Food fears
But the news was read differently in China, especially among anti-GM activists who have been strongly opposing the use of GM crops for years.
"Why are the Chinese authorities making such a huge concession in China-U.S. relations by importing U.S. GM crops? … Chinese scientists should do independent research rather than letting a so-called biosafety committee discuss and approve information provided by the U.S. authorities. This shows a lack of concern (about foreign GM technology)," one netizen commented on the news on Utopia, a famous leftist website. Many Chinese leftists believe that GM food is a plot that Western countries use to physically weaken Chinese people.
Chen I-wan, an online activist against GM food, told the Global Times, "Under the current situation, the Ministry of Agriculture may further relax their reviews of new GM crop applications from companies such as Monsanto, Bayer and Syngenta. But this will spark fiercer, broader resistance from the public against the import of GM crops and GM food."
Much to the worry of these GM haters, China is already reliant on imported GM soybeans. In 2015, China imported 82 million tons of GM soybeans, accounting for 80 percent of its total grain imports. China is also the largest importer of GM soybeans produced in the U.S.
"China's attitude to GM imports has remained quite unchanged in the past few years. It's been importing a lot of GM soybeans. The reason why it isn't approving new imports is that the applicants failed to provide enough material for reviews," Luo Yunbo, a professor of food science at China Agricultural University, told the Global Times.
But Yan Jianbing, a professor specializing in crop genetic improvement at Huazhong Agricultural University, believes the decision on whether or not to import U.S. GM crops is more of a trade issue. "I think it's mainly a trade issue. Both countries know that these products have no safety problems," he told the Global Times.
Amid this discussion, the Chinese government has been trying to bolster domestic GM technology. In a central rural work conference in 2013, President Xi stated that Chinese scientists should be bold in research and innovation and dominate the high ground in GM technology, rather than leaving China's GM agricultural market to foreign companies.
According to China's 13th 5-year plan (2016-2020), China will strengthen its research and development of GM cotton, corn and soybean so as to assure China's food safety and technological advancement.
"The attitude of China's current administration toward GM technology is more positive than before," Professor Yan said.
Changing attitudes
But the anti-GM sentiment among the Chinese public has been a hurdle in the country's attempt to develop and apply its biotechnology.
Last December, the provincial government of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, the nation's top grain producing region, for example, prohibited the cultivation of genetically modified crops, including GM corn, rice and soybeans after 91.5 percent of respondents to a survey conducted in the province raised objections to GM crops. The decision later triggered criticism, with China's agricultural experts arguing the province showed a lack of foresight.
China has been trying to change the public's view on GM crops through the media. China recently invited Mark Lynas, a British journalist and environmental activist who went from being a GM hater to a supporter in 2013, to speak in Chinese universities. Many mainstream Chinese media outlets covered Lynas' story. In an interview with a Chinese website, Lynas said that China's anti-GM activists claim that they are against GM crops because of their concern for China's national interest, and yet most of their views are imported and their theories are outdated.
China's most famous opinion leader against GM food, Cui Yongyuan, a former television anchor, has recently come under attack for opening an online shop that sells expensive food which he claims is safe and organic. The high prices that he charges has raised doubts over his motivation behind his anti-GM campaigns. "Only rich people can afford the organic food you sell, is that how you are attempting to improve China's food safety? Or do you simply want to profit?" one netizen commented.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Agriculture has invited Tsinghua University and five other organizations to conduct a nationwide poll on the public's understanding and acceptance of GM crops, as well as a 5-year project on how to explain GM technology development and its risks to the public.
Scientists say importing more foreign GM crops is inevitable, and yet the key to solving China's food demand is to develop China's own biotechnology. "More imports will definitely put pressure on China's agricultural market. China's agricultural products have no advantage in global competition. Part of this can be attributed to China's growing cost of labor, but China's reluctance to use new technology such as GM technologies in agriculture is also an important reason," Yan said.
Professor Lu said, "We're lagging behind in biotechnology, so we have to import things. The only thing we can do is to develop our own technology."
