Dear fellow biodynamicists, I append below details of the proceedings of a workshop for the biotech and BD/organic agricultural sectors which took place in the fall in Scotland. Biodynamics was well represented amongst both the invited speakers and the participants. As you might expect, such an event was potentially a 'clash of cultures' but some interesting conversations developed which are fully reported in the proceedings.
David Heaf Ifgene UK co-ordinator ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The following publication is now available to order: Title: Genetic Engineering and the Intrinsic Value and Integrity of Animals and Plants -- Proceedings of a Workshop at the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh, UK. Date: 18-21 September 2002 Editors: David Heaf & Johannes Wirz Publisher: Ifgene - International Forum for Genetic Engineering, Publication date: December 2002 ISBN: 0-9541035-1-3 Format: A4; 116 pages; 35 illustrations Contents: What do we mean by the intrinsic value and integrity of plants and animals? -- Holmes Rolston III (Philosophy Department, Colorado University, USA); Engineering genesis: pioneering genetic engineering and ethics in Scotland -- Donald Bruce (Society, Religion & Technology Project, Scotland); Seeing the integrity and intrinsic value of animals: developing appreciative modes of understanding -- Craig Holdrege (The Nature Institute, NY, USA); Does genetic engineering impact the intrinsic value and integrity of plants? -- Howard Davies (Scottish Crops Research Institute); Phenomenological studies on transgenic potatoes: genetic modification adds more than intended traits -- Ruth Richter (Naturwissenschaftliche Sektion, Goetheanum, Switzerland); Does genetic engineering impact the intrinsic value and integrity of animals? -- Henk Verhoog (Louis Bolk Institute, Netherlands); Does genetic engineering impact the intrinsic value and integrity of animals? -- Harry Griffin (Roslin Institute, Scotland); Why is it in the farmer's interest to pay attention to the intrinsic value and integrity of animals and plants? -- Timothy Brink (Demeter Standards, UK); New rules for a new situation: protecting animals' interests in the era of genetic engineering -- Mike Radford (Law Department, Aberdeen University, Scotland); Could genetic engineering be part of a sustainable breeding approach? -- Christina Henatsch (Kultursaat, Germany); Naturalness and breeding in organic farming -- Ton Baars (Louis Bolk Institute, Netherlands); The socio-economic implications of biotechnology in agriculture: exploring the issues -- Ben Davies, Caspian Richards and Clive L. Spash (Macaulay Institute, Scotland); Progress towards a science of organisms: genetically modified animals – Bruce Whitelaw (Roslin Institute, Scotland); Towards a science of organism: lessons to learn from phenomenology -- Johannes Wirz (Naturwissenschaftliche Sektion, Goetheanum, Switzerland); Making a social contract for biotechnology -- Donald Bruce (Society, Religion & Technology Project, Scotland); Genetic engineering and intrinsic value: the New Zealand experience -- Alastair S. Gunn and Kelly A. Tudhope (Philosophy Department, Waikato University, New Zealand); The relation between ethics and aesthetics in connection with moral judgements about gene technology -- Michael Hauskeller (Exeter Genomics Research Centre, UK); Maize landrace integrity and transgenic introgression: the recent Mexican experience -- Fernando Ortiz Monasterio (Cibiogem, Mexico); Experts and the public assessing intrinsic ethical concerns: experiences with the Dutch animal biotechnology policy -- Lino Paula (Ecological & Evolutionary Sciences Institute, Leiden, Netherlands); Substantial equivalence and ethical equivalence: contrasting approaches -- Sylvie Pouteau (National Agricultural Research Institute (INRA), France); The intrinsic value of micro-organisms -- Judyth Sassoon (Biochemistry Department, Bath University, UK). Includes transcripts of all discussions. Summary and full details of how to order are at: http://www.anth.org/ifgene/2002.htm Enquiries: David Heaf Email: 101622 (dot) 2773 (at) compuserve (dot) com Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1766 523181 Ifgene UK Hafan Cae Llwyd Llanystumdwy LL52 0SG UK