China to hasten development of GM crops on mounting odds

China's cabinet announced to speed up the development of genetically modified crops for commercial production as the country confronts shrinking farmland and climate changes.

 

During a meeting chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao, Chinese leaders said the plans were of strategic significance to make China's agricultural sector more efficient and competitive internationally.

 

Wen said China faces serious problems in having enough grain to feed its population in the decades to come, citing urbanization and climate change as two major factors.

 

The Xinhua report gave no details on which crops should be developed, but analysts said the plans were likely to focus on developing genetically modified corn and rice.

 

China is already the world's largest grower of genetically modified cotton and vegetables such as peppers and tomatoes, but it has yet to begin large-scale production of genetically modified rice, corn and soy.

 

It is a policy signal in supporting GM crops after many years of research and testing, said Huang Dafang, a researcher with Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

 

Last week, China's cabinet approved a long-term grain output blueprint, which aims to increase grain production to more than 540 million tonnes annually by 2020 so it can be 95 percent self-sufficient in feeding the country's growing population of more than 1.3 billion people.

 

Huang added that GM technology is the only solution right now for the country to raise yield and reduce use of pesticide, which is harmful for the environment.

 

China aims to produce 500 million tonnes of grain a year by 2010, but demand, pegged at 518 million tonnes this year, is seen to outstrip grain output.

 

Still, China will likely not have to import grain in the next year or two because it has ample grain reserves, a report by Reuters indicates.