Seminar on the Development and Application of GM Crops in Vietnam

Vietnam Association for Scientific and Technological Information and Documentation and AGBiotech Vietnam organized a seminar on the process development and application of genetically modified crops in Hanoi, Vietnam on October 22, 2014 during the biotech trade fair event Biotechmart 2014. The seminar was attended by leading scientists in the field of genetics and genomics, representatives of agricultural research institutes, management agencies, professional organizations and seed companies, domestic and international.

Prof. Dr. Le Dinh Luong, chairman of the Genetics Society of Vietnam discussed the nature of GM technology. He stressed that GMOs, in scientific nature, are not dangerous. According to him, majority of the Vietnamese have unfounded fear of GMOs because of media reports. He said that the media should be guided and should know what is right to follow, what is wrong to avoid. He insisted that scientists like him are willing to engage with the media.

Assoc. Dr. Nong Van Hai, Director of the Institute of Genome Research under Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, believed that there should be no worries about GMOs because of the studies that have shown the benefits of GMOs. According to him, GM products when put in use will be governed by market mechanisms and farmers will choose the varieties suitable and beneficial for them.

Dr. Pham Van Toan from Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said that GM crops are achievements of science and technology and they have shown their economic and social significance. He said there are still concerns and different opinions because of the view that all the technologies must ensure the safety in application process. Vietnam has participated in and ratified the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the legal tool to manage the safety of GMOs. He also said the safety assessment of GMOs should be based on basic similar principles. If GM crops show no difference with the traditional products, it can be concluded that the safety of these products is similar to that of the traditional products. The same method should be applied when assessing the environmental safety of GM crops.

Other issues related to GM crops have also been discussed such as the legal framework and regulations governing the labeling of GMOs, the compliance with the provisions of the law on fair competition as well as current status of GM crops research in Vietnam and abroad.

For more details about this seminar, contact Le Duc Linh of Agbiotech Vietnam at ldlinh@gmail.com.