China will expand planting of genetically modified soybeans and corn, a Chinese government official said, as the world's biggest grain importer seeks to boost productivity and improve food security.
For years, the country has acted cautiously regarding the implementation of GMO crops, but it is increasingly opening up to commercial cultivation.
China imports more than 100 million tons of soy and grain a year to feed their huge herds of cattle. However, large-scale planting of transgenic varieties would increase productivity and could significantly reduce future purchases from the United States and Brazil.
In December, China issued licenses to 26 companies to produce and sell GM corn and soybean seeds, and last week it approved other varieties of soybeans and corn GMOs for import and production. Furthermore, “We will improve technology and management for the orderly use of transgenic corn and soybeans”, says Pan Wenbo, from the Ministry of Agriculture.
On the other hand, transgenic soy and corn increase productivity and reduce costs compared to conventional seeds. Finally, Deng Xiaogang, vice minister of the ministry, also said that China has successfully completed pilot projects for the commercialization of transgenic soybeans and corn.
Source: Mei Mei Chu & Muyu Xu | Notícias Agrícolas
