China will plant less than 1% of its corn fields with genetically modified varieties this year, two people familiar with the plans said, dashing hopes of a full market launch of the technology in the world’s second-largest corn market. .
The agriculture ministry has designated about 4 million mu (267,000 hectares or 660,000 acres) to be planted with genetically modified or GMO corn this year, a senior manager at a Chinese seed developer briefed on the plans said.
He said several varieties would be planted in some counties in Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Hebei and Yunnan provinces, as the plan was not made public.
China has studied GMO food crops for decades but has never allowed them to be planted because of opposition to the technology, although it does allow imported GMO soybeans and corn for animal feed and planting of GMO cotton.
The slower-than-expected start is disappointing for seed companies that were hoping to boost revenue in a fragmented, highly competitive market. It also comes as economic recovery is expected to boost China’s demand for corn to feed the world’s largest pig herd.
“This is a large-scale test, not a full-fledged commercial release,” said a second industry source, who has also been briefed on the plans.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs did not respond to a request for comment. According to official data, China planted about 43 million hectares of corn last year, producing 277 million tons of the crop.