Transgenic crops isolate one (or several) genes from organisms through biotechnology, and then implant them into another organism, thus cultivating organisms with new characters. For example, Bt transgenic rice refers to the transfer of insect-resistant genes of certain bacteria in soil into rice, so that rice has insect-resistant characteristics. So far, the long-term safety of genetically modified foods to human health is still inconclusive.
Genetically modified organisms have foreign genes, which are brand-new to natural ecosystems. If released into the environment, it will change the competitive relationship between species, destroy the original natural ecological balance, and lead to species extinction and biodiversity loss. Genetically modified organisms will reproduce themselves in nature and cross with their close relatives, so that foreign genes will spread in an uncontrollable way in nature, causing irreparable genetic pollution.
What is genetically modified?
Transgenic crops isolate one (or several) genes from organisms through biotechnology, and then implant them into another organism, thus cultivating organisms with new characters. For example, scientists think that a gene in arctic fish has antifreeze effect, so they extract it and implant it into tomatoes to make a new cold-resistant tomato variety, which is a genetically modified organism. Foods containing genetically modified organisms are called genetically modified foods.
What impact does transgenic technology have on the environment and human beings?
Due to the unexpected benefits brought by transgenic technology, it will have some unpredictable effects on the environment and food safety. Without long-term and sufficient safety assessment, if it is released into the natural environment, it is likely to destroy the original ecological balance. In addition, genetically modified organisms will spread foreign genes in nature through self-reproduction and inbreeding, causing irreparable genetic pollution.
Transgenic technology implants foreign genes into daily foods, such as soybeans, corn and even rice. However, at present, there is no long-term biological safety assessment of genetically modified food, and it is still doubtful whether it is safe for human beings to eat it for a long time. The scientific community knows nothing about it.
In the process of transgenic, antibiotic resistance genes are often transferred into the receptor and used as marker genes, but it has been controversial to use antibiotic resistance genes as markers. . Antibiotic resistance will lead to the failure of the use of antibiotics in human or animal drugs, which has always been an important issue affecting global public health. At the same time, babies are particularly sensitive to food, because they usually have a single kind of food and must eat a certain food for a long time. The Royal Society designated infants as a "high-risk group" for food safety, and in 2002 issued a report saying that genetically modified ingredients in infant food "should be subject to the strictest examination". In a report in 2004, the British Medical Association also reiterated the above view: "Any food that will be eaten in large quantities by infants and other' vulnerable groups' should go through the most stringent approval procedures."
What international laws regulate genetically modified organisms?
As early as June 5438+October 29, 2000/kloc-0, Montreal, Canada, adopted the Biosafety Protocol, which stipulated that as long as a genetically modified organism is not conducive to the protection of biodiversity and sustainable use, including endangering human health, the state can control its cross-border transportation, treatment and use.
In addition to China, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan Province Province and Thailand have also enacted mandatory labeling laws for genetically modified foods. This regulation guarantees consumers' right to know, thus avoiding buying genetically modified foods. However, Hong Kong has not yet implemented relevant laws and regulations.
When scientific research has not fully understood the impact of genetically modified organisms on the environment and health, Greenpeace called for stopping the release of genetically modified organisms into the environment. The government should immediately suspend the commercialization of genetically modified rice and strengthen supervision to prevent genetically modified crops from polluting traditional non-genetically modified crops.
Countries/regions with mandatory labeling for genetically modified foods
Africa: Marius, Cameroon, South Africa.
Asia: China, Japan, Taiwan Province Province, India, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Saudi Arabia.
Europe: EU-27 Switzerland Norway Yugoslavia Bulgaria Croatia Russia
North America: Mexico, Costa Rica
Oceania: Australia and New Zealand
South America: Brazil, Chile and Ecuador
* As of June 2006, 54 countries have imposed mandatory labeling on genetically modified foods.
Genetically Modified Food
Foods containing genetically modified organisms are called genetically modified foods. Transgenic technology implants foreign genes into human daily food, such as soybeans, corn and even rice. How long-term consumption of genetically modified foods will affect human health is still unknown.
At present, genetically modified foods lack long-term biological safety and food safety assessment, and it is still doubtful whether human beings can eat them for a long time, and the scientific community knows nothing about whether these foods are safe.
What are the general genetically modified foods?
Large-scale commercial planting of genetically modified agricultural products began in 1996. At present, the genetically modified crops planted on a large scale in the world mainly include soybean, corn, cotton and rape. At present, genetically modified crops are mainly used in feed processing and biofuels, and some of them are used in processed foods in the form of raw materials or accessories, such as genetically modified soybean oil.
The safety of genetically modified food is questioned.
In the process of transgenic, antibiotic resistance genes are often transferred into the receptor and used as marker genes, but it has been controversial to use antibiotic resistance genes as markers. . Antibiotic resistance will lead to the failure of the use of antibiotics in human or animal drugs, which has always been an important issue affecting global public health. At the same time, babies are particularly sensitive to food, because they usually have a single kind of food and must eat a certain food for a long time. The Royal Society designated infants as a "high-risk group" for food safety, and in 2002 issued a report saying that genetically modified ingredients in infant food "should be subject to the strictest examination". In a report in 2004, the British Medical Association also reiterated the above view: "Any food that will be eaten in large quantities by infants and other' vulnerable groups' should go through the most stringent approval procedures."
Consumer rights are inviolable.
Due to the environmental and health risks of genetically modified foods, many food manufacturers have promised not to use genetically modified raw materials in the European Union, South Korea and Japan.
However, consumers in China are facing double standards from some international food manufacturers. These food vendors use controversial genetically modified raw materials in food without telling consumers. Consumers are forced to eat genetically modified foods they don't want to eat without knowing it. Infringe on consumers' right to know and choose.
Consumers in China, like people all over the world, have the right to know which foods contain genetically modified ingredients and to choose safe, healthy and environmentally friendly foods.
Can genetically modified food solve the hunger problem?
Multinational companies that promote genetically modified foods claim that genetically modified foods can solve famine, but genetically modified foods are not omnipotent at all.
Although 800 million people in the world are hungry for a long time, UN agencies point out that at present, the world's grain output is enough to feed everyone, while the two richest adults in the world consume nearly half of the meat and fish, while the two poorest adults only eat 3%. Obviously, the real cause of hunger is not lack of food, but poverty and uneven distribution of resources.
In addition, once the patented genetically modified crops are commercialized, the price of seeds will inevitably rise. In the long run, genetically modified crops will not reduce the use of pesticides, farmers' production costs will increase, which will eventually lead to an increase in food prices, and the poor will not be able to afford expensive food. Therefore, it is contradictory to solve the hunger problem through genetic modification.
We believe that:
Human scientific research has not fully understood the impact of genetically modified organisms on the environment and human health. We should stop releasing genetically modified organisms into the environment.
* Measures should be taken immediately to strengthen supervision, avoid pollution incidents and prevent GM crops from polluting traditional non-GM crops.
Develop ecological agriculture and organic agriculture, protect agricultural genetic resources and promote agriculture to take the road of sustainable development.
Transgenic crops
Transgenic crops isolate one (or several) genes from organisms through biotechnology, and then implant them into another organism, thus cultivating organisms with new characters. For example, transgenic rice refers to the transfer of insect-resistant genes of certain bacteria in soil into rice, so that rice has insect-resistant characteristics.
Rice is the staple food of many Asians and is being threatened by genetic modification. Genetically modified crops can not solve the single planting problem caused by chemical agriculture and a large number of agrochemicals such as pesticides and fertilizers, but also bring a series of new threats to the already fragile farmland ecosystem.
So far, no country in the world has approved the commercial cultivation of genetically modified staple foods; However, it is very likely that China will become a country producing genetically modified rice commercially.
The Impact of Transgenic Rice on Environment
Transgenic rice refers to the application of transgenic technology to transfer some genes (such as bacterial genes) that did not exist in rice to rice, so that rice has new characters such as insect resistance, herbicide resistance and disease resistance. However, this technique is very rough, and inserting the transferred genes into the original genome of crops at random may affect the original gene function of crops and bring unpredictable consequences.
Transgenic crops will spread their genes to their close relatives through pollen, which will make other plants have the characteristics of transgenic crops (such as herbicide resistance), disturb the ecological balance and cause gene pollution. If herbicide-resistant genes spread to weeds, "super weeds" will appear, endangering food production.
In addition, some pests will develop resistance to genetically modified crops, which will lead to the use of more toxic or larger doses of chemical pesticides, forming a vicious circle and eventually polluting the environment. Judging from the history of planting Bt transgenic cotton in China for many years, the use of pesticides has not decreased due to the increase of resistance and the outbreak of secondary pests.
Won't transgenic technology improve farmers' lives?
The technologies, methods and genes involved in the research and development of genetically modified crops have often been patented, and the holders of such patents are mostly biotechnology companies. Patents give the patentee the right to exclusive economic benefits. Generally, the price of genetically modified crop seeds is more expensive than that of non-genetically modified seeds. According to statistics, the price of transgenic cotton seeds in China is generally 2-5 times that of ordinary cotton seeds, so the price increase undoubtedly increases the production cost of farmers. On the other hand, genetically modified crops do not have yield advantages. For example, in 2009, there was a large-scale production reduction of genetically modified cotton in Jiangsu, which eventually led to cotton farmers making ends meet. Therefore, transgenic technology can not effectively improve farmers' livelihood, but may have an impact.
Expose illegal cultivation of genetically modified rice
So far, no country in the world has approved the commercial cultivation of genetically modified staple foods; However, it is very likely that China will become a country producing genetically modified rice commercially.
Before the commercial production of genetically modified crops in China, it is necessary to apply for a biosafety certificate from the Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms Safety Management Office of the Ministry of Agriculture, and then pass the variety examination and approval according to laws and regulations to obtain a production and operation license, so as to be sold in the market and finally realize commercialization. In 2009, the Ministry of Agriculture issued biosafety certificates for two kinds of genetically modified rice, but in the end, commercial planting was not allowed.
However, illegal cultivation of genetically modified rice has been exposed in Greenpeace in recent years. In 2005, without passing the safety inspection, it was found that transgenic rice had been planted in Hubei for at least two years, which polluted rice in Hubei and other provinces and cities. In 2007, Greenpeace revealed that genetically modified rice illegally passed off as conventional hybrid rice, conducted field experiments in Hunan Province, and applied for variety approval in an attempt to obtain commercial planting qualification. 20 10 Greenpeace revealed that illegal transgenic rice seeds, rice and rice products appeared in the seed markets and circulation fields in Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Fujian and Guangdong.
These cases show that there are still loopholes in the safety management system of genetically modified organisms in China. The government should strengthen the supervision of genetically modified organisms and be cautious about the approval of commercial planting of genetically modified rice.
Launch a campaign to defend food sovereignty
Greenpeace confronted Monsanto, a multinational biotechnology company, and asked them to stay out of China's grain. In fact, the requirement is very simple: if these foreign biotechnology companies want to produce evidence that they don't covet China's grain sovereignty, please clearly disclose to the public the patent details of their projects involving China's grain problems and the contents of relevant agreements signed with scientific research institutions, scientists and seed companies in China.
Greenpeace once again brought to the table the problems that many people are unwilling to face directly. Behind the banner, Greenpeace once again implored: China government immediately suspends all commercial approval of genetically modified rice, and comprehensively investigates, analyzes and evaluates the possible impact of foreign genetically modified patents.
Only developing ecological agriculture and organic agriculture is the sustainable way of agricultural development.