AgriChina News Alerts

A recent scientific publication suggested that some researchers, funded by the US Department of Agriculture, fed experimental GMO “Golden Rice” to 24 rural children aged 6-18 years old in China. The disclosure of this research has aroused great pubic concerns in China. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claimed that no domestic institution has been approved to participate in the research, and is now conducting an investigation on the allegations of the research.

How to raise the increasing population under the limited resources such as farmland and water has become a very serious issue worldwide. The emergence of new bio-technologies has contributed greatly to crop productivity, farming efficiency and living standard improvement. Though GMO soybeans are produced and consumed in many countries, the commercialization of GMO cereals has been strictly controlled in most countries in the world. As to China, the largest consumer of GMO soybean in the world, it is pretty cautious about introducing the technology on a commercial basis amid widespread public concern about food safety. How to raise the largest population in the world and provide residents with safe foods is very big challenge for the authorities. Beyond GMO technologies, modern agriculture is expected to play a more and more important role in China’s food safety and security.