China approves big budget for GMO amid food worries
Reuters just reported that China’s cabinet approved a “huge” budget for research of genetically modified crops. Chinese scientists said the program includes a large increase for GMO research, and a big portion to develop safety measures for GMO crops until the year 2020.
C.S. Prakash
China approves big budget for GMO amid food worries
Reuters
July 10, 2008
BEIJING (Reuters) - China's cabinet has approved a huge budget for research of genetically modified crops amid growing concerns over food security, a move scientists say may speed up commercial production of GMO rice or corn.
The State Council, or cabinet, at a meeting chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao, gave the green light on Wednesday to a program aimed at promoting indigenous genetically modified crops (GMO), Xinhua news agency said.
Although the Xinhua report gave few details of the program, Chinese scientists said it included a large increase for GMO research, including a big portion to develop safety measures for GMO crops until the year 2020.
"There is significant growth in budget at between 4 to 5 billion Yuan ($584- 730 million) in the coming years," Lu Barong, a professor with Fusan University and also a member of the country's biosafety committee with the agriculture ministry, told Reuters.
"Particularly a large budget was allocated on GMO safety research," said Lu.
Xinhua said the program aims to obtain genes with great potential commercial value whose intellectual property rights belong to China, and to develop high-quality, high-yield and pest-resistant genetically modified new species.
