by Guisela Chiarella
In an illuminating session at the Governor’s meeting of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Nobel laureate Sir Richard Roberts, who has served on the scientific advisory board for 19 years, made a compelling case for the adoption of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to address global food security.
“Today, around 800 million people go to bed hungry every night,” Sir Richard noted passionately. “This is not right. We have the capability to grow enough food for everyone, but the challenge is that many of those who suffer from hunger live in developing countries where they lack access to optimal crops.”
He argued that GMOs hold the key to overcoming this issue by significantly increasing agricultural yields. “With GMOs, we can enhance crops so that instead of needing a hectare to produce enough food, half a hectare could suffice,” he explained. “This technological advancement is crucial for developing nations.”
However, Sir Richard expressed strong criticism of European policies regarding GMOs, attributing these to a widespread acceptance of misinformation. “Europeans are being misled by organizations like Greenpeace and various other sources of scientific misinformation,” he lamented. “They consider GMOs dangerous, but they are not. Europe’s stance on GMOs is not only misguided but also immoral because it affects the lives of people in parts of the world where food scarcity is a daily reality.”
Shifting gears, Sir Richard also addressed the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in scientific research, including its potential impact on the development and acceptance of GMOs. “AI can be extremely beneficial for scientific research, provided it is trained on accurate and factual information,” he emphasized. He expressed concern over the reliability of AI tools like ChatGPT, which he referred to as “CheatGPT” due to its tendency to generate incorrect information.
“The scientific literature itself is not immune to inaccuracies and fraudulent studies,” Sir Richard cautioned. “We need to meticulously vet and curate our scientific data to ensure it is accurate before using it to train AI systems. Only then can AI truly revolutionize scientific research and contribute positively to the development of technologies like GMOs.”
Sir Richard’s insights underscore a critical intersection of technology and humanitarian needs, advocating for scientifically informed policies that could transform agriculture and alleviate global hunger. His message at the ICGEB meeting serves as a call to action for policymakers, scientists, and global leaders to embrace GMOs and leverage AI responsibly for the betterment of society.
