China’s GM-corn trial yields mixed results

In 2025, China plans to sow four to five times more genetically modified (GM) corn than the previous year, accelerating adoption that has been slowed by strict government oversight, public skepticism, and mixed trial results.

After decades of caution, the world’s largest importer of corn and soybeans has expedited approval of several GM seed varieties, viewing biotechnology as a key strategy to enhance food security.

The area planted with GM-corn in China is expected to increase to 40-50 million mu (approximately 3.3 million hectares) in 2025, up from about 10 million mu in 2024, according to analysts at CITICS Research and unnamed sources in China’s seed industry.

Analysts note that increasing GM corn cultivation could reduce China’s reliance on imports, providing Beijing with leverage in its tariff disputes with U.S. President Donald Trump. Last year, the U.S. supplied 15% of China’s imported corn.

Despite the expansion, GM corn currently accounts for only 7% of China’s total corn planting area, compared to over 90% in agricultural powerhouses like the U.S. and Brazil.

China could rapidly reach similar levels by adopting genetic engineering technologies, but Beijing remains cautious amid entrenched consumer and farmer skepticism.

The country annually imports over 100 million tons of mostly GM corn and soybeans, primarily for animal feed, mainly from Brazil and the U.S., while growing non-GM crops for human consumption.

GM-crops, designed to improve yields or resistance to drought and pests, could boost productivity by 6-13%. However, an anonymous source familiar with the rollout revealed that recent GM trials led to reduced yields, disappointing farmers already skeptical of the technology.

In some regions where first-generation GM corn trials were conducted in 2022–2023, yields dropped by 10-20%.

Industry experts suggest the issues stemmed from seeds that were only partially suited to local conditions or rushed to market. These trial results have not been publicly disclosed, and China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs did not respond to media requests for comment.

“If seed companies fail to improve yields even under trial conditions, Beijing’s GM strategy risks a credibility crisis, which could slow adoption,” said Matthew Nicol, a senior analyst at China Policy.

Another challenge has emerged: some farmers, eager to boost yields, are using counterfeit GM seeds. The prevalence of illegal GM corn in northeastern China, as reported by industry insiders, highlights latent demand for improved varieties. This month, the Ministry of Agriculture urged provinces to crack down on the illegal production and sale of GM seeds.

Regulators will pause the plan if serious issues arise. However, assuming new GM varieties outperform traditional ones, planting areas are expected to continue expanding.

Tags: China, corn, GM