The Ministry of Agriculture's recent granting of production application safety certificates to two genetically modified rice strains has intensified unease about 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,” and even Greenpeace staff who checked the site almost daily had not noticed it.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
The safety certificates were issued by the department 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 to be planted on a large scale within Hubei Province.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
Regarding the certificate issuance process, the Ministry of Agriculture provided only a brief written response. According to this response, the issuance was a decision made “after years of safety evaluation through five stages—strict experimental research, intermediate testing, environmental release, productive testing, and application for production application safety certificates—and based on the evaluation results of the Agricultural Genetically Modified Organism Safety Committee.”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
This response drew ordinary people's attention to the “Agricultural Genetically Modified Organism Safety Committee,” an institution that sounded highly specialized.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
There is much evidence indicating the importance of this committee. Records show that it was established pursuant to the “Regulations on the Safety Management of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms,” and its members are experts "engaged in research, production, processing, inspection and quarantine, health, environmental protection" and other fields related to agricultural genetically modified organisms, with each term lasting three years. When the previous term changed, Xinhua News Agency specifically released a notice about it.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
However, people quickly discovered that this massive institution with dozens of members was virtually inaccessible to ordinary people. Although many people tried hard to find out its members' identities, and the internet was full of various inquiries and probes, none yielded results. Even the earliest date of the institution's establishment was difficult for outsiders to ascertain.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
Jiang Gaoming, a chief researcher at the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, believes that as the final step before the issuance of production safety certificates for genetically modified crops, the committee's role should not be underestimated, and that this certificate is “the hardest hurdle to overcome before genetically modified crops can be marketed.” If anyone could guarantee that genetically modified food would not have problems, then “we request that the names of these experts be made public.”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
This request went unheeded. Jiang felt that all of this “was backroom dealing,” and he believed this indicated that the people involved “themselves were not confident” about genetically modified rice.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
Greenpeace staff spent a great deal of time searching for information about this committee. In the end, they only found a 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-term Biosafety Committee.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
Fang Lifeng, the officer in charge of agricultural projects at Greenpeace, felt that the entire community related to genetically modified organisms had fallen silent. This silence became a focal point of public questioning.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
As a civil society organization, Greenpeace has consistently 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, at the very least they should have the right to know,” the organization explained its position.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
In contrast to the activism of civil society organizations, the government agencies and researchers involved appeared extremely low-key.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/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 even more “were being far too quiet.”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
“Since the safety issue of genetically modified food remains disputed to this day, the approval of genetically modified rice should at least be transparent.” He repeatedly appealed through blogs and published articles. However, he received no feedback whatsoever, whether in agreement or opposition.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
In fact, after the media had repeated various doubts several times, a Ministry of Agriculture staff member said over the phone that “now the major media, ministry-affiliated media, and local media have all stopped hyping this matter.”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
Behind the voices demanding the right to know and information disclosure lies a deep-seated anxiety about genetically modified food that has always existed. People worry that after genetically modified crops are consumed by humans, there might be “unforeseeable” consequences.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
The newly certified “Bt Shanyou 63” genetically modified rice is believed to be capable of killing insects and controlling pests. Regarding this characteristic, the most common attack online begins like this: If even insects cannot eat it, can humans eat it?Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
This doubt has already 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 will not harm humans.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/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 successively, and no problems were found.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
This argument also drew attacks online. One doubt was: “Can you treat humans like mice?”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
Despite not possessing complete scientific information, people still could not eliminate their anxiety about this man-made crop. Many people online regarded the approval of genetically modified rice production as “scientific research” having breached the “moral bottom line,” and felt worried about their own health.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
In fact, regarding whether genetically modified crops pose dangers, the scientific community at home and abroad has never reached a definitive conclusion. Contradictory evidence continues to emerge. Opponents cite reports by foreign scientists stating that in experiments, after young mice consumed genetically modified potatoes, their internal immune systems were damaged. But supporters“ experimental results were the opposite, showing ”no damage whatsoever."Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/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.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
Previously, genetically modified crops such as tomatoes, cotton, and soybeans had already been promoted on a large scale in China and had once achieved brilliant results in pest and disease control and other areas. But for staple food crops such as rice, almost all countries have adopted a cautious attitude.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
Yuan Longping, China's leading authority on rice research, said that his own students had also participated in research on genetically modified rice. However, not long ago, Yuan Longping publicly stated that the government should be especially cautious in approving the commercialization of genetically modified plants. His reason was that scientists cannot fully predict what kind of mutations genetic modification of organisms might cause.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
“Although the experiments are very mature, the impact it may have on humans might only become apparent after future generations,” Yuan Longping said.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
Under these circumstances, researchers of some genetically modified projects in China had repeatedly complained that the marketization of their research results was being obstructed by an “overly strict” approval process.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
There are many other doubts about genetically modified technology. Many scientists worry that if the genes of genetically modified crops “drift” into the surroundings through pollination and other pathways, it could trigger an ecological crisis. Another doubt points out that when genetically modified cotton was promoted, due to chaotic management, cotton seed sources were very 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 with the cotton worn on the body, the rice that will ultimately be eaten, if poorly managed, could cause unknowable dangers.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
In 2008, Ministry of Agriculture officials stated that the Biosafety Committee held two regular meetings each year, and at each meeting it had to discuss the question of “whether to approve genetically modified rice,” which had consistently failed to pass. At that time, the committee was still in its second term, with a total of 74 members. A member said in an interview that genetically modified technology “has good intentions and obvious effects, but the dangers cannot be predicted.”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/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 to shorten the process for genetically modified crops to reach the market.” This move was seen as aimed at genetically modified rice and as marking an "acceleration of the commercialization of genetically modified rice."Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
Some also noticed that as early as 2007, the 16-character guideline for the development of genetically modified crops had already been adjusted from “scientific planning, active research, steady progress, strengthened management” to “accelerate research, promote application, standardize management, scientific development.” This shift did not attract much attention.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
With the beginning of this “acceleration,” only about a year passed before the technology previously considered to carry “dangers” was quietly approved for production.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
The relevant departments“ permission for the cultivation of genetically modified rice is regarded as the inevitable result 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 varieties of genetically modified organisms" was designated as one of 16 major special projects, with a total budget exceeding 20 billion yuan.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
Since then, genetically modified organisms “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 stop.”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
It is reported that the project that received the safety certificate this time began research as early as 1995, and had already completed productive testing between 2003 and 2004. Researchers on the project had said they “did not want to wait indefinitely,” because a variety that currently has great advantages might lose its competitiveness after several years.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
Now, his hope has come true. Although the Ministry of Agriculture emphasized in its response that this genetically modified rice “still must pass variety approval and obtain seed production and operation licenses before it can enter commercial production and application,” when the news came out, the stocks of three listed companies related to seed production soared in response.Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
The Ministry of Agriculture commented: “This is an important achievement in China's genetically modified technology research with independent intellectual property rights, and it has laid a good foundation for commercial production.”Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/
(Reposted fromChina Youth Daily）Artikel berasal dariFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/ms/11203/