What do you get when you cross a plant geneticist and an organic farmer? For Raoul Adamchak and Pam Ronald it was the co-authored book, Tomorrow’s Table: Organic Farming, Genetics, and the Future of Food. The story discusses the literal marriage of Adamchak and Ronald, as well as the figurative union of their disciplines—genetic engineering and organic farming. Together, they argue that genetic engineering (“GE”) is a necessary and powerful tool to create a more environmentally friendly and productive food system.

Ronald and Adamchak grapple with the looming problem of how to grow sufficient crops to feed a projected global population of 9 billion people by 2050, and how to do so in a sustainable manner (i.e. without relying on pesticides, fertilizers and other inputs detrimental to the environment). Tomorrow’s Table recognizes we must boost global agricultural yields without converting more land to farming, and above all, posits we must avoid further groundwater contamination, species loss, and negative health impacts to humans.

Ronald and Adamchak suggest that such a “sustainable” system must incorporate elements from organic farming as well as GE technology. Each author brings a unique perspective to the discussion. Ronald is a Professor of Plant Pathology and Chair of the Plant Genomics Program at the University of California, Davis. Adamchak, an organic farmer by trade, holds a master’s in International Agricultural Development, with a focus on entomology.

In Tomorrow’s Table, Ronald and Adamchak tag-team the chapters, and present their case for GE and organic farming through a mixture of personal memoirs, scientific explanation, and case studies – with more than a few recipes thrown in. The incorporation of their personal experiences humanizes their story, establishes them as environmentalists, and provides credibility. The pair chips away at the arguments against GE, demonstrating that GE provides far more benefits than detriment to the environment. Take for instance, Ronald’s discussion of Roundup Ready crops.

Roundup is the colloquial name for the herbicide glyphosate, a much maligned weed killer. Roundup Ready crops are genetically engineered for tolerance to glyphosate. GE allows these crops to survive when sprayed with the herbicide while the weeds surrounding them die. Currently, 94% of soybeans planted in the U.S. are herbicide resistant. While an herbicide-resistant soybean might seem unsettling, Ronald demonstrates that Roundup Ready crops are actually better for the environment than conventional varieties. Herbicide resistant crops require no hoeing or cultivating, and permit increased use of low-till and no-till agriculture—growing practices that prevent topsoil from being eroded by wind or rain. The lack of cultivating has also decreased the necessity of tractors and other petroleum-intensive inputs. Lastly, glyphosate is nontoxic to mammals and does not accumulate in water or soil. The advent of herbicide resistant crops has allowed farmers to switch from using copious amounts of known toxic herbicides, to – in most cases – using smaller amounts of non-toxic glyphosate.

Adamchak adds the farmer’s perspective to buttress Ronald’s endorsement of GE. He explains that the abundance of uncontrolled weeds is often responsible for the lower crop yields in organic farming and proposes GE as a possible solution for this problem. He points by analogy to the impact that GE crops have had on pest control, arguing that GE crops – specifically Bt varieties – have been successful at preventing pest damage in conventional growing systems—without pesticides. Adamchak believes that, if propagated using organic farming practices, GE crops could cause less environmental damage than conventional varieties.

Ronald and Adamchak take a similar approach with every issue in Tomorrow’s Table. They provide science-based evidence as well as on-the-ground experience to dispel many of the doubts surrounding GE crops. Ronald refutes arguments that GE pollen will infiltrate organic crops: she says no cases have been reported and explains that 98% of a plant’s pollen dispersal is between a 25-50 meter radius. She argues GM crops are safe to eat: she states that in fact, health risks are greater for many conventional crops due to pesticide residues.

Ronald and Adamchak’s well-reasoned portrayal of GE foods is crucial at a time when opponents of GE dominate the public discourse on the issue. Tomorrow’s Table is a must-read for anyone with an interest in improving our food system. Policymakers and consumers alike will appreciate the viewpoints Ronald and Adamchak provide in easy to read prose. No matter what assumptions readers might bring to the Tomorrow’s Table, everyone has something to gain – even if it’s just a recipe for extracting the DNA from a strawberry.