Genetically modified sprouted soybeans reappear by the roadside, Japanese researcher visits Taiwan, China for the second investigation
Text / By Upstream and Downstream reporters Cai Jiashan and Lin Peijun
In the pouring rain, a group of people walked extremely slowly along the roadside holding umbrellas, bending down and lowering their heads as if searching for something. "Over here!" The finder squatted down and picked up a tiny soybean.
These were GM soybeans spilled from a large truck, appearing on the roads around an oil-pressing and feed factory. Leading the investigation in the rain, carrying a green "agricultural" backpack made in Taiwan, China, was Hatta Sumito, director of the Japanese "Farmers' Federation Food Analysis Center," who had come from afar.
Three years ago, Hatta Sumito rode a bicycle alone to conduct an investigation under the blazing sun, but this time his return to Taiwan, China coincided with heavy rains after a long drought, and the humble man joked that he was a "rain man." This time, however, he was no longer alone: the "Campus Lunch Goes Non-GMO" team, Tainan Xinhua Community University, young farmers from Yilan, and reporters from Upstream and Downstream all joined this "land detective" operation.
The "Farmers' Federation Food Analysis Center" is an independent civil organization founded with donations from farmers and consumers, aiming to protect family farming and food safety. Pooling everyone's strength, it purchased professional instruments and equipment for pesticide analysis, GMO testing, and radiation testing, enabling independent testing free from control by any force. Because of this, "our research results can be trusted by everyone," Hatta said.
He also stressed that when many problems arise, people divide into two sides, each holding their own views, and at such times, "if scientific data investigation intervenes, the discussion becomes more meaningful." Therefore, he believes it is important for both ordinary citizens and farmers to have the ability to investigate and test. In the past, the Farmers' Federation Food Analysis Center's investigations into pesticide residues successfully persuaded the government to amend the law because they presented solid scientific evidence.
Let's all become "land detectives" together
Hatta Sumito's next goal is to cooperate with more Taiwanese civil groups to conduct longer-distance tracking and larger-scale investigations, and to do one in each different season, building systematic research results.
Hatta Sumito said that many foods are GM products, almost imperceptible yet existing like ghosts, while the effects of GMOs on the human body and the environment are full of unknowns, so a high level of attention must be maintained. "Someone has to do this."
Taiwan, China is already more than ten years behind Japan and ought to get started. The Campus Lunch Goes Non-GMO team and Tainan Xinhua Community University both said they will consider calling on citizens to form investigation squads in the future, so everyone can become "land detectives" together.