Speaker Details

Prof Hans- Joerg Jacobsen

Biography

NAME Jacobsen, Hans-Jörg DATE OF BIRTH 29.04.1949 NATIONALITY: German EDUCATION Student (Biology, University of Bonn) 1969-1974 Diploma in Biology (1974), Ph.D. in Genetics 1978, Professor (C2) 1987, Professor (C3) 1991,University of Hannover LANGUAGE German-mother language English-fluent French- reading POSITION HELD AND DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES Professor and Head of Dept. Plant Biotechnology DETAILED TASKS ASSIGNED (since 1999) Host of Alexander v. Humboldt-Fellows from Bangladesh and Syria 2. Project leader in biotech projects with ICARDA and CIAT, funded by GTZ/BMZ, 1996-1999, 1999-2004, 2002-2005,2004-2007 3. Visiting Professor, Northeastern University Boston, teaching “Plant Biotechnology” (since 2001) Scientific coordinator for the DSE.course on “BIOTECHNOLOGY: MICROPROPAGATION AND RELATED TECHNIQUES FOR THE CONSERVATION AND USE OF PLANT GENETIC RESOURCES AND THE IMPROVEMENT OF CROPS”, 1995-2003 Coordinator of the research program “Agrobiotechnology 1999-2004”, state of Lower Saxony Since 2003: Member of the Advisory Board to the Minister for “Plant Genetic Ressources”, BMVEL, Germany Vice-President (1998-2000), President (2001-2004) of the German Association of Biologists (vdbiol) Nov 2004, 2006 member of an international Peer Group for Evaluating Centers of Excellence (Biotechnology) in Colombia (Colsciencias) Member of the Editorial Board or Associate Editor for EUPHYTICA, Journal of Plant Physiology etc. from Oct 1, 2005: Elected Spokesman for the German Biology Faculties (KBF)

Abstract

Is "Natural" always "Safe" and "Synthetic" alwayd "Hazardous"?

Current debates on biosafety focus solely on GMOs, sometomes using exaggerated or scientifically flawed scenarios on virtual hazards. This debate is completey ignoring real risks as they com from the use of old-fashioned pesticides in developing countries or the use of "natural" extracts in organic farming. Also the higher risk for microbial contaminations in food products produced using manure as fertilizer is under the radar of public perception. The presenation will highlight some of these real risks in order to pave the way for a more realistic debate.