Ruibal-Mendieta N L, Lints F A
European Interuniversity Association on Society, Science and Technology (ESST), Université Catholique de Louvain.
Transgenic Res. 1998 Sep;7(5):379-86. doi: 10.1023/a:1008845323046.
Recombinant DNA technology offers opportunities to develop new products in many different fields, including agriculture and the agro-food area. Transgenic plants with improved agronomic traits currently grow in field trials and a few varieties have already reached the European market. By and large, new technologies raise both concerns and expectations and modern biotechnology is no exception. Indeed, a voluntary moratorium on experiments involving recombinant DNA molecules was called for in 1974. At the present time, although a majority of academic and industrial scientists agree that transgenic food crops pose no risk for the environment or human health, some others believe that certain applications of modern plant biotechnology are hazardous. In particular, deliberate releases of genetically modified plants are regarded as risky. There is also a disparity between expert and lay perception of r-DNA technology applications to food crops, which makes public information a difficult task. This paper aims at exposing these conflicting points of view on the agricultural applications of modern biotechnology. We also propose some recommendations pertaining to public information in Europe. It appears that consensus conferences might be a good approach to stimulate public information and public debate in Europe, although this approach has to be adapted to the cultural context of each country.
重组DNA技术为包括农业和农业食品领域在内的许多不同领域开发新产品提供了机会。具有改良农艺性状的转基因植物目前正在进行田间试验种植，一些品种已经进入欧洲市场。总体而言，新技术既引发了担忧，也带来了期望，现代生物技术也不例外。事实上，1974年就有人呼吁自愿暂停涉及重组DNA分子的实验。目前，虽然大多数学术和工业科学家都认为转基因粮食作物对环境或人类健康没有风险，但也有一些人认为现代植物生物技术的某些应用是有害的。特别是，故意释放转基因植物被认为是有风险的。专家和普通公众对将重组DNA技术应用于粮食作物的看法也存在差异，这使得向公众提供信息成为一项艰巨的任务。本文旨在揭示关于现代生物技术在农业应用方面的这些相互冲突的观点。我们还提出了一些与欧洲公众信息相关的建议。虽然这种方法必须适应每个国家的文化背景，但共识会议似乎可能是在欧洲促进公众信息和公众辩论的一个好方法。
