Neal Carter, president of Canadian topfruit research and development company Okanagan Specialty Fruits (OSF), has delivered an empassioned defence of agricultural biotechnology in a presentation to a TEDx event in Penticton, British Columbia.
During his presentation, entitled Agricultural Biotechnology: Feeding a Hungry Planet and Saving Lives, Carter covered several topics including the history of biotech foods, the next wave of biotech crops currently in development, the benefits biotechnology can offer, the debate surrounding the technology and the need for further public education.
OSF is currently awaiting a response from the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (Aphis) about the potential introduction of two non-browning apple varieties it has developed, Arctic Golden and Arctic Granny, using biotechnology.
Aphis opened a 60-day review period in July for members of the public to offer comment on the two varieties.
Carter, who has worked as a bioresource engineer for over 30 years as well as heading up OSF and his own family-run orchard, said he was excited to have the opportunity to share his vision of biotechnology's potential role in horticulture via a respected outlet like TEDx.
