VOA标准英语2010年-Genetically Modified Food Crops Suffer

Protesters stop Indian Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh (C) in black and white dress, as he arrives to attend a public hearing on Bt brinjal, or genetically¹ modified (GM) eggplant crop, at Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture in Hyderabad, 31 Jan 2010

India has put on hold the commercial cultivation² of genetically modified food crops.  The decision is seen as a setback³ by advocates who believe such crops could help boost food supplies in the country.

The eggplant is a popular vegetable in India, but it seldom appears in news headlines.

Now, it is in the spotlight⁴ after the government indefinitely deferred⁵ plans to let farmers grow a genetically modified version of the vegetable, known as Bt brinjal, earlier this week.      

And other genetically modified food crops could meet a similar fate.

So far, cotton is the only genetically modified crop grown in India, and many call it a success story. Since its cultivation in 2002, cotton yield has nearly doubled, and India has become a leading exporter.

But Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh says the government wants to wait for more scientific data on the safety of genetically modified food crops for human consumption. 

"Bt cotton I can live with, but Bt brinjal I am a little worried about, because it is a food crop…. And there is no tearing hurry to introduce BT brinjal in our country," says Ramesh.

The decision disappointed many who had hoped that genetically modified technology could play a central role in the country's efforts to raise production of staple⁶ foods.

BT brinjal, for example, was expected to raise yields by up to 50 percent and cut farming costs by reducing dependence⁷ on pesticides⁸.

Economists¹⁰ and agricultural scientists say boosting farm yields is a priority for India. They say a growing population and diminishing farmlands leads to food shortages and rising food prices.

India has been conducting field trials on genetically modified versions of crops such as rice, mustard, cauliflower and peas for nearly a decade.

D.H. Pai Panandiker is an economist⁹ and chairman of the Indian subsidiary of the Washington-based International Life Sciences Institute. He says the country's food security will be threatened unless it adopts new technologies to boost yields.  

"There is tremendous scope for introducing biotechnology in normal crops like rice and wheat. One has to go by scientific evidence as already available and adopt it as fast as possible," said Panandiker.

However, detractors insist the technology is a health hazard, and is being pushed ahead by multinational¹¹ companies such as U-S based Monsanto, a leader in biotech crop biotechnology. An Indian seed company, Mahyco, in which Monsanto has a stake, had helped develop Bt brinjal.

Vandana Shiva, an environmental activist¹² who has led a long battle against genetically modified crops, says she is relieved that cultivation of the BT brinjal has been blocked. She says there is no room for genetically modified food in Indian homes.

"Neither BT brinjal, nor BT eggplant, nor Bt potato nor Bt tomato will go through if there is an honest assessment¹³. It is a crude technology at this stage. We need the science to evolve, we need more sophisticated modification¹⁴ systems," she said.  

Some scientists are concerned the decision on BT Brinjal will slow down further research on genetically modified food crops in the country. They say with controversy¹⁵ swirling¹⁶ around the new technology, the government will continue to adopt a cautious approach.

 

1 genetically   

adv.遗传上

参考例句：

• All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
• Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物

2 cultivation   

n.耕作，培养，栽培（法），养成

参考例句：

• The cultivation in good taste is our main objective.培养高雅情趣是我们的主要目标。
• The land is not fertile enough to repay cultivation.这块土地不够肥沃，不值得耕种。

3 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。

4 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

5 deferred   

adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从

参考例句：

• The department deferred the decision for six months. 这个部门推迟了六个月才作决定。
• a tax-deferred savings plan 延税储蓄计划

6 staple   

n.主要产物，常用品，主要要素，原料，订书钉，钩环；adj.主要的，重要的；vt.分类

参考例句：

• Tea is the staple crop here.本地产品以茶叶为大宗。
• Potatoes are the staple of their diet.土豆是他们的主要食品。

7 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。

8 pesticides   

n.杀虫剂( pesticide的名词复数 )；除害药物

参考例句：

• vegetables grown without the use of pesticides 未用杀虫剂种植的蔬菜
• There is a lot of concern over the amount of herbicides and pesticides used in farming. 人们对农业上灭草剂和杀虫剂的用量非常担忧。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

10 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 multinational   

adj.多国的，多种国籍的；n.多国籍公司，跨国公司

参考例句：

• The firm was taken over by a multinational consulting firm.这家公司被一个跨国咨询公司收购。
• He analyzed the relationship between multinational corporations and under-developed countries.他分析了跨国公司和不发达国家之间的关系。

12 activist   

n.活动分子，积极分子

参考例句：

• He's been a trade union activist for many years.多年来他一直是工会的积极分子。
• He is a social activist in our factory.他是我厂的社会活动积极分子。

13 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

14 modification   

n.修改，改进，缓和，减轻

参考例句：

• The law,in its present form,is unjust;it needs modification.现行的法律是不公正的，它需要修改。
• The design requires considerable modification.这个设计需要作大的修改。

15 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

16 swirling   

v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Snowflakes were swirling in the air. 天空飘洒着雪花。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• She smiled, swirling the wine in her glass. 她微笑着，旋动着杯子里的葡萄酒。 来自辞典例句