China is one or two years away from commercial production of genetically modified japonica rice, the biotechnology research director of the state-backed Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences said. The forecast indicates the world's largest rice consumer may be closer than thought to producing modified grains, helping it to meet more of its food needs domestically while curbing inflation-stoking food price volatility.
There are estimates that (the GM rice) would be available in one, two years, said Lin Min, director of the academy's Biotechnology Research Institute. The academy is one of China's foremost agriculture research bodies and is affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture.
Industry participants have generally believed China may be ready to produce GM rice and corn in a few years, but the forecast indicates commercialization may come sooner than expected. China is also the world's largest rice producer.
The government approved two domestically-developed GM strains late last year. Lin's comments, made at an industry conference, referred to genetically modified japonica, a strain of round-grained rice favored by northern Chinese and Japanese, that had been altered to contain vitamin A.
The modified rice strains also resist pests and have high yields, traits beneficial to farmers, Lin said.He said China is also one or two years away from commercial production of a strain of drought-resistant GM corn. Further state approvals and business registration are required before such crops can become publicly available.
While genetically modified crops have generated intense public controversy, Lin said this is largely based on misunderstandings. He noted that major competing producer countries haven't yet embraced the cultivation of GM rice the way they have for corn or soybeans.China could have the advantage in becoming the world's largest producer of GM rice, he said.
