b'THE RISK CORNER BY: DAVID ZARUKRATIONAL RESEARCH IN A WORLD GONE MADT here are a variety of definitions ofproblems dictated by the naturopaths?science: as a methodology, a tool,Science is not democratic. If a majority a process of discovery Since thevote against the laws of gravity, it does not time of Copernicus, scientists have alwaysmean we will suddenly be suspended in air. challenged their own theories and para- But should the will of the people apply to digms, while provoking religious and polit- future research innovations? If seed research ical dogmas. solves important problems but goes against Today we are living in provocativethe interests of a loud representation of a times, but the pressure is coming from thepopulation, should those views be respected food puritans, particularly in the Unitedabove the problem solvers? States, leaving certain scientific commu- For 30 years, our response against nities under existential pressure. Whatbiotech reluctance was better communica-should researchers do in a world where theirtions. If we explained to the public why this expertise, technologies and innovations areresearch was important, then they would largely unwelcome by the political powersaccept the innovations. But the loudest and societal influencers? voices of dissent never listen. Now with the likes of RFK Jr. and Dr. Oz controlling SCIENCE AS PROBLEMimportant U.S. health, food and research SOLVING? departments and agencies, they dont need Science is first and foremost a problem-solv- moved policies to ban synthetic pesticides,to listen. More communication wont solve ing endeavour. Where problems are identi- fertilizers, gene editing, food processing andthis problem.fied, sciences exist to postulate solutions.industrial-scale farming in the United States.This implies that research then is to Scientists continually iterate and innovateTwo months into the second Trumpbe in service not to the needs of society, to manage the solutions. administration, Robert F Kennedy Jr. isbut to the will of the people. Should seed The threats to global food supply areweaponizing the HHS, FDA and NIH toresearchers be looking for all natural solu-immense, as plant biologists and agrono- remove any non-natural processes in thetions to the food supplyecologicalmists confront challenges posed by growingfood chain. He has taken his anti-scienceeconomic challenges? Should they become populations, climate change, and ecologi- campaign activists, armies of moms andsocial scientists first?cal concerns. However, innovations in seedagroecologists on a mission to radically and agriculture have led to exponentialchange the U.S. food system. ONLY WHEN BELLIES ARE FULLincreases in yields and well-being, reduc- Many large food corporations, in pro- In meeting the demands of food puritans, tions in cultivated land, enhanced nutri- tecting their brands, are bowing to RFKpeople will sadly go hungry in less advanced tional qualities, and advancements in soilJrs pressure tactics, vowing to replace theeconomies. As the ethical values of social and water preservation solutions their scientists had developedjustice, anti-capitalist activists hold sway This is a continuous iterative process. with natural alternatives that activists haveonly when bellies are full, there is a moral campaigned for. Agency scientific panelimperative for the scientific community to WHEN SEED RESEARCHmembers will change, and public researchcontinue to find the best solutions while BECAME THE PROBLEM funding grants will be directed towardwaiting for reason and sanity to purge the The innovations that solved important foodnaturopathic alternatives. food conspiracies and superstitions.chain challenges from the time of NormanThe problem in the U.S. today is theCopernicus and Newton continued Borlaug hit an eco-religious wall. Seed solu- seed researcher, the agronomist and the bio- their work while forced to bow to the reli-tions were seen as unnatural and as indus- tech company, while the political solution isgious elites of their day. Likewise, the seed trial agriculture coexisting with pesticideto go back to 19th century practices. research community must not waiver in applications. Organic food industry market- pursuing the best solutions to pressing food ers used this perception as a means to growWHAT RESEARCH NEEDS ORchallenges, despite the dogma of the present their brand opportunities and agroecolo- WHAT SOCIETY WANTS? political elites. Sadly though, like Lysenkos gists used these confrontations to advanceScience has always identified the prob- Soviet Union or Vandana Shivas Sri Lanka, their anti-capitalist political dogma. lems and developed the best solutions. Thecommon sense and respect for evidence will Wider issues in the food industry andgreatest names in the history of science haveonly return when the cupboard is bare. their lack of commitment to defend thestood up and fought against the institutions agriculture value chain led to a public back- of their time (mostly religions) who viewedDavid Zaruk is a professor based in Brussels lash toward conventional food, farming andtheir endeavours as heresy. Should they bowwriting on environmental-health risk policy land use. What started as a fringe activistto the demands of the eco-religious cults inwithin the EU Bubble. He writes a blog under campaign against agrotechnologies quicklypower today and only find answers to thethe name: The Risk-Monger.MAY 2025|SEEDWORLD.COM/EUROPEISEED WORLD EUROPE I 25'