“China has approved the safety of gene-edited wheat for the first time as Beijing cautiously moves forward with commercial growing of genetically modified food crops,” Reuters wrote [May 8].
China is currently the world’s largest wheat producer and consumer. In the past year, Reuters says that the country has begun moving toward approving even more genetically modified crops, such as corn and soybean seeds.
In January, China’s agriculture ministry approved another six varieties of genetically engineered corn, two soybeans, one cotton, and two gene-edited varieties of soybeans, according to the ministry’s website.
Although the move aims to improve food security, the uptake is slower than some had hoped for.
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Additionally, this move reflects a shift in China’s approach to biotechnology, potentially indicating increased acceptance of GM technology for addressing agricultural challenges such as pests, diseases, and climate change amid growing population pressures and changing dietary preferences.
