GMO's: Will they feed the world or poison the world?
With Fred Gould, Ph.D.
University Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. Eastern via Zoom
(Registration is required to receive the Zoom link for the live presentation. The presentation will be recorded.)
Cost:
GAONC Members- Free
Non-Members - $10 (non-refundable) - once the recording is ready to view, we'll send you a link that will be valid for 30 days. OR you can join GAONC ($20 annual membership fee), attend ALL of our presentations for free, AND have access to all of the recordings in our Video Library to view on demand.
About this Presentation:
In this presentation, we’ll take a broad look at GMOs—from crop productivity and insect biodiversity to human health and cultural perspectives. I’ll start with a short, interactive poll (through Zoom Chat) to get a sense of your perspectives on GMOs. We’ll then look at how insecticidal GMOs have affected both pest and beneficial insects. Next, I’ll summarize what the National Academy of Sciences has found about GMOs and human health, and discuss how GMOs have influenced farmers in the U.S. and around the world. I’ll wrap up with a few examples of situations where GMOs have caused cultural concerns. I will then open the session for a discussion of how which GMOs do or do not fit into your approach to gardening.
The presentation will be recorded for
members to view later in our Video Library.
About Our Speaker:
Fred Gould, University Distinguished Professor Emeritus
Fred Gould went from being a hippie and NYC taxi cab driver to becoming the executive director of the NC State Genetics and Genomics Academy and co-director of the Genetic Engineering and Society Center. Dr. Gould conducted research on the application of evolutionary biology and population genetics to enable sustainable use of insect resistant crops and genetically engineered agricultural pests. He also did research aimed at development of strategies for using engineered insect vectors of pathogens to decrease human disease. His recent scholarship and teaching focuses on societal issues related to genomics and genetic engineering. Dr. Gould has served on several NASEM–National Research Council (NRC) committees studying the environmental and health effects of the commercialization of genetically engineered crops. He chaired the NASEM–NRC 2016 report on “Genetically
Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects”. He served on the NRC’s Board on Agriculture and Natural Resources until 2020. Dr. Gould has participated in a number of EPA-FIFRA-Science Advisory Panels. He is a fellow of the Entomological Society of America and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2011, he was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences (NAS). Dr. Gould received his BS in biology from Queens College and a PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
*Approval of this presentation for continuing education credit is at the discretion of
your program.
