Talking Biotech with Dr. Kevin Folta

Talking Biotech Podcast #44 continues Kavin Senapathy’s interview with Dr. Ronald Herring. Dr. Herring is a Professor of Government and International Professor of Agriculture and Rural Development at Cornell University. Dr. Herring is a social scientist that has carefully studied the situation in India. This is the second part of the interview discussing the myths and facts surrounding Indian farmer suicides, a popular narrative in anti-genetic-engineering circles. Professor Herring provides first-hand illumination of the topic, from his experience in India, and scholarly examination of the facts around the topic.In the second half of the podcast Kevin Folta answers questions submitted from the Facebook page. Kavin Senapathy is a science writer and mom, who frequently writes for Forbes and other venues. Her twitter handle is @ksenapathy # COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

In discussion of genetically engineered crops there is frequent reference to farmer suicides in India. Claims are made that Indian farmers build massive debt for cotton seeds, they become beholden to Monsanto for the money, and then kill themselves. This story is repeated ad nauseum by Vandana Shiva and others that exploit the untimely deaths of farmers for political gain, and to foment anger against biotechnology. Today’s podcast features Dr. Ronald Herring. Dr. Herring is a Professor of Government and International Professor of Agriculture and Rural Development at Cornell University. Dr. Herring is a social scientist that has carefully studied the situation in India. Guest host Kavin Senapathy interviews Dr. Herring and provides perspective of a first-generation Indian-American in the discussion.Kavin Senapathy is a science writer and mom, who frequently writes for Forbes and other venues. Her twitter handle is @ksenapathy# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

The Seralini Rats make an appearance a the NAS Report Summary.A report on Genetically Engineered Crops was commissioned by the National Academies of Science, and a committee was convened to review the current literature. The committee also considered testimony of experts, including self-described experts. A wide range of opinions were considered.This week’s podcast summarizes the findings of the committee, along with specific questions to Dr. Neal Stewart, a member of the NAS committee.The podcast concludes with Dr. Stewart’s song on genetic engineering. You can read more about his philosophy of how science and music mesh here. The NAS Panel member presentation was edited, mostly to remove crowd noise or references to slides you can’t see in an audio podcast.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

If there was anyone that could be dubbed a science wizard, it might be Dr. Jude Grosser. Dr. Grosser has made a career of edgy innovation, creating new solutions that define the forefront of genetic improvements in citrus. He has mastered unconventional techniques that produce new variants of trees (both their scions and rootstocks) that bring improved production quality to Florida’s fresh fruit and orange juice industries. Currently he is a key strategist in the fight to save Florida citrus, where some of his solutions are being trialed, and don’t face the regulatory impediments of “GMO” citrus trees.Dr. Grosser’s Website# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Dr. Steve Strauss is a Distinguished Professor of Forestry at Oregon State University. He has been at the forefront of forest biology and genetic engineering of trees, contributing greatly to the understanding of fundamental tree biology, as well as the development of techniques and tools to perform genetic engineering in tree species. We discuss the many opportunities in tree breeding, as well as the limitations and other challenges. Please follow Dr. Strauss on Twitter: @shstrauss# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

It is so wonderful to share the time with Prof. Danny Chamovitz. He’s an accomplished researcher, a successful Dean, and leader in Israel’s agricultural research enterprise. He discusses his book, What a Plant Knows and describes plants as beings in tune with their environments, planning to adapt to change on demand. He’ll change your perspective on plants for ever. He also talks about his lab’s research and the climate toward biotech in Israel.We’ll also take a look at Miles Greb’s comic, After the Gold Rush, a science-based comic that emphasizes its scientific precision in telling a compelling sci-fi story. It is more sci than fi. Check out @GoldRushComic.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Chipotle proudly serves it. The Vermont GMO labeling rules exempt it. Still 95% of cheese is manufactured from enzymes created through recombinant DNA technology. These GMO-derived enzymes are tremendously beneficial to the process. Young cow stomachs are not needed and the prices are lower because the enzymes are abundant. Levi Gadye is a graduate student in neuroscience and science writer. He recently wrote an article on cheese enzymes in Gizmodo, and joined us in talking about cheese. Kavin Senapathy co-hosts.In the second part of the podcast I cover the continued FOIA requests for my emails and do a quick review of the National Academies of Science scholarly review of genetic engineering released last week.QUICK NOTE: The recording now is different than the original one posted. It turns out that there was a factual error. Our guest stated that dairy cows gave birth to offspring that are “probably immediately euthanized”. After consulting with an expert in animal cooperative extension it was resolved that male and female offspring of dairy cows are raised 12-14 months before being moved into beef production. I wanted to follow up on that before posting and forgot. The podcast stands corrected. # COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

The African Swine Fever Virus is a devastating pathogen that leads to fatal disease in domesticated swine. Scientists at the Roslin Institute led by Prof. Bruce Whitelaw have made an important advance for domestic pig health and welfare. Wild African pigs like warthogs do not get the disease. Researchers at Roslin have studied the genes associated with viral infection, and found what is likely a critical difference between the wild and domestic pigs. Using new gene editing technology, the change in wild pigs has been created in domestic pigs, and they will be tested for resistance to the virus this year. This example is one of may that is coming in animal, plant, and fungal genetic improvement through gene editing.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

“Citrus” is a term applied to a variety of popular and nutritious fruits, including oranges, grapefruit, lemons and limes. Citrus breeders are tasked with improving the varieties, which takes decades. Still, great progress has been made in fruit improvement. However, over the last twenty years a disease called Huanglongbing, or “HLB” (also known as “citrus greening”) has emerged in the USA and threatens the citrus industry. Today the focus is how to grow improved citrus varieties that can survive this insidious disease. Dr. Fred Gmitter is a seasoned citrus breeder that has produced improved fruit varieties, but also is working to identify new varieties to combat HLB. # COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

This week the Talking Biotech Podcast shares an intriguing discussion with Dr. Jayson Lusk. Dr. Lusk is an agricultural and food economist at Oklahoma State University. He has analyzed many facets of consumer choices, consumer behaviors, and the potential costs of policy change in agriculture. More importantly, he is a sought after speaker and author, sharing his expertise and experiences in many industry and public forums. He is a prolific author, and his books The Food Police and Unaturally Delicious are written for a familiar audience and contain interesting and colorful stories about the past, present and future of food technology.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Strawberry is a popular fruit with tremendous commercial value, and while everyone loves a good strawberry, are they actually getting better? This week’s podcast talks to Dr. Jim Hancock, strawberry breeder from Michigan State University. Dr. Hancock explains strawberry’s wild history, from cultivation by indigenous people in Chile, to colonists moving them around the world, to spies taking them home to the king. Modern challenges and solutions to sustainable production are discussed. In the second part of the podcast professional speaker and agvocate Michele Payn-Knoper (Cause Matters Corp.) talks about effective ag communication and her favorite places to find good information on science and agriculture. Foodinsight.org — geneticliteracyproject.com — thefarmerslife.com — Foodie Farmer “My Favorites Things” cover by Gyu-Ho Lee. Amazing guitar work on YouTube under gyu5730.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Could the lowly dandelion solve a crisis? If Key Gene CEO Dr. Arjen van Tunen and associates are correct, this yard pest may be the basis of sustainable and highly profitable rubber production. A growing middle class worldwide has produced a need for high-quality rubber, mostly for tires. Rubber tree (the genus Havea) plantations in Southeast Asia are threatened by climate change, disease, and sustainable harvesting is costly and labor intensive. However, the dandelion produces latex, just not in huge amounts. Scientists at KeyGene have identified a high production version in Kazakhstan and combined its genetics with those of the larger, common dandelion. The result is a plant that could revolutionize the rubber industry and provide a new high-value, easy-to-grow crop for farmers. Environmental impacts are also discussed. In the process, the scientists at KeyGene also identified genes related to apomixis, the ability to produce seeds without fertilization, essentially clones of the parent. Understanding these genes could dramatically change agriculture, as any plant could potentially be made to produce clonal seeds from the mother plant. In the second part of the podcast, correspondent Vern Blazek talks to Dr. Curt Hannah who answers a listener question about corn varieties and just how much genetic variation there is in modern modern hybrids. Plus some thoughts on the Borlaug CAST Agriculture Communications Award The audio at the end can be found here, along with a corresponding video.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Dietary reactions to wheat are on the rise, and science is grasping for answers. One approach to work around the genetic basis of the reaction, and that is well understood. With that information, scientists like Dr. Chris Miller at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center are searching for innovative solutions. Current concepts seek to breed modern wheat with other historical varieties featuring low reactivity. Future methods suggest that genetic engineering and gene editing might be especially effective solutions to the problem. Co-Hosted by Kevin Klatt, Graduate Student in Molecular Nutrition, Cornell University Twitter: @Nutrevolve# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

When we think of the plants that are important to us, we might think right past the magical shrub that gives us coffee berries. Coffee underpins major economies in the world, has an interesting history, and its sustainable production is threatened.We’re joined by Hanna Neuschwander from World Coffee Research. Hanna describes what coffee is, its natural history, species in the wild, and breeding efforts to improve coffee. We also discuss the major challenges that stand to harm coffee production in the future.Hanna Neuschwander World Coffee Researchworldcoffeeresearch.org – websiteworldcoffeeresearch – facebook@WCoffeeResearch – Twitter@wcoffeeresearch – Instagram Hannah Neuenschwander (Co-Host) @hannahaggie2014 – Twitter@texanmeetsmidwest – Instagramwww.texanmeetsmidwest.com – Personal blog https://www.facebook.com/texanmeetsmidwest/ – Facebook page for blog# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Recent unpublished reports are popping up on the internet that suggest that the herbicide glyphosate is showing up at dangerous levels in a variety of places. These range from breast milk, to beer, to wine, to potato chips. There are a number of laboratories and kit manufacturers that are excited to provide a means for such analysis. In the hands of the untrained, such kits and data are nothing more than in invitation for misinterpretation or misuse.In this week’s podcast we talk to two experts that routinely measure rare compounds. Dr. Shelley McGuire discusses her findings as a lactation specialist, describing the results in her recent paper on glyphosate in breast milk. Dr. Thomas Colquhoun speaks about the methods and kits, along with what the alleged findings in wine really mean.Twitter @mcguiresmiguireThomas Colquhoun’s website# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Dr. Leena Tripathi is a leader in banana biotechnology, working at IITA in Nairobi, Kenya. She has been publishing prolifically on a number of solutions for banana disease resistance using genetic engineering. In this episode of Talking Biotech she discusses the disease threats to banana production in Africa, and the solutions she has identified. She also touches on the social climate, farm structure, and attitudes toward the technology. You’ll hear many thoughts that will surprise you!Twitter @@IITA_CGIAR # COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

If you tell a stranger that something called “delta endotoxin” is as close as it gets to a miracle, they’d likely respond in one of two ways. They’d either want you to seek counseling, or find out if they can get it injected into their faces. Humans have love-hate relationships with toxic compounds, and delta endotoxin, or “Bt toxin” is no exception.This natural protein is toxic to a specific suite of pests, namely caterpillars that consume ag crops. It has been understood for decades and is widely used in organic farming.It also is the protein used to protect corn and cotton from insect damage, and now is being used in eggplant in Bangladesh. The use of this natural insecticide has massively cut the use of broad-spectrum insecticides.Today on the podcast it is a pleasure to talk to Dr. Fred Perlak. Dr. Perlak worked with Bt from the beginning. From understanding its role in insect physiology to identifying the gene, to helping introduce it to plants, he knows this topic as well as anyone. We discuss history and applications.In the second half your questions are answered. Twitter @FredPerlak# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Cherries are a perennial favorite fruit. However, they are a tree, so their genetic improvement is slow. Episode 27 features Dr. Amy Iezzoni, as she discusses cherry genetic origins and efforts to improve cherry through traditional breeding.In part two, your questions are answered, namely questions about reports of glyphosate in urine, breastmilk and Germans.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

The story of how genetic engineering saved the Hawaiian papaya industry gets lost in the discussion of agronomic crop uses of the technology. This story is important because this is not just a story of technology. It is the story of people.Joni Kamiya tells the story of growing up on her family’s farm and the changes that came with the virus and how the genetically engineered saved production of this traditional crop for their family.Follow Joni on Twitter at @HIFarmersDtr, and her blog at hawaiifarmersdaughter.com The second part of the podcast visits with Cornell plant virologist Dr. Dennis Gonsalves. He studied papaya ringspot virus in the 1970’s and 1980’s, designing clever solutions to treat the disease that plagued the industry in his home state. Into the 1990’s he teamed with others working in genetic engineering to develop a solution for papaya. While the first half of his interview is about the disease and the techniques used to solve it, the second half is about the satisfaction of being a kid growing up, going to university, studying under brilliant and kind supervisors that taught him to think about science, but to also think about people. This is a wonderful interview with a warm and charming wayward Hawaiian boy that returned home to rescue an small-farmers growing a traditional crop in the place he loves. He also touches on how activists derail technology deployment, and how public-sector scientists need to step up in efforts to create products and engage the public.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

In today’s Talking Biotech Podcast the first guest is Keira Havens. She’s the CEO of Revolution Bio, a company turned non-profit that is interested in using the power of plants to introduce the public to the power of genetic engineering. They have found good public support for genetically engineered flowers, and hope that this technology is a gateway to a broader understanding of the technology. In part two, Dr. Natalia Peres talks about the EWG’s Dirty Dozen, especially as the concept applies to strawberries. Strawberries are EWG’s #3 “dirty” fruit on their agenda, and Dr. Peres tells the facts about the pesticides used and their relative risks. Spoiler alert– your strawberries are safe, right out of the field!Revolution Bioengineering = @revolutionbio Natalia Peres, strawberry pathologist # COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Improving plants with biotechnology is not just genetic engineering, it is using tools of molecular biology and genomics to guide traditional breeding strategies. In this episode Dr. Harry Klee from the University of Florida discusses how the Plant Innovation Center utilizes such strategies to breed tomatoes with superior flavors. In part two, University of Manitoba student Chelsea Boonstra discusses how a classroom assignment turned into a social media sensation, and became the public face of her family’s dairy operation. We discuss the role of the farmer as a trusted source of ag information, and the importance of telling their stories using online media.Dr. Klee’s website – Here’s where you can get tomato seeds for a small donation to the breeding program! The Garden Gem Facebook Page On Twitter: @kleelab More Chelsea Boonstra: Chelsea’s Boonstra Farms Video on YouTube On Twitter: @cboon6 or @forevrfarmgirl# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Several weeks ago there was a request for Talking Biotech Podcast to interview Prof Graeme Martin. Prof Martin has a long career in animal reproductive biology, and in recent times has had more focus on how to test new strategies in supporting livestock, crops and the nation’s resident biodiversity. His “Clean, Green and Ethical” approach to animal production dovetails with novel strategies to sustainably raise crops in no-till systems as part of the Future Farm 2050 Project. The discussion describes some simple, logical, low-cost techniques to increase crop production with less impact on the environment and in the context of minimal water resources. This was a wonderful interview that jogs out-of-the-traditional thinking to address key issues in farm sustainability going forward. Please visit (and Like!) the Future Farm 2050 Facebook Page# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Biotech innovation in cassava is necessary to speeding genetic improvement of this food staple. Together with breeding efforts, the new resources derived define new crops that primarily serve the developing world. Yet the Western world knows so little about cassava. This episode of Talking Biotech is part two of the series on cassava genetic improvement. Dr. Barbara Schaal speaks about its genetic origins, migration and domestication. Dr. Nigel Taylor describes the extensive work ongoing at the Danforth Center on cassava, and focuses on installation of virus resistance.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Cassava (Manihot esculentum) is a critical world food crop, the third most consumed staple outside of rice and maize. It is even more critical because it is a vigorous plant that grows well in challenging areas. The crop feeds close to 800,000 people worldwide, mostly in Africa, South America and Asia.Production is challenged by a number of biotic and abiotic factors. Viral diseases move quickly through growing regions, vectored by whiteflies. The starchy tuber also lacks key nutrients.This Talking Biotech episode features Prof. Herve Vanderschuren from the University of Leige. He is part of a team that has engineered key enzymes into cassava to enable the production of Vitamin B6, a key nutrient. The second part speaks to Dr. Laura Boykin, a scientist using bioinformatics tools to characterize the whitefly pest that spreads the devastating viral diseases. She also speaks passionately about the people of eastern Africa, and presents a palpable mission to bring them the technical tools and computational know-how to address their continent’s pressing food problems.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

This eThis episode of Talking Biotech invites you to be the investigator and data collector. The internet is littered with images that claim animals will not eat GMO corn, which is curious because 80% of it goes to animal feed. We have arranged to test that hypothesis through Biology Fortified. If you visit this URL you can make a donation and receive a kit that you can use to generate data for this effort. The podcast discusses the experiment and the acquisition of 2000 lbs of corn to do it! The second part is Dr. Lee Panella talking about the domestication, biology and breeding of sugar beets. For such widely used, versatile and profitable crop, we know so little about it. Dr. Panella provides some new insights into this important agronomic crop.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Today chemophobia rules supreme. From fast-food establishments to farming critics, everyone seems to be an expert, except the experts!Talking Biotech #19 features The SciBabe, Yvette d’Entremont (@TheSciBabe). She has experience in the chemical industries and a background in applied toxicology. This is a light-hearted discussion of “toxic”, what it means, and what we really need to worry about. In the second part, Kevin Folta answers your questions, covering Dr. Don Huber, IARC and glyphosate, using his slides for your presentations, and student tracts in science communication.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

The topic of “pesticides” is the new frontier in the opposition to agricultural biotechnology. Opponents of the technology blame new genetic improvement methods for perceived increases in chemical controls for plant, animal and fungal pests. However, scientists argue that our pest control strategies are increasingly focused, less toxic, and work better. This episode features an interview with Dr. Steve Savage. He is a life-long expert in chemical control of insects and weeds, and has practical experience in evaluating both organic and conventional strategies.He joins us on Talking Biotech to clarify many of the concerns about pesticide usage.Dr. Savage on Twitter: @grapedocHis Blog: Applied Mythology # COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

This week we’re joined by Richard Levine, communications director for the Entomological Society of America. We discuss bees, butterflies, insecticides and some of the current issues in crop protection from an entomological perspective. We then turn to the idea of promoting artwork using a science podcast, and the important effort to get Dr. Barbara McClintock on the ten dollar bill, replacing some guy. We discuss the barriers to her participation in science, and describe why she would be such a fitting presence on our currency– not just because she was a woman, not just because she was a scientist, but because she broken down barriers.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

This week features two discussions with fellows serving in the Global Leadership Program of the Cornell Alliance for Science. The first part is a discussion with Nassib Mugwanya, Outreach Leader for the Ugandan Biosciences Information Center. He discusses the state of biotech solutions in Uganda, both in terms of critical needs and the current pipeline. The second part is a discussion about the public Ask Me Anything event that was held near the university where I served as a panelist. Jayson Merkley is another Fellow in the program. We discuss the surprises and the lessons learned in the event.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

This episode is an introduction to tomatoes, popular fruits that provide great variation to the eye and palate, as well as the foundation of many recipes. Surprisingly, tomatoes are fragile fruits and the plants can be difficult to grow. They are under constant attack from pests and pathogens, and new varieties must deliver profits for growers and beautiful, flavorful fruits for industry and the consumer.Tomato improvement is happening in several ways. Dr. Sam Hutton is an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center outside of Tampa, FL. Dr. Hutton is a traditional breeder that uses molecular tools to speed development of new cultivars for Florida growers. He talks about the origins of tomato, it’s domestication, and the current breeding priorities. He also discusses the challenges to the industry and future opportunities.The second part of the podcast is Dr. Diana Horvath form Two Blades Foundation. Dr. Horvath discusses the BS2 transgenic tomato. The plant has been engineered with a gene from pepper that confers resistance to bacterial diseases. These diseases profoundly affect yields, and require use of anti-microbial compounds in both conventional and organic production. Adoption of the BS2 tomato could increase yields for farmers, decrease production costs, and require fewer pesticides.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

This week’s Talking Biotech features discussion of Huanglongbing (HLB) also known as Citrus Greening Disease. The disease is devastating Florida citrus, and is causing a massive hardship on the State’s iconic industries. We are joined by Ricke Kress from Southern Gardens Citrus, one of the largest producers and processors. Southern Gardens has experienced massive losses from citrus greening, losing over 800,000 trees. They are now in the process of deregulating the first genetically engineered citrus variety. A gene from spinach moved to citrus trees confers tolerance to this disease, and the plants are asymptomatic and productive so far. This is another excellent example of how these technologies, developed by small companies or universities, can solve issues that help ensure future delivery of fresh, healthy fruit.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

This week I had to address the elephant in the room. What’s up with the recent flack about Monsanto funding a science communication outreach program?What is happening with FOIA? What is the future of the Talking Biotech science communication program? Yes, I actually went on a vacation-vacation, first time since April 2002. And it was in a place with no cell signal or internet access.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

This week’s podcast discusses Kevin Folta’s public records situation for 60 seconds.That is followed by a talk with Dr. Andrew McKemey from Oxitec in Oxford, England. Oxitec has a technology that allows rearing of male mosquitoes that transmit a gene that disrupts offspring from developing. This technology has been show to work field situations, providing potential solutions to mosquito-borne disease. Dr. McKemey describes the technology and addresses ecological concerns.In the second part Dr. Phil Stewart from Driscoll’s Strawberry Associates talks about careers in plant breeding. There is a desperate need for plant breeders in both industry and academia. These high-paying, satisfying careers outnumber the supply of graduating students to fill the positions. Dr. Stewart discusses his job, the required preparations, and how interested students can target these lucrative and fulfilling career paths.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

This week’s podcast is an important analysis of two published reports. First, the results from the famous Rothamstead wheat trial show that their transgene does not confer resistance to aphids, inconsistent with their laboratory findings. While this outcome was considered to be a successful, reliable answer, it was billed as an abject failure on anti-biotech activist websites. Today we revisit the issues of publication and peer-review, and the story of the threats of vandalism against the experiment. We then will speak with Prof. John Pickett from Rothamstead Research Institute. We’ll discuss the lab work the trials, and future directions.The second part of the podcast discusses the recent publication from Adyydurai et al that claims transgenic soy produces abnormal amounts of formaldehyde, relative to non-transgenic controls. The conclusion comes from a computational approach that was never experimentally validated. Since, I have extended an offer to test their hypothesis, yet they have not accepted the opportunity to examine if their prediction is in fact correct. Meanwhile, they are using this paper as a warning about transgenic crops.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

This Talking Biotech Podcast features Dr. William Powell from SUNY, where he is co-Director of the American Chestnut Research and Restoration Project. The American Chestnut was a dominant forest tree in Appalachia until the late 1800’s when it was destroyed by disease. Dr. Powell’s project has used a transgenic approach to confer resistance to the disease, with the goal of repatriating the forest with this dominant tree species. Dr. Richard Michelmore from UC-Davis talks about lettuce history, genetics, genomics and breeding, with surprising information about lettuce that will make you never look at a head of lettuce the same way again.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Ag professionals know their businesses and on-farm practices better than anyone. However, they don’t tend to share their story in public space, allowing others (including unscrupulous hucksters and activists) to warp their reality.How do we get the real experts excited about communicating about new technology, and how it is used on the farm? New innovations in crops and animals stand to improve productivity and quality of farm products, with benefits to farmers, the consumer and the environment.This is the topic of Dr. Kevin Folta’s presentation to the Florida Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Symposium in Naples, FL, July 18, 2015. An accompanying slide show is available at www.slideshare.net/kevinfolta . Please use it to talk to others, especially family, concerned friends, and people that need to understand the value of biotech innovations.Innovation goes to application with communication.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

Salmon is an outstanding food for protein, and undeniably great table fare. The AquaBounty company has produced the AquaAdvantage salmon, a fish that grows to production size in less time. This means the same amount of healthy fish using less food, labor, water, and other limited resources. Dave Conley speaks about the salmon, how the trait works, it’s deregulation, and addresses questions about safety and containment. The second part of the podcast visits with Professor Pat Heslop-Harrison, where we discuss banana origins, applications and the challenges to modern cultivation– with an eye on how breeders and biotechnologists might impact the future of this important fruit. Special Guest Host, Ms. Val Swenson.# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.

This episode of Talking Biotech features stories of genetically engineered chickens that do not spread the avian influenza virus. This year over 45 million birds have died or have been euthanized because of illness from the avian flu. Prof. Helen Sang of the Roslin Institute in Edinburgh, Scotland is part of the research team that engineered chickens using a clever strategy– they can catch the virus and become ill, but they do not transmit it. She discusses the technology and its hurdles to commercialization. In the second segment Dr. David Spooner from the USDA ARS and University of Wisconsin talks about the origins of potatoes, the evidence of his path to domestication, and aspects about the future of potato biotechnology. Special guest co-host Amira- Executive Chef.Download / Subscribe on iTunes Download / Subscribe from Stitcher Download / Subscribe from Player FM# COLABRATalking Biotech is brought to you by Colabra – an R&D platform that brings your lab’s world-changing research together in one shared space. Learn more at https://www.colabra.app/# TALKING BIOTECHTwitter: https://twitter.com/talkingbiotechWebsite: https://www.colabra.app/podcasts/talking-biotech/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colabrahqThe Talking Biotech podcast is distinct from Dr. Kevin Folta's teaching and research roles at the University of Florida. The views expressed on the show are those of Dr. Folta and his guests, and do not reflect the opinions of the university or Colabra.