Why Did Bill Nye Change His Mind about GMOs?

Summary

In this StarTalk episode, Bill Nye, known for his cautious stance on genetically modified organisms (GMOs), discusses his change of heart regarding their safety and efficacy. Initially skeptical about the ecological impact of GMOs, Nye's opinions shifted after meeting agricultural experts and conducting further research. He now acknowledges the benefits of GMOs, such as increased food production on less land and reduced need for harmful herbicides. Nye underscores the importance of basing opinions on scientific evidence, admitting that his earlier skepticism was overcome by new findings about GMO safety and efficiency compared to traditional organic farming. He remains open to adapting his views as science evolves, emphasizing the role of scientific inquiry in shaping informed perspectives.

Highlights

• Bill Nye addressed GMO questions and revealed his change of heart on StarTalk. 🎙️
• He initially advised caution in his book but later became more supportive of GMOs. 📚
• Nye's research suggests no difference in allergies between GMO and non-GMO consumers. 🤓
• The introduction of GMOs allows for less tillage and overall better land usage. 🚜
• The evolution of resistant weeds continues to challenge agricultural practices. 🌾

Key Takeaways

• Bill Nye shifts his stance on GMOs, citing new scientific findings 🌱.
• Meeting experts like Rob Fry influenced Nye's change of heart on GMOs 🤝.
• GMOs help feed growing populations with less land use 🌍.
• Glyphosate, used in GMOs, is found to be relatively benign compared to other herbicides 🌿.
• Scientific inquiry and open-mindedness are key to Bill Nye's evolving views 🔬.

Overview

Bill Nye, famous for his curiosity and dedication to science, shared an interesting story on StarTalk about how his views on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) evolved. Once a skeptic, Nye believed GMOs might negatively impact ecosystems. However, through continued learning and interaction with experts in the field, such as Rob Fry, a notable agricultural awardee, Nye became convinced of the positive role GMOs can play, especially in feeding a growing global population with limited land resources.

Scientific research played a crucial role in altering Nye's perspectives. Initially concerned about potential ecological damage, Nye engaged with further studies and revised his opinion on GMOs like those developed by Monsanto, which use glyphosate—a relatively benign herbicide. He now sees GMOs as an effective tool to produce sufficient food for a large population while minimizing environmental harm, highlighting a balanced view based on evidence.

Nye's transformation underscores the importance of staying open to new information and aligning one's opinions with scientific evidence. His journey emphasizes that even longstanding views can change in the light of new scientific insights. This episode of StarTalk not only informs listeners about GMOs but also inspires a mindset of continuous learning and adaptability, crucial for advancing scientific discourse and understanding.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction and Book Discussion The chapter begins with an introduction to the topic and a brief discussion about the host of the talk show, often receiving numerous questions from listeners regarding GMOs. Although these questions are specifically directed towards the co-host, Mr. NY, suggesting his renowned expertise or public persona warrants such queries.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Initial Opinion on GMOs The chapter 'Initial Opinion on GMOs' starts with the author discussing their book which contains a chapter on genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Initially, the author expresses a cautious stance towards GMOs, suggesting that their impact on ecosystems is unpredictable. However, over time and after further exploration, their opinion on GMOs has evolved significantly.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Meeting with Rob Fry and Learning from Experts In this chapter titled 'Meeting with Rob Fry and Learning from Experts,' the narrator discusses a meeting with Rob Fry, a recipient of the World Food Prize, which is likened to the Nobel Prize for agriculture. Rob Fry is presented as a knowledgeable and positive figure in the field. He and his colleagues hold a progressive belief that it is possible to produce enough food to feed nine billion people using 2% less land than is currently being utilized, despite the earth's current population of nearly 7.3 billion.
• 01:30 - 02:00: Understanding Glyphosate and Monsanto's Innovations The chapter titled "Understanding Glyphosate and Monsanto's Innovations" explores the development and impact of glyphosate by Monsanto. The company created glyphosate, or an ass salt of glyphosate, as a chemical solution to enhance agricultural practices. Its main feature is that it adheres well to soil and effectively kills all greenery by inhibiting the shikimate acid pathway, a method likened to salting the Earth.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Changing Views on Glyphosate The chapter discusses the development of a gene by Rob Fry and other scientists at Monsanto, allowing the completion of the shikimic acid pathway in plants. This led to the creation of 'Roundup Ready' crops such as soybean, corn, and cotton. The text also mentions the widespread recognition of Roundup as a weed killer.
• 02:30 - 03:00: Comparing GMO and Non-GMO Foods The chapter discusses the comparison between GMO and non-GMO foods, focusing on the herbicide glyphosate. It begins with an assertion about glyphosate's effectiveness at killing weeds, noting it can kill any green plant. Despite some exceptions, which are relevant to the discussion, the argument is made that glyphosate is relatively benign compared to other herbicides. Initially skeptical about GMO foods, the narrator admits to changing their mind after conducting research, indicating a shift in perspective on the topic.
• 03:00 - 03:30: Organic Farming Challenges The chapter discusses the various challenges associated with organic farming compared to modern farming practices. It highlights that, contrary to popular belief, there is no significant difference in allergies between consumers of GMO and non-GMO foods. However, organic farming requires significantly more resources, such as water and soil tillage. The necessity for tilling leads to a reduced diversity of microbes in the soil. In contrast, modern farming techniques using Roundup Ready crops, which do not require tillage for weed control, can help preserve soil microbial diversity. The chapter also mentions the presence of a notorious weed, though its impact or management is not detailed in the provided transcript.
• 03:30 - 04:00: Pig Weed and Evolving Resistance This chapter discusses pig weed, an evolutionarily adaptable plant that was once consumed by people for its edible leaves. Nowadays, it's predominantly considered a weed. It has developed a redundant gene over the past few decades, indicating its ability to evolve and adapt.
• 04:00 - 04:30: Farmers' Methods and Conclusion The chapter focuses on discussing weed resistance to Roundup, a common herbicide, due to a specific gene making shikimic acid that Roundup cannot kill. As a result, Roundup-resistant weeds have developed. Farmers now manage weeds mechanically, the old-fashioned way, by physically digging them up. The text highlights stories from seed companies like Monsanto, Pioneer, and Dupont, where employees reflect on their farming backgrounds and experiences dealing with weeds without relying on modern chemical solutions.

Why Did Bill Nye Change His Mind about GMOs? Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 this is star [Music] talk I have a ton of questions from GMOs and they are all here's the weird thing and I don't know they are all addressed to you they're saying Bill Dear Mr NY dearest Mr NY why are all these people asking you about uh GMOs here's here's the thing okay I wrote a book uh New York Times best hour undeniable evolution in the science of
• 00:30 - 01:00 creation yes and in that book I had by the way it's a great book I love you man uh by the way in that or the point is or the thing of it is in the book I have a chapter about genetically modified organisms right and at that time when I wrote it I said it's always good to be cautious it's uh you don't know what you're going to do to the ecosystem uh but this led to uh controversy because turns out GMOs in my opinion I spent some more time I met the
• 01:00 - 01:30 the guy who won the world food prize okay uh Rob fry won it's like the uh Nobel Prize for farming for agriculture for agriculture and he's in my opinion really not such a bad guy and uh he believes that we can raise more food than ever on less land in other words we have 7.2 almost 7.3 billion people on Earth today okay he believes or he his colleagues believe they can raise food for nine billion people on 2% less land
• 01:30 - 02:00 which is great that's a noble goal that is a no and here's the thing that happened uh in my opinion uh Monsanto developed something called glyphosate okay or rather ass salt of glyphosate this is a way to put this uh chemical onto soil and have it stay there pretty well okay anyway kills everything that's green kills everything by inhibiting the shikimate acid pathway so you're literally salting the Earth
• 02:00 - 02:30 yes so yes however uh what Rob fry and these several other guys who were working at Monsanto they beaded Monsanto what they did is develop a gene that lets this shikimic acid pathway get completed in the green plant anyway gotcha and this is the so-called uh Roundup Ready soybean corn cotton was the first one right and here's there's two things so now everybody is familiar with round up as a weed killer it does
• 02:30 - 03:00 kill weeds it kills any green plant any green plant with a couple exceptions which are quite relevant anyway uh uh he uh he uh argues that glyphosate's really not such a bad thing compared to all the other herbicides glyphosate's pretty benign which I I've done research now and I've decided that's true I've changed my mind about genetically modified foods that's the that's the top line so it's the Top Line you've changed your mind about GMO I looked into it
• 03:00 - 03:30 there's no difference between allergies among GMO eaters and non-GMO eaters there is a big difference in inputs from an agricultural standpoint organic farming takes a lot more water takes a lot more tillage yes it ends up actually you end up with less diversity of microbes in the soil with uh modern Roundup Ready crops because you don't have to till you don't have to turn the soil over to kill the weeds right however there is a notorious weed called
• 03:30 - 04:00 Pig weed which is every bit as friendly as it sounds oh okay and uh but is it as delicious as bacon actually they used to we people used to eat it eat the leaves of arthus uh plants but now it's considered a weed because it's you have to go to a lot of trouble to get the food worth out of it gotcha and it has a redundant Gene now in other words it has evolved over the last couple decades okay so that it has it Amplified the
• 04:00 - 04:30 gene that makes the shikimic acid and so Roundup doesn't kill it it can't kill it yeah so now you have a Roundup resistant weed now that's what you got so right now they control it the the adverb is mechanically they tear it up they dig it up yeah and these guys at the oldfashioned way that's right these the farmers at Monsanto and Pioneer and Dupont they all tell stories these are seed companies they all tell stories when they were kids they were farmers they dug up weeds right and it was not
• 04:30 - 05:00 really the good old days so uh I've changed my mind about genetically modified organisms and that's why these things have come in I mean I but I claim Chuck that I went about it in a scientific fashion this is Star [Music] Talk