Hidde Boersma

“My father worked as a conservationist at the national forestry. Every week we went out for a walk in the forest or to watch birds at the Friesian lakes. I was convinced I would one day sail along on the Rainbow Warrior, the Greenpeace ship. Years later, when I studied molecular biology, I worked with genetic modification. While suspicious at first, I learned it was a safe and potent technique. It turned out that Greenpeace, the heroes of my youth, were wrong about this. I felt somewhat lost, being very much into sustainability but doubting some common viewpoints of environmental groups. I’ve concluded we can take best care of nature when we accept scientific findings and support technologies that benefit nature and humans.”