Ford, B.J. (ed.) GM Crops: the scientists speak.

This volume represents the proceedings of a meeting of the CambridgeSociety for the Application of Research held in 2002. The aimof the meeting was to clarify the current state of knowledgeof GM technology and its implications for the world. This hasresulted in a collection of papers that discuss some but notall of the current driving issues related to the applicationof biotechnology to crops. One of the most contentious thingsabout the volume is probably its choice of title. As sourcesof information, scientists have not been trusted by the publicto be objective on GM or to answer the public’s questionsin     

Techne versus Technoscience: Divergent (and Ambiguous) Notions of Food "Quality" in the French Debate over GM Crops

In the French debate over genetically modified organisms (GMOs), actors present divergent definitions of food quality located between poles of technoscience and techne. Although scientists often define food quality in terms of technoscience, assessing food safety, small farmers often appeal to technes of production, positing GMOs as a rupture with artisanal culture. Whereas small farmers (from the union the Confédération Paysanne [CP]) deploy notions of "techne" to promote their anti-GMO campaign, they often define quality in an ambiguous way, vacillating between ideas of agricultural method (technique) or production scale. Despite this ambiguity, the CP successfully designates GMOs as la malbouffe , or "bad" food, establishing themselves as protectors of artisanal technés such as Roquefort. Finally, unlike many cultures that cast GMOs as "unnatural," the CP tends to frame GMOs as "uncultural." In the French debate, the CP posits culture against a "culturelessness" associated with technoscience and industry-driven foods such as GMOs and McDonald's.     

生物技术与我国农业发展

从国际农业生物技术的发展趋势,看农业生物技术在现代中国农业发展中的重要地位和作用。分析了我国农业生物技术发展的现状和面临的挑战,提出在日益激烈的国际农业竞争环境中,我国农业生物技术的发展战略和措施 。     

Attitudes in China about Crops and Foods Developed by Biotechnology

Transgenic Bt cotton has been planted in China since 1997 and, in 2009, biosafety certificates for the commercial production of Bt rice and phytase corn were issued by the Chinese government. The public attitude in China toward agricultural biotechnology and genetically modified (GM) crops and foods has received considerable attention worldwide. We investigated the attitudes of consumers, Bt cotton farmers and scientists in China regarding GM crops and foods and the factors influencing their attitudes. Data were collected using interview surveys of consumer households, farmer households and scientists. A discrete choice approach was used to elicit the purchase intentions of the respondents. Two separate probit models were developed to examine the effect of various factors on the choices of the respondents. Bt cotton farmers had a very positive attitude because Bt cotton provided them with significant economic benefits. Chinese consumers from developed regions had a higher acceptance and willingness to pay for GM foods than consumers in other regions. The positive attitude toward GM foods by the scientific community will help to promote biotechnology in China in the future. Our survey emphasized that educational efforts made by government officials, the media and scientists can facilitate the acceptance of GM technology in China. Further educational efforts will be critical for influencing consumer attitudes and decisions of government agencies in the future. More effective educational efforts by government agencies and public media concerning the scientific facts and safety of GM foods would enhance the acceptance of GM crops in China.     

2008年全球生物技术/转基因作物商业化发展态势——第一个十三年(1996-2008)

本文介绍了2008年转基因作物的主要情况.由于采用转基因作物取得了巨大经济、环境和社会效益,2008年(转基因作物商业化的第十三个年头),全世界上百万小型和资源匮乏型农户继续种植转基因作物,种植面积有了较大增长(图1).     

2009年全球生物技术/转基因作物商业化发展态势——第一个十四年1996-2009

谨此纪念已故的诺贝尔和平奖得主、国际农业生物技术应用服务组织(ISAAA)首位创始资助人Norman Borlaug     

Plant Biotechnology for Food Security: New Frontiers

Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology -     

生物技术在食品工业中的应用

生物技术是一门新兴的高新技术 ,对解决人类面临的食物、资源、健康、环境等重大问题发挥着越来越大的作用。根据国内外食品工业领域中生物技术的研究应用状况 ,主要阐述生物技术在功能食品开发、食品疫苗、海洋食物资源开发利用和啤酒工业中等方面的研究进展。     

Genetically Modified Crops and Food Security

The role of genetically modified (GM) crops for food security is the subject of public controversy. GM crops could contribute to food production increases and higher food availability. There may also be impacts on food quality and nutrient composition. Finally, growing GM crops may influence farmers’ income and thus their economic access to food. Smallholder farmers make up a large proportion of the undernourished people worldwide. Our study focuses on this latter aspect and provides the first ex post analysis of food security impacts of GM crops at the micro level. We use comprehensive panel data collected over several years from farm households in India, where insect-resistant GM cotton has been widely adopted. Controlling for other factors, the adoption of GM cotton has significantly improved calorie consumption and dietary quality, resulting from increased family incomes. This technology has reduced food insecurity by 15–20% among cotton-producing households. GM crops alone will not solve the hunger problem, but they can be an important component in a broader food security strategy.     

生物工程技术在食品工业领域中的应用

据当今生物工程技术发展情况,综述了它在食品工业领域中的食用资源开发、食品加工及食品安全检测中的应用.