Indonesia wary over crops altered genetically<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is still wary about the entry of
\ngenetically altered crops despite their high potential in solving
\nthe problem of nourishment, the Indonesian ambassador to Japan
\nsaid on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia is still cautious about absorbing the flow of
\nbiotechnology products, such as genetically-modified organisms
\nand transgenic plants,\" Soemardi Brotodiningrat said at the Food
\nand Agriculture Organization (FAO) regional conference for Asia
\nand the Pacific in Yokohama, Japan.<\/p>\n
Transgenic technology used to genetically alter organisms, is
\na way to create higher quality crops and stocks by inserting
\ngenes from other species in order to add certain qualities, for
\nexample the injection of a certain virus into soybeans can make
\nit resistant to herbicide.<\/p>\n
Doubts have been raised by environmentalists on the safety of
\ngenetically modified foods for human health, despite assurances
\nfrom scientists that the products are safe.<\/p>\n
Soemadi said that an intensive information program must be
\nmade to promote a better understanding of biotechnology,
\nincluding biosafety in Indonesia, according to a press statement
\nissued by FAO's regional office for Asia and the Pacific.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian ambassador substituted Minister of Agriculture
\nand Forestry Bungaran Saragih who had to cancel his Tokyo trip
\ndue to a conflict in schedules.<\/p>\n
FAO Director General Jacques Diouf said that to be able to
\nachieve FAO's target to halve the number of those undernourished,
\ncountries, especially in the Asia Pacific, need to upgrade their
\nscientific institutions for research in biotechnology.<\/p>\n
He said that Asia and the Pacific will still account for 43
\npercent of the world's undernourished in 2010, unless poverty in
\nthe rural areas can be overcome. (10)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-wary-over-crops-altered-genetically-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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