In recent years, GM technology has developed rapidly in the world, and research on GM biotechnology in Russia has followed the rapid development of biotechnology in the world. However, the commercial cultivation of GM crops in Russia has lags behind. With the continued rise of international food prices and the global shortage of food, the attitudes of governments, food governments, and consumers that have long resisted GM crops have gradually eased. Some Russian experts believe that only by vigorously promoting crop genetic modification technology and expanding the area of ​​cultivated crops of genetically modified crops can we solve the problem of food inadequacy and alleviate the current global food crisis.
70% of food belongs to genetically modified
Relevant information shows that although Russia rarely plants genetically modified crops, the amount of imports of genetically modified foods has been growing. These genetically modified foods mainly include soybeans, potatoes, corn and red cabbage. At present, about 10% to 20% of genetically modified foods are on the Russian market. In some cities that do not regulate GM foods, genetically modified foods account for 50%. According to the Institute of Plant Physiology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, about 70% of the food on the Russian market is genetically modified. In May 2008, Russian biologist Alexander Golikoff told the “Echo of Moscow†interview on the issue of “there is no genetically modified foodâ€. He said that there is no doubt that genetically modified foods exist in our lives. In the future, genetic modification will occur. Food will probably play a very important role. He stressed that the world is now launching a wave of large-scale cultivation of genetically modified crops. This is inseparable from the global food crisis. GM crops have great potential for development. In the next few years, biotech countries will use genetically modified organisms. Crops, biotechnical characteristics, and planting area of ​​transgenic crops are all likely to increase significantly.
Golikoff noted that so far, the Russian Ministry of Health has issued more than 100 certificates of registration for genetically modified food raw materials, foods, and raw materials for production, including 17 kinds of soybean protein compressed foods, 16 kinds of soybean protein extracts, and 6 kinds of Soybean protein foods, two kinds of soy protein extracts were used to prepare milk dry substitutes, three kinds of soybean ice cream, soybean milk, two potato varieties, and more than 10 kinds of biologically active supplements. The genetically modified foods that are currently allowed in the food industry and sold to the public are strictly tested systematically, including genetically modified soybeans, corn, potatoes and red cabbage. There is also a series of genetically modified foods that are allowed to be sold on the world grain market, such as tomatoes, canola, zucchini and papaya. However, only papaya is registered in Russia. However, in the near future, more and more genetically modified foods may enter the Russian market in the next 3 to 5 years. At the same time, he said that currently the genetically modified crops grown in Russia are mainly potatoes and corn. In 2007, the planting area of ​​genetically modified corn increased compared with previous years, but the proportion is still quite small.
Experts of the Russian Academy of Sciences believe that agricultural transgenic technology is one of the most popular research areas in the world today. It is closely related to human life. Genetically modified crops have the advantages of resistance to insecticides, pests, and other crop diseases. Foods made from genetically modified crops are more delicious. Fresh and more importantly, the large number of applications of genetically modified organisms may make a great contribution to solving Russia’s food supply problems. In the international market, trade in GM products holds a considerable share, and Russia should now vigorously develop the local agricultural market and popularize genetically modified products. Konstantin Skori, a research expert of the Institute of Biochemical Engineering at the Russian Academy of Sciences, also believes that genetically modified products will not be released from the laboratory until they are fully assured of quality and that each new type of genetically modified food is first introduced into Russia. Before the market, they must undergo genomic medical demonstration, technical demonstration, and biomedical argumentation. The Russian authorities also strictly manage and monitor the foods that have entered the market after the demonstration. Therefore, the GM foods on the Russian market are safe. People do not have to Responsive to genetically modified foods.
People still have doubts about genetically modified foods
However, Russian Greenpeace officials expressed doubts about the safety of genetically modified foods: the potential dangers of genetically modified foods are unpredictable. So far, scientists have been unable to guarantee and confirm for 30 years to 50 years or even longer. What are the consequences of genetically modified foods? As long as the harmlessness of genetically modified products has not yet been proved, the risks faced by all countries in the world, including Russia, will increase, and diseases such as infertility, allergies, chronic poisoning, and genetic mutations will be likely to force humans at any time. Desperate. Some Russian agricultural experts also stated that due to the lack of long-term scientific data, people still know little about the risks of genetically modified foods and the risks of genetically modified crops. The development of genetically modified crops still has many hidden safety risks. For example, first of all, The adverse effects of biological diversity include adding pest-resistant genes or anti-weed genes that were not available to genetically modified crops, breaking through traditional biological species, and possibly altering natural competition among species, destroying natural ecological balance, and leading to species diversity. The loss of it will result in the extinction of traditional species. In addition, it may affect the ecological environment. The resistance of pests or weeds of transgenic species to other species, for example, to weeds, may alter the traditional characteristics of weeds and threaten the normality of other crops. Growth and survival cause harm to the ecological environment. Some experts also pointed out that if the area for planting genetically modified crops is greatly increased, the acreage of traditional crops will be reduced, and the market share of non-genetically modified foods may be reduced by about 20%.
The attitude of the Russian people to genetically modified crops has brought new resistance to the development of genetically modified crops in Russia. According to the Russian Public Opinion Research Center, more than 95% of Russians agree to refuse to use genetically modified products. They stated that eating such foods does not guarantee their health and may have an impact on their offspring. On June 1, 2006, nearly 30 people held a protest in front of the building of the Ministry of Health and Social Development in Moscow, Russia. The big banner “Children's food is not genetically modified†and “Our child is not the object of experimentation†opposed it. Transgenic products are used in children's foods. In April 2008, a youth organization in the northwestern state of Murmansk, Russia, staged a parade, claiming that genetically modified foods would cause allergies and cancer, oppose the government's introduction of genetically modified food products, and demanded that the government prohibit the circulation of genetically modified foods in the market. Some stores and supermarkets have expressed concern that GM foods will adversely affect themselves. They often say that they refuse to sell drugs until there is no scientific evidence that GM foods are harmful.
Right or wrong allows consumers to choose
Some experts believe that the development of genetically modified crops is an inevitable trend, and sooner or later Russia will vigorously promote the cultivation of genetically modified crops. The development of GM crop technology is not just a scientific issue but more of an economic and market issue. In order to strengthen the management of genetically modified foods, the Russian government stipulated on September 1, 2002 that any product containing genetically modified ingredients sold in Russia must be labeled if it contains more than 5% of genetically modified ingredients. If there is no foreign gene and foreign protein, and the nutritional value has substantial equivalence with its traditional product, no additional identification is required. In addition, Russia has also signed the Biosafety Protocol in strengthening international cooperation in the safety of genetically modified technology. In 2004, the Russian government revised the "Consumer Protection Law" and stipulated that it was necessary to specify on the food packaging whether or not genetically modified ingredients were added during the production process. However, most of the packaging did not implement this requirement, and the number of goods with genetically modified ingredients in domestic stores continued to increase.
In July 2007, the Moscow municipal government stated that the city of Moscow will limit the amount of genetically modified foods to 0.9% according to food standards set by most European countries. Only genetically modified foods that meet this requirement can be found in stores and markets. Sales and implementation of measures to voluntarily apply identification labels on food packaging with genetically modified ingredients. All food products that will be sold in stores and markets in Moscow in the future, such as foods containing genetically modified ingredients, will have clear identification labels in their packaging bags. The background color of this identification label is light green with the words “containing genetically modified ingredients†printed on them. In the dark green words, the residents of Moscow City will be able to clearly distinguish between genetically modified foods and natural foods through the packaging of food. At the same time, residents of Moscow City can also obtain other more comprehensive information on food quality and safety on this identification label. . At the same time, the Moscow government also stipulated that the registration of the raw materials of the genetically modified product in Russia should be indicated on the identification label. In addition, the Moscow municipal government imposes restrictions on the sale of genetically modified foods. Stores must not sell foods containing genetically modified ingredients to children under the age of 16. GM foods are not allowed to enter hospitals and restaurants in Moscow’s primary and secondary schools and kindergartens; the military and navy are also prohibited. Buy genetically modified foods.
The "Moscow Food Security Law" revised in February 2007 stipulates that it is forbidden to use municipal budget funds for the production and purchase of foods containing genetically modified components, and also prohibits the use of loans for such purposes. Experts said that the Russian government has imposed a "genetically modified" label on the market to take advantage of the fact that it will not only protect the enthusiasm of producers of Russian food exports and Russian sellers, but also allow consumers to enjoy a fuller right to know, thus safeguarding Russian consumers. The legitimate rights and interests. However, some people believe that the labeling of genetically modified products will mislead consumers and increase consumers' suspicion and fear of genetically modified products. Only when genetically modified foods contain allergens and their components exceed the specified range, do they need to be identified. . (This newspaper Moscow, October 19)