Retired Alfred State professor talks GMO foods with Honors Program students

At a glance

The Honors program students pictured with Emeritus Professor John Buckwalter Emeritus Professor John Buckwalter returned to the Alfred State campus recently to meet with members of the college’s Honors Program, and present up-to-date information on GMO (genetically-modified organism) foods.

Mon, 02/27/2017 - 15:45

The Honors program students pictured with Emeritus Professor John Buckwalter — Pictured from left to right are Alfred State Honors Program students Mary Rose Ricotta (forensic science technology, Derby), ShirleeJae Illsley (architecture, Castle Creek), Nic Covelli (surveying and geomatics engineering technology, Stormville), Professor Emeritus John Buckwalter, Stacy Duink (architecture, Hamburg), Brittany Richards (forensic science technology, Piffard), Cassandra Ryan (mechanical engineering technology, Gloversville), and Ian Potash (digital media and animation, Syracuse).

Emeritus Professor John Buckwalter returned to the Alfred State campus recently to meet with members of the college’s Honors Program, and present up-to-date information on GMO (genetically-modified organism) foods.

The topic of GMO foods is sometimes controversial, and the processes behind creating them are often poorly understood by the average person, Buckwalter said. While the benefits of using the process to create pest-resistant strains of numerous plants are clear, not every country allows GMO crops to be planted.

According to Buckwalter, humans have been genetically ‘modifying’ food crop plants for millennia, and today’s GMO foods have undergone a lengthy, rigorous review process before being introduced to the public. Buckwalter retired in 2013 after teaching biology at the college for 31 years, finishing his career at the rank of SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor. During his career, Buckwalter also taught in Ethiopia, China, and Russia, accompanied to each location by his wife, Laurel.