Bill McDowell

When Kevin Hall picked up Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time as a high school student, it sparked the kind of curiosity that would eventually pull him toward science. Although he formally studied physics, drawn to the discipline’s emphasis on first principles and empirical rigor, his interests evolved.

Although still in its early days, CRISPR has already been called the most powerful scientific tool of the century. Using programmable “scissors” that make precise edits to DNA to encourage desired biological traits and erase unwanted ones, its applications are already far-reaching.

Leveraging technology to improve food system sustainability, reduce waste, fortify supply chain resilience, and anticipate changing consumer needs was a focus at the Gulfood Inspire conference now in progress in Dubai, a locale where 90% of food must be imported. The conference is taking place adjacent to a Gulfood event featuring 5,500 trade show exhibitors and an estimated 95,000 attendees from 190 countries.