Международная консультативная группа по вопросам исследования сельского хозяйства

²The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture-Международный договор по генетическим ресурсам продуктов питания и сельского хозяйства

³” orphan crops”- «сиротские культуры»

⁴teff; millets; cowpeas- метличка абиссинская; просо; вигна китайская, фасоль

⁵ indigenous plants-местные растения

Private investments

The development and implementation of policies designed to encourage private investments in research and marketing biotechnology that will meet the needs of poverty-stricken nations, increased research on other problems faced by poor nations, and joint efforts¹ by the public and private sectors to ensure the efficient use of technology developed by industrialized nations have been suggested. In addition, industrialized nations have not tested GM technology² on tropical plants, focusing on those that grow in temperate climates,³ even though undeveloped nations and the people that need the extra food live primarily in tropical climates. Many European scientists are disturbed⁴ by the fact that political factors and ideology prevent unbiased assessment of the GM technology⁵ in some EU countries.

Notes:

¹ joint efforts-совместные усилия

²GM technology-ГМ технологии

³temperate climates- умеренный климат

⁴scientists are disturbed- ученые обеспокоены

⁵unbiased assessment of the GM technology-беспристрастная сумма обложения налогом ГМ технологий

Transgenic organisms¹

Another important controversy² is the possibility of unforeseen local and global effects as a result of transgenic organisms proliferating. ³

Some critics have raised the concern that conventionally-bred crop plants⁴ can be cross-pollinated⁵ (bred) from the pollen⁶of modified plants. Pollen can be dispersed over large areas by wind, animals and insects. In 2007, the U.S. Department of Agriculture⁷ fined Scotts Miracle-Gro⁸ $500,000 when modified genetic material from creeping bentgrass⁹ was found within close relatives of the same genus (Agrostis) as well as in native grasses up to 21 km (13 miles) away from the test sites, released when freshly cut grass was blown by the wind.

GM proponents point out that outcrossing¹⁰, as this process is known, is not new. The same thing happens with any new open-pollinated crop variety—newly introduced traits can potentially cross out into neighboring crop plants of the same species and, in some cases, to closely related wild relatives. Defenders of GM technology¹¹ point out that each GM crop is assessed on a case-by-case basis to determine if there is any risk associated with the outcrossing of the GM trait into wild plant populations. The fact that a GM plant may outcross with a related wild relative is not, in itself, a risk unless such an occurrence has negative consequences. If, for example, an herbicide resistance trait was to cross into a wild relative of a crop plant it can be predicted that this would not have any consequences except in areas where herbicides are sprayed, such as a farm. In such a setting the farmer can manage this risk by rotating herbicides.

The European Union funds research programmes that investigate options and technologies on the co-existence of GM and conventional farming. This also includes research on biological containment strategies and other measures, to prevent outcrossing and enable the implementation of co-existence.

If patented genes¹² are outcrossed, even accidentally, to other commercial fields and a person deliberately selects the outcrossed plants for subsequent planting then the patent holder has the right to control the use of those crops.

Notes:

¹transgenic organisms- трансгенные организмы

²controversy- бесспорно

³transgenic organisms proliferating-разрастание трансгенных организмов

⁴conventionally-bred crop plants- традиционно выведенные с/х культуры

⁵cross-pollinated-перекрестное опыление

⁶the pollen- пыльца

⁷the U.S. Department of Agriculture –Департамент сельского хозяйства США

⁸fined Scotts Miracle-Gro-наложил штраф на компанию Скотс Мирэкл Груп

⁹creeping bentgrass-ползучая трава

¹⁰outcrossing- внешнее опыление

¹¹defenders of GM technology- защитники ГМ технологий

¹²patented genes- доступные гены

Вариант №5

"Terminator"¹ and "traitor²"

"Technology Protection" is technology dubbed as 'Terminator'. This yet-to-be-commercialized technology would allow the production of first generation crops that would not generate seeds in the second generation because the plants yield sterile seeds³. The patent for this so-called "terminator" gene technology is owned by Delta and Pine Land Company and the United States Department of Agriculture. Delta and Pine Land was bought by Monsanto Company in August 2006. Similarly, the hypothetical Trait-specific Genetic Use Restriction Technology⁴, also known as 'Traitor' or 'T-gut', requires application of a chemical to genetically modified crops to reactivate engineered traits⁵. This technology is intended both to limit the spread of genetically engineered plants, and to require farmers to pay yearly to reactivate the genetically engineered traits of their crops. Traitor is under development by companies including Monsanto and AstraZeneca.

In addition to the commercial protection of proprietary technology⁶ in self-pollinating crops such as soybean (a generally contentious issue), another purpose of the terminator gene is to prevent the escape of genetically modified traits from cross-pollinating crops into wild-type species⁷ by sterilizing any resultant hybrids. Ironically, the terminator gene technology created a backlash⁸ among the same groups that considered out crossing of GM plants dangerous. They felt the technology would prevent re-use⁹ of seed by farmers growing such terminator varieties in the developing world and was ostensibly a means to exercise patent claims.¹⁰

Hybrid seeds¹¹ were commonly used in the developed countries long before the introduction of GM crops. Hybrid seeds cannot be saved, so purchasing new seed every year is already a standard agricultural practice.

There are technologies evolving which contain the transgene by biological means and still can provide fertile seeds using fertility restorer functions.¹² Such methods are being developed by several EU research programmes.

Notes:

¹terminator-«терминатор», (последовательность нуклеотидов оперона и транскрибируемой на нем мРНК, обуславливающая прекращение (терминацию) синтеза РНК; агент обрывающий цепь

²traitor-«изменник», «предатель»

³sterile seeds-стерильные семена

⁴hypothetical Trait-specific Genetic Use Restriction Technology-предположительная технология использования специфических генетических особенностей

⁵engineered traits-инженерные особенности

⁶proprietary technology-патентованная технология

⁷wild-type species-дикие виды

⁸backlash-отрицательная реакция

⁹re-use- вторичное использование

¹⁰patent claims-патентные требования

¹¹hybrid seeds- гибридные семена

¹²restorer functions-функции восстановителя

Governmental support and opposition¹

Australia

Several states of Australia had placed bans² on planting GM food crops, beginning in 2003.However, in late 2007 the states of New South Wales and Victoria lifted their bans³. Western Australia lifted their state's ban in December 2008, while South Australia continues its ban. Tasmania has extended its moratorium until November 2014. The state of Queensland has allowed the growing of GM crops since 1995 and has never had a GM ban.

Canada

In 2005, a standing committee⁴ of the government of Prince Edward Island (PEI) in Canada assessed a proposal to ban the production of GMOs in the province. The ban was not passed. As of January 2008, the use of genetically modified crops on PEI was rapidly increasing. Mainland Canada is one of the world's largest producers of GM canola.⁵

Japan

As of 2009, Japan has no commercial farming of any kinds of genetically modified food. Consumers have strongly resisted both imports and attempts to grow GMO in the country. Campaigns by consumer groups and environmental groups, such as Consumers Union of Japan⁶and Greenpeace Japan, as well as local campaigns, have been very successful. In Hokkaido, a special bylaw has made it virtually impossible to grow GMOs, as the No! GMO Campaign collected over 200,000 signatures to oppose GMO farming. Consumers Union of Japan participated at the Planet Diversity conference in Bonn, Germany on May 12-16, 2008, a global congress on the future of food and agriculture, with a demonstration to celebrate biodiversity, to oppose GMOs.

Notes:

¹governmental support and opposition- правительственная поддержка и оппозиция

²bans-запреты

³lifted bans–снял запреты

⁴standing committee- постоянный комитет

⁵canola- канола (разновидность рапса, название, которое дала своему продукту канадская генно-инженерная фирма Can (ada) o (il) l (ow) a(cid)

⁶consumers Union of Japan-союз потребителей Японии

Строительный факультет

ВАРИАНТ№ 1