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Genevieve Donnellon-May

Could genetically modified (GM) crops ensure China’s food security, or will public scepticism derail the effort?
On December 31, China took another step towards commercialising GM crops by approving 12 more types of GM soybeans, corn and cotton. Following years of testing, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs granted safety certificates for these varieties. These approvals add to the list of at least 64 varieties of GM corn and 17 varieties of GM soybeans that have received the green light since 2023.
China’s urgent need to ensure long-term food security amid global uncertainties includes efforts to increase domestic production of corn and soybeans, two key agricultural staples. The aim is to boost high-yield crops while reducing the country’s dependence on food imports amid an increasingly complex and fractured geopolitical environment.
In 2023, China imported 99.4 million tonnes of soybeans, with 70 per cent imported from Brazil and 24 per cent from the United States. China also imported more than 27 million tonnes of corn, a 31.6 per cent year-on-year increase, of which 47 per cent came from Brazil, with the US in second place. China mostly imports GM crops for animal feed, while non-GM varieties are intended for human consumption.
Although plans to commercialise GM crops remain implicit at present, they align with China’s broader food security strategy. China’s leaders, including President Xi Jinping, have publicly emphasised the importance of safeguarding food security. Xi also famously declared that the rice bowls of China’s 1.4 billion people would always be firmly held in their own hands.
But China’s food security has worsened in recent decades. Once a net food exporter, China became a net importer in 2004. The widening import-export gap raises concerns about reliance on global markets, leaving China vulnerable to export bans and price fluctuations.


Rising food consumption, loss of farmland because of urbanisation and limited land and water resources alongside low yields further complicate matters. These concerns highlight the urgent need for sustainable solutions to address China’s food security challenges.
In response, the Chinese central authorities have turned to biotechnology, particularly GM crops, as a potential solution to domestic and geopolitical challenges. This push is further reflected in multiple five-year plans, such as the goal to develop the bioeconomy, as set out in the 14th five-year plan (2021–2025). Legislative measures, such as registration requirements for herbicides used on GM crops, further support this objective.
The government has taken action to realise its plans. For instance, in 2023 the agriculture ministry announced the expansion of a pilot programme to plant GM soybeans and corn. Around 267,000 hectares (660,000 acres) – or about 1 per cent of China’s cornfields – were set aside for GM corn that year. These efforts signal a gradual pivot towards large-scale GM crop adoption and are supported by substantial financial investments into genetically modified organism (GMO) research and development.
GM crop commercialisation in China could reshape domestic and global agricultural landscapes. Domestically, it could result in reduced dependence on imports and boost food security broadly. Notably, it could make China less reliant on imported GM crops, particularly in crops such as soybeans and corn for animal feed.


The shift could also contribute to China’s broader ambition to be a global leader in agricultural innovation. And as the world’s largest food importer and producer, China’s embrace of GM crops could reshape agricultural trade and global GMO governance.
With reduced reliance on imports for key agricultural staples, China could contribute to greater global food supplies, potentially driving down prices and weighing on the bottom lines of major exporting countries.
Simultaneously, stronger domestic production powered by GM technology could fuel China’s export growth. By enhancing yields and efficiency, Chinese exports of GM crops could meet the demand for affordable, high-quality food supplies in countries across the globe. This could support China’s economy but also recalibrate global trade relationships, particularly with developing nations seeking more cost-effective food imports.
Challenges lie ahead. A major hurdle is the limited capacity of domestic seed producers to scale up production. Around 70 per cent of China’s corn seeds are imported, mostly from the US, highlighting gaps in domestic production. This reliance on foreign sources prevents China from building a self-sufficient and competitive GM seed industry, hindering the rapid expansion of GM crop plantations.

However, the greatest obstacle to the commercialisation of GM crops lies in public opposition. Some consumers are sceptical about eating GM food despite its safety. Such fears among consumers are compounded by a broader suspicion of Western threats to the country’s food security and a belief that GM technology is a tool of Western exploitation undermining the country’s agricultural sovereignty.
Opposition to GM crops extends to local governments, too. Notably, Heilongjiang, China’s largest soybean-growing region, banned GM crops in 2016 and has yet to approve any such cultivation. This highlights the challenge of achieving nationwide consensus.
To address these concerns, the agriculture ministry has emphasised the safety of approved GM products. Since 2018, it has organised lectures in various Chinese universities to enhance public understanding of GM technology and counter unscientific views. However, scepticism surrounding GM foods remains strong, making public acceptance a major barrier to the commercialisation of GM crops.
China’s push for GM crops could revolutionise its food security and global trade. But overcoming entrenched scepticism and resistance will determine whether it can secure a self-sufficient agricultural future.


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Fears over the safety of genetically modified crops are complicating the central government’s plans for their role in China’s food security


Fears over the safety of genetically modified crops are complicating the central government’s plans for their role in China’s food security.


Food and agriculture

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Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Could GM crops plant seeds of change for China’s food security push?

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Fears over the safety of genetically modified crops are complicating the central government’s plans for their role in China’s food security

Fears over the safety of genetically modified crops are complicating the central government’s plans for their role in China’s food security