China plans to invest US$3.5 billion in GM crops R&D and consumer education

The initiative is basically two-fold: to spur the commercialisation of GM varieties and to educate the public about GM crops.

Of the transgenic plants currently allowed in China, cotton was the first to become commercialised back in 1997, followed by petunia the same year, and tomato and sweet pepper in 1998. The government then moved cautiously, granting only two further approvals for small-market species: poplar trees (in 2005) and papaya (in 2006). By 2006, the government had granted permits for 211 field trials of 20 GM crops, including the six approved for commercial production.

As in other countries, the commercialised varieties of GM crops authorised are equipped with genes to resist pests, tolerate herbicides, or stay fresh longer – not genes that directly boost yields. Only one GM crop – insect-resistant cotton – is now planted on a wide-scale basis with 64 varieties grown on 3.7 million hectares, or about 70% of the area devoted to commercial cotton, averting the use of 650,000 tons of pesticides.

Educating the public about GM crops is another major component of the programme. Consumers in China, like everywhere, are worried about the safety of GM plants. While the types of protests that have marred field trials and commercialisation in Europe are unlikely to occur in China, there is still some disquiet in the general population. Authorities are confident that GM food safety will be adequately demonstrated, though some are concerned that the new initiative might push China to move too fast in the commercialisation process. Others, however, feel that not pushing ahead with GM crops to combat China’s ability to feed itself could be more detrimental than any theoretical hazard. Huang Dafang, former director of the Biotechnology Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in Beijing said, "Any kind of new technology may have risk, but legitimate concerns should not be overshadowed by scare tactics designed to mislead the public in the name of environmental protection."