China cracks down on booming underground illegal GMO corn market

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In an apparent bid to appease a public overwhelmingly opposed to … GMOs, the Ministry of Agriculture has been putting pressure on local governments to crack down on the booming underground market for the seeds…. hundreds of acres of cornfields found to have had illegal GMO corn have been set ablaze across China.

. . . .

But despite being illegal, the lure of GMO corn that promises less work and higher yields has proven irresistible to many [Chinese] farmers and seed-producing companies.

“These seeds are especially resistant to insects,” a farmer surnamed Sun told Caixin about his corn crop…

…The coveted seeds are entering the Chinese market through two main channels…. The first involves breeding a Chinese version of MON 810 using GMO corn found in imported animal feed; the second involves bringing in stolen MON 810 seeds….

. . . .

China’s leaders are still betting on GMO crops as a solution to China’s food security. Even as field after field of GMO corn is burned to the ground, the government is going to great lengths to remind the public that while they are still illegal, GMO crops are safe to eat.

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: China Seeks to Quell Booming Market in GMO Corn

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