The Ministry of Agriculture's recent issuance of production and application safety certificates for two genetically modified rice strains has intensified unease regarding the safety of genetically modified food.
The process was highly secretive: when a foreign news agency first discovered the news, it was posted on a specialized website that was “almost rarely updated,” buried among the “2009 Second Batch of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organism Safety Certificate Approval List.” Even Greenpeace staff, who checked the site almost daily, had not noticed it.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
The safety certificates were issued by the body formally known as the “Office of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organism Safety Management, Ministry of Agriculture.” The recipients were the insect-resistant transgenic rice “Huahui No. 1” and its hybrid “Bt Shanyou 63,” developed by the National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement at Huazhong Agricultural University. The certificates took effect on August 17, 2009, with a validity period of five years. Accordingly, these two rice strains would be permitted for large-scale cultivation within Hubei Province.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
Regarding the certification process, the Ministry of Agriculture provided only a brief written response. According to this response, the certificates were issued “after years of safety evaluation through five stages—strict experimental research, intermediate testing, environmental release, productive testing, and application for production and application safety certificates—and based on the evaluation results of the Agricultural Genetically Modified Organism Safety Committee.”Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
This response drew public attention to the “Agricultural Genetically Modified Organism Safety Committee,” an institution that sounded highly specialized.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
There is considerable evidence of the committee's importance. Records show that it was established pursuant to the “Regulations on the Safety Management of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms,” with members being experts "engaged in research, production, processing, inspection and quarantine, health, and environmental protection" related to agricultural genetically modified organisms, serving three-year terms. When the previous committee transition was made, Xinhua News Agency issued a dedicated announcement.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
However, people quickly discovered that this massive body, with dozens of members, was virtually inaccessible to ordinary citizens. Despite many efforts to identify its members and numerous inquiries and probes online, no results were obtained. Even the exact date of the committee's original establishment was difficult for outsiders to ascertain.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
Jiang Gaoming, a principal researcher at the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, believes that as the final step before the issuance of safety certificates for genetically modified crop production, the committee's role cannot be underestimated, and that this certificate is “the most difficult hurdle to overcome before a genetically modified crop can be marketed.” If anyone could guarantee that genetically modified food would not pose problems, then “we request that the names of these experts be made public.”Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
This request went unanswered. Jiang felt that all of this “was backroom dealing,” and he believed it indicated that the relevant parties “themselves were not confident” about genetically modified rice.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
Greenpeace staff spent considerable time searching for information about this committee. In the end, they found only one news article on the campus website of China Agricultural University, which revealed that five researchers from that university had been appointed as members of the third session of the Biosafety Committee.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
Fang Lifeng, Greenpeace's agriculture campaign officer, felt that the entire community related to genetically modified organisms had fallen silent. This silence became a focal point of public skepticism.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
As a civil society organization, Greenpeace has consistently and strongly opposed the cultivation of genetically modified food crops. “We have always hoped that information concerning people's lives and safety should be made public. Even if people cannot make decisions, they should at least have the right to know,” the organization explained its position.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
In contrast to the activism of civil society organizations, the government agencies and researchers involved appeared extremely low-profile.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
Jiang Gaoming was one of the few experts willing to publicly state his position. His research field is unrelated to genetically modified technology—it is ecological agriculture—which made Jiang feel somewhat awkward, because those who should have spoken out “were simply too quiet.”Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
“Since the safety issues surrounding genetically modified food remain debated to this day, the approval of genetically modified rice should at least be transparent,” he repeatedly urged through his blog and published articles. However, he received no feedback whatsoever, whether in agreement or opposition.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
In fact, after the media had repeated various doubts several times, a Ministry of Agriculture staff member stated over the phone that “now the major media, ministry-affiliated media, and local media have all stopped hyping this matter.”Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
Behind the calls for the right to know and information transparency lies a deep-seated anxiety about genetically modified food that has always existed. People worry about whether genetically modified crops, after being consumed by humans, might have “unforeseeable” consequences.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
The newly certified “Bt Shanyou 63” genetically modified rice is believed to be capable of killing insects and controlling pests. In response to this characteristic, the most common attack online begins as follows: If even insects cannot eat it, can humans eat it?Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
This doubt has been addressed by professionals. A researcher at the China National Rice Research Institute stated that the gene that causes insect death targets a protein encoded by a gene specific to certain insects and would not harm humans.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
To prove the harmlessness of this crop, even before obtaining the safety certificate, Lin Yongjun, a researcher at Huazhong Agricultural University who participated in the research, had stated that for this genetically modified rice, they had conducted toxicological tests on mice, rats, and other animals, and no problems were found.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
This argument also drew attacks online. One doubt raised was: “Can you treat humans like mice?”Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
Despite not possessing complete scientific information, people were still unable to dispel their anxiety about this man-made crop. Many people online regarded the approval of genetically modified rice production as “scientific research” breaching the “moral bottom line,” and felt worried about their own health.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
In fact, regarding whether genetically modified crops pose dangers, the scientific community both domestically and internationally has never reached a definitive conclusion. Contradictory evidence continues to emerge. Opponents cite reports from foreign scientists stating that in experiments, young rats that consumed genetically modified potatoes suffered damage to their internal immune systems. But supporters“ experimental results were the opposite, showing ”no damage whatsoever."Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
Conservative countries and regions, such as the European Union, strictly restrict the cultivation and import of genetically modified crops because scientists cannot provide evidence proving that genetically modified crops are indeed harmless. In countries such as the United States and China, because opponents likewise cannot provide evidence confirming that genetically modified crops are harmful, policies have tended toward promoting genetically modified crops.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
Previously, genetically modified crops such as tomatoes, cotton, and soybeans had already been widely promoted in China and had at one time achieved remarkable results in pest control and other areas. But for staple food crops such as rice, virtually all countries have adopted a cautious attitude.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
Yuan Longping, China's leading authority on rice research, stated that his own students had also participated in rice genetic modification research. However, not long ago, Yuan Longping publicly stated that the government should be particularly cautious in approving the commercialization of genetically modified plants. His reasoning was that scientists cannot fully predict what kind of mutations genetic modification of organisms might cause.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
“Although the experiments are very mature, their potential impact on humans may not become apparent until future generations,” Yuan Longping said.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
Under these circumstances, researchers of some genetically modified projects in China had repeatedly complained that the commercialization of their research results was being obstructed by an “excessively strict” approval process.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
There are many other doubts regarding genetically modified technology. Many scientists worry that if the genes of genetically modified crops “drift” into the surrounding environment through pollination and other means, it could trigger an ecological crisis. Another doubt points out that when genetically modified cotton was promoted, due to poor management, cotton seed sources were highly mixed, and many had not received formal assessment and approval. Some people could not even say where the cotton they planted came from. People worry that compared to the cotton worn on one's body, the rice that ultimately goes into one's mouth, if poorly managed, could pose unknowable dangers.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
In 2008, Ministry of Agriculture officials stated that the Biosafety Committee held regular meetings twice a year, and at each meeting the question of “whether to approve genetically modified rice” was discussed, but it was never approved. At that time, the committee was still in its second session, with 74 members in total. A member stated in an interview that genetically modified technology “has good intentions and obvious effects, but the dangers cannot be predicted.”Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
However, before these remarks were made, in April 2008, the Ministry of Agriculture had already completed research for revising the “Regulations on the Safety Management of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms.” Media reported that the result of this research was the view that “on the premise of science and safety, the previously overly complex approval procedures should be appropriately simplified and the process for bringing genetically modified crops to market should be shortened.” This move was seen as being directed at genetically modified rice and was regarded as marking an "acceleration of the commercialization of genetically modified rice."Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
Some also noticed that as early as 2007, the 16-character guideline for the development of genetically modified crops had been adjusted from “scientific planning, active research, steady progress, strengthened management” to “accelerated research, promoted application, standardized management, scientific development.” This shift did not attract much attention.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
With the beginning of this “acceleration,” only about a year passed before the technology previously deemed “dangerous” was quietly approved for production.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
The relevant departments“ approval of genetically modified rice cultivation is regarded as the inevitable outcome of a long-term national project. In the ”Outline of the National Medium- and Long-Term Plan for Science and Technology Development (2006–2020)" published in 2004, "cultivation of new genetically modified organism varieties" was designated as one of 16 major special projects, with a total budget exceeding 20 billion yuan.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
From that time on, genetic modification “became a very hot research field.” Jiang Gaoming commented: “No matter what problems are discovered, it will not stop, because once the money starts being spent, it cannot be stopped.”Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
The project that received the safety certificate this time is reported to have begun research in 1995 and completed productive testing between 2003 and 2004. Researchers on the project had stated they “did not want to wait indefinitely,” because a variety that currently has great advantages might lose its competitiveness after several years.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
Now, his hope has come true. Although the Ministry of Agriculture emphasized in its response that the genetically modified rice “must still pass variety certification and obtain seed production and operation licenses before it can enter commercial production and application,” when the news broke, the stocks of three listed companies related to seed production surged immediately.Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
The Ministry of Agriculture commented: “This is an important achievement with independent intellectual property rights obtained through our country's genetically modified technology research, laying a good foundation for commercial production.”Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/
(Reposted fromChina Youth Daily）Өгүүлэл нь ...-аас авсанFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/mn/11203/