A senior Chinese official says it's time for the country to become a world leader in the research of genetically modified biotechnology.
Han Jun is Deputy Director of the Central Rural Work Leading Group.
"We support Chinese scientists in their efforts to seize the industrial height of GM technology research. As a country with a population of 1.3 billion but relatively limited arable farming land, China's agriculture development is facing more and more environmental resource constraints. It is obvious that we cannot fall behind in the research of GM technology."
This comes after the recently released NO.1 Central document said the country will strengthen the technical study and safety management of GM technology, while also raising better public awareness of the issue.
Han Jun also explains the reasons of lifting GM food awareness.
"We hope to give the public, including the media, a clear, objective, and more comprehensive understanding on GM technology's origins and developments, its characteristics and safety risks, China's current safety management system on GM as well as other countries' safety management system on GM technology."
Though there is no evidence that GM crops harm human health or the environment, most Chinese seem to regard the technology with great suspicion.
Compared with the United States and many South American countries that have freely adopted GM technologies, China has shown a very cautious attitude.
