VietNamNet Bridge – New regulations are needed on the use of genetically modified (GM) crops to ensure public health, officials have said.

Crop development and research centre workers select hybrid rice seeds.

The use of GM corn could save US$500 million a year, MARD said.

Around 1.1 million hectares of corn are grown each year, but average yield is fewer than 4 tonnes per hectare each harvest.

Pests have contributed to the low maize yield, and post-harvest fungi, mould and termites between 10 per cent to 13.7 per cent.

Vietnamese scientists have conducted research on transferring virus-resistant genes into papaya trees and drought-resistant genes into cotton.

The Institute of Tropical Biology’s gene targeting method has created tobacco, rice, green bean and cauliflower strains that are insect-resistant and herbicide-resistant.

Experiments on GM tomato and cabbage crops have also achieved good results, according to the institute. Vo Tong Xuan, an eminent agricultural scientist, said most countries in the EU did not permit the importing of GM cooking.

India had allowed GM crops, but there were dissenting points of views, Xuan said.

Some scientists believed that GM food, among other consequences, could cause allergic reactions or reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics, he said.

Le Huy Ham, director of the National Agricultural Genetic Institute, said the Government must develop appropriate regulations on the use of GM crops to ensure environmental protection and public health.

(Source: Viet Nam News)