[enviro-vlc] Certain crops require genetic modification: scientists

[vfej]

Hi Vern,
To give equal informationon to readers/audience, local media outlets should 
raise some counter-arguments by experts. Can you suggest contacts of some 
Vietnam-based foreign professionals for Vietnamese reporters to access to?
Best, QD
....................................................................
Hoang Quoc Dzung,
Chief Editor, Science Section, Tien Phong Daily
Executive Deputy President, Vietnam Forum of Environmental Journalists 
(VFEJ)
Emai: hqdung60 at yahoo.com/vfej.office at yahoo.com/vfej at netnam.vn
Website: www.vfej.vn
Tel/fax: (84 4) 7628933
Cell phone: 0903 277 974
Skype: vfej


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Vern Weitzel" <vern.weitzel at gmail.com>
To: "[enviro-vlc discussion group]" <enviro-vlc at anu.edu.au>
Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2008 6:30 AM
Subject: [enviro-vlc] Certain crops require genetic modification: scientists


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Any opinions on this? V


http://english.vietnamnet.vn/tech/2008/10/806498/

Certain crops require genetic modification: scientists
20:56' 01/10/2008 (GMT+7)

In Vietnam, genetic modification has been used on rice, maize and cotton.

VietNamNet Bridge – Maize, soybean, cassava, and potato are crops that 
Vietnam
needs to genetically modify to improve productivity as soon as possible, 
said
Dr. Nguyen Quoc Binh, Deputy Director of the HCM City Biotechnology Centre, 
at a
seminar jointly held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development 
and
the US Embassy in Vietnam on September 29.

According to Binh, genetic modification needs to be applied to stimulate the
productivity of these plants because they are major ingredients in animal 
feed.
Vietnam should not apply genetic modification to other crops like pepper, 
rice,
and coffee yet because they are major export items of Vietnam.

Some Vietnamese scientists presented reports about genetic modification 
research
works, for example Dr. Tran Thi Cuc Hoa from the Mekong Delta Rice 
Institute,
who introduced a study about an insect-resistant soybean variety.

In Vietnam, genetic modification has been used on rice, maize and cotton.
Vietnam allows the development of genetically-modified plants and animals.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister recently approved a pilot programme to develop 
and
apply biotechnology in agriculture and animal husbandry to 2020. Under this
plan, Vietnam will put some genetically-modified crops in mass production 
and
then clone animals. Annually the state budget will spend around VND100 
billion
($6.25 million) on this programme.

Certainly, 100% of genetically-modified products sold in the market must be
supervised and meet Vietnamese standards and over 50% of the population must
have information about and contribute their opinions on the granting of
bio-safety certificates to these products.

According to a Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development survey 
announced at
a seminar in September 2007, most animal feed samples taken from the market
contained a certain amount of genetically-modified food (maize and soybean).
Most of these products were legally imported through joint-venture 
companies.

In Vietnam, some varieties of genetically-modified maize are grown alongside
normal maize in HCM City, Dong Nai and Binh Duong. These varieties were 
brought
to Vietnam by foreign companies.

Farmers in the southern-central region and the Central Highlands have 
planted
genetically-modified cotton.

At a workshop on genetically-modified crops held by the Agricultural 
Genetics
Institute and the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech
Applications (ISAAA) in early 2008, scientists and officials said that there
were no accurate statistics about the area and the varieties of
genetically-modified trees in Vietnam.

Prof., Dr. Vo Tong Xuan, a Vietnamese member of ISAAA, said while many 
countries
have strongly developed genetically-modified trees, many others are still
hesitant because they don’t thoroughly understand genetically-modified trees 
and
their advantages.

But, are genetically-modified products safe? Scientists say many 
international
scientific organisations have researched and concluded that 
genetically-modified
food is safe.

Dr. Randy Hautea, global coordinator of the ISAAA, said in the US,
genetically-modified food accounts for up to 70% of the food on the market.

A total of 674 genetically-modified products had been approved by 53 
countries
for sale in their markets by November 2007. The first genetically-modified
plants were commercialised in 1993-1994.
Ha Yen - Mai Loan
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