Subject:      Re: China Ban
From:      "Andrew D. Powell" <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
China: A "cold winter" for GM Crop Commercialization / Full steam ahead in R&D

from AgBioView:

Speaking at this week's meeting in Beijing on China's Challenges in Crop Protection, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Professor Chen Zhang-Liang, vice president of Beijing University, described the current situation for commercialization of GM crops in China as a "cold winter."

Professor Chen, who is also Director of the National Laboratory of Protein Engineering and Plant Genetic Engineering, went on to say that any commercialization of GM food crops (including rice, wheat, corn and soybean) crops is unlikely in the near future and that the lull in commercialization may last as long as 3-5 years. The reasons cited for the "cold winter" were the heated debates on environmental and food safety issues of GM and plants, and the problems that China has had with exports, e.g. the rejected soy sauce exports to Europe. Other speakers at the conference indicated that the most likely next commercialization project would be poplar, grown in agroforestry, and to assist in the project to reduce soil erosion in the desert areas around Beijing. The slow down in commercialization has not diminished the commitment to R&D in GM crops and agbiotechnology in general, however. Research funds from government agencies is pouring in to support public research institutions at levels in excess of funds granted for the last 10 years  combined.

From Andrew D. Powell, Ph.D. Singapore. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.