China plans to approve new varieties of genetically modified corn (GMO) produced by domestic companies in an effort to ensure food safety, the Ministry of Agriculture announced.
The move comes after Beijing postponed a review of seed regulations last month to pave the way for approval of transgenic crops, as government leaders call for progress in biotech improvement, considered key to security of supplies. of cereals.
The three new corn products include ND207, produced by China National Tree Seed Corp and the China Agricultural University; Zheda Ruifeng 8 manufactured by Hangzhou Ruifeng Biotech Co; and DBN3601T of Beijing Dabeinong Biotechnology Co, according to the announcement posted late Monday on the website of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.
The plan to approve the new corn varieties, along with seven new transgenic cotton products, will be open for public comment until January 17, the ministry said.
DBN3601T corn is an improved variety of DBN9501 and DBN9936, two characteristics of the cereal owned by Dabeinong Biotech, parent company Dabeinong Technology Group Co, it said in a statement.
Dabeinong will work with its partners to prepare for commercialization of the product and prepare inventories of the variety, Dabeinong Technology said.
The new variety, which combines traits from DBN9501 and DBN9936, will have greater resistance to a wider range of insects, especially fall armyworm, according to a statement posted on the company’s website.
Safety approval is seen as an important step towards commercialization of GM crops, but it is not yet clear when the new products will be ready for market launch.
Beijing so far has not authorized the planting of transgenic varieties of soybeans or corn, but allows their importation for use in animal feed.
Both Hangzhou Ruifeng, in which Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture Co Ltd owns a 41.8% stake, and Beijing Dabeinong already have GMO corn characteristics authorized as safe food by the government.
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