Twenty years ago, the microwave oven brought fear of cancer and health threats, which some professors compare to the debate that genetically modified organisms are bringing today.

The five-member panel was part of the 2000 Institute on World Affairs, “Social Conflict, Trade Disputes and Genetically Modified Organisms.” Colin Scanes, associate dean of agriculture, moderated Thursday’s debate.

Each panelist brought an individual perspective to the discussion, which covered a variety of topics. Panelists included Richard Ross, dean of the College of Agriculture; John Pleasants, temporary assistant professor of zoology and genetics; Gary Munkvold, associate professor of plant pathology; Lorna Butler, Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture; and Dermot Hayes, professor of economics.

Media continue to play a major role in the advancement of GMOs, and Hayes indicated he has done studies in which consumers are in favor of irradiated food if they are given positive information pertaining to the product.

On the contrary, if they are given negative information from activists, their decision is against the product, he said. “Consumers put so little thought into their decisions,” Hayes said. “My concern is to those that go overboard with fears with a technology that has a tremendous potential.”

Butler said many people in favor of GMOs claim they will help feed the world.

“As we know is today, we will not feed the world with biotechnology,” she said. The real causes of hunger are poverty, accessibility, inequality and a lack of organization by the countries, she said.

Many concerns of biotechnical corn arise with the threat to the monarch butterfly population. Pleasants has studied the impact the modified corn pollen has on the butterflies’ future.

Pleasants said biotechnical corn may be a hazard to the butterflies, but it is one of many things that may come into play.

“Anything you do in fields to get rid of milkweeds is going to affect the number of monarchs that may be there,” he said.

Pernell Plath, graduate student in anthropology, is an activist against GMOs. She said she sees the importance of further educating herself about the other side of the issue.

“This is such a complex issue, requiring an increase in everyone’s knowledge about the issues,” she said. “They presented a very interesting aspect of the GMO debate from social, economic and scientific perspectives.”

JoAnn Kovar, graduate student in interdisciplinary international development, got a glimpse into global issues and the influence of globalization.

“I can’t say I’ve decided if it is good or bad,” she said. “I don’t think it can be entirely either one.”