[extropy-chat] China cooks up a genetically engineered rice storm

[Giu1i0 Pri5c0]

China, India and the Philippines are holding field trials after
investing a lot of resources in genetically engineered rice. According
to a Reuters report, Chinese agricultural scientists have said China -
the world's top producer and consumer of rice - could release GM rice
by next year, with pressure mounting on Beijing to boost domestic
grain production and farmer income. But the same report also cited
officials at the Philippines-based International Rice Research
Institute (IRRI) as saying that the first commercial growing of GM
rice crop could be at least three years away. The International
Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Application, on the other
hand, says most of the GM rice in the research pipeline will only be
available for commercial use in five to eight years.
Researchers in the field of biotechnology insist the aim of GM
organisms is not to create monopolies or to introduce new farming
techniques, but to try to improve nutrition and health in developing
countries.
http://www.checkbiotech.org/root/index.cfm?fuseaction=news&doc_id=9022&start=1&control=232&page_start=1&page_nr=101&pg=1