China to Promote Industrialization of GM Crops

Sixty-one scholars recently called for the -industrialization of genetically modified (GM) rice in China, which has once again raised the public's attention on the controversial technology, reports the Chinese-language Beijing News.

The country's Ministry of Agriculture plans to promote the industrialization of GM foods and technology, and accelerate the passing of amendments for related regulations, the paper said. Beijing has also approved GM cotton, rice, corn and papaya to be grown, but a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science added that only cotton and papaya have been allowed for commercial production.

China's government is promoting GM technology as it attempts to address the growing problem of food shortages in the country. It has approved the import of several GM crops, including soybean, corn, rapeseed, cotton and beet to be used for food processing.

A professor at China Agricultural University in Beijing said advanced and developing countries consider GM technology to be an advantage that can help them compete in the global agricultural market. The growing area for GM crops has swelled from 1.7 million acres in 1996 to 170 million acres last year. As of last year, 59 countries allowed imports of GM crops used for food, foraging and cultivation, and of this figure 28 countries granted approval for growing 25 types of GM crops for commercial sale.

Jiang Jinsong, a professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing, noted however that the argument against GM foods has yet to be heard in full. He said that the issue should be discussed openly and the government should allow the public to decide for themselves whether they want to consume genetically modified food. He added that the public should also debate related issues, such as whether there should be a clear label on products identifying them as GM food.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture has already funded research using miniature pigs, who were fed GM white rice for 90 days. It was reported that the pigs' growth and condition remain stable, the paper said.