Research On The Measurement Of Ecological Riskand Risk-control Responsibility Mechanism Of GM Crops

At present, the debate on the industrialization of GM crops has never stopped. The uncertainty of the ecological risk of GM crops is one of the debates on whether we should accelerate the industrialization of GM crops, and the keys which result in the uncertainty are the difficulty to quantify the ecological risk and the umbiguity of the main responsibilities in risk control. In recent years, the discussion about these issues has always been the focus of academic circles, decision-making section and the public, but the related research has yet been feeling its way. So, it’s a key issue urgent to be sovled to study the methods to quantify the ecological risk of GM crops and the accountability mechanism of risk control.On the basis of the scientific division of the type of ecological risks of GM crops, this paper fidns out the critical points to control risks by the method of fault tree analysis, measures the ecological risks of GM crops from both quanlitative and quantitative aspects by risk matrix, establishes the accountability mechanism of risk control suitable for Chinese situation by stakerholder theory and game theory, and puts forward pertinent and operable proposals on risk management of GM crops.(1)Study on ecological risk types of GM cropsFron the perspective of product attribute, the ecological risks of GM crops are divided into three types,that are characterized by search good, experience good and credence good respectively, and restrict administrative supervision mechanism, reputation mechanism and comprehensive governance mechanism are effective methods to govern the three types of risks respectively.(2)Systematic analysis on the ecological risk sourceBy constructing cause and effect diagram and fault tree of the ecological risks of GM crops, the paper analyses logically step by step evey ecological risk factor after the large-scale plantation, and finds out:①the presence of gene flow receptors and its properties makes it possible for exogenous gene to escape by gene flow; ②whether the resistance gene expresses continuously in GM crops, the biological properties of target organism, and the genetic stability of resistance are the second most important causes for the occurrence of ecological risks of GM crops; ③pollen and seed dispersal are two ways for gene flow of GM crops, and the related basic events are the thirdly most important causes. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the regulation of transgenic technology, accomplish physical isolation, set up refuge or shelter, optimize agricultural practices, strengthen safety management to control effectively or mitigate the potential ecological risks of GM crops.(3)Measurement of ecological risk level of GM cropsBased on the modified risk matrix, the paper finds out that the overall ecological risk level of Bt cotton is moderate, with regard to the specific risk factors, the risk level of the resistancne of the cotton bollworm and the pink bollworm is moderate, and the risk level of the impact on parasite, predatory enemies, the soil ecosystem and non-target pests is relatively low. The order in sequence of the contribution rate of the six specific risk factors to the overall risk is : the resistance of the cotton pollworm, the resistance of pink pollworm, the impact on parasite, non-target pest, predatory enemies, and soil ecosystem successively.(4)Construction of ecological risk control accountability mechanism of GM cropsThere are three categories of stakerholder involving in ecological risk control of GM crops in China, that are government deparments( national authorities, local governments, foreign governments), the public( academic institution, Chinese-funded companies, multinational biotechnology companies, farmers, consumers, NGO), and the external environment( natural, economic, social and cultural environment). By analyzing the diverse interest appeal of these stakeholders and their game behaviors and multiple game relationships, the construction path of ecological risk accountability mechanism of GM crops in China is found out, the first is to construct scientific responsibility distribution mechanism, the second is to construct reasonable responsibility fulfillment mechanism, and the third is to construce regorous duty-charging mechanism. At the same time, it is necessary to improve the public discourse mechanism effectively, perfect the risk communication mechanism, and strengthen the establishment of institutional confidence in order to guarant the consruction of the ecological risk accountability mechanism of GM crops.(5)Improvement of ecological risk management of GM crops in ChinaUnscrambling the safety management practices of GMOs in the developed countries and regions such as the Unites States, European Union and so on, what is found is that the ecological risk management mode of GM crops in the United States is a loose and permissive mode,whereas a restricted and precautionary mode in EU. Similar to EU, the safety management of agricultural GMOs in China is process-based, which stresses on both scientific basis and precaution. To improve the ecological risk management of GM crops, it is necessary to improve technical manual and guidance document to emhance the operability of policies and regulations, perfect identity management system of agricultural GMOs, build up all-the-way tracking system to fulfill the traceability of agricultural GMOs management, reinforce the public communicaton and increase the information transparency, and construct performance evaluation mechanism of the safety management of agricultural GMOs.