Abstract
Most soybean oil consumed in China is made from imported genetically modified (GM) soybeans, while livestock are fed imported GM soy meal and GM corn. However, no GM food crops are allowed to be planted in China at present. That puts China in a confusing situation where GM foods can be eaten but cannot be grown. Many studies suggest that it is partially due to Chinese consumers’ and government officials’ opposition to GM technology. This is the first study that examines different stakeholders’ and journalists’ attitudes toward the commercialization of GM non-food crops and GM food crops and investigates the attitude gaps with respect to these crops. From 2015 to 2016, surveys were conducted face-to-face and by email with 1730 respondents, including 1460 consumers, 54 farmers, 70 journalists, and 146 agricultural officials. We find that nearly 60% of respondents are supportive of the commercialization of GM non-food crops, but less than 30% of respondents support the commercialization of GM food crops. Around 50% of respondents have no confidence in the government’s management of biotechnology, while only 17% have confidence in the government’s management. Those with lack of confidence in the government’s management are less likely to support the commercialization of GM crops.
Highlights
Genetic modification technology has advanced by leaps and bounds over the last few decades [1]
Based on the “three-step” policy of commercialization of genetically modified (GM) crops in China, this paper aims to examine different stakeholders’ and journalists’ attitudes toward the commercialization of GM crops—non-food crops (GM cotton), indirectly-edible food crops (GM corn and GM soybean), and directly-edible food crops (GM rice)
Less than 30% of respondents are supportive of the commercialization of GM soybean, GM corn, and GM rice while nearly 60% are against the commercialization of these crops
Summary
Genetic modification technology has advanced by leaps and bounds over the last few decades [1]. In 2018 there were 26 countries that grew 191.7 million hectares of genetically modified (GM) crops. The four major GM crops adopted by these countries are soybean, maize, cotton, and canola [1]. The average biotech crop adoption rate in the United States is 93.3% (the average for soybean, maize, and canola adoption), while the rate for Brazil is 93%, for Argentina around 100%, for Canada 92.5%, and for India 95%. As one of the first countries to carry out the commercialization of GM crops, has only planted GM cotton and GM papaya widely [2]. The ranking of China’s planted GM crop acreage fell from fourth in 2002 to eighth in 2016, overtaken by developing countries such as India and Brazil [4,5]
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