Increasing growth of GM crops in China is reducing the staleness of feed imports

China is taking consistent steps to expand the use of genetically modified crops as part of its strategy to strengthen food and feed security. Despite the cautious and gradual nature of reforms, the wider adoption of GM soybean and corn varieties is already beginning to impact the domestic feed market and could significantly influence global trade flows.

One key policy area is the gradual expansion of the cultivation of genetically modified soybean and corn varieties. These crops can increase yields and production efficiency, thereby reducing the cost of feedstock for the feed industry.

According to industry experts, new GM soybean varieties can increase yields by approximately 5-10%, which could potentially reduce China’s dependence on imported protein raw materials, primarily soybean meal.

Expanding the use of such crops is seen as a means of stabilizing the domestic feed market. China remains the world’s largest importer of soybeans, a significant portion of which is used in the feed industry to produce high-protein components for livestock diets.

At the same time, the country’s authorities are seeking to control the introduction of genetically modified crops to avoid drastic changes in the domestic agricultural market. Therefore, the expansion of crop production is proceeding gradually—through pilot programs, limited commercial cultivation, and phased regulation of the industry.

Experts note that further development of GM crop production in China could change the structure of the global feed raw material market. If the country is able to increase domestic soybean and corn production, this could impact import volumes from major exporters, including the Americas.

In the long term, the Chinese authorities view the expanded use of biotechnology in crop production as a key tool for increasing the sustainability of the agricultural sector and ensuring a stable supply of raw materials for the rapidly growing livestock industry.

Tags: China, corn, soybean, GM