Chinese experts: development of genetically modified crops to ensure food security a strategic choice

Xinhua Beijing February 5, Chinese food safety and agricultural experts from 5 in an interview with Xinhua, said the development of genetically modified crops is to improve the competitiveness of Chinese agriculture to ensure food security a strategic choice.

Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Biotechnology Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, director of crop Huang Fang said that the development of genetically modified crops to enhance sustainable agricultural development for the ability to strengthen China's international competitiveness is essential.

He said: "In the hybrid rice cultivation, we have the obvious advantage, the introduction of GM technology in food production can ensure that China's technical lead, and contribute to increase production to cope with decreasing farmland and tight grain supply and demand contradiction."

One document released recently by the central authorities the need to "pay close attention to the development of important application value and independent intellectual property rights of the functional genes and biological new species, in the scientific assessment, based on the management according to law, promoting the industrialization of new varieties of genetically modified."

Da-Fang Huang also said that there are also effects of genetically modified crops on biodiversity and the potential threat of human physiological function, the scientific community will conduct a follow-up study.

China CDC food nutrition by food safety experts Professor Wu Yongning said that the government has approved genetically modified foods, There is no evidence of its harmful to human health.

Yong-Ning Wu said the Chinese Government has the approval of genetically modified food is very careful vetting process, including laboratory studies and field trials. In addition, the relevant departments should carry out routine toxicity test, sensitization test, protein simulated digestion test, etc. After these tests, currently did not find evidence to prove their health risks.

China's State Council promulgated in 2001, "Agricultural Genetically Modified Organism Safety Management Regulations" on GMO research, testing, production, management has made strict rules to ensure the safety of approved products.

Huang Fang said that genetically modified varieties with good genetic traits, diseases and pests better. Through savings in pesticide application, reduce pesticide pollution of the environment and on human and animal hazards.

International Agri-biotech Applications research institute survey showed, from 1996 to 2008 the global acreage of genetically modified crops by 1.7 million hectares to 125 million hectares, of which the first decade of cumulative reduction in pesticide use 224,000 tons.

"GM crops will not be spraying pesticides than conventional foods because of the risk caused by a higher." Yong-Ning Wu said.

Of genetically modified crops may have potential risks, health administrative departments will set up an adverse events reporting system, timely monitoring of adverse reactions throughout. At the same time, genetically modified crops do not need pest control operations, reduced to alleviate the rural labor force will also have a positive effect.

Yong-Ning Wu believes that GM technology is the future direction of development of agricultural production, China should actively develop, occupy the initiative in international competition.

It is reported that China's current transgenic technology study completed by a number of universities and research institutes.