Risk and Management of Genetically Modified Organisms: Proceedings of the International Symposium on Genetically Modified Organisms and the Environment

Author: Xue Dayuan
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-08-01
Features: Since the large-scale commercial production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) began in 1995, the planted area of several major GMO crops (soybeans, corn, cotton, rapeseed) has been increasing globally year by year, reaching 81 million hectares by 2004. Following the United States, Argentina, and Canada, China has become the fourth-largest country in the world in terms of GMO cultivation. In 2004, China's planted area of transgenic insect-resistant cotton exceeded 3 million hectares, accounting for 70% of the country's total cotton planting area. Although China has not yet approved the cultivation of transgenic food crops, it imports approximately 20 million tons of transgenic soybeans annually from abroad, primarily for edible oil processing and animal feed production. On the other hand, China's domestically developed and researched transgenic food crops are nearing commercial production. Due to the scientific uncertainty surrounding the environmental hazards and health risks of GMOs, developing countries generally lack the capacity for GMO biosafety management, and China faces similar challenges. Under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety requires the international community, particularly developed countries, to actively support the capacity-building of developing countries in regulatory frameworks, professional skills, management experience, and public participation. In this context, the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ), on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), has implemented a capacity-building project in China, funding the Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences of the Ministry of Environmental Protection to carry out the project "China Biosafety Capacity Building—Enhancing Biosafety Data Management, Professional Capacity, and Public Awareness." An important component of this project is the convening of an international seminar on the theme of "GMOs and Environmental Impact," aiming to provide an academic forum to explore the effects of GMOs on the environment, health, and socio-economic development from the perspective of scientific development, in order to establish harmonious development between humans, nature, and science and technology. This international seminar was held from July 9 to 11, 2004, in Beijing, organized by the Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Chinese Association of Agricultural Biotechnology, with co-organization by the German Technical Cooperation Agency (GTZ/BMZ) and the Third World Network (TWN). A total of 96 representatives attended the seminar, including 20 from relevant Chinese government departments (Ministry of Environmental Protection, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Science and Technology, National Forestry Administration, and National Intellectual Property Administration), 40 from Chinese research institutions (relevant institutes of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Institute of Environmental Sciences, agricultural universities, and other research institutions), 23 experts and officials from Germany, Austria, the United States, Norway, Australia, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, as well as representatives from international and domestic non-governmental organizations. In addition, 13 media reporters participated in the seminar (see Appendix 3: List of Participants). The seminar was a great success. A total of more than 30 academic presentations and two roundtable discussions were held, focusing on the latest research progress and existing issues in various fields, including the environmental and health risks of GMOs domestically and internationally, environmental impact monitoring of GMOs, trade and socio-economic impacts, and policies and regulations for biosafety management. The atmosphere was lively, with active participation and intense debates, leading to consensus in some areas (see Appendix: Summary of Seminar Outcomes). Informal discussions were also held to explore future cooperation, including conducting related research and establishing a "China Biosafety Forum." The papers in this collection are primarily based on the presentations at the international seminar. On the occasion of the publication of this seminar proceedings, I sincerely thank the experts, government officials, and others who supported and contributed to the seminar. I also thank the Ministry of Environmental Protection and other relevant government departments, the Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and the Chinese Association of Agricultural Biotechnology for their support. Special thanks are due to my colleagues who provided logistical assistance during the seminar and my friends who helped translate the papers for this collection. In conclusion, I sincerely thank all the participants and contributors to the seminar. All papers in this collection have been compiled by the authors themselves and represent their views. The entire collection has been edited and proofread by Xue Dayuan. For any inaccuracies in the text, I kindly invite readers to point them out.