By Jiang Yunzhang (降蘊彰)
Economic Observer Online
Oct 19, 2011
Translated by Zhu Na
Original Article: [Chinese]
 
China planted 3.5 million hectares of genetically modified (GM) crops in 2010, placing it sixth in the world rankings of hectares planted, according to data from the China Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology.

GM cotton made up the vast majority of genetically modified crops planted in China last year, with a total of 3.3 million hectares. Aside from cotton, China is alsp planting GM papayas, tomatoes and chilli peppers.

The figures only count the GM crops that were issued with genetic modified organism (GMO) safety certificates by the Ministry of Agriculture and that have been given permission to be planted.

According to data from China's Biotechnology Research Institute, since 1997, China has issued seven GMO safety certificates for GM crops, including certificates for GM tomatoes, insect-resistant cotton, disease-resistant capsicum, chilli peppers and papaya along with insect-resistant rice and GM corn.