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很少有一项技术如转基因般在应用中使世界民众莫衷一是。尽管美国是最早进行转基因食品研究,且是全球转基因植物种植面积最大的国度,但本期封面文章表明美国人正力争获得转基因食品的知情权,并力图以立法的形式规范对转基因食品的标注。尽管世界各国对转基因食品与作物种植持不同态度,但争议中表明“转基因焦虑”并非中国百姓独有。在世界人口突破70亿大关的当下,解决温饱问题、保障粮食供应成为世界各国政府面临的重大挑战,也是致力于以科学方法造福于人类的科学家应有的担当。现代生物技术使人们得以培育出高产、抗虫、抗病、抗逆、生长快、高蛋白的基因改良植物,其科研成果当有利于人类发展。但人们对这些遗传改变将产生何种后果、转基因作物有何风险、转基因食品危害如何知之甚少。而当科技成果与复杂的利益链条挂钩时,相互矛盾的实验证据,极端对立的利益表达也就此而生。如果说普通消费者无所适从谈“转”色变,是由于社会科普工作不力,不如说是由于重大食品安全问题导致的社会公信力的缺失。人类如何走出困局,以理性的抉择、科学的方法确保世代安康?
Few technologies, such as GMOs, make the world disconcerting in their applications. Although the United States is the earliest study on genetically modified foods and the largest country in the world in terms of the area planted with genetically modified plants, this issue of cover articles shows that Americans are striving to gain access to genetically modified foods and are trying to regulate the labeling of genetically modified foods in the form of legislation. Although the countries in the world hold different attitudes towards GM food and crop cultivation, the controversy shows that “GMO” is not unique to Chinese people. At a time when the world’s population exceeds the 7 billion mark, the solution to the problem of food and clothing and the guarantee of food supply have become major challenges to the governments of all countries in the world. It is also the dedication of scientists dedicated to the benefit of mankind by scientific methods. Modern biotechnology enables people to breed genetically modified plants with high yield, resistance to insects, disease resistance, resistance to stress, fast growth and high protein. Its scientific achievements are beneficial to human development. But what are the consequences of these genetic changes, what are the risks of GM crops and little is known about the dangers of GM foods. When scientific and technological achievements are linked to complicated chains of interests, contradictory experimental evidence and extreme antithetical expressions of interest arise as a result. If we say that ordinary consumers have no alternative but to talk about “color change” because of poor work in social science popularization, it is better to say that it is due to the lack of social credibility due to major food safety issues. How can human beings get out of the dilemma, make rational choices and scientific methods to ensure the well-being of generations?