Agricultural Genetic Technology and Biosafety Questions and Answers
Q. What is genetically modified technology?
A: Genes are DNA fragments with genetic information and are basic genetic units that control traits. Genes pass genetic information to the next generation through replication, determine the characteristics of organisms by controlling protein expression, and pass on from generation to generation in the process of reproduction.
Transgenic technology is to transfer genes with known functional traits, such as high yield, stress resistance, pest resistance, and improved nutritional quality, through modern scientific and technological means to target organisms, so that recipient organisms can add new functions based on their original genetic characteristics. Characteristics, access to new varieties, production of new products. Transgenic phenomena are widespread in nature, such as cross-pollination and natural hybridization commonly found in higher plants.
Compared with traditional breeding techniques, transgenic technology has two advantages: First, traditional breeding techniques can generally only achieve gene transfer within the same species, while transgenic technology can break the barrier of natural hybridization between different species and expand the range of available genes. The second is that the traditional hybrid breeding technology operates on the entire genome, and it is impossible to accurately operate and select specific genes. However, the genes that are manipulated and transferred by the transgenic technology have clear functions, and the posterior representatives can now accurately predict.
Because the nature of both transgenic and traditional breeding technologies is genetically improved through the acquisition of good genes, the combination of genetically modified technology with traditional breeding techniques enables the development of new varieties with high resistance, high quality, high yield, and high efficiency, and greatly improves the efficiency of variety improvement. It can reduce the investment in pesticides and fertilizers, and has great potential in alleviating resource constraints, safeguarding food security, protecting the ecological environment, and expanding agricultural functions.
Q. How is the research and application of global transgenic technology?
A: Since the first industrialized application of genetically modified crops in 1996, research and industrial applications of global transgenic technology have developed rapidly. Developed countries have taken the development of genetically modified technology as a strategic priority to seize the commanding heights of the future science and technology and enhance the international competitiveness of agriculture. Developing countries have also actively followed up and presented the following development trends:
The first is to speed up the cultivation of varieties. With the development of life sciences, genomics, and informatics, the research on GM technology is advancing with each passing day, research methods and equipment levels are continuously improving, and gene cloning technology is making rapid progress. Some new genes, new traits, and new products continue to emerge. Breeding presents intergenerational characteristics. At present, new varieties of global transgenic organisms have evolved from first-generation products such as insect-resistance and herbicide resistance to second-generation products that improve nutritional quality and yield, as well as industrial, pharmaceutical, and bioreactors. With the transformation of three generations of products, the compound traits of multi-gene aggregation are becoming the focus of research and application of transgenic technology.
Second, the scale of industrialization applications has rapidly expanded. As of the end of 2009, 25 countries around the world have approved the commercialization of 24 genetically modified crops. The area of ​​genetically modified crops represented by genetically modified soybeans, cotton, corn and rapeseed grew from 25.5 million mu in 1996 to 2 billion mu in 2009, an increase of 79 times in 14 years. The United States is still the largest growing country. In 2009, the planting area was 960 million mu; followed by Brazil, 321 million mu; Argentina, 319.5 million mu; India, 126 million mu; Canada, 123 million mu; China, 55.5 million mu; Paraguay, 33 million mu; South Africa, 31.5 million mu. It is worth mentioning that since 2000, the United States has approved six herbicide-tolerant and medicinal transgenic rice, and Iran has approved the commercial cultivation of a transgenic insect-resistant rice; Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Colombia have approved the use of genetically modified rice. Rice imports are allowed.
The third is ecological and economic benefits are very significant. From 1996 to 2007, the cumulative revenue of global genetically modified crops was as high as 44 billion U.S. dollars, and cumulative use of pesticides was 359,000 tons. In 2008, the global market value of genetically modified products reached US$7.5 billion.
Q. What are the policy measures in the development of genetically modified technologies and applications in China?
A: China is a country with a large population. The solution to the problem of eating 1.3 billion people is always a top priority. Breaking through the constraints of arable land, water, and other resources, reducing environmental pollution, and ensuring national food security and the effective supply of agricultural products are, in the final analysis, dependent on technological innovation and application. After years of hard work, China has made significant achievements in important gene discovery, breeding of new transgenic varieties, and industrialization applications. Promoting research and application of transgenic technology is a major strategy that focuses on future international competition and industrial division of labor, and is an important way to ensure national food security.
The Party Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to the research and application of genetically modified technology. In 2006, a major project for the cultivation of new varieties of genetically modified organisms was included in the Outline of the National Medium and Long-Term Scientific and Technological Development Plan (2006-2020). In July 2008, the State Council approved the launch of a major project for the breeding of new varieties of genetically modified organisms. In June 2009, the State Council issued "Several Policies to Promote the Accelerated Development of the Biological Industry", proposing that "accelerating the cultivation of the bio-industry industry will become a pillar industry in the high-tech field and a strategic emerging industry in the country." The No. 1 Document of the Central Committee in 2010 proposed: "continue to implement major science and technology projects for the cultivation of new varieties of genetically modified organisms, pay close attention to the development of functional genes and new biological varieties with important application value and independent intellectual property rights, and promote new genetically modified organisms based on scientific assessment and legal management. Variety industrialization."
At present, the Ministry of Agriculture is working with the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Development and Reform Commission, and other 10 new varieties of genetically modified organisms to cultivate major special leading group members, following the overall arrangements of the Central and State Council, and accelerating research, application, management, and scientific development. The guidelines adhere to the overall thinking of “strengthening independent innovation, highlighting strategic priorities, innovating management mechanisms, and fostering bio-industriesâ€, and sticking to the orientation of products and industries, the tight convergence of upstream and downstream, multi-sectoral multi-disciplinary collaboration, product development and safety The evaluation promotes and classifies the basic principles of step-by-step industrialization, accelerates the implementation of major new varieties of genetically modified organisms, strives to obtain a group of genes with important applied value and independent intellectual property rights, and cultivates a batch of plants that are resistant to stress, pests, and disease. The new varieties of high-yield, high-efficiency GMOs provide strong scientific and technological support for the sustainable development of agriculture in China.
Q: Please tell us about GM corn.
A: The phytase transgenic maize "BVLA430101" was developed by the Institute of Biotechnology of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. The exogenous gene was cloned by a Chinese scientist to clone the phytase gene. The receptor type was "Hi-II" maize. Intercourse.
Phytase can reduce the anti-nutritional effect of phytic acid, and decompose phytic acid, which is abundant in plants, into inositol and phosphorus that can be used by animals, thereby improving the utilization efficiency of phosphorus in animals, reducing the emission of high-phosphorus feces, and being beneficial to environmental protection. .
The food safety analysis and test results showed that the phytase transgenic maize was as safe as the non-transgenic control corn. Phytase is widely found in plants such as corn, wheat, rice, and soybeans. It is widely used in the food industry. Humans or animals have a long history of safe food or feeding. There is no similarity to the amino acid sequence of known allergens. There is no cross-reaction with allergic sera and no allergy is caused; no adverse effects have been observed in animal toxicology tests.
Environmental safety analysis and test results show that the planting of the phytase gene maize in the country is safe for the ecological environment. Compared with the non-transgenic control corn, the transgenic corn had no changes in survival competitiveness, weediness, and invasiveness; in terms of the impact of gene drift on the ecological environment, no phytase gene drift was found in farmland ecology and the natural environment. Adverse effects; China does not have wild relatives of corn, so there is no risk of phytase gene drifting to wild species.
What is the safety evaluation process and follow-up management of Q, GM rice and corn?
A: In 1999 and 2004, the Ministry of Agriculture successively accepted applications for safety evaluation of genetically modified rice and maize. After strict evaluations of 11 and 6 years respectively, on August 17, 2009, the Ministry of Agriculture approved the issuance of the transgenic phytase gene maize. Production and application safety certificates for transgenic insect-resistant rice. Throughout the security evaluation process, it will be effective:
The first is the comprehensive specification of evaluation indicators. In accordance with the "Administrative Measures for the Safety Evaluation of Agricultural Genetically Modified Organisms" and the "Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Transgenic Plants", reference is made to the guidelines for the evaluation of the safety of genetically modified organisms developed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the World Health Organization and the Economic Cooperation Organization, and molecular characteristics, environmental safety, and food safety are established. Evaluation indicators such as feed safety, some indicators are more stringent than international standards.
The second is that the evaluation process is scientific and rigorous. Taking the transgenic insect-resistant rice as an example, the R&D unit conducted an intermediate test from 1999 to 2000 and the environmental release from 2001 to 2002 after review by the relevant provincial government departments, the evaluation of the safety committee, and the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture. From 2003 to 2004 A production test was carried out and in 2004 a safety certificate for GM rice production was applied. In addition to the technical data provided by the applicants, according to the evaluation opinion of the Safety Committee, from 2004 to 2008, the Ministry of Agriculture's genetically modified organisms safety testing agency tested and verified some of the molecular characteristics, environmental safety, and food safety indicators of genetically modified rice.
Third, the evaluation conclusion is true and accurate. Many years of safety evaluation tests and test verification results show that the genetically modified rice and corn have clear molecular characteristics; no adverse effects on environmental safety have been found; no differences in key nutrient components, toxicity tests have no adverse effects on experimental animals, and no homology with known allergens. Sex. The comprehensive evaluation of the CAC believes that the transgenic rice and corn have the same safety as non-transgenic control rice and corn.
Fourth, the decision-making process is cautious. After the safety committee had agreed to issue a safety certificate, the Ministry of Agriculture convened an inter-ministerial meeting of agricultural genetically modified organism safety management consisting of 11 relevant departments of the State Council to review the issuance of safety certificates. At the same time, the Ministry of Agriculture has carried out serious research and deployment of follow-up supervision such as regional certification tests for varieties, seed production and operation, commercial production management, product labeling, and supervision and management.
Fifth, industrial applications still need time. The issuance of GMO safety certificates is not the same as allowing commercial production. According to laws and regulations such as the Regulations, the Seed Law, and the Measures for the Examination and Approval of Major Crop Varieties, strict regional and production tests are conducted first, and certification standards are available only when the standards are met; after that, related seed companies must also pass Only strict inspections can obtain the production license and business license of genetically modified crops before they can be used for seed production and operation.
Q. Has China approved the import of genetically modified grain seeds for planting in the country?
A: As of now, the Ministry of Agriculture has never approved the import of seeds of any kind of genetically modified food crops into commercial cultivation in China, and there are no genetically modified food crops grown in China.
According to the “Regulations†and supporting regulations, the Ministry of Agriculture manages imports of agricultural genetically modified organisms according to their use in three categories: one for research and testing, two for production, and three for processing raw materials. The application procedures for importing agricultural genetically modified organisms used as raw materials for processing include two links: First, overseas developers apply for safety certificates from the Ministry of Agriculture, which are tested by third-party testing organizations in China and are qualified by the safety committee. The Ministry of Agriculture approves the issuance of import safety certificates for processing raw materials. Second, overseas traders should apply for the import security certificate for each vessel to the Ministry of Agriculture on the basis of the safety certificates obtained by the R&D companies. After the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture, each batch of imported safety certificates shall be issued.
Up to now, after review by the safety committee, the Ministry of Agriculture has successively approved import safety certificates for four crops of genetically modified cotton, soybeans, corn, and rape. Except for cotton, the use of imported crops is limited to processing raw materials. The Ministry of Agriculture has not approved the import of any kind of genetically modified food crop seeds into commercial cultivation in China.
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