It included American Lester Crawford's recap of how the U.S. government reviewed and regulates ag biotech. Then came an intriguing presentation from Suntory, a prominent Japanese firm, about using biotech to create blue chrythsanthemums. After the scientists' remarks came the made-for TV activities. To the left of the speakers' dais, a man wearing a white lab coat extracted DNA from broccoli. An assistant held up the clear glass, with the strands of DNA visible.
Biotechnology is simple and accessible.
At the back of the room, waiters and chefs served slices of meat and tofu and other foods made with biotech corn and soybeans. Here, session organizers borrowed a page from George W. Bush's presidential campaign. According to one journalist covering the campaign, Bush's staff figured good food can lead to good press. When journalists left the biotech session that afternoon, they received some of the beautiful blue, genetically modified chrysanthemums. With that gift came the unspoken message biotechnology is not only safe, but also beautiful.