Repensar las prácticas agrícolas | Dr. Andrey Zarur | TEDxFargo

El doctor Andrey Zarur, que trabajó en el tratamiento del cáncer antes de dedicarse a la agricultura, sostiene que el uso intensivo de pesticidas químicos puede afectar la salud humana y los ecosistemas. Su interés surgió cuando su hijo reaccionó gravemente a sustancias químicas presentes en los alimentos. Relaciona la resistencia de las plagas, el uso de productos químicos y la pérdida de biodiversidad con un desafío más amplio. Propone herramientas biológicas, inspiradas en la medicina, para un control de plagas más preciso en lugar de añadir más químicos. TED señala que se trata de opiniones personales del orador y que algunas afirmaciones sobre los químicos agrícolas están en debate.

• Preocupaciones por el uso de pesticidas, la resistencia de las plagas y la pérdida de biodiversidad
• Enfoques biológicos inspirados en la medicina para controlar plagas
• Métodos basados en ARN que atacan insectos específicos

NOTE FROM TED: While some chemical pesticides have been identified as a public health and safety concern, several claims around the prevalence and long-term health effects of agricultural chemicals have been contested by experts working in the field and warrant further scientific investigation. This talk only represents the speaker's personal views of and business approach to agriculture, pest management, and health. We've flagged this talk because it falls outside the content guidelines TED gives TEDx organizers. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines we give TEDx organizers are described in more detail here: http://storage.ted.com/tedx/manuals/tedx_content_guidelines.pdf What if agriculture is telling us something about the future of human health? After building a career in cancer treatment, Dr. Andrey Zaurer made an unexpected transition into agriculture when his child experienced severe reactions to chemicals in food. What he discovered was a larger challenge: the same chemical-heavy approach used to protect crops can have consequences for people and the ecosystems that sustain them. As agriculture works to feed a growing global population with limited land, farmers face increasing pest resistance, chemical use, and biodiversity loss. Andrey argues that the answer isn't simply using more chemicals—or relying on organic farming alone. Instead, agriculture can learn from medicine by using biology to create more precise solutions. From RNA-based pest control that targets specific insects to new approaches that protect beneficial species, Andrey explores how biological tools could help farmers protect crops while reducing unintended impacts on people and the environment. The warning signs are already here. The question is whether we choose to listen—and build a better way forward. Dr. Andrey J. Zarur, President and CEO, co-founded GreenLight Biosciences in 2008 to develop advanced biological solutions to overcome some of the biggest challenges faced by the human race, including sustainable food production, response and preparedness for pandemics, and global access to effective human health. He is a co-founder and was Chairman of the Board of Solid Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: SLDB), a gene therapy company targeting Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. He is also co-founder and Chairman of the Board at Lumicell Surgical, an oncology company delivering advanced imaging solutions to cancer surgery. He has been a co-founder and senior executive in more than a dozen companies in the healthcare and clean energy sectors. Prior to starting GreenLight Bio, Andrey was Managing Partner at Kodiak Venture Partners, an early-stage, technology-driven venture fund based in Boston. Dr. Zarur carried out graduate doctoral studies in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Immunology at Harvard-MIT. Andrey is a frequently invited speaker at scientific and trade conferences, has authored a num