Responding to a Greenpeace representative's plea for organic agriculture, Mr. Monyo said that he and many other Africans had grown up on organic agriculture and saw biotechnology playing a key role in solving the developing world's hunger problems. The conference gave three Dutch government ministers the opportunity to express their concern about lagging life science research and to announce new programs to promote biotechnology. Cybercasting, including taking questions from cyberspace, effectively expanded the conference's audience. A concerted effort to build a diverse audience, including nongovernmental organizations and parliamentarians, made the question and answer period ideal for all views to be heard. An early and intensive effort is necessary to attract major international press to such events.
Biotechnology is only one item on the global agenda.
But the controversy surrounding this topic is characteristic of today's lopsided debates on complex, scientific issues. The Hague conference suggests that discussion and informed, open dissemination of information advance understanding of multi-faceted global issues such as biotechnology.