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Pam Ronald & Raoul Adamchak

In a Nutshell

Pamela and her husband Raoul advocate for combining genetic engineering (like the development of flood-tolerant rice) and organic practices to create a sustainable and secure global food future.

About Pam And Raoul

Dr. Pamela Ronald is a globally recognized plant geneticist and a Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis). Her husband, Raoul Adamchak, is an experienced organic farmer who previously managed the organic farm on the UC Davis campus. This unexpected duo works to prove that genetic engineering and organic farming are not enemies but essential partners in creating a sustainable food system capable of feeding the world. Pamela’s research focuses on finding genes that allow crops to resist disease and tolerate extreme stress, like her work isolating the Sub1 gene which created flood-tolerant rice. This specific rice variety is now grown by millions of farmers, preventing the loss of vital crops. Despite their different methods, Pamela and Raoul share the core goal of reducing poverty and environmental harm. In 2008, they co-authored the book, Tomorrow’s Table: Organic Farming, Genetics, and the Future of Food, which challenges consumers to look past labels like “GMO” and focus instead on farming practices that are truly beneficial. The book has been continually updated with new chapters and remains an influential text, earning praise from people like Bill Gates. Pamela continues to bridge science and public understanding, using her platform to advocate for climate-smart agriculture and the innovative use of tools like CRISPR to help crops adapt to a changing world.

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