丢弃粮食造成的环境影响巨大。生产的粮食不被食用，会浪费水资源并增加排放到大气中的温室气体。

生产商、食品店和消费者丢弃食品的原因之一是食品变色。生物技术能改善作物抗褐化、抗碰伤的特性。这种改善能够提高粮食系统的效率和可持续性。

土豆是全世界最广泛的地区所食用的蔬菜之一。仅在美国，每年就有大约1.8亿千克土豆因长黑点（褐化）等原因而被扔掉。

设在爱达荷州（Idaho）的 J.R. Simplot 公司想要改变这种状况。该公司开发的Innate土豆利用土豆基因来“切断”导致褐化的化学物质。

还有一家公司研发了抗褐化的苹果，这种苹果在切片后不会变色，不会让人对仍然可以食用而且味道尚佳的苹果失去食欲。华盛顿（Washington）和纽约（New York）的果园已在种植抗褐化的北极（Arctic）苹果，在新品种中添加了苹果已有的基因的复制本。

生物技术还能帮助农民减少使用农药，并防止化学物质污染水源。

在美国，经过生物技术强化的作物首先要接受严格的审核和检测，然后才能作为食品或饲料上市。

即将在米兰开幕的世博会将推动有关粮食生产前景的全球对话。世博会美国馆的主题是“美国粮食议程2.0：齐心协力保障全球粮食供给”（American Food 2.0: United to Feed the Planet）。美国馆将通过互动性展览凸显美国作为粮食部门的一个创新者寻找种种方式为全球日益增长的人口提供粮食的努力。欢迎您届时了解更多有关美国农民、科研人员、公司企业和政府机构为减少浪费以及改善作物品质而积极创新的信息。




Better eating — and less waste — through science

 Of all the food this planet generates each year, up to one-third — an estimated 1.3 billion metric tons — is lost or wasted, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

The environmental consequences of throwing away food are big. Food that is produced but not eaten wastes water and adds greenhouse gases to the atmosphere.

One reason producers, stores and even consumers discard food is discoloration. Biotechnology can improve crop traits to inhibit browning or bruising. That single change can make the food system more efficient and sustainable.

Potatoes are one of the world’s most widely eaten vegetables. In the United States alone, some 180 million kilograms of potatoes are thrown away annually, in part because of black spots (bruising).

The J.R. Simplot Company, based in Idaho, wants to change that. Its Innate potatoes use potato genes to “turn off” the chemicals that cause bruising.

Another company did the same thing for apples, which can turn brown and unappetizing — but still edible and tasty — after being sliced. Orchards in Washington and New York have been growing nonbrowning Arctic apples, created by inserting extra copies of genes the apples already possessed.

Biotechnology also can help farmers reduce pesticide use and prevent chemical runoffs into water supplies.

In the United States, crops enhanced by biotechnology undergo rigorous review and testing before being allowed in commerce for human food or animal feed.

Learn more about innovations by U.S. farmers, scientists, businesses and government agencies to reduce waste and improve crops at the upcoming Expo in Milan, a world’s fair that promotes a global dialogue about the future of the food system. The USA Pavilion at the expo, titled “American Food 2.0: United to Feed the Planet,” will showcase the United States as an innovator in the food sector with interactive exhibits that highlight efforts to find ways to feed the world’s growing population.