Harvesting clues to GMO dilemmas from China’s soybean fields

Researchers at Michigan State University take a first look at how China's soybean farmers are reacting when their crop struggles in the global market.

Jack Liu

China’s struggle – mirrored across the globe – to balance public concern over the safety of genetically modified crops with a swelling demand for affordable food crops has left a disconnect: In China’s case, shrinking fields of domestic soybean – by law non-GM – and massive imports of cheaper soybeans that are the very GM crop consumers profess to shun.

Researchers at Michigan State University take a first look at how China’s soybean farmers are reacting when their crop struggles in the global market.

The study, published in this week’s journal Scientific Reports, has discovered what Chinese farmers are growing on lands once dominated by non-GM soy, as well as farmers bucking that trend and planting more. Researchers say these farming choices may offer solutions to a national dilemma.

For the full story, please visit MSU Today.

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