http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-02/04/content_9430645.htm
GM rice has long-term risks
By Wang Zhuoqiong and Shan Juan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2010-02-04 18:57
Genetically modified rice may potentially cause serious public health and
environmental problems, experts warn.
Genetically modified organisms have genetic material, or DNA, that has been
altered in a way that does not occur naturally. Genetic modification allows
selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, and
also between non-related species, to create advantages, experts say. Such
methods are used to create genetically modified plants, which are then used to
grow genetically modified food crops.
Two major issues about GM rice are their tendencies to provoke allergic
reactions and the uncertainty of gene transfers.
Fang Lifeng, Greenpeace's food and agriculture campaigner, told China Daily
that the long-term risk of genetically modified rice should be taken into
consideration.
"Once the engineered rice gets into the food chain on large scale, it will have
a very big impact on food safety, environmental safety and biological
diversity," Fang warned.
He cited some examples on the long-term risk of genetically modified food since
it first appeared on the market in 1994.
In 2008, the immune systems of laboratory mice that consumed genetically
modified corn were found to be abnormal.
The official nod to pesticide-resistant rice has triggered questions on whether
the resistance technology will also work on humans.
"If the substance is killing pests, will it be hurting us if we eat it every
day?" Jiang Gaoming, a professor at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute
of Botany told the International Herald Leader.
Other uncertainties about GM food includes what chain reactions it will impact
the life on earth and the food chain.
Widely cited environment concerns include the potential capability of the
genetically modified plants to introduce the engineered genes into wild
populations, and the susceptibility of non-target organisms to the gene product.
Other worries include the stability of the gene, and the reduction in the
spectrum of other plants, including a loss of biodiversity, and the increased
use of chemicals in agriculture.
The environmental safety aspects of genetically modified crops vary according
to local conditions, the World Health Organization says.
Internationally, most governments consider that specific assessments are
necessary for genetically modified food.
Specific systems have been set up for the rigorous evaluation of genetically
modified organisms and foods relative to both human health and the environment.
Similar evaluations are generally not performed for traditional foods.
Hence a significant difference exists in the evaluation process prior to
marketing these two groups of food, experts said.
Greenpeace China's spokesman Fang Lifeng said that the genetically modified
crops should not be planted on a large scale as the health risks have not yet
been ruled out.
Although the Chinese researchers involved in the GM rice studies claim that
they own the intellectual property rights to the GM rice breeds, Fang Lifeng
argued that China does not own the full IP rights of genetically modified foods.
Fang said that major international companies such as Monsanto possess the main
IP rights.
China will be susceptible to huge IP costs when it starts mass
commercialization of the GM technology, Fang said.
Related readings:
Science to revolutionize food supply
GM push sparks debate about food safety, quality
China turns to GM rice for food supply
Inspectors sent to provinces for food safety
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