Maghari Behrokh Mohajer, Ardekani Ali M
Biotechnology Department, Iranian Research for Science and Technology (IROST), Karaj, Iran.
Avicenna J Med Biotechnol. 2011 Jul;3(3):109-17.
Biotechnology is providing us with a wide range of options for how we can use agricultural and commercial forestry lands. The cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops on millions of hectares of lands and their injection into our food chain is a huge global genetic experiment involving all living beings. Considering the fast pace of new advances in production of genetically modified crops, consumers, farmers and policymakers worldwide are challenged to reach a consensus on a clear vision for the future of world food supply. The current food biotechnology debate illustrates the serious conflict between two groups: 1) Agri-biotech investors and their affiliated scientists who consider agricultural biotechnology as a solution to food shortage, the scarcity of environmental resources and weeds and pests infestations; and 2) independent scientists, environmentalists, farmers and consumers who warn that genetically modified food introduces new risks to food security, the environment and human health such as loss of biodiversity; the emergence of superweeds and superpests; the increase of antibiotic resistance, food allergies and other unintended effects. This article reviews major viewpoints which are currently debated in the food biotechnology sector in the world. It also lays the ground-work for deep debate on benefits and risks of Biotech-crops for human health, ecosystems and biodiversity. In this context, although some regulations exist, there is a need for continuous vigilance for all countries involved in producing genetically engineered food to follow the international scientific bio-safety testing guidelines containing reliable pre-release experiments and post-release track of transgenic plants to protect public health and avoid future environmental harm.
生物技术为我们如何利用农业和商业林地提供了广泛的选择。数百万公顷土地上种植转基因作物并将其引入我们的食物链，这是一项涉及所有生物的巨大全球基因实验。鉴于转基因作物生产新进展的快速步伐，全球的消费者、农民和政策制定者面临着挑战，要就世界粮食供应的未来达成清晰愿景的共识。当前关于食品生物技术的辩论体现了两个群体之间的严重冲突：1）农业生物技术投资者及其附属科学家，他们将农业生物技术视为解决粮食短缺、环境资源稀缺以及杂草和害虫侵扰问题的办法；2）独立科学家、环保主义者、农民和消费者，他们警告说转基因食品给粮食安全、环境和人类健康带来了新风险，如生物多样性丧失；超级杂草和超级害虫的出现；抗生素耐药性、食物过敏及其他意外影响的增加。本文回顾了目前世界食品生物技术领域中正在辩论的主要观点。它还为深入辩论转基因作物对人类健康、生态系统和生物多样性的利弊奠定了基础。在这种情况下，尽管存在一些法规，但所有参与生产转基因食品的国家都需要持续保持警惕，遵循包含可靠的转基因植物释放前实验和释放后追踪的国际科学生物安全测试准则，以保护公众健康并避免未来的环境危害。
