"We need to learn how to feed the world better, We cannot feed the world using organic or hunter-gatherer technologies." - Dr. Jim Murray
In his closing Keynote, Dr. James Murray, Professor Animal Science and Population Health at the University of California at Davis reminded attendees how vital animal biotechnology will be in helping to feed a rapidly growing population.
Dr. Murray opened by commenting that one child dies every 5 seconds because of hunger.
"This is a result of a distribution problem; not a result of not having enough food. It is imperative that we help the developing world in achieving access to enough food. We need to find a way to feed the world in more sustainable way through means that require less land, less water and less resources. Genetically Engineered livestock are needed to help feed a rapidly growing population’s demand for protein."
Genetic engineering means that we can conserve and preserve genetic variation. It means that we can be more efficient with a decrease environmental footprint. With this technology with can improve the nutritional value of food and better protect crops from disease.
Murray argued that compared to GE plants, GE livestock pose essentially zero threat to the environment and biodiversity.
"How many millions and millions of meals with GE foods do we have to eat to prove that its safe. GE foods and food ingredients have been proven to be safe by an overwhelmingly number of scientific and academic bodies!"
In conclusion, Murray argued that GE livestock are needed to feed the future and that we need the tool of biotechnology to increase animal products in a more sustainable way.
"Long regulatory time-frames and anti-technology activists are in the way of transgenic animals making their way to the market.
"We need to support science based regulations. We don't need to support a specific product, we just need to support science!"
Visit the BIO Livestock Biotech Summit page for more information from this year's Summit.