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Controversy over safety of genetically modified rice
(December 1, 2004, Beijing) Will China plant genetically modified rice during the year? This issue has recently attracted the attention of domestic and foreign media. The Ministry of Agriculture recently held a meeting of "Agricultural Genetically Modified Organism Safety Committee" in Beijing to discuss the commercialization of genetically modified rice. If the experts participating in the meeting agree to introduce the GM rice to the market, the Ministry of Agriculture will likely issue a security certificate for commercial planting according to this, and the GM rice can be introduced to the market as soon as next year, and China will become the first planting of transgenic rice in the world. s country. It is reported that the Ministry of Agriculture has initiated application procedures to conduct safety tests and environmental impact assessments on genetically modified rice that is intended to be launched on the market, and has completed the evaluation of some varieties. Since the Ministry of Agriculture did not publicly apply for information and evaluation results, the genetically modified rice that was applied for planting was actually those varieties. Their health and environmental safety was a matter of concern to the media. The susceptibility of genetically modified rice to the safety of the rice has also increased. Today, Greenpeace, an international environmental organization, held a press conference in Beijing to publish a report on "China's GM Rice Risks to Health and the Environment." It disclosed some of the GM rice varieties that were intended to be launched on the market, and analyzed the health and environment of these varieties. potential risks. Shi Pengxiang, Greenpeace project manager, appealed at the meeting: “There is a large amount of scientific evidence that GM rice is extremely risky for health or the environment. If it is rushed to market them, it is extremely irresponsible.†According to this According to a report written by two British scientists, genetically modified rice that is being applied for commercial planting includes at least the following three species: Transgenic rice resistant to rice borer worms that were transferred to Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis, a soil bacterium) toxin protein gene; The rice cowpea trypsin inhibitor (CpTI) gene was used for rice blast resistance to transgenic rice, and the wild rice gene Xa21 was transferred to transgenic rice for resistance to bacterial blight. "CpTI and some Bt toxins are potential allergens, and there is a safety risk if CpTI protein is not fully cooked. Now the safety test of transgenic rice is only feeding mice for three months, but this does not mean that humans have long-term consumption of large quantities. The genetically modified rice is safe.†Dr. Doreen Stabinsky, a biologist from the United States, appeared to be worried about the safety of genetically modified rice. She is the scientific advisor to International Greenpeace. This time I made a special trip from the United States to introduce the content of this report. “More importantly, there is no case of genetically modified crops that are staples of humans. In the face of genetically modified rice, we must be extremely cautious because rice is an important part of the diet at all ages, including rice cakes eaten by weaned infants. And gruel.†Dr. Doreen pointed out that there are differences between different ethnic and social groups in the methods of cooking and eating rice, and safety assessments must also take these factors into consideration. “For example, if a baby eats rice noodles, it may only be added with hot boiled water or slightly cooked. Is it possible to completely degrade the Bt toxin?†The reason why the GM rice attracted all kinds of attention was mainly due to the fact that GM crops that have been approved for commercial cultivation have so far been Mainly used as animal feed (such as soybeans and corn), textile raw materials (such as cotton) or raw materials in processed foods, are not human staples. The safety of GM foods has caused countless controversies in the past. Genetically modified rice is the most important staple food in China and in the world. Therefore, its safety is more concerned. There are also many risks to the environment from genetically modified rice. In addition to killing rice borers, Bt insect-resistant rice can also “falsely inflict no aphidâ€, such as harming natural enemies of pests and soil microorganisms; insect-resistant and disease-resistant transgenic rice can cross-pollinate foreign genes to close relatives. Weeds or wild species, if weeds possess these excellent genes, will be more difficult to control; wild rice, if contaminated, may cause the destruction of genetic resources. Greenpeace stressed that this scientific report is not a complete risk assessment. Shi Pengxiang explained: “Many of the application materials are not disclosed, and safety testing and environmental impact assessment are also confidential. If these materials are not made public, it is difficult for independent scientists and research institutions to make a full third party opinion. Moreover, the Committee has more than 50 Nearly two-thirds of the experts are engaged in biotechnology research, both as players and referees, while only one representative from the environmental protection department and only two experts engaged in food safety research will hand over the future of China's rations to them. Decisions are hard to rest assured.†The voice of the international community calling for human beings to be cautious about GM crops and food seems to be increasing. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which has more than 1,000 member organizations, has just held the World Conservation Congress in Bangkok. The member organizations at the meeting passed a resolution by a large number of resolutions recommending that governments prohibit the release of more GMOs. It proves that it is safe for biodiversity, humans and livestock health.†On the other hand, the International Consumers Association, which has more than 250 member organizations in 150 countries, also announced in October this year that the Association would strive to stop the rest of the world. Further put more GM crops and foods on the market.