October 3, 2014
China launches pro-GMO media campaign
China has launched a media campaign supporting the use of genetically-modified crops which the country hopes will significantly improve its food security.
The campaign aims to combat anti-GMO sentiments, which have gain momentum following related incidents such as reports of genetically-modified rice being illegally sold at a local supermarket, and the discovery of an unapproved strain of genetically modified corn in some US shipments to China.
Negative reports this year has hampered the already-slow progress towards permitting domestic cultivation of GMOs and may contribute to the curbing of imports of some crops. It has been reported that China has suspended the import approval process for a genetically modified soy variety, citing "low public acceptance" of GMO food.
However, despite warnings of health risks, Beijing is in favour of GMOs, which it sees as broadly safe and a major step towards feeding its huge population.
So far, China has imported millions of tonnes of GMO soy yearly for the past decade to feed the world''s largest stock of farmed pigs. In addition, the country consumes around a third of the international soy numbers, and took up about 65% of all imports each year.
In fact, the Asian giant has spent billions of yuan in developing its own GMO crops and in 2009, approved two pest-resistant varieties of rice and a biotech corn for commercialisation in 2009.
GMO has also received strong backing from Chinese president Xi Jinping who urged the local industry to be bold in competing with foreign GMO developers.