AAP FACTCHECK – A video of a panel discussion about the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in agriculture has been cropped to make it look like Bill Gates is enthusing about injecting them into children.
In fact, the billionaire philanthropist was using the safety testing procedure for medicines to illustrate the need to test GMO technology in the production of food crops.
A GMO is a plant, animal or microbe whose genetic make-up has been changed using modern lab techniques. GMO crops are developed, for example, to become resistant to plant viruses, damaging insects or drought.
One Facebook post includes a 16-second video in which Mr Gates appears with his former wife Melinda French Gates, along with text containing a quote attributed to him saying: “We’re injecting genetically modified organisms into the veins of little kids.”
The post has attracted over 2,800 likes, 1,400 comments and 3,300 shares.
The user adds: “Is there one parent out there who thinks this is okay? Gates profited massively of the COVID shots and will be the first in line again when they wheel out the next one.”
The quote attributed to Mr Gates is accurate and reflects what he says in the 16-second fragment included in the post.
However, when viewed in the context of the full discussion, it’s clear Mr Gates is actually talking about GMO in agriculture and using safety standards in medicine to illustrate the need for a safety system for GMO crops.
The full discussion occurred during a January 2015 panel interview in Brussels, in which Mr Gates and Ms French Gates are presenting the argument for GMO crops.
In the full version of his comments, Mr Gates is responding to a question about the role of GMO seeds in agriculture as a solution to problems in the developing world.
The video shows Ms French Gates endorsing the need for both natural seeds and ones that have been genetically modified.
Mr Gates then comments (two minutes seven seconds): “The strongest analogy is to medicines, and is there something to worry about with medicines, that is, might some of them have side effects? Do we need safety testing? I mean, we’re taking things that are genetically modified organisms, and we’re injecting them into little kids’ arms; we just shoot them right into the vein.
“So I think maybe we should have a safety system where we do trials and test things out.”
Mr Gates goes on to describe GMO crops as a potential solution to nutrition problems, productivity and crop disease issues for African farmers.
It’s not the first time Mr Gates’ comments at the Brussels event have been taken out of context.
AAP FactCheck previously debunked a claim that used a clip from the same 2015 panel interview to falsely suggest the billionaire was working with the Kenyan government to implant digital ID in babies.
The Verdict
Misleading – The claim is accurate in parts but information has also been presented incorrectly, out of context or omitted.
AAP FactCheck is an accredited member of the International Fact-Checking Network. To keep up with our latest fact checks, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
All information, text and images included on the AAP Websites is for personal use only and may not be re-written, copied, re-sold or re-distributed, framed, linked, shared onto social media or otherwise used whether for compensation of any kind or not, unless you have the prior written permission of AAP. For more information, please refer to our standard terms and conditions.
