China’s homegrown GM rice, corn could be market-ready in 3 years, expert says

Expert: China GM rice may be market-ready by 2013

BEIJING — Chinese strains of genetically modified corn and rice that were given safety approvals last year could be ready for sale in China in about three years, a biotechnology researcher said Wednesday.

Genetically modified rice that is resistant to certain insects and corn that helps pigs absorb more nutrients were given biosafety certificates by the Chinese government in November, possibly paving the way for a new wave of GM cultivation in the world’s most populous nation.

For the past decade, China has allowed farmers to grow cotton that was engineered to prevent bollworm infestations, but it has yet to allow genetically modified food staples like rice. The Chinese government hopes higher-yielding GM crops could ease chronic food shortages and curb the use of polluting fertilizers and pesticides.

Huang Dafang, director of the Biotechnology Research Institute at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, said that it will take at least three years for the two strains to be ready for sale in China because field trials must first check the quality and long-term viability of the seeds.

“It will take at least three years to achieve commercialization,” Huang told reporters at a news conference in Beijing. “I don’t think China will deny the applications. I have full confidence in that and am optimistic that they will be approved.”

Asked to respond to concerns about the possible health risks of the products, Huang insisted they were safe.

“GM rice and phytase maize are as safe as non-GM rice and maize,” he said. “They are safe to consume but of course we need to do more public education work and reach more of the population to educate them about this.”

Huang said phytase maize is engineered to help pigs and chickens absorb more phosphate to help them grow. It also reduces the amount of polluting phosphate excreted by the animals, he said.

Greenpeace and other critics of GM foods say the long-term safety of such products has yet to be proven.

Lorena Luo, a food and agriculture campaigner for Greenpeace China, said the organization is urging the Chinese government to halt the rice and corn field tests.

“We are very concerned about the situation of GM rice and corn in China, particularly rice because it’s eaten by nearly every single person in China, including babies who eat it as cereal,” Luo said. “There’s not enough evidence to prove it’s safe.”