China Develops 55 GM Cotton Varieties
28 December 2006 The country’s Liu Yanhua, Vice Minister of Science and Technology, was cited as saying that the strains are bringing economic returns of US $2.1 billion. “The cultivation of new strains, covering an area of more than 100 million mu (12.5 million hectares), has already been put into commercial production,” he said.
The new varieties boast traits such as pest, herbicide, and disease resistance, as well as high yields, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST).
Liu said research into foodstuff genetic engineering had promoted the development of China’s GM technology and helped to ensure the country’s food security and increasing competitiveness.
Cotton has become China’s most widely planted GM product since its introduction in 1998.
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