CHINA could be the first country to grow commercial crops of genetically modified rice.
Reports have emerged that China has approved GM rice for commercial production and large-scale plantings are expected to start in the next two to three years.
Two scientists involved in the approval process told Reuters the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture's Biosafety Committee had issued biosafety certificates for pest-resistant Bt rice.
Bt rice, developed by Huazhong Agricultural University, is expected to reduce pesticide use by 80 per cent and increase yields by up to 8 per cent.
Last month, Origin Agritech Limited, based in Beijing, announced it had received a biosafety certificate for the world's first GM phytase corn.
In a statement to US stock exchange Nasdaq, Origin said phytase was used as an additive in animal feed to break down corn's phytic acid, which holds 60 per cent of the plant's phosphorus.
Phytase increases phosphorus absorption in animals by 60 per cent.
Anti-GM lobbyists Greenpeace described Bt Rice as a "dangerous genetic experiment."
