Dr. Channa Prakash is the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Tuskegee University. Tuskegee University is a private historically black land grant university. Dr. Channa Prakash has been a leading biotech and genetics researcher, educator, and social media personality.
He has spent time with Pope Francis, was friends with Dr. Borlaug, and teaches where George Washington Carver did research.
As you will see through the conversation, Dr. Prakash is a history nerd too.
His X/Twitter account is very entertaining and he is an expert at science advocacy and communications.
His lab was among the first to develop genetically modified sweet potato and peanut plants and conduct pioneering genomic studies on the peanut. He has been actively involved in enhancing the societal awareness of food biotechnology issues around the world. Dr. Prakash is winner of the prestigious 2015 Borlaug CAST Communication Award.
Most importantly, Dr. Prakash is a lifelong learner, is willing to experiment with new ideas and new ways to communicate, and is very passionate about the use of research, science and technology for human betterment.
Dr. Channa Prakash, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Tuskegee University
Summary of the Conversation
Dr. Channa Prakash shares his journey from childhood experiences in agriculture to becoming a prominent advocate for biotechnology and genetic engineering. He discusses the impact of the Green Revolution, the differences between genetic modification and gene editing, and the public's perception of these technologies. Dr. Prakash emphasizes the importance of innovation in agriculture to address food security and climate challenges, while also highlighting the role of AI in education and farming. He reflects on the moral imperative to advance agricultural technologies and the need to balance tradition with scientific progress. He talks about his learnings from his association with Dr. Norman Borlaug, and his experience of working at the same university where George Washington Carver did his research.
Inspired by Dr. Borlaug
Rhishi Pethe: Tell us a bit about your background.
CHANNA PRAKASH: I was born in the city of Bangalore. My grandfather, a retired deputy director of agriculture, started a farming business that required him to spend summers in a small nearby town. He worked closely with farmers as a middleman. He gave them money to grow produce, collected the harvest, and then shipped it to the factory for processing.
As a child, I spent every summer with him, surrounded by farmers and the rhythm of farm life. That experience sparked something in me. When it came time to choose a college and a major, I knew I loved plants. I had always been fascinated by nature and spent hours growing things in our backyard.
During my first year studying agriculture, I had the incredible luck of hearing a lecture by Dr. Norman Borlaug. Back in the 1960s, India produced about 10 million tons of grain. This year, that number reached 330 million tons. That transformation started with the Green Revolution, driven by Dr. Borlaug in collaboration with Indian leaders like Agriculture Minister Subramaniam and scientist Dr. M.S. Swaminathan.
That lecture deeply shaped my thinking. I decided to major in genetics and plant breeding, to focus on developing new crop varieties.
In the mid-1980s, I went to Australia for my PhD. At the time, agricultural biotechnology was just being born. Scientists from Monsanto, Washington University, and Belgium had just announced the creation of the first genetically engineered plants in a lab. I was captivated by the potential and decided to specialize in this new field.
In 1989, I started my career at Tuskegee University. I built the university’s first biotechnology lab and began working on sweet potatoes and peanuts, two crops of major importance in the developing world. I became one of the first scientists to develop genetically modified versions of both crops, and I conducted early genomic research on them as well.
Over time, my work expanded beyond the lab. As genetically modified crops became increasingly controversial, largely due to orchestrated fear campaigns by certain opposition groups, I felt compelled to act.
Governments started banning the technology, often based on misinformation. A few scientists, including myself, stepped into the public arena. We engaged with the media, the public, and online platforms to advocate for science and correct the narrative.
That’s how I developed a parallel career in science advocacy and communication, alongside my work as a scientist, speaking around the world to help people understand the promise and realities of agricultural biotechnology.
Fears of GMO technologies
Rhishi: You talked about advocacy and how GMO products have developed a bad reputation in many parts of the world. What’s the gap between what scientists like you understand, what the public fears, and what governments are actually afraid of?
CHANNA PRAKASH: I think people naturally fear anything new, especially when it comes to food. Throughout history, we’ve seen a long lag between the introduction of new foods or food technologies and their widespread acceptance.