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GMO Management:
Assessment and Management of Environmental Risks, 19-24 July 2004,
Qinghai, China |
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Photos
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Workshop documents |
| The project’s co- sponsored national training workshop in China was conducted from July 19-24, 2004 in the Xining- the provincial capital of the Northwestern province of Qinghai. It was coordinated by the local GMO office under the supervision of the National GMO Office in Beijing. The workshop was attended by 67 (50 male and 17 female) participants from all over China consisting of researchers, regulators, administrators from the Ministry of Agriculture and various provincial government offices and media people who are involved in the management of GMOs. China is one country who is embracing the advances of modern biotechnology in promoting its agricultural production. Agricultural research institutions all over the county have been conducting research in the development of GM crops. Several GM crops have been approved for field trials. Officially the country has approved for commercial production of several crops (cotton, tomato, green pepper and petunia). However, being a signatory to CPB, the country’s regulators recognized the fact that further development, testing and commercialization of GM products must be subject to adequate scientific risk assessment and management in order to ensure safety to human health, environment and biodiversity. The risk assessment is technically complicated which requires experts with different professional backgrounds and experiences in GMOs. According to NEP International technical Guidelines fro Safety in Biotechnology, at least ten branches of biology, for instance molecular biology, population genetics, ecology, taxonomy, microbiology, virology, botany, zoology , biochemistry, entomology, etc., are needed for a scientifically sound risk assessment and risk management (RA/RM) may be improved through the following approaches: (1st) encouraging the experts in relevant disciplines to engage in research with the countries experienced in RA/RM; (2nd) conducting the cooperative research with the countries experienced in RA/RM to transfer skills and methodologies; (3rd) training managers and professionals who engage in RA/RM. The workshop on the subject is helpful not only to improve knowledge and awareness of three officers but also increase the number of the people with capacity to conduct research on RA/RM. The national training workshop was conducted with the objectives of 1) improving the expertise and public perception in RA/RM, 2) providing a platform for experts and officers to exchange their ideas on the assessment and management of environmental risks posed by transgenic crops and shares the results of their research and work experience on the subjects, and 3) to enable news media people to participate in order to enhance public awareness on issues concerning environmental safety of GMOs. To achieve these objectives the following general topics were presented to and discussed: overview of the status of genetically modified crops in China; current status of capacity building in risk assessment and management of agricultural GMOs; results of the environmental risk assessment of major transgenic crops (cotton, maize, canola, soybean) in China; strategies to reduce ecological risks of agricultural GMO; monitoring and detection of agricultural GMOs; database building relating to GMO Biosafety in China; public participation and awareness. Specific topics that were presented by various competent authorities were: GM crops R and D Management in China By Madame Fang Xiang Dong; GMO Monitoring and Inspection in China by Dr. Li Nin; Management of Imported GM Products by Mr. Wang Xue Jun; GM Crop and environment inspection and monitoring in foreign countries by Dr. Feng Yufa; Food Safety Assessment fro GM Crops by Dr. Yang Xiao Guong; Bt Cotton Risk Assessment and Risk Management by Dr. Wu Kong-Ming; GM Rice Assessment and Environment Inspection by Dr. Fu Qiang ; GM canola Risk Assessment and Risk Management by Dr. Lu Chang Ming; GM Soybean Risk Assessment and Environmental Monitoring by Dr. Yu De Yue; GM Corn Risk and Risk Management by Dr. Wang Zhen Yin. In addition to the presentations and discussions, the participants were also taken on study tour and field visits. The first tour was in various Canola fields including that of the communal multi-cropped field being managed by various ethnic minorities nearby Zining. The group also had the opportunity to visit the famous Qinghai lake and the nearby endangered bird sanctuary. The workshop came out with the following conclusions and recommendations:
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