directly?' That was the question."

The club recognized a conversation with a company such as Monsanto -- which has become one of the top names in the debate about genetically modified organisms, or GMOs -- would interest people across the community, so Svenson said they believed it was important to allow the public a chance to attend.

"Food impacts everybody," he said. "It wouldn't make sense to have a program like this just for students and the campus body."

Svenson said he expects to event to result in "a real conversation" about issues such as GMOs and biotechnology. The students are interested in facts, he said, adding that people should not expect the program to be "a cheerleading activity" for the company.

"I'm happy that the folks from Monsanto were willing to come themselves and present for themselves. You don't often get that, especially when issues are controversial," said Svenson. "I think it's good that a presentation like this can happen."

Another key topic of conversation will be the status of honeybees. Colony collapse disorder is a serious problem threatening the health of honeybees, thereby threatening pollination operations across the country. This issue is especially problematic for horticulture crops, which account for one-third of the world's food supply and are predominantly pollinated by honeybees.

Nutritional attributes of certain products, the vegetable seed business and grain channel and commercial production management also will be discussed.

Monsanto presenters scheduled to speak are:

• Pam Howlett, regulatory law and policy;
• Jerry Hayes, honeybee expert;
• Traci Ramsey, global vegetables-commercial human resources and Southeast alumna;
• Sarah Vacek, soybean quality traits product manager; and
• scientists Eric Park, Sunny Gilbert and Dilip Chandu.

Visitors attending the program may obtain a parking permit from parking services with the Department of Public Safety at 1401 N. Sprigg St. in Cape Girardeau or parking@semo.edu.

srinehart@semissourian.com

388-3641

Pertinent address:

900 Normal Ave., Cape Girardeau, Mo.

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Want to go?

What: *"The Future of the American Food Chain: Healthy Plants = Healthy Planet,*" a presentation by Monsanto Co., moderated by the Southeast Missouri State University Horticulture Club

When: Three 50-minute presentations beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at noon Dec. 12

Where: Academic Hall Auditorium, 900 Normal Ave., Cape Girardeau

Cost: free