After a gap of eight years, the approval for commercialization of genetically modified (GM) papaya in China late last year indicates that the authorities may be taking a more positive attitude toward agriculture biotechnology, says a leading agriculture expert.

Huang Jikun, director of the Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, made the remark while releasing the annual report of the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications (ISAAA) recently in Beijing.

The report says in 2006, GM crops planted worldwide increased by 13 percent to reach 102 million hectares, and included the 6-percent growth in China, mainly GM cotton.

Genetic modification is aimed at improving the output of crops, or their resistance to pests, herbicides, drought and high salinity in the environment.

Scientists say GM crops are safe to eat and use, but environmental groups contend that the technology may threaten natural biodiversity.

In 1997, China became one of the first countries to approve the commercialization of GM crops insect-resistant GM cotton and GM petunia. This was followed by approvals for GM tomato and GM sweet pepper.

Papaya is the only edible GM crop ratified for commercialization in the past eight years.

GM papaya is resistant to the papaya ring spot virus, which has seriously threatened the crop in China.

"GM papaya is expected to bring significant benefits to Chinese farmers," Huang said.

(China Daily February 7, 2007)