Bill and Melinda Gates talk with WSJ's Rebecca Blumenstein at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, about digital technology and how genetically modified organisms are the key to ending hunger in Africa.
Bill Gates: GMOs Will End Starvation in Africa
Bill Gates, who is a major backer of food biotechnology, has spoken passionately how food biotechnology can help the people of Africa fight the numerous challenges they face.
Speaking with his wife Melinda Gates to the Wall Street Journal, the pair discussed the virtues of biotech foods and how they help make crops better resistant to drought, flooding and pests, as well as increasing yields and helping their own farming businesses flourish.
Bill Gates:
“What are called GMOs [Genetically modified organisms] are done by changing the genes of the plant. And it’s done in a way where there’s a very thorough safety procedure."
“And it’s pretty incredible because it reduces the amount of pesticide you need, raises productivity and can help with malnutrition by getting vitamin fortification."
“I think for Africa this is going to make a huge difference particularly as they face climate change.”
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Gates said gene editing was a “more precise way” of tackling the food problem in Africa than previous efforts.
Interview with Bill and Melinda Gates
Biotechnology can help with a plant’s defences to offset a raft of challenges such as pests and diseases.
Bill and Melinda Gates were speaking to the Wall Street Journal at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
Source
Food Ingredients First / Wall Street Journal
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