Agricultural biotechnology development, policy and impacts in China

China is developing the largest plant biotechnology capacity outside North America and an impressive list of genetically modified (GM) crops under trial. However, underlying these achievements is a growing concern among policy-makers about the impact of the global biotechnology debate on China's agricultural trade. This paper reviews the status of biotechnology applications in China’s agriculture and current findings on the impacts of plant biotechnology.Findings include:agricultural biotechnology is considered by Chinese policymakers as a strategically significant tool for improving national food security, raising agricultural productivity, and creating a competitive position in international agricultural marketsChina intends to position itself as a world leader in biotechnology researchthe coordination among institutions and consolidation of agricultural biotechnology programmes will be essential for China to create an even stronger and more effective biotechnology research program in the futurein contrast to stagnating expenditures on agricultural research in general, investments in agricultural biotechnology have increased significantly since the early 1980sfood security objectives and farmers’ current demands for specific traits and crops have been incorporated into priority settingChina is targeting its GMO products at the domestic marketthe emphasis on developing drought resistant and other stress tolerant GM crops suggests that biotechnological products are not only being geared at high-potential areas, but also at the needs of poorer farmerssmall farmers obtain increased incomes from adoption of Bt cottonthe use of Bt cotton has substantially reduced pollution by pesticides in the regions where it was adoptedthe demand of producers (for productivity-enhancing technology) and consumers (for cost savings), the current size and rate of increase of research investments, and past success in developing technologies suggest that products from China’s plant biotechnology industry are likely to become widespread inside China.Recommendations include:more developing countries should seriously consider allowing the cultivation of GMOs such as Bt cotton, where they offer an effective way of controlling serious cotton pests, reducing pesticide use, and improving the health of farmers and farm workersdeveloping country governments should be open to potential benefits from adoption of other biotechnological innovations while taking due consideration of their social, environmental and food safety impacts.[adapted from author]