China leads Asia in its slow embrace of genetically modified crops

Asian countries are shifting their position on GMOs, though the pace and motives differ by country, said Nandini Roy Choudhury, analyst with Future Market Insights, a research firm. 

“The change is most visible in China, which now treats biotechnology as a matter of national security,” Choudhury said. 

In 2025, China expanded GMO corn planting to roughly 3.3 million hectares, around 7% of total corn acreage, nearly five times the area in 2024, Choudhury said. The country also has accelerated approvals of new varieties and seed licenses, signaling a clear intent to strengthen domestic food production and reduce import dependence.

Recent approvals in late 2024 and early 2025 include 17 GM and gene-edited crop varieties, adding to previous approvals in 2023. Commercial planting of GM crops like soybeans, corn, cotton and papaya is now permitted, a significant expansion from earlier restrictions ….

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“Several forces are behind this shift,” he said. “First, food security has become the central narrative. Countries that rely heavily on imported grains see GMO adoption as a hedge against global volatility and climate stress.”

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