GM Crops: Patently Wrong?

This paper focuses on the ethical justifiability of patents on Genetically Modified (GM) crops. I argue that there are three distinguishing features of GM crops that make it unethical to grant patents on GM crops, even if we assume that the patent system is in general justified. The first half of the paper critiques David Resnik’s recent arguments in favor of patents on GM crops. Resnik argues that we should take a consequentialist approach to the issue, and that the best way to do so is to apply the Precautionary Principle, and that the Precautionary Principle, in this case, supports patents on GM crops. I argue that his argument in favor of a consequentialist treatment is invalid; his Precautionary Principle in any case appears to be incompatible with consequentialism; and his conception of reasonable precautions is too ill-defined to have any argumentative purchase. In the second half of the paper, I argue against GM crop patents, on three grounds. First, there is insufficient evidence to say whether allowing patents on GM crops will make research go faster than not having patents, whilst there is a good reason to think that, other things being equal, a society that allows patents on GM crops will be less just than one that does not. Second, even assuming that patents on GM crops will increase the pace of GM crop research, there is no social need to do so. Third, patents on GM crops will frequently have ethically unacceptable side effects.     

The transatlantic rift in genetically modified food policy

The regulatory structures underlying United States and European Union policies regarding genetically modified (GM) food and crops are fundamentally different. The US regulates GM foods and crops as end products, applying roughly the same regulatory framework that it does to non GM foods or crops. The EU, on the other hand, regulates products of agricultural biotechnology as the result of a specific production process. Accordingly, it has developed a network of rules that regulate GM foods and crops specifically. As a result, US regulation of GM foods and crops is relatively permissive, whereas EU regulation is relatively restrictive. Why are genetically modified food policies in the United States and the European Union so strikingly different? In the light of the recent World Trade Organization dispute on agricultural biotechnology, it may seem that economic interests are the driving force behind policies. While they are certainly part of the picture, the issue is far more complex. This paper argues that three different elements help explain differences between US and EU GM food policies. First, an investigation of US and European policies of the 1970s and 1980s on recombinant DNA research and of events leading up to early GM food and crop regulation allows a deeper understanding of current policy. Second, scrutinizing underlying values and norms can uncover the beliefs that condition current GM food and crop policy. Third, an analysis of involved actors’ views and levels of success in influencing policy is essential to understanding US and EU policies.     

Aerobic thermophilic bacteria enhance biogas production

The enhancing effect of aerobic thermophilic (AT) bacteria on the production of biogas from anaerobically digested sewage sludge (methanogenic sludge) was investigated. Sewage sludge (5%, w/w) was incubated at 65°C with shaking for a few months to prepare the AT seed sludge. AT sludge was prepared by incubation of the AT seed sludge (5%, v/v) and sewage sludge (5%, w/w) at 65°C with shaking. The addition of this AT sludge (1.2% ± 0.5% of total volatile solids) to methanogenic sludge enhanced the production of biogas. The optimum volume of the addition and the pretreatment temperature of the AT sludge for optimum biogas production were 5% (v/v) and 65°C. Batch-fed anaerobic digestion was covered with the addition of various AT sludges. The AT sludge prepared with the AT seed sludge improved the biogas production by 2.2 times relative to that from the sewage sludge addition. The addition of sludge without AT seed sludge weakly enhanced biogas production. An aerobic thermophilic bacterium (strain AT1) was isolated from the AT seed sludge. Strain AT1 grew well in a synthetic medium. The production of biogas from the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge was improved by the addition of 5% (v/v) AT1 bacterial culture compared with that from the sewage sludge addition. The addition of AT1 culture reduced the volatile solids by 21%, which was higher than the 12.6% achieved with the sewage sludge addition. The AT1 bacterial culture enhanced the biogas production more than the AT seed sludge. The phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that strain AT1 is closely related to Geobacillus thermodenitrificans (100% sequence similarity). The improvement in the production of biogas with the AT sludge could be caused by thermophilic bacterial activity in the AT sludge.     

基于农作物虚拟水的云南省水资源战略研究

在深入研究虚拟水及虚拟水贸易的基础上,结合云南省2011年统计年鉴数据,建立了虚拟水账户并计算了2010年该区各种农作物虚拟水含量,发现粮食作物和糖料作物消耗水资源最多,并且糖料作物携带大量虚拟水出口。因此,进一步从优化农作物种植结构、利用市场经济推动、调整产业结构3方面提出保障云南省水资源战略安全的对策。     

硒在土壤-农作物系统中的分布特征及富硒土壤阈值

为查明Se在土壤-农作物系统中的分布特征,开展富Se土壤阈值研究,在重庆市黔江区采集表层土壤8789件,深层土壤155件,并采集玉米籽实141件和水稻籽实159件（同时分别采集对应根系土样品141件和159件）,分析了土壤及农作物中的Se、有机质、S、Mn、TFe₂O₃、Al₂O₃和K₂O等含量及土壤pH,利用地统计法分析了表层及深层土壤Se的分布特征,基于多元回归分析,研究Se生物有效性的影响因素,基于根系土各组分含量及农作物Se含量进行土壤富Se阈值研究.结果表明,研究区高Se土壤占全区的32.72%;表层土壤及深层土壤Se含量的分布主要受到成土母质的控制,土壤Se源稳定且表层富集现象明显.玉米和水稻的富Se率分别为75.35%、46.81%,土壤有机质和S含量均会限值Se的生物有效性.若种植作物为玉米,建议以0.3 mg·kg^-1作为富Se土壤阈值;若种植作物为水稻,在土壤pH≤7.5时,建议以0.3 mg·kg^-1作为富Se土壤阈值;在土壤pH>7.5时,建议以0.4 mg·kg^-1作为富Se土壤阈值.同样地,若研究区种植有其他大宗农作物,亦可用该方法进行建议富Se土壤阈值研究.     

Use of oleaginous plants in phytotreatment of grey water and yellow water from source separation of sewage

Efficient and economic reuse of waste is one of the pillars of modern environmental engineering. In the field of domestic sewage management, source separation of yellow (urine), brown (faecal matter) and grey waters aims to recover the organic substances concentrated in brown water, the nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorous) in the urine and to ensure an easier treatment and recycling of grey waters. With the objective of emphasizing the potential of recovery of resources from sewage management, a lab-scale research study was carried out at the University of Padova in order to evaluate the performances of oleaginous plants (suitable for biodiesel production) in the phytotreatment of source separated yellow and grey waters. The plant species used were Brassica napus (rapeseed), Glycine max (soybean) and Helianthus annuus (sunflower). Phytotreatment tests were carried out using 20 L pots. Different testing runs were performed at an increasing nitrogen concentration in the feedstock. The results proved that oleaginous species can conveniently be used for the phytotreatment of grey and yellow waters from source separation of domestic sewage, displaying high removal efficiencies of nutrients and organic substances (nitrogen > 80%; phosphorous > 90%; COD nearly 90%). No inhibition was registered in the growth of plants irrigated with different mixtures of yellow and grey waters, where the characteristics of the two streams were reciprocally and beneficially integrated.     

石家庄市主要农作物灌溉节水潜力研究

利用田间作物灌溉试验数据，对作物单产产量与需水量的关系进行了模拟，并据此以县域为单元，计算了1984～2001年石家庄市主要农作物冬小麦、夏玉米和棉花获得逐年实际产量的理论总需水量、理论灌溉总需水量、实际灌溉用水量，测算了3种作物灌溉节水的空间。结果表明，1984～2001a。按照节水高效试验所得的产量需水模式。获得石家庄市3种主要作物产量的理论需水总量为23-29亿m^3／a，理论灌溉需水总量为8．8-13．8亿m^3／a，实际灌溉用水量平均约为17亿m^3／a，农业年均超采地下水5．67亿m^3／a。按照目前的种植结构和产量水平，石家庄市今后作物灌溉节水的理论上限为9亿m^3／a。即使加大节水投入，实现最大节水潜力的一半。仍不能弥补目前地下水的超采量。在2010年实现南水北调，部分城市用水归还农业用水，且实现最大节水潜力的一半的情况下，水资源方能勉强维持平衡。因此，石家庄市今后应一方面加大农业节水投入和管理。另一方面，也应根据水资源承载力适当减少高耗水的冬小麦播种面积，同时全面建设节水型社会，方能实现可持续发展。     

Accumulation of Pb, Cu, and Zn in native plants growing on contaminated sites and their potential accumulation capacity in Heqing, Yunnan

Phytoremediation is one of the cost-effective and environmental friendly technologies used to remove contaminants from contaminated soils,which has been intensively studied during the last decade.Presently,few economical and effective remediation methods are available for the remediation of Pb contaminated sites.This study was conducted to assess the potential of 19 plants growing on contaminated sites in Pb mine area.Plants and associated soil samples were collected and analyzed for total metal concentrati...     

Breeding skylarks (Alauda arvensis) on organic and conventional arable farms in The Netherlands

The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of differences in cropping pattern between organic and conventional arable farms on the breeding activity of skylarks and to assess the effects of arable crop management on skylark nest survival. Skylark nest density was seven times higher on organic farms than on conventional farms (0.63 vs. 0.09 nest per 10 ha). Skylarks showed a strong preference for spring cereals, lucerne and grass leys, all of which were mainly or exclusively grown on organic farms. On organic farms nests were initiated during the entire breeding season, but on conventional farms no nesting activity was found during the peak of the season (early May to early June). On organic farms 27% of all nests was successful. Increasing the availability of suitable breeding habitat during the peak of the breeding season on conventional farms might provide one means of enhancing breeding skylark populations. On organic farms, crop management should focus on reducing nest loss due to farming operations.     

Public policy as a part of transforming energy systems: framing bioenergy in Finnish energy policy

Government interventions have been identified as important for energy systems change, because they can either facilitate or hinder transitions toward more sustainable energy systems. This article analyses how bioenergy options have been framed in Finnish policy strategies and how the framing has changed over time. The empirical material includes the content of 15 government programmes and nine national energy/climate strategies. On the basis of this assessment, both the link between bioenergy framings in strategies and the actual transformation of Finnish bioenergy systems are explored.On the basis of bioenergy framings, the development of energy policy can be divided into three phases: support for domestic energy sources in 1979-1991, support for wood- and industry-based bioenergy in 1992-1998, and diversified bioenergy in the context of climate change in 1999-2010. For two decades, primarily wood-based bioenergy was supported despite alternative technological developments occurring elsewhere. After the turn of the millennium, the importance of climate policy increased and alternative bioenergy sources were raised on the government policy agenda, also resulting in some new policy instruments. Rather than adopting a visionary outlook to guide system transformation, climate and energy policy has strengthened those technological options that have been selected elsewhere. If public policies are to enhance the shift toward low-carbon, sustainable energy systems, they would need to be more comprehensive, be more consistent over time, and emphasise energy use more.