China, the world’s largest importer of corn and soybeans, is gradually expanding the use of agricultural biotechnology. In 2025–2026, the country is showing a clear policy shift — from importing genetically modified crops solely for feed processing to developing large-scale domestic commercial production of GM corn and soybeans. The strategy aims to strengthen food security and reduce dependence on imported feed supplies. According to recent reports, China’s GM corn acreage increased nearly fivefold in 2025 to about 3.3 million hectares. Although this represents only around 7% of the country’s total corn area, the rapid expansion highlights strong government support for biotechnology as a tool to lower meat and feed production costs. By comparison, GM corn adoption exceeds 90% in the United States and Brazil. A key milestone was reached when China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) issued biosafety certificates in late 2024 and early 2025 for 17 new crop varieties, including GM soybean, corn, and cotton, as well as gene-edited crops. In November 2025, a third round of seed production licenses was granted to 42 companies, including Beijing Dabeinong Technology and Syngenta Group subsidiaries.
At the same time, the rollout of GM crops has faced challenges. Some farmers reported yield declines of 10–20% during early field trials, which were linked to varieties not yet fully adapted to local soil and climate conditions. Consumer skepticism also remains, prompting the government to maintain strict controls on GM crops intended for direct human consumption. Economic factors remain a major driver of the policy shift. Feed ingredient costs in China have traditionally been nearly twice as high as in the United States or Brazil, making the broader adoption of GM crops an important tool for reducing costs across the food production chain. In the long term, China aims to increase annual grain production to more than 770 million tons and significantly reduce soybean and corn imports, which currently exceed 100 million tons per year. Experts expect biotechnology to become a central pillar of the country’s agricultural and food security strategy by the end of the decade.
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Key Aspects of China's GM Adoption
Production & Yield Focus: The push focuses on producing high-yield GM corn and soybeans, which can boost production efficiency and lower feed costs for the livestock industry, notes All About Feed.
Rapid Expansion: UkrAgroConsult reports that GM corn acreage expanded nearly fivefold in 2025 to approximately 3.3 million hectares, marking a major, albeit cautious, shift in policy.
Regulatory Support: In late 2024 and 2025, China's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) authorized new GM crop varieties and issued seed production licenses to major domestic companies, says UkrAgroConsult.
Reduced Import Dependence: The adoption of these technologies is a long-term strategy designed to decrease reliance on imported feedstock and reshape global grain trade, reports Pig Progress.
Impact and Future Outlook
While China has historically been cautious about GM technology, the need for increased, stable food supplies has made it a top national priority, according to the South China Morning Post. Although some consumer concerns exist, the government is moving forward to secure animal feed supplies, as reported by Reuters. The long-term forecast suggests this will reshape the global market by reducing China's reliance on foreign supply chains, says Pig Progress.
Source: Online/GFMM
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