Ukudla Okushintshwe Izakhi—Ingabe Kuphephile?
KUYE ngokuthi uhlalaphi, kungenzeka ukuthi ekudleni kwakho kwasekuseni, kwasemini noma kokwakusihlwa uke wadla ukudla okushintshwe izakhi. Mhlawumbe bekungamazambane azivikela ngokwemvelo ezinambuzaneni noma utamatisi othatha isikhathi eside ukuba uthambe ngemva kokuvunwa. Kunoma ikuphi, kungenzeka lokho kudla okunezakhi ezishintshiwe kwakungachaziwe, futhi kunzima ukuba ulwanga lwakho lukuhlukanise kokungokwemvelo.
Njengoba ufunda lesi sihloko, kunezilimo zokudla okunezakhi ezishintshiwe njengobhontshisi, ummbila, izinhlamvu ze-rape namazambane ezikhulayo e-Argentina, eBrazil, eCanada, eChina, eMexico nase-United States. Ngokombiko othile, “ngo-1998, amaphesenti angu-25 ommbila, amaphesenti angu-38 kabhontshisi namaphesenti angu-45 kakotini otshalwa e-United States kwakushintshwe izakhi, ukuze izilimo zikwazi ukumelana nemithi yokubulala ukhula noma ukuze zikhiqize izibulala zinambuzane ezingokwemvelo.” Ngasekupheleni kuka-1999, kulinganiselwa ukuthi indawo yamapulazi ezentengiselwano engamahektare ayizigidi ezingu-40 yayinezilimo ezishintshwe izakhi emhlabeni wonke, nakuba kungezona zonke okwakuyizilimo ezidliwayo.
Ingabe ukudla okushintshwe izakhi kuphephile ukuba ungakudla? Ingabe izindlela ezingokwesayensi ezisetshenziswa emasimini ukukhiqiza ukudla okunezakhi ezishintshiwe ziyingozi endaweni ezungezile? Le mpikiswano emayelana nokudla okunezakhi ezishintshiwe ishubile eYurophu. Umbhikishi waseNgilandi wathi: “Okwenza ngimelane nokudla okushintshwe izakhi ukuthi kuyingozi, akufunwa futhi akudingekile.”
Izakhi Zokudla Zishintshwa Kanjani?
Isayensi esetshenziswa ekushintsheni izakhi zokudla ibizwa ngokuthi i-food biotechnology—ukusebenzisa isayensi yezakhi zofuzo yanamuhla ukuze uthuthukise izitshalo, izilwane, nezinto ezincane eziphilayo lapho kukhiqizwa ukudla. Yiqiniso, umbono wokushintshashintsha izinto eziphilayo ubulokhu usetshenziswa kwezolimo. Umlimi wokuqala owazalanisa inkunzi enamandla nenkomazi emhlambini wakhe ukuze athuthukise imfuyo, kunokuba avumele lezi zilwane zizalane ngokwazo, wayesebenzisa i-biotechnology eyisisekelo. Nombhaki wokuqala owasebenzisa imbiliso yama-enzyme ukukhukhumalisa inhlama yesinkwa naye wasebenzisa okuthile okuphilayo ukwenza umkhiqizo othuthukisiwe. Isici esisodwa esifanayo kulezi zindlela ezivamile kwakuwukusetshenziswa kwezinqubo ezingokwemvelo ukuze kwenziwe izinguquko ekudleni.
Ngokufanayo i-biotechnology yesimanje isebenzisa izinto eziphilayo ukuze yenze noma ishintshe imikhiqizo. Kodwa ngokungafani nezindlela ezivamile, i-biotechonolgy yesimanje ivumela ukushintsha izakhi ngokuqondile nangokunembile ezintweni eziphilayo. Ingasetshenziselwa ukudlulisela izakhi zofuzo phakathi kwezinto eziphilayo ezihluke ngokuphelele, ivumela ukuba kulunjaniswe izinto cishe ebezingenakwenzeka ngezindlela ezivamile. Manje abazalanisi sebengathatha izakhi kwenye into ephilayo futhi bazifake ezakhini zesitshalo—ngokwesibonelo, isici senhlanzi sokukwazi ukumelana nesithwathwa, ukumelana nezifo kwamagciwane, nokumelana kwezinambuzane namagciwane asenhlabathini.
Ake sithi umlimi akafuni akuba amazambane noma ama-apula akhe abe nsundu lapho esikwa noma elimala. Abacwaningi bangasiza ngokususa isakhi esibangela ubunsundu futhi bafake esolunye uhlobo esibuvimbelayo. Noma ake sithi umlimi ka-beetroot angathanda ukusheshe atshale ukuze athole isivuno esingcono. Ezimweni ezivamile ubengeke akwenza lokhu ngoba u-beetroot ubungoma esimweni sezulu esibandayo. I-biotechnology iyasetshenziswa lapho izakhi zofuzo zenhlanzi ethile emelana kalula namanzi abandayo zidluliselwa ku-beetroot. Umphumela kuba u-beetroot onezakhi ezishintshiwe ongakwazi ukumelana namazinga okubanda afinyelela ku-6,5°C. ngaphansi kwezinga-qhwa, okuyizinga elibanda ngokuphindwe kabili kunezinga u-beetroot ovamile ongakwazi ukumelana nalo.
Kodwa-ke, izici ezinjalo eziwumphumela wokudluliselwa kwesakhi sofuzo esisodwa zisebenza ngokulinganiselwe. Ukushintsha izici eziyinkimbinkimbi kakhulu, njengezinga lokukhula noma lokumelana kwesilimo nesomiso, kuyinto ehluke ngokuphelele. Isayensi yanamuhla ayikakwazi ukukwenza lokhu ngezakhi ezingamaqoqo. Phela, iningi lalezi zakhi alikatholakali.
Indlela Entsha Yokukhiqiza Inala Yokudla?
Ngisho nokushintshwa kwezakhi zezilimo okulinganiselwe kwenza labo abasekela i-biotechnology babe nethemba. Bathi izilimo ezinezakhi ezishintshiwe zizoletha indlela entsha yokukhiqiza inala yokudla. Inkampani ehamba phambili emkhakheni we-biotechnology ithi ubuchwepheshe bokushintsha izakhi zofuzo “buyithuluzi elinikeza ithemba emizamweni yokulungiselela ukudla okwengeziwe” kwabantu bembulunga yonke inani labo elikhula ngabangu-230 000 nsuku zonke.
Kakade, izilimo ezinjalo ziye zasiza ekwehliseni izindleko zokukhiqiza ukudla. Izilimo eziwukudla ziye zavikelwa ngesakhi esisebenza njengesibulala-zinambuzane esingokwemvelo, esinciphisa isidingo sokuchelela odedangendlale bamasimu ngamathantala amakhemikhali anobuthi. Izilimo eziye zashintshwa zihlanganisa ubhontshisi nokusanhlamvu okunamaprotheni amaningi—ezingenanzuzo etheni ezingxenyeni zomhlaba ezimpofu. “Izitshalo ezithela kakhulu” ezinjalo zingase zidlulisele izakhi ezintsha eziwusizo nezici zazo ezizukulwaneni ezilandelayo, ezikhiqiza isivuno esichichimayo enhlabathini ekhiqiza ngokulinganiselwe emazweni ampofu, anabantu abaningi.
Umongameli wemboni ehamba phambili emkhakheni we-biotechonology wathi: “Ngokuqinisekile sifisa ukubathuthukisa abalimi balo mhlaba. Futhi sizokwenza—ngokusebenzisa i-biotechnology ukuze senze emangqamuzaneni nasezakhini zofuzo ezingazodwa lokho abalimi bezitshalo abebekwenza ‘ezitshalweni ezithile’ emakhulwini eminyaka. Sizokwenza imikhiqizo engcono, ehlangabezana nezidingo ezithile futhi sizokwenza ngokushesha kunanoma inini ngaphambili.”
Nokho, ngokwezazi zesayensi yezolimo, intshiseko yokuthuthukisa ubuchwepheshe bokushintsha izakhi zofuzo njengekhambi ekuntulekeni kokudla emhlabeni kuthiya ukucwaninga okwenziwayo manje ngezitshalo. Nakuba kuyinto evamile, lokhu kucwaninga kuyaphumelela futhi kungase kuzuzise izingxenye zomhlaba ezimpofu. UHans Herren, onguchwepheshe ekulweni nezifo zezilimo, uthi: “Akufanele siqondiswe yilobu buchwepheshe obungaqinisekile kuyilapho emaningi amakhambi aphumelelayo ezinkingeni zokudla.”
Ukukhathazeka Ngezimiso Zokuhle Nokubi
Naphezu kwezingozi ezingenzeka empilweni yomphakathi nendawo ezungezile, abanye banomuzwa wokuthi ukushintsha izakhi zezilimo nezinye izinto eziphilayo kuyisiphazamiso esimisweni sokuhle nokubi. Isazi sesayensi esishisekayo uDouglas Parr saphawula: “Ubuchwepheshe bokushintsha izakhi zofuzo beqa umbandela osemqoka endleleni abantu abayisebenzisa ngayo le planethi, beshintsha yona kanye indlela yokuphila.” UJeremy Rifkin, umbhali wencwadi ethi The Biotech Century, wakubeka kanje: “Lapho seweqe yonke imingcele yezinto eziphilayo, uqala ukubheka uhlobo lwento ephilayo njengokwaziswa kwezakhi zofuzo okungasho lutho. Lokho kusenza sicabange ngendlela ehluke ngokuphelele hhayi nje kuphela ngobudlelwane bethu nemvelo, kodwa nangendlela esiyisebenzisa ngayo.” Ngakho-ke wabuza: “Ingabe ukuphila kubalulekile? Sinasiphi isibopho ezizukulwaneni ezizayo? Sinamuphi umthwalo wemfanelo kwezinye izidalwa esiphila nazo?”
Abanye, kuhlanganise neNkosana yaseNgilandi uCharles, bathi ukudlulisela izakhi zofuzo ezintweni eziphilayo ezingahlobene ngokuphelele “kusibeka endaweni kaNkulunkulu, futhi engekaNkulunkulu kuphela.” Abafundi beBhayibheli bakholelwa ngokuqinile ukuthi uNkulunkulu ‘ungumthombo wokuphila.’ (IHubo 36:9) Nokho, abukho ubufakazi bangempela bokuthi uNkulunkulu uyakulahla ukuzalanisa izilwane nokuxuba izitshalo ezithile, okuyinto eye yasiza iplanethi yethu ukuba yondle izigidi zabantu abahlala kuyo. Kuyobonakala esikhathini esizayo ukuthi i-biotechnology yesimanje iyobalimaza yini abantu nendawo ezungezile noma cha. Uma ngempela i-biotechnology igxambukela ‘endaweni kaNkulunkulu,’ khona-ke—ngenxa yothando nokucabangela isintu—angakwazi ukulungisa izimo ezinjalo.
[Ibhokisi ekhasini 26]
Iziphi Izingozi Ezingase Zivele?
I-biotechnology iye yathuthuka ngokukhulu ukushesha kangangokuba imithetho noma izinhlangano ezibeka imithetho azikwazi ukuhambisana nayo. Ukucwaninga ngeke kuvimbele imiphumela engahlosiwe. Iqembu elandayo labagxeki lixwayisa ngemiphumela engahlosiwe, esukela ekuphazamisekeni ngokwezomnotho kwabalimi emhlabeni kuya ekubhujisweni kwendawo ezungezile nokusongelwa kwempilo yabantu. Abacwaningi baxwayisa ngokuthi ayikho indlela ehlala njalo nebanzi yokuhlola ukuthi ukudla okushintshwe izakhi kuphephe kangakanani. Bakhomba izingozi ezimbalwa ezingase zivele.
● Umzimba ongezwani nezinto ezithile. Ngokwesibonelo, uma isakhi sofuzo esikhiqiza iprotheni engezwani nomzimba sigcina sesisemmbileni, abantu abanemizimba engezwani nokudla okuthile bangase babe sengozini enkulu. Naphezu kweqiniso lokuthi izinhlangano ezibeka imithetho zifuna ukuba izinkampani zibike ukuthi ukudla okushintshiwe kunamaphi amaprotheni abanga izinkinga, abanye abacwaningi besaba ukuthi bangase bangakwazi ukuzibona izakhi ezithile ezingaziwa ezibangela ukuba umzimba ungasabeli kahle.
● Ukwanda kobuthi. Abanye ochwepheshe bakholelwa ukuthi ukushintsha izakhi kungase kwandise ubuthi obungokwemvelo obusezitshalweni ngezindlela ezingalindelekile. Uma isakhi esithile sisebenza esitshalweni, ngaphandle kokuthi siletha imiphumela efiselekayo, singase siqale ukukhiqiza ubuthi obungokwemvelo.
● Ukumelana nemithi. Njengengxenye yokushintsha izakhi ezitshalweni, izazi zesayensi zisebenzisa lokho okubizwa ngokuthi ama-marker gene ukuze zithole ukuthi izakhi ezifiselekayo ziye zangena ngempumelelo yini esitshalweni. Njengoba ama-marker gene amaningi ekwazi ukumelana nemithi, abagxeki besaba ukuthi lokhu kungase kunezele enkingeni eyandayo yezakhi ezimelana nemithi. Kodwa, ezinye izazi zesayensi zithi izakhi zofuzo zala ma-marker gene ziyadungwa ngaphambi kokuba zisetshenziswe, ngaleyo ndlela kugwenywe le ngozi.
● Ukwanda “kokhula olungafi.” Enye yezinto ebangela ukukhathazeka okukhulu ukuthi ngemva kokuba izilimo ezishintshiwe sezitshaliwe, izakhi zingase ziphume ngezimpande noma ngempova zingene ezitshalweni eziwukhula ezihlobene nazo, zidale “ukhula olungafi” olumelana nemithi yokubulala ukhula.
● Ukulimaza ezinye izinto eziphilayo. Ngo-May 1999, abacwaningi baseCornell University babika ukuthi iziphungumangathi zezimvemvane ama-monarch ezadla amaqabunga ayenempova yommbila enezakhi ezishintshiwe zagula futhi zafa. Nakuba abanye bekungabaza ukuba yiqiniso kwalokhu kuhlola, kusenokukhathazeka kokuthi ezinye izinto eziphilayo zingase zilimale kungahlosiwe.
● Ukungasebenzi kwezibulala-zinambuzane eziphephile. Phakathi kwezilimo ezinezakhi ezishintshiwe eziye zaba impumelelo kukhona ezithile ezinesakhi esikhiqiza iprotheni ewubuthi ezinambuzaneni. Nokho, izazi zezinto eziphilayo zixwayisa ngokuthi ukuchaya izinambuzane ebuthini obukhiqizwa yilesi sakhi kuyosiza izinambuzane zikwazi ukumelana naso futhi kwenze izibulala-zinambuzane zingasebenzi.