GM cotton.
The development of transgenic technology has sparked concern and controversy in many countries, posing a dilemma for the government decision makers.
Under the auspices of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC), a research group headed by Prof. HUANG Jikun, a leading researcher in agricultural policy with the CAS Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, recently completed a large-scale investigation on the economic impact and development strategy of genetically modified (GM) crops in China.
Focusing on the GM rice and cotton, the researchers intensively investigated their economic and environmental impacts on China's agriculture and non-agriculture sectors. Their studies and analyses were carried out on the basis of field surveys and production trials, and by establishing models of econometrics.
The research showed that farm-level development of GM cotton could actually increase the land productivity, and bring in positive environmental and social-economic impacts. It also indicated that, against the backdrop of China's existing farm practice, such cotton could virtually prevent the target pests, such as the cotton bollworms, from pyramiding resistance to pesticides.
Furthermore, the scientists explained why the commercialization of the development of GM cotton could yield substantive economic returns and what factors were influencing people in their choice whether to accept or buy GM foods.
What's more, analysis was also made on several strategies of transgenic technology development and impacts of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and other policies on the trade and economic development of China and other countries.
This research project has recently passed the scrutiny by an NSFC evaluation panel and acquired a tremendous applause.
