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.”
