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[生物的未來-生物科技]

聯合國報告指出生物科技對發展中國家之利益 (上)

 

Report Cites Benefits of Biotechnology for Developing Countries

Cat Lazaroff 報導

  墨西哥,墨西哥市,2001-7-11,(ENS) -由聯合國發展計劃委託執行的【人類發展報告2001】於週二發表,該報告結論指出,許多發展中國家可能會從基因改造食品、作物,以及其他生物體上,獲得大額利益。報告中說,這些作物將顯著地降低人們的營養失調程度,並幫助貧窮的農人在貧瘠的土地上耕種。

  這份報告分析了發展中國家的生物和資訊科技潛力,評估72個國家的科技成就,並根據人類文明發展程度,將162個國家依序排名。

  這份報告總結,基因改造農業技術可創造出抗病毒、耐乾旱,與營養提高的作物。這類作物具有改善非洲、亞洲與拉丁美洲食物安全的驚人潛力。這份報告論及,這類作物能顯著地降低營養不良 - 一項仍影響全世界超過8億人口的病症。

  這份報告雖然承認了環境與健康風險需要被提出討論,它主張這些風險可以被管理。

  報告的領導作者 - Sakiko Fukuda-Parr說,為確保生物科技可符合世界貧者的農業需要,在研究與發展上做更大的公共投資是必要的。

  「我們不能單單依賴私人研究中心和組織來發展這項工作」,Fukuda-Parr說。他的談話指出,私人研究大部分是為了迎合高收入消費者的需要,而不是發展中國家幾乎無購買能力的人們。

  這份報告特別指出,有發展稷(栗)、高梁與樹薯新品種的急切需要。這些作物是許多發展中國家窮人的民生基本食品。

  聯合國發展計劃署長馬克•摩洛克•布朗同意這項建議,他並指出,這樣的公共投資已經產生令人印象深刻的結果。他所指的是,最近由聯合國發展計劃、日本政府與其它國際夥伴,成功發展出新稻米品種的努力過程。

  布朗說,「這些新品種提高50%產量,提前30到50天成熟,大幅提高耐病害與耐乾旱的程度,抗蟲,甚至比雜草更具生存競爭力」;「而且,它們特別有用,因為栽種它們不需肥料或殺草劑,這些東西貧窮的農人無論如何都無法負擔。這項創舉顯示,生物科技對於改善非洲、亞洲與拉丁美洲食物安全的巨大潛力。」

  三年來,在歐洲販售的基因改造玉米、蕃茄、馬鈴薯與棉花,時常被媒體形容成 "Frankenstein foods" (編按)。因為人們擔憂潛在的健康與環境風險,這些作物在市場上已被抑止。【人類發展計劃】提出辯論,認為基因改造的風險是可以被管理的,但大部分的發展中國家在這方面需要外力協助。[編按:根據瑪麗•雪萊小說《Frankenstein》,或電影版的《科學怪人》,劇中的瑞士學生就叫Frankenstein,他利用部分屍體創造科學怪人,最後反被科學怪人給毀了。而今,〝Frankenstein〞這個字被引申為「長得像人的怪物」或「失控的新發明最後卻摧毀了發明人」。在歐洲,關心食物安全的各方團體和個人,於是稱基因改造食物為Frankenstein foods來表示他們的憂慮。]

  該報告指出,生物科技與食物安全的問題,常來自於粗劣的政策、不當的法令與整個過程的公開性不足。聯合國發展計劃署舉例說明,歐洲管理者的粗劣管理導致了狂牛病的擴散。

  這些挑戰對於資源稀少、專家缺乏的發展中國家,可能會特別嚴重。這份報告以阿根廷與埃及為例,指出發展中國家正邁向創立國家指導方針、認可程序與研究單位,以評估基因改造作物的風險。

  根據這份報告,現今歐洲與美國針對新生物科技的爭議,都忽略了發展中國家所關注的焦點及其需要。而西方消費者自然把焦點放在,潛在的過敏反應和其它食物安全的議題。

  然而,發展中國家的人們,對於較高的作物產量、營養,或降低噴灑殺蟲劑的需要,更有興趣。同時,對於發展中國家管理基因改性活生物體(編按)導致的環境風險時可能面臨的困難,急欲販售產品的生物科技跨國公司則傾向低調處理。(編按:根據經濟部國貿局《生物安全議定書》專有名詞中英對照表)

  Fukuda-Parr說,「無論是有關這些新科技帶來的得或失,貧窮國家人民的聲音都還沒有被聽見。」

  這份報告呼籲,針對基因改造生物的長期性衝擊進行更多的研究,並提倡標示基因改造產品,使消費者能夠在被告知的情況下做選擇。澳洲、巴西、日本與英國已經要求此類標示。民意調查也顯示,超過80%的美國消費者希望進行產品標示。

全文與圖片詳見: http://ens-news.com/ens/jul2001/2001L-07-11-07.html

版權歸屬Environment News Service(ENS),環境信託基金會(謝洵怡 譯,李瑞玉、蔡麗伶 審校)

中英對照全文詳見:http://e-info.org.tw/issue/biotech/2001/issue-biotech01072501.htm

 

By Cat Lazaroff

MEXICO CITY, Mexico, July 11, 2001 (ENS) - Many developing countries might reap great benefits from genetically modified foods, crops and other organisms, concludes the Human Development Report 2001, commissioned by the United Nations Development Program and released Tuesday. These crops could significantly reduce malnutrition and help poor farmers working marginal lands, the report says.

The report analyzes the potential of biotech and information technologies for developing countries, assesses the technology achievements of 72 countries, and ranks 162 countries according to their level of human development.

Genetically modified agricultural techniques could create virus resistant, drought tolerant and nutrient enhanced crops that have enormous potential for improving food security in Africa, Asia and Latin America, concludes the report. These crops could significantly reduce malnutrition, which still affects more than 800 million people worldwide, the report argues.

While acknowledging that environmental and health risks need to be addressed, the report argues that these risks can be managed.

Far greater public investment in research and development is needed to ensure that biotechnology meets the agricultural needs of the world's poor, says Sakiko Fukuda-Parr, lead author of the report.

"We can't count on the private sector alone to do the job," Fukuda-Parr said, noting that for profit research mostly caters to the needs of high income consumers, rather than those in developing countries who have little purchasing power.

The report points out in particular that there is an urgent need to develop modern varieties of millet, sorghum and cassava, which are staple foods for poor people in many developing countries.

Mark Malloch Brown, the Administrator of UNDP, agrees, noting that such public investments are already producing impressive results. He points to a recent successful effort by UNDP, the Japanese Government and other international partners to develop new varieties of rice.

"These varieties have 50 percent higher yields, mature 30 to 50 days earlier, are substantially richer in protein; are far more disease and drought tolerant, resist insect pests and can even out-compete weeds," noted Brown. "And they will be especially useful because they can be grown without fertilizer or herbicides, which many poor farmers can't afford anyway. This initiative shows the enormous potential of biotech to improve food security in Africa, Asia and Latin America."

For three years, sales in Europe of genetically modified corn, tomatoes, potatoes and cotton - often described in the media as "Frankenstein foods" - have been put on hold because of fears over potential health and environmental hazards. The Human Development Report argues that the risks of genetic modification can be managed, but that most developing countries will need help in doing so.

It points out that problems with biotechnology and food safety are often the result of poor policies, inadequate regulation and lack of transparency. For instance, poor management by European regulators led to the spread of mad cow disease, notes the UNDP.

These challenges can be especially great in developing countries where resources are scarce and expertise is often lacking. The report points to Argentina and Egypt as examples of developing countries that are moving forward in creating national guidelines, approval procedures and research institutes to evaluate the risks of genetically modified crops.

According to the report, current debates in Europe and the United States over new biotechnologies mostly ignore the concerns and needs of the developing world. Western consumers naturally focus on potential allergic reactions and other food safety issues.

People in developing countries, however, may be more interested in better crop yields, nutrition, or the reduced need to spray pesticides that can sicken farmers. Meanwhile, multinational biotechnology companies, eager for sales, tend to play down the difficulties that developing countries may have in managing the environmental risks posed by genetically modified organisms.

"The voices of people in poor countries, who stand to gain or lose the most from these new technologies, have not yet been heard," said Fukuda-Parr.

The report calls for more research into the long term impacts of genetically modified organisms and advocates labeling genetically modified products so that consumers make informed choices. Australia, Brazil, Japan and the United Kingdom already require such labels, and surveys show that more than 80 percent of consumers in the United States want them as well.

http://ens-news.com/ens/jul2001/2001L-07-11-07.html

 

 
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