New Report | China's Genetically Modified Dilemma

May 29, 2024 — Asia Society Policy Institute has published a paper entitled China’s Genetically Modified Dilemma. This piece, authored by ASPI Australia Research Associate Genevieve Donnellon-May, explores the implications of the Peoples Republic of China’s (PRC) Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) decision to approve 27 genetically modified (GM) corn varieties and 14 GM soybean varieties in December of 2023.

“The PRC’s decision to introduce GM seed cultivation and commercialization is part of a broader effort to increase domestic food production and thereby reduce reliance on regional markets,” writes Donnellon-May.

According to the report, China has moved from being a net exporter of food to a net importer in 2004. “The widening import-export gap has raised concerns about an overreliance on international markets for food supplies, which could make China vulnerable to export bans and global price fluctuations. Skyrocketing food consumption coupled with the loss of viable farmland, partly due to urbanization, have made these issues more acute,” writes Donnellon-May.

Introducing GMs to increase domestic agricultural output has been met with some opposition from Chinese nationals. “Consumers have long been highly skeptical about eating GM food due to concerns that it causes serious illnesses in humans,” says the report, noting that the “Western roots” of GM crops is one of the reasons for public suspicion. “Having acknowledged the need for better public understanding of biotechnology, Beijing is using state and social media as part of the public relations drive to dispel skepticism.”

In 2022, soybean exports accounted for nearly half of U.S. agricultural exports to China at a record of 16.4 billion. “Beijing has also sought to diversify soybean import sources to ensure a stable supply, primarily by prioritizing agricultural trade relationships with ‘China-friendly’ countries like Brazil and others (such as Ethiopia) with significant Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects,” writes Donnellon-May. As part of this, Beijing as introduced “The ‘Food Silk Road’”, which is designed to reconstruct global food supply chains through foreign agricultural investment, agriculture technology transfer, enormous infrastructure investments, and policy coordination.”

Read the full report here.