Press Releases

On loan from the Science Museum, London, Future Foods - An exhibition debating genetic modification takes an investigative look into the global food crisis and the debate surrounding genetically modified (GM) crops.

Housed in a specially contained exhibition space, Future Foods explores GM technology and the alternatives. It asks visitors where they stand in today’s GM debate by presenting them with the latest scientific evidence.

Set against the backdrop of the current global food crisis, the exhibition will provide an explanation of what genetic modification is and explores how we might reinvent agricultural methods. It also looks at how GM crops could help provide a solution to the food crisis.

Andrew Deathe, Gallery Author at the National Waterfront Museum said: “We’re delighted to be hosting this interactive exhibition. GM is a hot topic, with a lot of opinion about the risks and benefits on both sides of the debate. The exhibition looks at the latest GM and non-GM options for improving crop yields and provides visitors with the current arguments around GM, empowering them with the knowledge to make their own decisions and join in the debate.”

As part of the Museum's events programme, visitors will also have the chance to design their very own food for the future. The drop-in workshops will take place throughout the Easter holidays (6-18 April, 11am-1pm and 2-4pm) and will be an opportunity to learn about what different conditions mean for growing foods.

And, on Sunday 2 May, visitors can join Professor Dennis Murphy, advisor to the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation to debate important issues about GM food. The talk is ideal for adults and young people and starts at 2.30pm.

Future Foods - an exhibition debating genetic modification, is sponsored by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) and will run at the National Waterfront Museum until Tuesday 1 June 2010.

Notes to editors

For further information please contact Marie Szymonski on 01792 638950 or email: marie.szymonski@museumwales.ac.uk

Admission to Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales sites is free thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Amgueddfa Cymru operates seven national museums across Wales.

• National Museum Cardiff

• St Fagans: National History Museum

• National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon

• Big Pit: National Coal Museum

• National Wool Museum, Dre-fach

• National Slate Museum, Llanberis

• National Waterfront Museum, Swansea

CGIAR and Genetic Modification

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), established in 1971, is a strategic partnership of countries, international and regional organisations and private foundations supporting the work of 15 international agricultural research Centres. In collaboration with national agricultural research systems, civil society and the private sector, CGIAR fosters sustainable agricultural growth through high-quality science aimed at benefiting the poor through stronger food security, better human nutrition and health, higher incomes and improved management of natural resources.

CGIAR researchers, in search of better solutions to the global food crisis, are expanding their use of new biotechnologies for crop improvement, with much emphasis on molecular breeding and less on the development of GM crops. CGIAR is supporting the Future Foods UK tour to provide an opportunity for a public science-based debate on the roles of such technologies in meeting future challenges for agriculture. For further information, visit www.cgiar.org

Science Museum

The Science Museum, London, is the sole designer and creator of Future Foods - an exhibition debating genetic modification. For further information, visit www.sciencemuseum.org.uk