Focus on Arts and Ecology

The Xinjiang provincial authority disclosed new cases of farms growing unapproved genetically modified (GM) corn, according to a Caixin report. In Yili county, 733 hectares of illegally grown GM corn was discovered this year. Authorities destroyed the crop and prosecuted two managers of the responsible seed company. China is the world’s largest importer of GM crops, particularly soybean and corn, mostly for use in animal feed. However, domestic growth of GM crops is heavily regulated because of food safety and other concerns. Currently only GM cotton and variety of GM papaya are approved.