Origin Agritech's GM phytase corn receives China approval

Beijing-based biotech firm Origin Agritech Limited has received the Bio-safety Certificate from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture as a final approval for its GM phytase corn.

Origin's phytase corn is the first transgenic corn to officially introduce the next generation of corn product approved and sold commercially into the domestic marketplace.

Phytase is used as an additive in animal feed to break down phytic acid in corn, which holds 60 percent of the phosphorus in the crop.

Environmental issues concerning phosphorus have led to many countries worldwide to make the inclusion of phytase into animal feed mandatory.

Phytase transgenic corn will allow animal feed producers to eliminate the process of buying phytase and corn separately. Origin's GMO phytase-producing corn is expected to reduce the need for inorganic phosphate supplements as animals will directly absorb more phosphate from their feed, reducing feed cost.

Origin Agritech is an agricultural company focused on the research, development, production, sale and distribution of hybrid seeds in China. The company's major seed products are corn, rice, cotton and canola.