By Li Hognmei
Dozens of scholars were reportedly urging China to approve the commercialization of genetically modified rice despite the public having health concerns.
A total of 61 members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chinese Academy of Engineering wrote a letter to state leaders in July, asking them to roll out the GM rice program as soon as possible, Zhang Qifa, a CAS members, was cited as saying yesterday in Southern Metropolis Daily.
The letter said "it was doing harm to the country" if GM rice was not widely planted. The letter also criticized the Ministry of Agriculture for not seeing the GM rice program through to completion.
"I had thought Chinese people were rational and had a sense of scientific exploration. I am wondering why so many people started objecting to GM food," Zhang was quoted as saying.
"We spent 11 years, starting from 1998, applying for approvals on tests of two types of GM rice. And the approval certificates will expire next May. What can we do?" he added.
As a major advocate of GM rice, Zhang attended the "golden rice" tasting event at Huazhong Agricultural University in Wuhan, capital of central Hubei Province, on Saturday.
The event also attracted 300 other supporters of GM rice. They tasted congee and some snacks made from GM rice.
Golden rice reportedly was genetically modified to be rich in beta carotene and was intended to explore ways to prevent Vitamin A deficiency in children. Researchers in China and the US carried out the project.
The study became the center of a media storm after Greenpeace exposed in August 2012 that 25 children aged between six and eight in Hunan Province were fed the GM rice without the consent of their parents.
Though researchers insisted the rice would not harm the children, their parents still reportedly worry about possible future affects.
Famous TV commentator Cui Yongyuan also holds different opinions on GM rice, saying the scholars may have enough knowledge of GM technology, but little awareness of social mood and public concerns.
