Bill Gates in The Seattle Times: Support for Technology That Helps Feed the World

It was good to see Bill Gates weigh in on the use of biotechnology to help feed the world. Here's a portion of his comments from an article in The Seattle Times:

The Gates Foundation has infused much-needed energy and $1.4 billion of funding into agricultural development in Africa and South Asia over the past three years. But its approach has drawn heated criticism from those who say it is too heavily focused on technology solutions and higher yields, a path that risks repeating the mistakes of the original Green Revolution.

Gates will argue that the "ideological wedge" between groups who disregard environmental concerns and groups who discount productivity gains could thwart major breakthroughs that are within reach.

"It's a false choice, and it's dangerous for the field," Gates said in advance excerpts from the speech. "It blocks important advances. It breeds hostility among people who need to work together. And it makes it hard to launch a comprehensive program to help poor farmers. The fact is, we need both productivity and sustainability -- and there is no reason we can't have both."

Speaking at the World Food Prize Symposium in Des Moines, Iowa, Gates also announced a $120 million package of agriculture-related grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to nine institutions around the world.