Genetically Modified Food: Benefit or Threat?

What does genetic engineering actually mean? What is a genome? How much do we really know about the side effects of genetically altering a crop to achieve certain benefits? What unforeseen consequences might there be? How much harm have pesticides done over the years? Is it vital to stop using them? How can the public trust scientists when new studies are published continuously refuting previous findings.

We invite you to explore these scientific, social and ethical issues in a public debate on the relative merits of mass-producing food using pesticides, genetically modified (GM) food and organic farming.

George Zarkadakis, publisher and novelist, will facilitate the discussion between the audience and our guest speakers: James Randerson, Guardian science correspondent, Efstathios Gonos, Director of Research, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Institute of Biological Research and Biotechnology, and Nayia Paschali, chemical engineer, hygienist and environmental engineer.

We are organising the debate in collaboration with the Eugenides Foundation as part of our Beautiful Science project.

The discussion will be held in Greek with simultaneous translation into English. Admission free.