捍卫转基因：百余位诺贝尔奖得主的公开信全文

2016年，因国际环保组织绿色和平持续阻挠转基因技术应用，特别是针对旨在解决维生素A缺乏症的“黄金大米”，1993年诺贝尔生理学或医学奖得主理查德·罗伯茨和菲利普·夏普等科学家发起了联名信 。

他们建立了网站supportprecisionagriculture.org，并向285位诺奖得主写信，请他们签名以示支持，最终有110人同意在公开信上签名 。截至2017年1月18日，签名的诺奖得主人数上升至133人。

这封公开信面向全球发布，呼吁尊重科学共识，停止阻碍转基因技术的人道应用，要求绿色和平组织停止其反对通过生物技术改良农作物和食品的活动，同时也呼吁世界各国政府抵制绿色和平组织的相关活动，让农民有机会利用现代生物技术工具。

百名诺奖得主联名公开信：为转基因技术正名，捍卫科学与粮食安全

致绿色和平组织、联合国相关机构及世界各国政府：

我们，百余位诺贝尔奖得主，谨以科学的名义，发出此封公开信。当前，转基因技术作为现代农业领域的革命性突破，正被愈演愈烈的“反转”运动所裹挟，虚假信息的泛滥不仅误导了公众认知，更阻碍了人类应对粮食安全与公共健康挑战的进程。我们的主要目的是抵制反转运动愈演愈烈的误导和彻头彻尾的谎言，让最新的育种技术得以顺利发展。

科学是我们立场的唯一基石。全球范围内，无数权威科研机构与监管部门经过数十年反复验证，早已形成共识：通过生物技术改良的农作物和食品，哪怕不比传统方法生产的更安全，至少也具备同等安全性。转基因技术的本质是精准的基因改良，其原理与传统育种一脉相承，却能实现定向优化的独特优势——这不是凭空创造的“异类技术”，而是人类对生物遗传规律的合理运用，其安全性已得到充分论证。

然而，以绿色和平组织为首的部分“反转”势力，正以反科学的方式持续阻挠转基因技术的推广，尤其是针对“黄金大米”的抵制运动，已造成了不可挽回的人道代价。黄金大米通过基因改良富含β-胡萝卜素，人体可转化为维生素A，每天仅需食用60克就能满足儿童每日50%的维生素A需求，这对于饱受维生素A缺乏症困扰的非洲、东南亚贫困地区而言，是抵御疾病、挽救生命的希望。但“反转”组织刻意歪曲科学结论，制造安全恐慌，导致这一救命技术迟迟无法落地，数百万儿童因此面临失明、发育障碍甚至死亡的风险——这种漠视生命的行为，我们无法容忍。

我们深知，转基因技术的价值远不止于黄金大米。在全球人口持续增长、耕地资源日益紧张、气候变化加剧的今天，这项技术能培育出抗虫、抗病、耐旱、耐贫瘠的作物品种，大幅减少农药使用，降低环境污染，提升粮食产量与品质。对于发展中国家而言，这更是摆脱饥饿与贫困的重要途径。特别是，我们要确保这些新技术所带来的好处惠及全世界，包括那些发展中国家，以保证人人都能得到更高质量的粮食供应。转基因技术可让现状大为改观，其推广不应被那些反转基因活动家们散布的过多谣言所阻挡。

历史已经证明，对科学进步的无端阻挠，最终会损害全人类的共同利益。曾经，非洲南部国家因“反转”谣言拒绝转基因救济粮，导致数万人在饥荒中丧生；如今，类似的谎言仍在阻碍技术普及，剥夺着弱势群体的生存权与发展权。我们敦促绿色和平组织及其支持者正视科学事实，重新调查农民与消费者对生物技术作物的真实需求，尊重权威机构的研究成果，立即停止针对转基因技术的抵制运动。

科学的发展不应被谣言裹挟，人类的福祉不应被偏见牺牲。各国政府应基于科学证据制定合理的监管政策，为转基因技术的研发与应用创造有利环境；公众应秉持理性态度，拒绝虚假信息，拥抱能带来切实福祉的科技进步。

让我们携手并肩，以科学为指引，打破偏见的壁垒，抵制反科学的误导，让转基因技术充分发挥其潜力，为全人类创造更充足、更安全、更营养的粮食供应，让我们一起为建设一个更为美好的世界而共同努力。

此致

敬礼！

发起者：理查德·罗伯茨（1993年诺贝尔生理学或医学奖得主）

联名者：百余位诺贝尔奖得主

2016年6月30日

Open Letter Signed by Hundreds of Nobel Laureates: Vindicate GMO Technology and Safeguard Science and Food Security

To Greenpeace, Relevant United Nations Bodies, and Governments Around the World:

We, the undersigned hundreds of Nobel Laureates, issue this open letter in the name of science. Currently, genetically modified (GM) technology, a revolutionary breakthrough in modern agriculture, is being trapped by the escalating anti-GMO movement. The proliferation of false information not only misleads public perception but also hinders humanity's efforts to address challenges related to food security and public health. Our primary goal is to resist the misleading claims and outright lies of the growing anti-GMO movement, enabling the smooth development of the latest breeding technologies.

Science is the sole cornerstone of our stance. Globally, countless authoritative scientific research institutions and regulatory authorities have conducted decades of repeated verifications, forming a consensus: crops and foods improved through biotechnology are at least as safe as those produced by traditional methods, if not safer. The essence of GM technology is precise genetic improvement, which shares the same origin as traditional breeding principles but offers the unique advantage of targeted optimization—it is not an "alien technology" created out of thin air, but a rational application of human understanding of biological genetic laws, whose safety has been fully demonstrated.

However, some anti-GMO forces, led by Greenpeace, are persistently obstructing the promotion of GM technology in an unscientific manner. In particular, their resistance to "Golden Rice" has caused irreparable humanitarian damage. Golden Rice, genetically modified to be rich in beta-carotene (which the human body can convert into vitamin A), requires only 60 grams per day to meet 50% of a child's daily vitamin A needs. For poor regions in Africa and Southeast Asia plagued by vitamin A deficiency, this is a hope to combat disease and save lives. Yet anti-GMO organizations deliberately distort scientific conclusions, create safety panics, and have delayed the implementation of this life-saving technology. As a result, millions of children face the risk of blindness, developmental disorders, and even death—we cannot tolerate such disregard for human life.

We recognize that the value of GM technology extends far beyond Golden Rice. Amidst a growing global population, shrinking arable land, and worsening climate change, this technology can cultivate crop varieties resistant to pests, diseases, drought, and poor soil conditions. It significantly reduces pesticide use, minimizes environmental pollution, and enhances food yield and quality. For developing countries, it is an important pathway out of hunger and poverty. In particular, we aim to ensure that the benefits of these new technologies reach the entire world, including developing nations, so that everyone can access higher-quality food supplies. GM technology can drastically improve the current situation, and its promotion should not be hindered by the excessive rumors spread by anti-GMO activists.

History has proven that unwarranted obstruction of scientific progress ultimately harms the common interests of all humanity. Once, southern African countries rejected GM food aid due to anti-GMO rumors, leading to the deaths of tens of thousands of people in famines. Today, similar lies continue to impede technological popularization, depriving vulnerable groups of their right to survival and development. We urge Greenpeace and its supporters to face scientific facts, re-examine the real needs of farmers and consumers for biotech crops, respect the research results of authoritative institutions, and immediately cease their campaign against GM technology.

The development of science should not be held hostage by rumors, and human well-being should not be sacrificed to prejudice. Governments around the world should formulate reasonable regulatory policies based on scientific evidence to create a favorable environment for the research, development, and application of GM technology. The public should adopt a rational attitude, reject false information, and embrace technological progress that brings tangible benefits.

Let us join hands, guided by science, break down the barriers of prejudice, resist unscientific misleading, and allow GM technology to fully realize its potential. Together, we can create a more abundant, safe, and nutritious food supply for all humanity, and strive collectively to build a better world.

Sincerely,

Initiators: Richard J. Roberts (1993 Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine)

Co-signatories: Hundreds of Nobel Laureates

June 30, 2016