The coexistence of genetically modified and organic crops could be a serious problem for some Iowa farmers who are looking to keep their sensitive seed away from hybridization.

The topic will be discussed in a symposium organized by Iowa State’s bioethics program Saturday. Brad Brummond, a North Dakota State University Extension Service agent, will be featured at the lecture and will also preside over the panel.

Brummond has worked extensively with the issues involving coexistence of genetically modified and organic crops.

Iowans are interested in the agriculture of both organic and genetically-modified crops, and are concerned with the appropriate management practices for the different crops, said Clark Wolf, director of bioethics at Iowa State, a program within the department of philosophy and religious studies.

“Organic crops can be damaged by [genetically modified] contenders. This can be a serious detriment for organic farmers,” Wolf said.

Although Iowa has a lot of transgenic and herbicide-resistant corn crops, it also has a large organic farming population, Brummond said.

He said the audience for the symposium will be mainly agriculture-oriented people who are interested in the differences of the food they eat. Consumers who are interested might also be present, he said.

“Some people have opinions on what they want to eat, some think that it’s OK — whatever the FDA approves,” he said.

Brummond also put together a group panel regarding this topic in South Dakota. The topic of genetically modified and organic crops is one that Iowans can surely relate to, he said.

Brummond’s hour-long presentation will be followed by a discussion with a panel of experts, which will include Manjit Misra, director of agricultural and biosystems engineering, and Ricardo Salvador, interim director of agronomy.

The panel will also include Don Duvick, affiliate professor of agronomy and former vice president of Pioneer Hi-Bred International. Another panel member, Laura Krouse, is an organic producer who grows and sells seeds, and teaches at Cornell College in Mount Vernon.

“Hopefully people will express different views on this,” Wolf said. “It’s a controversial topic in Iowa agriculture.”

Who: Coexistence of Genetically Modified and Organic Crops Symposium

Where: Gallery of the Memorial Union

When: 2- 5:30 p.m. Saturday

Cost: free