Meet FARE: PhD Student Scott Biden - Described Video Summary: First year PhD Student Scott Biden talks about his research and career goals in the Department of Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Guelph. 00:00 - 00:03 [Music plays; Screen shows PhD student Scott Biden seated in an interior setting in Johnston Hall at the University of Guelph. Text is superimposed in the lower right.] Text: Scott Biden, PhD Student - FARE Voice of Scott Biden: My name is Scott Biden. I have just started my PhD 00:04 - 00:07 [Transition reveals FARE logo, text and University of Guelph logo. Music and voice of Scott continue under.] Text: FARE Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics PhD Scott: in agricultural economics and international development. 00:08 - 00:11 [Screen changes to show Scott] Scott: I think the moment I really decided I wanted to do this research 00:12 - 00:20 [Screen changes to show several visuals of genetically modified crops growing the field, specifically corn and soy beans.] Scott: started in my undergrad. I was really against genetically modified foods and I wanted to do some of the science to actually see what was going on there. 00:21 - 00:30 [Screen changes to show agricultural tractor with sprayer applying pesticide to crops in the field and creating a cloud of floating pesticide.] Scott: Thirty days into my Masters I did a full one-eighty. I realized that there's a lot of environmental impacts that aren't really being talked about in the GMO debate. 00:31 - 00:35 [Screen shows Scott reading a textbook in Johnston Hall.] Scott: And so my environmental background, switching, and becoming a little bit more open 00:36 - 00:39 [Screen shows Scott] Scott: to genetically modified crops being a very good thing for society. 00:34 - 00:51 [Screen changes to show photos of B.C. forests and work crews of tree planters. They are engaged in reforestation activities, digging and planting young coniferous trees.] Scott: Prior to starting school I ended up working in silviculture, so planting trees in the forests of B.C. and that was one of the bigger things that led me into agricultural and resource economics. 00:52 - 00:54 [Screen changes to show exterior of MacLachlan Building, home of the FARE Department at the University of Guelph.] Scott: The reason I chose FARE was actually because of the strong program 00:55 - 01:05 [Screen shows several shots of a FARE lecture taking place in the MacLachlan Building with guest lecturer Dr. Timothy Beatty from the University of California, Davis.] Scott: here in Ag Econ and also the international development designation. The fact that they offer this interdisciplinary degree was really huge in my choosing FARE. 01:06 - 01:10 [Screen shows Scott] Scott: As well I've heard a lot about the great camaraderie and the people here. 01:11 - 01:13 [Screen show Scott working on a research paper using his laptop.] Scott: My PhD research will focus primarily on 01:14 - 01:35 [Screen shows several still photos of farming in Kenya; a farmer harvesting a courgette from his field, another farmer laying irrigation hoses, and a child with a basket of harvested cassava root.) Scott: countries like Kenya that have had very restrictive policies against GM and biotechnology but which are really going and migrating towards adoption. Some of the impacts that I think will come out in my research is in yield increases especially relative to the poorest farmers and subsistence farmers in Africa. 01:36 - 01:40 [Screen shows Scott] Scott: As well, there are huge environmental benefits and that's really going to be the focus of the research. 01:41 - 01:44 [Screen shows Scott and a fellow PhD student having a conservation in one of the FARE offices.] Scott: Continuing my research and my studies is all about 01:45 - 01:53 [Screen shows Scott] Scott: seeing what the actual science and evidence says and trying not to allow any subjective ideas I have dictate what my findings are. 01:54 - 01:59 [Screen changes to show closing billboard with FARE logo on a white background, University of Guelph logo and blue and green text. Smaller icons for Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are also seen lower screen.] Text: FARE Food, Agricultural and Resource Economics PhD fare@uoguelph.ca (519) 824-4120 ext. 52766 [Music fades out. Screen fades to black.]