Transgenics Utilization and Biosafety Management of GMOs in China

Transgenic technology is an inevitable choice for modern agricultural development in China and it also plays a vital role in promoting sustainable agricultural development and ensuring food security. For example, transgenic insect-resistant cotton has created enormous economic, social and environmental benefits. This was the opinion of People's Republic of China experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Chinese Society of Biotechnology (CSBT) and Monsanto during a seminar on Transgenic Agricultural Technology Utilization and Biosafety Management of GMOs on November 9, 2009 in Beijing. Over 200 researchers and graduate students attended the seminar.

Experts reported on the status of transgenic agricultural technology in China, impact of GM crops on the economy, progress on GMOs biosafety research and GMO management-related policies and regulations. They added that in the last 20 years, there has not been any food safety issue against GM crops. To ensure environmental safety and human health, the Chinese government has established a strict scientific system for agricultural GMOs safety assessment and management. All GM crop varieties and their products approved by the government for commercial planting or for import have been evaluated for food and environmental safety.

For more information on the seminar, contact Prof. Zhang Hongxiang at zhanghx@mail.las.ac.cn or Dr. Yue Tongqing at yuetq@mail.las.ac.cn