This is the VOA SpecialEnglish AGRICULTURE REPORT.
New reports are adding to the debate about genetic engineering.The reports offer conflicting information aboutgenetically-engineered crops.
Genetic engineering is the technology of changing the genes ofliving things. Genes are parts of cells that control growth anddevelopment. A changed gene directs a plant or other organism to dothings it normally does not do.
Last month, the United Nations Development Program released itsyearly Human Development Report. It supports the use ofgenetically-engineered crops in developing countries. It criticizesenvironmental groups that oppose the use of such products.
Sakiko Fukuda-Parr is the report’s lead writer. She says manypeople have forgotten about the problem of world hunger. She addsthat at least eight-hundred-million people still do not have enoughto eat. She says genetic engineering can help to increase the amountof farmers produce quickly and effectively.
Critics of genetic engineering say the U-N report does not dealwith the possible risks of genetic engineering. They say thetechnology represents a threat to human health and the environment.
Food First is a policy research group based in the United States.Food First agrees that genetically-engineered crops may be good inthe future. Yet the group says it would support a ban on the use ofthese crops until tests show they are safe.
In the past, we reported on a product called StarLink corn.StarLink is the only genetically-engineered crop grown in the UnitedStates that is not approved for human use.
Three years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency approvedStarLink corn as food for animals only. The E-P-A expressed concernthat a protein in StarLink might cause allergic reactions in people.
A few weeks ago, a group of American scientists found no evidencethat StarLink corn had made anyone sick. An independent laboratoryconfirmed the findings.
Yet, the E-P-A has just decided not to permit even small amountsof StarLink corn in human food. The decision followed the release ofa report by an agency advisory group. The advisors said there is notenough evidence to dismiss the possibility of allergic reactions.They said StarLink had not been proven safe for people.
This VOA Special English AGRICULTURE REPORT was written by GeorgeGrow.