The Ministry of Agriculture's recent issuance of production and application safety certificates for two genetically modified rice lines has intensified unease regarding the safety of genetically modified grain.
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 check the site almost daily, had not noticed it.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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 lines would be permitted for large-scale cultivation within Hubei Province.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/
Regarding the certification process, the Ministry of Agriculture provided only a brief written response. According to this response, the issuance of the certificates 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 and application safety certificates—and based on the evaluation results of the Agricultural Genetically Modified Organism Safety Committee.”บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/
This response drew public attention to the “Agricultural Genetically Modified Organism Safety Committee,” an institution that sounded highly specialized.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/
There is considerable evidence demonstrating the importance of this committee. According to available information, 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 related fields of agricultural genetically modified organisms, with each term lasting three years. When the previous committee transition occurred, Xinhua News Agency specifically issued a release about it.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/
However, people quickly discovered that this massive body with dozens of members was virtually inaccessible to ordinary citizens. Despite many people's efforts to find out its membership, 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.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/
Jiang Gaoming, a principal investigator 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 should not be underestimated, and that this certificate is “the most difficult hurdle to overcome before a genetically modified crop can be marketed.” If anyone can guarantee that genetically modified food will not pose problems, then “we request that the names of these experts be made public.”บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/
This request went unanswered. Jiang felt that all of this “is backroom dealing,” and he believes this indicates that the relevant parties “themselves are not confident” about genetically modified rice.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/
Greenpeace staff spent considerable time searching for information about this committee. In the end, they only found a news article on the campus website of China Agricultural University revealing that five researchers from that university had been appointed as members of the third-term Biosafety Committee.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/
In contrast to the activism of civil society organizations, the government agencies and researchers involved appeared extremely low-key.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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 be speaking out “are simply too quiet.”บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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 appealed through his blog and published articles. However, he received no feedback whatsoever, whether in agreement or opposition.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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.”บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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 like this: If even insects cannot eat it, can humans eat it?บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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 will not harm humans.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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, stated that for this genetically modified rice, they had conducted toxicological tests on mice, rats, and other animals successively, and no problems were found.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/
This argument also drew attacks online. One doubt was: “Can you treat humans like mice?”บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/
Despite not possessing complete scientific information, people were still unable to dispel their anxiety about this man-made crop. Many people online viewed the approval of genetically modified rice production as “scientific research” breaching the “moral bottom line,” and felt worried about their own health.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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."บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/
“Although the experiments are very mature, their potential impact on humans may not become apparent until future generations,” Yuan Longping said.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/
There are many other doubts about genetically modified technology. Many scientists worry that if the genes of genetically modified crops “drift” into the surrounding environment through pollination and other pathways, 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.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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 term, with a total of 74 members. A member stated in an interview that genetically modified technology “has good intentions and obvious effects, but the risks cannot be predicted.”บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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 targeting genetically modified rice and marked "an acceleration of the commercialization of genetically modified rice."บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/
With the beginning of this “acceleration,” only about a year passed before the technology previously deemed “dangerous” was quietly approved for production.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/
The relevant departments“ approval of genetically modified rice cultivation is considered the inevitable outcome of a long-term national project. In 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.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/
From that time on, genetic modification “became a very hot research field.” Jiang Gaoming commented: “No matter what problems are discovered, it won't stop, because once the money starts being spent, it can't be stopped.”บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/
The project that received the safety certificate this time is said to have begun research in 1995 and completed productive testing between 2003 and 2004. The project's researchers had stated they “did not want to wait indefinitely,” because a variety that currently has great advantages might lose its competitiveness after several years.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/
Now, his hopes have come true. Although the Ministry of Agriculture emphasized in its response that this 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 emerged, the stocks of three listed companies related to seed production surged immediately.บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/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 solid foundation for commercial production.”บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/
(Reposted fromChina Youth Daily）บทความมาจากFOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/th/11203/