China Shifts Stance on GMOs – Bloomberg
28 May 2015 China’s top officials are gearing up to turn their country into a GMO power, according to a Bloomberg article, which cited a recent speech by President Xi Jinping, who said China must “boldly research and innovate, [and] dominate the high points of GMO techniques.”
Bloomberg also cited an agricultural policy paper issued early this year that calls for more GMO research, as well as a pro-GMO ad campaign from the agriculture ministry that began in September 2014. Beijing-based Origin Agritech has already developed GMO corn seeds, while other Chinese companies are working on new rice varieties, Bloomberg said, adding that Origin Chairman Han Gengchen expects the government to allow planting of GMO corn within three years.
According to the article, China needs a sharp boost in farm productivity, which has been hurt by damaged soil, contaminated water, and overuse of fertilizer and pesticides. The official Xinhua News Agency on Feb. 4, wrote, “GMO technology has long been considered an effective way to increase yields on marginal lands.”
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