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# GMO debate - Let Them Know on December 3rd!
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/gmo_debate_1203140848/
- Published: 2014-12-03T09:45:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-15T14:28:56.000Z
- Description: Intelligence Squared hosts an Oxford-style GMO debate in New York on December 3, 2014, streamed live, with Robert Fraley and Alison Van Eenennaam for and Charles Benbrook and Margaret Mellon against. Audience voting before and after decides which side wins.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Politics, #vivvo-import

There is an Oxford-style debate on GMOs hosted by Intelligence Squared in NYC, December 3rd, 2014\. It will be live-streamed online. The reception starts at5:45 PM EST and the debate is from 6:45-8:30 PM EST

(with audience voting before and after the debate).

You can cast your initial vote [**here**](http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=ckBJ67nEJnd9OQyc7PFJoO1ynIO7Kth6&ref=foodconsumer.org)

**Robert Fraley** (Monsanto EVP) and **Alison Van Eenennaam** (Researcher, UC Davis) are arguing in support of GMOs, and **Charles Benbrook** (Ctr for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources) and **Margaret Mellon** (Union of Concerned Scientists) are arguing against the motion.

Aside from [**watching**](http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=WM%2FEetGXtScpCCb1Aa%2F3Re1ynIO7Kth6&ref=foodconsumer.org) here's a very important component to the debate: [**AUDIENCE VOTING**](http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=skPiVbEJ%2BMGo7wUJbTzYGu1ynIO7Kth6&ref=foodconsumer.org).

That's right, [**YOU can voice your opinion about GMOs by voting and you can cast your first vote now!**](http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=GajMq8JHLn3IrW6FvLaVGu1ynIO7Kth6&ref=foodconsumer.org)

**The debate polls both the online and the in-studio audience before and after the debate. The winning side of the debate is the side that has changed the mind of the greatest percent of the audience.**   

For example, if Side A starts the debate with 30% support and Side B starts the debate with 55% support (15% undecided), and at the conclusion of the debate, Side A now has 40% support and Side B has 60% support, Side A is the winner. Although Side B has a greater % of support overall, Side A has increased their % by a greater amount and thus wins.  

**NOTE ON STRATEGY - The audience polling is extremely important to the outcome of the debate, as the audience polls are recorded online and presented alongside an archived copy of the debate.**  

It's possible to purposely skew the debate results by appearing to be on one side and then throwing support behind one side or the other at the debate's conclusion, so it's essential that we get as many non-GMO supporters to watch and participate as possible to hold results accountable.  

[**We hope you will watch the debate and vote!**](http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=iyN%2FmI6zH6cc%2Fc1Z2Mk%2B8O1ynIO7Kth6&ref=foodconsumer.org)

You can read more and watch the debate [**here**](http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=AGqxA8zy9b1w6xKJlfCcRu1ynIO7Kth6&ref=foodconsumer.org)  
  
In this together!

SAFE eating begins with INFORMED eating!  
The small but mighty IRT team!

**GET INVOLVED**