Seeds of Contention: Speaker Series at Stone Barns

From Stone Barns:

Tomorrow's Harvest: How our changing agricultural landscape shapes what we'll be eating in the future.

First part in speaker series Seeds of Contention, moderated by Dan Barber:

 Autar Mattoo – Plant Physiologist/Biochemist, Sustainable Agricultural Systems Lab, USDA-ARS
Frank Morton – Organic seed and vegetable farmer, Wild Garden Seed and Shoulder to Shoulder Farm, Philomath, Oregon

Ever wonder why supermarket strawberries can taste dry and flavorless, while berries from the farmers’ market are sweet and juicy? About why the debate about using technology vs. use of traditional methods in agriculture is so contentious? As Autar Mattoo and Frank Morton will tell us, the answer lies in the seed. One of our speakers focuses on innovation and technology; the other focuses on ideas based on natural selection that, he argues, best guard against risks to humans and the environment. You will learn not only the differences between traditional seed breeding and use of technology to advance genetic selection, but also how and why farmers and breeders select for certain traits over others to heighten the flavor and nutritional value of the foods we eat. Join us to hear from two thinkers who are investing in two different approaches to increasing the diversity, flavor and resilience of sustainably grown fruits and vegetables.