After a gap of eight years, the approval for commercialization
of genetically modified (GM) papaya in China late last year
indicates that the authorities may be taking a more positive
attitude toward agriculture biotechnology, says a leading
agriculture expert.
Huang Jikun, director of the Center for Chinese Agricultural
Policy under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, made the remark while
releasing the annual report of the International Service for the
Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) recently in
Beijing.
The report says in 2006, GM crops planted worldwide increased by
13 percent to reach 102 million hectares, and included the
6-percent growth in China, mainly GM cotton.
Genetic modification is aimed at improving the output of crops,
or their resistance to pests, herbicides, drought and high salinity
in the environment.
Scientists say GM crops are safe to eat and use, but
environmental groups contend that the technology may threaten
natural biodiversity.
In 1997, China became one of the first countries to approve the
commercialization of GM crops insect-resistant GM cotton and GM
petunia. This was followed by approvals for GM tomato and GM sweet
pepper.
Papaya is the only edible GM crop ratified for commercialization
in the past eight years.
GM papaya is resistant to the papaya ring spot virus, which has
seriously threatened the crop in China.
"GM papaya is expected to bring significant benefits to Chinese
farmers," Huang said.
(China Daily February 7, 2007)