中國的13億人口中,被尊稱為“兩院院士”的只有1300余位;在這1300余位兩院院士中,與歷史悠久的中國茶有關(guān)的院士,迄今為止的第一位也是唯一的一位就是陳宗懋先生。
品茶,談論茶文化,對今天的杭州人而言是一件既時尚又平常的事,因為杭州有“中國茶都”之稱,更因為中國唯一的茶院士陳宗懋就工作生活在杭州。
位于杭州云棲的中國農(nóng)科院茶葉研究所,是陳宗懋院士工作了近半個世紀的地方,雖然現(xiàn)在的他已年逾古稀,早已從所長的崗位退休,但他在國際茶葉界的聲望讓他退而不能休,他至今還擔任著中國茶葉學會名譽理事長。尤其是2003年當選為中國工程院院士以來,他絕大部分時間和精力都在為中國茶奔走呼號,足跡所至不僅僅在中國,更有世界各地的遠行。
在印尼會議上據(jù)理力爭
和陳院士接觸過的人都說他是位謙謙君子,對人總是和藹可親,笑口常開??稍趪H上討論有關(guān)飲茶安全的場合,他卻是一個為中國利益據(jù)理力爭、振臂高呼的“斗士”。
2005年7月,世界上很多人對印尼那場毀滅性的海嘯還心有余悸之時,陳院士卻要去那里參加聯(lián)合國第16屆政府間茶葉會議。
陳院士并不想去那個多處留有海嘯痕跡的地方??蔀榱藝依妫仨毴?,因為不參與就沒有發(fā)言權(quán),如果不去參加,在有著眾多茶葉生產(chǎn)國和消費國參與的全球性茶事盛會上,就缺失了中國的聲音。
這是陳院士第四次參加聯(lián)合國政府間茶葉會議。第11屆至第13屆他都參加了,在第12屆會議上陳院士爭取到了世界銀行60萬美元的撥款和一大筆貸款用于中國茶葉研究。
7月的印尼氣溫酷熱,可比氣溫更熱的是聯(lián)合國第16屆政府間茶葉會議的氣氛,生產(chǎn)國和消費國雙方唇槍舌劍爭論不休,爭論的重點是茶葉的農(nóng)藥殘留標準。
會場上響起了中國的聲音。陳宗懋院士發(fā)言,提出如果農(nóng)藥殘留沒有一個統(tǒng)一標準,長此以往將影響全世界的茶葉生產(chǎn),他說:“就像球場裁判不能由參賽球隊的人來擔任,農(nóng)藥殘留標準也應該由一個既不是生產(chǎn)國、也不是消費國的裁判來主持公道,我認為CCPR(世界衛(wèi)生組織的機構(gòu))來擔任這個裁判最為合適?!?/p>
一片贊同聲。陳院士的發(fā)言引起肯尼亞、斯里蘭卡、印度和印尼等國的代表相繼發(fā)言,一致贊成并附議陳院士的建議。
聽著這些國家代表的發(fā)言,陳院士很高興,茶葉生產(chǎn)國終于聯(lián)合起來了。雖然這次會議尚未徹底解決關(guān)于農(nóng)藥殘留的標準問題,但是中國作為世界上年產(chǎn)量第一的茶葉生產(chǎn)大國,發(fā)出了自己的聲音。
“沒有數(shù)據(jù),就不是科學”
炎夏過后是金秋,轉(zhuǎn)眼間又進入了嚴冬。
2005年12月6日陳院士飛赴意大利,作為第16屆政府間茶葉會議的延續(xù),羅馬會議的主題還是農(nóng)藥殘留標準,而陳院士又一次為中國茶奔走呼號。
室外寒風凌厲,冰天雪地;室內(nèi)發(fā)言聲此起彼伏,熱氣騰騰。
英美法德等茶葉消費國堅持,為了保護本國人民的身體健康,茶葉中的農(nóng)藥殘留標準必須很嚴格,否則就是侵害了消費者的權(quán)益。而中國、肯尼亞、斯里蘭卡、印度和印尼等茶葉生產(chǎn)國要求消費國拿出有關(guān)喝茶有可能影響健康的具體數(shù)據(jù)來,沒有數(shù)據(jù),就不是科學。
雙方爭論不可開交,最后聯(lián)合國糧農(nóng)組織代表出面作了協(xié)調(diào),確定了極其關(guān)鍵的三點:一、必須制定全球性的通用標準,而不是僅由某一國家或國際組織說了算;二、各生產(chǎn)國提出要用的農(nóng)藥名單及建議標準,最后由CCPR來審定;三、在三年內(nèi)制定出國際標準。
雖然據(jù)理力爭很累,但是陳院士看到了農(nóng)藥殘留標準的“柳暗花明又一村”。而他提出的在中國使用的10種農(nóng)藥,都將由他牽頭來進行實驗。
陳宗懋院士是中國最先對茶葉農(nóng)藥殘留進行微量分析的專家。20世紀60年代國內(nèi)茶葉農(nóng)藥殘留分析還是個空白,陳宗懋便率先開始了此項技術(shù)研究。他最近在搞的科研課題,是研究“茶園內(nèi)以化學生態(tài)防治為內(nèi)容的綜合治理”,通俗地說就是搞清楚茶樹、害蟲、天敵之間的關(guān)系開展生物防治,以少用化學農(nóng)藥從而減少殘留。
為什么茶葉的農(nóng)藥殘留問題近年來特別讓人關(guān)注,是不是超標真的越來越嚴重?陳院士告訴大家,1999年中國加入世貿(mào)組織前,歐盟就大幅度調(diào)整農(nóng)藥殘留標準,檢測的農(nóng)藥品種原先只有7種,后調(diào)整為63種,2004年增加至173種,至今已經(jīng)多達182種。如氰戊菊酯類農(nóng)藥在1999年6月30日至7月1日,標準一天驟變。相隔一天,標準竟然相差100倍,僅氰戊菊酯一項,就卡住中國30%的茶葉不能出口歐盟。
為了維護中國的利益,陳宗懋積極和歐洲茶葉委員會聯(lián)系,以科學數(shù)據(jù)為武器,經(jīng)過長達數(shù)年的交涉,并提交了數(shù)百頁的實驗資料。1999年他領(lǐng)導的實驗室被歐盟確定為中國唯一的向歐盟出口茶葉檢測農(nóng)藥殘留的實驗室。
中國茶葉的種植面積為世界第一,2005年茶葉年產(chǎn)量有85.2萬噸,也為世界第一。陳院士說,如果出口不受農(nóng)藥殘留等的影響,年產(chǎn)量達到90萬噸也沒問題。
杭州龍井茶的“衛(wèi)士”
中國大眾聽說陳宗懋其人其事,是在2004年的1月初,在他當選為2003年度的中國工程院院士之后。如果僅僅是當選院士,那也僅在科技界和新聞界有點熱鬧,讓陳院士一下子聞名遐邇,是杭州龍井茶鉛超標事件。2003年12月,央視報道了衛(wèi)生部公布的2003年全國茶葉衛(wèi)生質(zhì)量監(jiān)督抽檢結(jié)果,杭州龍井茶因鉛項目指標不合格被列入“黑名單”,這個突然消息頓時引起了國內(nèi)外方方面面的高度關(guān)注。
大多數(shù)人喝綠茶,總以為是湯色綠才為上好,卻不料太綠的綠茶很有可能含鉛過高。尤其最近一兩年來,茶葉中鉛含量過高的問題屢遭媒體曝光,強烈地刺激著大眾的神經(jīng)。對沸沸揚揚的議論,陳院士作了權(quán)威發(fā)布:“只要不是人為添加,風險性分析表明茶葉中含有的一點鉛無礙人體健康?!?/p>
對杭州龍井茶因鉛項目指標不合格的原因,陳院士一針見血地指出:“這是因為中國的檢測標準過嚴?!彼忉屨f:“按我國現(xiàn)行標準,規(guī)定每公斤茶葉中的含鉛量不得超過2毫克,而同一項目日本的標準是25毫克,加拿大、澳大利亞是10毫克,所以中國執(zhí)行的是全世界最嚴的標準?!?/p>
歐盟對盟內(nèi)國家茶葉中的含鉛量檢測標準是5毫克/公斤,但對中國的茶葉卻是按照2毫克/公斤的標準執(zhí)行,有一批中國出口茶葉因含鉛每公斤2.5毫克被歐盟退貨。陳院士聽說后和歐盟有關(guān)方面論理,理由是這沒超過歐盟的標準。可那些人說:“既然超出了你們國家的標準,怎么還能出口?”為此,陳院士曾多次呼吁中國要盡快修訂標準。2005年9月中國已修改了茶葉中鉛含量的標準,這樣中國茶葉含鉛超標率會大大降低。
媒體有報道說2005年綠茶產(chǎn)品質(zhì)量抽查合格率為90%,在這次公布的國家監(jiān)督抽查質(zhì)量較好的綠茶名單上,杭州西湖龍井茶名列第一。自2003年底杭州西湖龍井茶“背上黑鍋”后,這次終于揚眉吐氣。
三片細小茶葉見真情
陳宗懋先生主編過《中國茶經(jīng)》和《中國茶葉大辭典》,這是他在茶學研究中辛勤耕耘的累累碩果。在陳宗懋先生的名片上,最顯眼奪目的不是“中國工程院院士”的頭銜而是茶葉:名片所有的文字為黑色,只有三片細小的茶葉是青翠欲滴的綠色,這綠色向眾人敘述著中國唯一“茶院士”的人生經(jīng)歷。1933年10月陳宗懋出生于上海,他的老家是在浙江海鹽;1950年17歲的陳宗懋準備報考復旦醫(yī)學院,到了報名地點他看到有兩支隊,一支隊很長人很多,一支隊相對人少一點,于是陳宗懋就站在了人少的那一隊。到了跟前他才知道這是報考農(nóng)學院的。就這樣,“站錯了隊”的陳宗懋選定了自己的終身職業(yè);1954年陳宗懋分配到位于黑龍江的中國農(nóng)科院甜菜研究所。他從小生活在上海,東北寒冷的氣候讓他很難適應。1960年2月他調(diào)到杭州的中國農(nóng)科院茶葉研究所,從此與茶樹植保結(jié)下了不解之緣,也與杭州結(jié)下了不解之緣。
今天的陳院士有個心愿:由于聯(lián)合國政府間茶葉會議的會址一屆又一屆均選擇在其他國家,這樣重要的會議從來沒有在茶葉的原產(chǎn)國中國召開過,所以陳院士想爭取在中國舉辦一次這樣的會議。在他看來,如果能在西湖龍井茶的原產(chǎn)地杭州舉辦一次聯(lián)合國政府間的茶葉會議,那肯定是一件很有意義的事。
成天為茶事奔忙的陳院士的愛好是收藏各國的硬幣,已有100多個國家的各種硬幣被他收入囊中。以前他常常憧憬著退休后可以把玩著一個個材質(zhì)、制作都大相徑庭的硬幣,回憶著自己去有關(guān)硬幣的國家的經(jīng)歷和故事,可惜這樣的日子對陳院士而言至今還依然是一種憧憬。
好在妻子酷愛越劇,并且?guī)雨愒菏恳矟u漸地喜歡看越劇。在為中國茶事奔走呼號的辛苦間隙中,品嘗一杯清茶,欣賞一出越劇,就成為陳院士心曠神怡的時刻了。
Academician of Tea in Hangzhou
By Feng Yingping
Of the 1.3 Chinese billion people, merely over 1,300 are academicians of either China Academy of Sciences or China Academy of Engineering. Of the altogether little more than 1,300 academicians, only one specializes in tea. This is Chen Zongmao (born in 1933).
It is no surprise at all that Hangzhou, officially designated as the tea capital of China recently, is where Chen Zongmao lives and works. After working at a national tea research institute in Hangzhou for nearly half a century and elected as an academician of China Academy of Engineering in 2003, Chen is now retired. Yet, as honorary director of China Tea Association and vice president of International Tea Association, Chen spends much of his time promoting Chinese tea. For this purpose, he frequently travels overseas.
In July 2005, Chen attended the 16th Session of Intergovernmental Group on Tea in Indonesia, when many people were still panicking at the devastating tsunami that had hit the country. At the meeting, Tea producers and consumer countries debated heatedly on the standard maximum pesticide residues in tea. On behalf of China, the largest tea producer in the world, Chen proposed that CCPR, an institute under WHO, should formulate a uniform standard. This proposal united the producers. In December 2005, Chen Zongmao attended another UN meeting on tea in Rome to address the issue of pesticide residues. America and European countries insisted that the standard should be as rigorous as possible so as to protect consumer rights and interests. China and other producing countries held that consumer countries must come up with scientific data in their support of a rigorous standard. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN mediated and a three-point agreement was reached. China's proposal was absorbed in the agreement that a universal standard would be formulated and approved by CCPR within the next three years on the basis of individual recommendations from producer countries.
Chen Zongmao is China's leading scientist in the microanalysis of pesticide residues in tea. In the 1960s Chen pioneered the microanalysis technology on Chinese tea. As EU has set up stricter standards for tea imports, China needs to talk with EU on the grounds of tea sciences. In order to protect the interests of Chinese tea farmers, Chen provided hundreds of pages of research data and negotiated with EU over years. In 1998, the European parliament adopted a set of new standards and Chen's laboratory was recognized by EU as China's only laboratory for testing pesticide residues for exported tea.
China produced 852,000 tons of tea in 2005. Chen said that the output could easily reach 900,000 tons a year if exports would not be held back by the problem of pesticide residues.
However, it is not that China's tea has a serious problem with pesticide residues. It is that China now uses a stricter standard than that adopted by EU. In 2003, CCTV reported that the Ministry of Health published a list of tea products that were not up to the national standard. Dragon Well Tea, presumably the country's best known green tea produced in Hangzhou, was blacklisted for its excessive lead residue. Chen explained that the current Chinese standard for maximum lead residue is 2 milligrams per kilogram of tea while it is 25 milligrams in Japan and 10 milligram in Australia and Canada. The EU standard for maximum lead residue is 5 milligrams per kilogram of tea for EU producers, 2 milligrams for tea from China. One lot of tea imported from China was rejected by EU because the lead residue was 2.5 milligrams. Chen argued with EU experts that this was unfair. In order to solve this problem, Chen has suggested to the government that China should adopt a new standard that synchronizes with EU's standard.
In 2005, Dragon Well Tea came out first in a nationwide quality inspection by the government.
An authority on tea, Chen was editor-in-chief of two national academic dictionaries on tea. However, he chose agriculture for his career by mistake. In 1950, the 17-year-old Chen wanted to study medicine. At a college application spot, he saw two queues and joined the shorter one. It turned out that the shorter queue was for an agricultural college. So he applied for studying agriculture. After graduation, he worked six years in Heilongjiang Province in northeast China before being transferred to Hangzhou in 1960, thus starting his career as a tea researcher.
Chen Zongmao has a dream: he wants Hangzhou to host a session of Intergovernmental Group on Tea. It would be of great significance to have such a meeting in Hangzhou, home of Dragon Well Tea.
Chen has a large collection of coins. The hobby is a side product of his extensive overseas travels. He once dreamed that after his retirement he would have a lot of time to spend on the coins and the pleasure of retrospection of their stories during his overseas travels. What pity it is that he is too busy for that. However, he is beginning to pick up his wife's hobby: listening to Yue Opera, a local drama tradition in Zhejiang Province.
(Translated by David)