China recently approved the importation of Syngenta's controversial MIR 162 genetically modified (GM) corn. However, the development says little about the prospects of GMO's acceptance in the world's most populous nation… at least for now.

 

In fact, during the summer of 2014, China began screening US hay imports for the presence of a biotech alfalfa which has yet to be approved by Beijing. The country is known to be staunchly opposed to the GMO product.

 

As a result, US hay shipments collapsed by 22% weight-wise in August to October this year compared to 2013 as exporters frantically ensured that cargoes do not contain the GM alfalfa. The plant is developed by Monsanto, a major corporation already infamous for bringing GMOs into agriculture. 

 

Still, Chinese confidence toward GMOs may just be limited to certain types and varieties, if not all.

 

For example, shortly after it approved Syngenta's MIR 162 corn entry into the country, China ordered about 900,000 tonnes of dried distillers grains (DDGs) from the US. The shipments are due between December 2014 and March 2015, according to the China National Grain and Oils Information Center.

 

Between September and October, importation of DDGs plunged to only 100,000 tonnes following concerns that future shipments could be turned back for containing traces of the MIR 162 strain.

 

China has long been criticised for its long approval process on GMO import applications. This time-consuming process has frustrated GMO traders and growers in the US, Brazil and Argentina.

 

Chinese opponents to GMOs include agro-industry groups, specifically northeastern soy growers and seed traders who are concerned about increased competition. Nationalists are also wary of western agri-tech companies in the country.   

 

China's own development of GM crops is not without challenges either.

 

A bureaucratic roadblock is said to be stalling domestic GMO developments, even after state-funded projects had led to a number of crops waiting to be approved for commercialisation.  

 

A year ago, China's GM crop development got its most important support -- from that of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who endorsed the project to improve national food security. 

 

"Be bold in research, careful in promotion", he said.

 

Chinese agriculture minister Han Changbin has also expressed his support for GMOs. "I, too, eat food processed with GM materials," he was quoted as saying, referring to local cooking oil which is mainly produced from GM soybeans.

 

In addition, the agriculture ministry had come up with measures to promote GM food to the public including a ban on branding food products as "GM-free".

 

As yet another sign of Chinese acceptance of GMOs, most cotton in the country are bioengineered to protect it against bollworms. 

 

Despite the promising possibilities of GMO in China's food chain, some remain skeptical about how far such progress will move ahead.

 

Xi Jinping's high hopes for local GMO development may not necessarily translate to widespread cultivation of these strains, according to a Financial Time report, noting the division between research academies and businesses, which had hindered the commercialisation process.