Initiating the commercialization of genetically modified staple crops in China: domestic biotechnological advancements, regulatory milestones, and governance frameworks

Historically, China’s approach to genetically modified (GM) staple crops has been cautious. However, in 2021, China launched its first pilot program for the commercial cultivation of GM food crops and subsequently expanded their cultivation. Previously, the only GM plants cultivated in China were insect-resistant cotton and virus-resistant papaya. The regulatory and policy shifts, from initial research and cautious development to accelerated commercialization, led to significant changes in China’s safety-related regulatory framework for genetically modified organism (GMOs). Here, China’s progress in GMO research and commercialization over the past three decades is comprehensively analyzed. This review traces the evolution of core regulations governing GMO safety, summarizes the Chinese model of GMO safety governance, and highlights the remaining challenges as commercialization progresses. The goal was to present the international community with a GMO safety governance model reflecting China’s characteristics and practices, offering a Chinese solution to balancing GMO commercial adoption with ecological preservation.