Since the commercial application of genetically modified crops in 1996, the planting area of genetically modified crops has expanded from 1.7 million hectares in 1996 to 189.8 billion hectares, an increase of about 112 times, more than 12% of the total arable land in the world. 67 countries and regions on six continents have approved the cultivation or import of genetically modified crops. At the same time, the safety of genetically modified organisms has also been widely concerned by the society, and related controversies are endless. In order to further promote the public's scientific understanding and rational treatment of genetically modified technology, international authoritative organizations have also successively expressed their stance on the issue of genetically modified technology.
World Health Organization: Genetically modified foods currently available on the international market have passed safety assessments and may not pose a risk to human health. In addition, the consumption of these foods by the population in countries where they are approved has not shown an impact on human health.
European Commission: Based on more than 130 research projects carried out by more than 500 independent scientific groups over a period of 25 years, it concludes: "Biotechnology, especially genetically modified technology, is no more risky than traditional breeding techniques."
Society of Toxicology: Scientific analysis shows that the production process of genetically modified foods is unlikely to lead to any other hazards that even toxicologists cannot predict. For consumers, the safety level of existing GM foods appears to be comparable to that of conventional foods.
International Science Council: Existing genetically modified crops, as well as foods made from them, have been judged to be safe for consumption, and the testing methods used are considered reasonable and appropriate.
Royal Society: Compared with traditional crops, genetically modified crops do not cause harm to the environment, and it is safe to eat genetically modified crops.
The U.S. National Academy of Sciences, Academies of Engineering, and School of Medicine: After two years of research and analysis of 900 genetic engineering technology research data over the past 30 years, it is concluded that there is no conclusive evidence of differences in health risks between commercially grown genetically modified crops and crops cultivated by traditional methods, no association between any disease and the consumption of genetically modified foods, and no definitive causal evidence that genetically modified crops cause environmental problems.
Brazilian Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Indian National Academy of Sciences, Mexican Academy of Sciences, United States National Academy of Sciences, Royal Society, and Third World Academy of Sciences: Published Genetically Modified Plants and the World, arguing that "GM technology can be used to produce more nutritious and stable food for the benefit of consumers in industrialized and developing countries." ”
American Association for the Advancement of Science: Crops improved with modern molecular biotechnology are safe. In order to obtain regulatory approval in the United States, every new genetically modified crop must undergo rigorous analysis and testing. It is sometimes claimed that feeding animals genetically modified foods has led to abnormalities ranging from digestive disorders to infertility, tumors, and early death. Although such claims are often sensationalist and garner a lot of attention, none of them stand up to rigorous scientific scrutiny.
*: People's Daily Online.