More than 100 Nobel laureate winners sign a letter condemning Greenpeace against genetically modified foods

107 scientists who won the Nobel prize said, "The spread of genetically engineered crops is spreading among international environmental NGOsGreenpeaceWe are signing a letter saying anti - · genetically modified crop campaign should be stopped instantly because it is not scientific that disturbs. It seems that various circumstances are intertwined there.

107 Nobel laureates sign letter blasting Greenpeace over GMOs - The Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2016/06/29/more-than-100-nobel-laureates-take-on-greenpeace-over-gmo-stance/

In 1993, he wrote the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine to prepare a letter that the genetically modified food campaign should be canceled against GreenpeacePhilippe SharpDoctor. In the letter, "It is possible to reduce Vitamin A deficiency by gene recombinationGolden riceGreenpeace is blocking the introduction of Golden Rice (Golden Rice), so many of the children in developing countries are at risk of blindness and death ", he asks Greenpeace to quit genetic modification campaign It is.

"Golden rice" mentioned in the letter is rice which contains a lot of beta carotene, which makes vitamin A by genetic recombination technology. It is called GOLDEN RICE because the color of rice is yellow and it is a genetically modified crop that is being considered for introduction as being a food to save those suffering from vitamin A deficiency in developing countries.


New England Biolabs"We are scientists, we understand the logic of science, Greenpeace scares the people on a scientific basis without a scientific backing," said Dr. Sharp, who is responsible for the company's chief scientific officer, "We insist that there is no scientific basis for the assertion of groups that take anti post · genetically modified foods attitude, centering on Greenpeace.

Such battle over anti-genetically-modified food claimants and cutting-edge scientists overroading over the "pros and cons of genetically modified foods" has been undoubtedly hitherto over many years and special unusual things It is not. However, in the letter requesting self-restraint of the anti-genetic modification campaign against the Greenpeace submitted this time, it is characteristic in that there are "authoritative" signed by 107 Nobel laureates.

Greenpeace, who got a letter from a number of Nobel winners, told The Washington Post, "The accusation that someone is obstructing the introduction of golden ricee is a factual misunderstanding.At least 20 years or more The reason why the research has been continued Golden rice is still not being sold is only a solution to cope with vitamin A deficiency which has not been proven that golden rice can cope with vitamin A deficiency And the International Rice Research Institute have confirmed. "

There are voices concerning safety concerning introduction of golden rice harvested from genetically modified rice, even in developing countries where introduction is considered. For example, in the Philippines, there is also persistent opinion that if it is going to take measures against vitamin A deficiency, it would be sufficient if we encourage the cultivation of domestic fruits and vegetables rich in β carotene instead of golden rice. Large enterprises with genetic recombination technology promote the introduction of Golden Rice under the pretext of "for the health of developing countries", looking at the poverty problem that developing nations are poor because of the lack of food nutritional value There is also criticism that it is doing.

ByChristopher Fynn

In the first place, people concerned with promoting genetically modified foods based on the fact that "health damage has not been proved with genetically modified foods", and concerning the possibility of "unexpected danger" of ecological influences and health hazards It is unlikely that discussions will be intertwined with people who oppose genetically modified foods, and such defense against gene foods will continue in the future.