VOA慢速英語:中國拒收美國轉基因玉米

From VOA Learning English, this is the Agriculture Report.

這里是美國之音慢速英語農業(yè)報道。

China has rejected more than one million metric tons of United States corn since last November. The Chinese Government says it is not accepting shipments that include Agrisure Viptera made by the seed company Syngenta. China says it has not approved importing this genetically-modified kind of corn seed.

自去年十一月起，中國已經拒絕超過100萬噸美國玉米入境。中國政府稱不會接受包含先正達種子公司Agrisure Vipter品種轉基因玉米的貨物。中國表示，該國從未批準這種轉基因玉米種子的進口。

A GMO food has had gens from other plants or animals added to its natural genetic content. America's National Grain and Feed Association says the rejection is costly. It says the Chinese action is responsible for almost $3 billion in losses to the U.S. agricultural industry.

轉基因食品將其它植物或動物的基因添加到自身的遺傳基因中。美國國家谷物和飼料協會說，中國拒絕入境的這一舉動對美國農業(yè)造成了近30億美元的損失。

Wendell Schauman is a farmer in the central state of Illinois. He also is a past leader of the U.S. Grains Council. He has traveled to China to represent American farmers.

溫德爾·紹曼(Wendell Schauman)是美國中部的伊利諾伊州的一位農民。他也是美國谷物協會的前任負責人。他曾代表美國農民到過中國。

"We're the largest corn producer in the world. We're the best supply. We have the best infrastructure to deliver that," said Schauman.

紹曼說：“我們是全球最大的玉米生產國，我們供應了最好的產品，我們有最好的配套來確保這一供應。”

Mr. Schauman says demand for American corn used to feed animals is up throughout the world, except in China. But that country has a very large market for it.

紹曼表示，全球對使用美國玉米作為飼料的需求都在上升，唯獨中國例外。但該國在這方面擁有極大的市場。

"We went from just minimal sales over there to rather significant ones over two or three years, and, now, just this year, it's dropped back to almost nothing," said Schauman.

紹曼說：“在那里，我們從非常少的銷量起步，在兩三年內銷量急劇上升。然而到了今年，銷量幾乎回落到零。”

Mr. Schauman says the genetically-modified seeds rejected by China are similar to other GMOs in that they have valuable qualities.

紹曼說，被中國拒絕的轉基因種子和其它轉基因作物一樣，它們都擁有有價值的品質。

"They're effective. They help us produce a better quality crop." said Schauman.

紹曼說：“它們可以有效幫助我們生產出質量更好的玉米。“

He says some GMOs increase the size and quality of harvest at a lower cost to farmers. And he says some help the environment because they limit the kinds of pesticides control needed.

他說，轉基因作物以極低成本幫助農民提高了收成的規(guī)模和質量。他還表示，其中一些還有利于環(huán)境，因為它們限制了防治蟲害所需農藥的品種。

Mr. Schauman says he believes Chinese rejection may not result from the product itself.

紹曼表示，他認為中國的拒收可能不是因為產品本身。

"They haven't approved it, so they won't accept it. Basically, they know there's nothing wrong with it," said Schauman.

紹曼說：“他們還沒有通過這類產品的認證，因此他們不會接受它?；旧蟻碚f，他們知道轉基因玉米并沒有什么問題。”

Craig Turner is a contributing editor for the online publication GrainAnalyst.com. He says when China really needed corn in the past, it will take any kind of corn.

克萊格·特納(Craig Turner)是谷物分析網( GrainAnalyst.com)的特約編輯。他說，在過去中國確實對玉米有需求，他們就會接受任何種類的玉米。

Mr. Turner also says corn prices dropped when news first spread of the Chinese rejection. He says corn was trading at about $4.20 a bushel at that time. People feared prices would fall below $4 a bushel.

特納還表示，中國拒收的消息一傳開，玉米價格有所下降。他說，當時玉米交易價格在4.2美元每蒲式耳，人們擔心價格會跌破4美元每蒲式耳。

Chinese restrictions continue, but corn prices have since gone up again. Still Wendell Schauman says the situation has led to general mistrust of farmers who use the genetically-modified crop and grain companies that accept it.

中國的限制依舊，但玉米價格已經再次上漲。然而紹曼表示，這一形勢已經造成農民和糧食收購企業(yè)對轉基因玉米的普遍不信任。