INDIA TODAY CONCLAVE 2010 - ‘Does Science Work Against Nature?’

MICHAEL SPECTER, AUTHOR ON SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND SUMAN SAHAI, CONVENOR, GENE CAMPAIGN DEBATED WHETHER SCIENCE WORKS AGAINST NATURE

According to Specter, a New Yorker staff writer and the author of Denialism, the answer to hunger lies in the genetically engineered food "since 40 per cent of the land and 70 per cent of the available water is already being used."

Dr Suman Sahai, convenor of Gene Campaign, disagreed. Sahai, a plant geneticist who chaired the Planning Commission’s Task Force on Biodiversity and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) for the XIth Plan, cautioned saying that the "the idea of genetically engineered food is replete with postulates that are yet to be substantiated."

Specter and Sahai were discussing "Does Science work against Nature?" at the India Today Conclave in Delhi on Saturday 13 March, 2010. While both agreed that Science was the key to all future solutions, their divergent positions over the applicability of the technology and their incisive logic stirred a thought provoking discussion on the issue.

Specter began the discussion by picking the example of Bt Brinjal—saying that banning it is a huge mistake because GM foods are needed to solve future food issues.  Specter also acknowledged that there are risks as there are benefits in all GM food; but he insisted that the benefits outweigh the risks.

Sahai countered this and put forward strong arguments against GM food saying that "it lacks regulation and the process needs to be thoroughly scrutinized before a go-ahead is given." She said, "The precautionary principles must be followed."  "It is not certain if GM food is safe for human consumption," she argued questioning the strength of the regulatory mechanism in place.

Specter suggested that people have come to mistrust the institution of Science more today than ever before. He made it clear that while the GM issue may be complex but the choices are not because stakes are very high. 

Sahai endorsed Science fully but said that extreme caution must be exercised when risks are very high . She said  the pursuit of transformative science and technology like genetic engineering and  nanotechnology should be guided by ethics, regulation and the precautionary principle.

This was a provocative session and worth a headline as Specter and Sahai confronted each other with hard scientific opinions and logical constructs. This almost set the record right that Science does not work against Nature though there is surely more than one argument against its applicability.