A key research project led by Prof. Huang Jikun, “Studies on economic impacts and development strategies of genetically modified (GM) crops” has been assessed and highly accepted by an evaluation team formed by the National Natural Science Foundation of China on June 20, 2008.

The overall goal of this project is to examine the economic and environmental impacts of GM crops, using Bt cotton and GM rice as the case studies, in both agricultural and non-agricultural sectors. The impacts were estimated through econometric models based on the empirical data from the primary farm level surveys over several years in Bt cotton production and GM rice field.

The results show that Bt cotton at large scale of farm field production and GM rice at farm field trials have significantly boosted cotton productivity through the reduction of insecticide use and the increase in the crop yield, improved local environments and farmers’ health, and increased farmers’ income and reduced the poverty. The study also reveals that there is no evidence of bollworm resistant to Bt gene under a production system that is dominated by small farmers who plant a diversified set of crops. However, the study also raised a concern on the recent rise of the secondary insects (e.g., mirids) in cotton production though the use of insecticides for mirids has not come close to offsetting the gains in insecticide reduction in Bt cotton production.

The Studies show that China can substantially gain its economic welfare through the commercialization of both Bt cotton and GM rice. On consumer’s attitudes toward GM foods, the study identifies many factors that affect the acceptance of and willingness-to-buy GM foods, particular information and government management ability. The Study also analyzes the impacts of various GM tech development strategies and the implementation of the Biosafety Protocol (BSP) on the international trade and overall economy in China and other countries in the world, and their policy implications.

From 2004 to 2008, the project researchers published 24 journal articles, including 2 papers in Sciences and many others in SCI/SSCI listed journals.

By Jikun Huang, Center for Chinese Agricultural Policy, IGSNRR,CAS

List of publication

1. Huang, Jikun, Deliang Zhang, Jun Yang, Scott Rozelle and Nicholas kalaitzandonakes, 2008. Will the Bisafety Protocol Hinder or Protect the Developing World: Learning from China’s Experience, Food Policy, 33 (2008), pp: 1-12.[SCI/SSCI]

2. Huang, Jikun, Ruifa Hu, Scott Rozelle, and Carl Pray, 2008. Genetically Modified Rice, Yields, and Pesticides: Assessing Farm-Level Productivity Effects in China, Economic Development and Cultural Change, January 2008, Vol. 56, No. 2: 241-263.[SSCI]

3. Huang, Jikun, Huanguang Qiu, Junfei Bai and Carl Pray, 2006. Awareness, Acceptance of and Willingness to buy Genetically Modified Foods in Urban China, Appetite, 46 (2006), pp: 144-151.[SCI/SSCI]

4. Huang, Jikun, Ruifa Hu, Scott Rozelle, and Carl Pray, 2005. Insect-Resistant GM Rice in Farmer Fields: Assessing Productivity and Health Effects in China, Science, 29 April 2005, Vol. 308, pp: 688-690. [SCI]

5. Huang, Jikun, Ruifa Hu, Hans van Meijl and Frank van Tongeren, 2004. Biotechnology Boosts to Crop Productivity in China: Trade and Welfare Implications, Journal of Development Economics, 75(2004), pp: 27-54.[SSCI]