Harold Stone Lectures

Dr. Pence is a biochemist, with emphasis on cloning and reproductive ethic. Pence started off his presentation by speaking about the four theories about why people believe what they do about food. Leading in to the question; organic or genetically modified food, which is better? According to Pence, food is a complex issue yet little has been written on it. People need to be more cautious about food and the central issues: trust and safety.

Pence’s four theories are the following. Theory #1 is that food should be simple, traditional, and locally grown. Natural and safe. Theory #2 is that food should be equality, shared equally everywhere. Food egalitartis as Pence referred to it as. The third theory was food globalism. Going into detail about the benefits from the global trade of food. Theory #4 was on food progressives, which Pence supported. Science give us tools to grown better food, with a larger crop. As pence said if there is a tool on the table such as food enhancement, why take it off the table?

There has been no conclusive evidence that organic food is richer in nutritious than processed food. It is however more expensive, which becomes an ethic issue, should people make that much profit off food?

In the end Pence stated that food can be looked at like a scale the top being the safest food with no allergies, platonic perfection. this is what we want to stick to. In the middle there is the food that can make you sick, food poisoning. At the bottom is the food you want to steer clear of, foods that are contaminated by e.coli which can be deadly.

I personally was not very impressed with the lecture. He read mainly off the slides, without much further explanation. His personal opinion was also very had to read, I knew only because his title is a biochemist with and emphasis in cloning and reproductive ethic. Without this it would not have been completely clear. One could tell from the lecture he knew what he was presenting about and had passion, but as a public speaker I was not drawn in by his emphasis or presentation skills.

I was not moved by his presentation, his facts did not persuade me to move toward genetically modified foods, or processed foods. After his presentation I feel stronger than ever about sticking to organic foods.