关键词: 合成生物食品, 商业化, 生物安全, 食品安全, 伦理风险

Abstract:

With continuous advances in basic researches related to synthetic biology, it's potential for application in various fields has become manifest, and its commercial value keeps increasing. In the field of food manufacturing, using synthetic biology tools can improve the food's nutritional value, provide consumers with more options for their diets, and alleviate future food supply shortage. At present, several kinds of food products using synthetic biology strategies have been put into the market in European countries and in the United States. However, the issues of biosafety, food safety, and ethical concerns of using synthetic biology to produce food remain controversial. How to balance relevant benefits and potential risks challenges domestic authorities as well as international communities. Based on a review of recent investment and financing situation in the field of food products using synthetic biology tools, this paper intends to discuss the relevant policies and legislation in Europe, the United States, and China for the commercialization of such products. The case of "Impossible Hamburger" (an artificial bio-food that has been approved and listed in the United States) is analyzed in depth, to examine the impact of legislation on the commercialization of related products. The paper concludes with suggestions on improvement of the legal framework for supporting and regulating the commercialization of synthetic biology-based food products in China.

Key words: food products using synthetic biology strategies, commercialization, biosafety, food safety, ethical risk