This is the VOA Special English Agriculture Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语农业报道。
White rice is the world's most popular form of rice. But it goes through a milling process that removes many nutrients. As a result, people who eat a poor diet based on white rice may not get enough vitamin A.
白米是世界上最常见的水稻品种。但白米在碾磨加工过程中会流失很多营养成分。因此，以大米为主食但饮食不佳的人们可能无法获得足够的维生素A。
Each year an estimated two hundred fifty thousand to half a million children go blind from vitamin A deficiency. The World Health Organization says half of them die within a year of losing their sight. Vitamin A deficiency is a problem especially in Africa and Southeast Asia.
据估计，每年有25万到50万儿童因为维生素A缺乏症而失明。世界卫生组织表示，这些儿童中的半数会在失明一年内死亡。维生素A缺乏症是个普遍问题，在非洲和东南亚尤为严重。
So scientists thought of an answer. They combined white rice with plant compounds that the body can change into vitamin A. The rice contains beta-carotene and other carotenoids. These plant colorings give the rice a golden color.
由此科学家想到了一个办法。他们把白米与能被人体转化为维生素A的植物化合物组合起来。组合后的大米富含β-胡萝卜素和其他类胡萝卜素，这种植物色素使大米呈金色。
The scientists also thought of a plan to give away this Golden Rice for free to poor farmers. But the rice is genetically engineered. They say it cannot be made using traditional methods to breed plants.
科学家还考虑了一个计划，将免费赠送给贫困农民。但黄金米是转基因大米。科学家表示，这种转基因大米无法通过传统育种方法制种。
The scientists worked for ten years, until nineteen ninety, to develop the technology to add genes to rice. Then it took nine more years to get the genes they wanted into the seed.
科学家们努力了十年，直到1990年才研制出向大米中添加基因的技术。然后又用了9年多时间，将需要的基因添加到种子中。
The first field tests took place in two thousand four at Louisiana State University in the United States. Golden Rice is currently being tested in the Philippines. It is still not available for general use.
“黄金米”的第一次农田实验于2004年在美国路易斯安那州立大学进行，目前正在菲律宾试验。它仍无法应用于日常用途。
Co-inventor Ingo Potrykus says rice with two added genes will be available in twenty-thirteen. One gene comes from maize, or corn, and the other from a soil bacterium.
“黄金米”共同发明人印戈·珀特里库斯（Ingo Potrykus）表示，添加了两种基因的大米将于2030年面世。其中一种基因来自玉米，另一种来自土壤中的微生物。
Mr. Potrykus is retired from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. He blames the delays on too many rules about genetically modified crops.
珀特里库斯先生已经从瑞士联邦技术学院退休。他指责转基因作物方面过多的规则造成了延误。
Opponents say such crops may cause environmental damage by breeding with conventional plants. Opponents also question the safety of biotech foods.
反对者称，转基因作物可能与常规作物交叉繁殖造成环境破坏。反对者还质疑生物技术食品的安全性。
Mr. Potrykus says Golden Rice has never been shown to be unsafe for the environment or people. Many agricultural organizations support the project.
珀特里库斯先生表示，“黄金米”从为被证明对人类或环境有害。许多农业组织都支持该项目。
But there are also critics, including researchers for the environmental group Greenpeace. Several months ago they questioned whether Golden Rice could do much for vitamin A deficiency. They said releasing genetically modified rice in Asia could permanently change traditional rice varieties and wild ancestors of rice.
但也有一些包括来自环保团体“绿色和平”组织的研究人员的批评。几个月前，他们质疑黄金米是否对维生素A缺乏症有帮助。他们表示，在亚洲种植转基因大米可能永久性改变传统水稻品种和野生水稻品种。 |