Laureates' letter reflects deep divide in society over GM foods

Genetically modified corn grains. [Photo/IC]

The number of?Nobel Prize laureates that have signed an open letter calling on the non-governmental organization Greenpeace to rethink its long-standing opposition to genetically modified organisms has exceeded 109 and is still rising. GMO is a hot topic of debate in China, too, writes China Daily's Zhang Zhouxiang:

Like most modern technologies, GMO is a mystery to ordinary residents, yet GM foods have much to do with their daily lives as well as their safety.

The more scientists defend GM foods, the more they are accused of "building knowledge barriers". As a result of the dilemma, even though scientists spend years making experiments and tests to prove the safety of GM foods, people respond by saying there are probably other potential threats that have not been identified yet.

By co-signing the open letter, the Nobel laureates are trying to break the public's skepticism about the safety of GM foods.

It is good that so many scientists have joined hands to try and reassure the public. But more needs to be done. The doubts about GM foods are caused by the public's lack of knowledge about them, so the solution lies in raising their awareness about them.

Research institutions, especially State-sponsored ones, need to make their work more transparent and help ordinary residents better understand what GM foods are and why they are needed.

It will take time to overcome the public's suspicions about GM foods so we need to start doing the job now.