Chinese scientists develop cotton strain that boosts output by 25%
20 Sep '05
4 min read
On the potential environmental side-effects of genetically engineered crops, Luo Bin, an official with the Ministry of Agriculture, said only genetically modified strains assessed as safe are granted certificates for commercialization.
However, monitoring should continue after a new crop is certified and spread to large areas of land, he said.
Vice-Minister Fan said his ministry will work to translate the "encouraging technology" into productivity as soon as possible.
He noted domestic demand for cotton has been on the rise in recent years, while imports keep flooding in.
Last year, market demand for cotton grew by 1.5 million tons, hitting 8.75 million tons. Imports surged to a record 1.98 million tons, he said.
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