Purdue News

March 1, 2002 Purdue to host symposium on French and American agriculture WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A symposium on the similarities and differences between French and American agriculture will take place March 21 on the Purdue University campus. "The Politics and Promise of Agriculture in France and in America: A Comparative Perspective," will be 2-4 p.m. in the Krannert Auditorium. The symposium is sponsored by the Indiana Humanities Council and hosted by the Department of International Programs in Agriculture at Purdue. The event is free and open to the public. The symposium will explore issues important to trans-Atlantic views on agriculture, such as: government policy, new technology, economics, marketing and trade issues, environmental issues, food safety, and social issues such as the future of the family farm and rural/urban interface. David Sammons, associate dean and director of International Programs in Agriculture, says the symposium will look at issues of diversity and similarity between France and the United States. "This is a chance for people to look at issues that are divisive between European and American agriculture and see that we're not as different as we think," Sammons says. An issue that Sammons believes will be a hot topic for the symposium will be genetically modified organisms. "Europeans have been unwilling to accept GMOs in their food supply, thereby making a limited market for U.S. corn and soybeans," he says. "This issue greatly affects trade between the United States and Europe. The symposium will offer a chance for both Europeans and Americans to voice their concerns on this topic and come to some understanding." There will be brief presentations by each of the six guest panelists, three from France and three from the United States, followed by a discussion period with the audience and ending with refreshments. For more information, contact Sammons at (765) 494-6876, djs@agad.purdue.edu. CONTACT: David Sammons, (765) 494-6876, djs@agad.purdue.edu. Writer: Andrea Gregory, (765) 494-8402, news_students@aes.purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page