The first IRGE cotton event, produced in 1994 for experimental use, expressed a cry1Ac/ cry1Ab fusion gene and exhibited cotton bollworm control efficacy of over 80% ( 138). Research on IRGE cotton in China started in the early 1990s. Outbreaks of cotton bollworm alone have caused huge economic losses and resulted in overuse and misuse of chemical insecticides ( 18, 38). Over 300 herbivorous insect species have been recorded in Chinese cotton fields ( 124), including the lepidopterans cotton bollworm ( Helicoverpa armigera), pink bollworm ( Pectinophora gossypiella), corn borer ( Ostrinia furnacalis), beet armyworm ( Spodoptera exigua), common cutworm ( Spodoptera litura), spiny bollworm ( Earias cupreoviridis), and cotton looper ( Anomis flava). Insect-Resistant Genetically Engineered Cotton Management of these pests once relied primarily on chemical insecticides, resulting in environmental and human health problems ( 16, 18, 25, 38). All of these crops suffer severe damage from many insect pests, with lepidopteran species being the most damaging ( 16, 33, 59, 124). Cotton is now mainly planted in Xinjiang Province, while rice and corn are grown in most provinces. In China, cotton is an important cash crop, and rice and corn are important cereal crops ( 59, 61, 66). DEVELOPMENT OF INSECT-RESISTANT GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CROPS IN CHINA The Chinese experience with Bt cotton (i.e., cotton plants modified to produce one or more endotoxins derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis) should provide valuable lessons in sustainable use of a wide range of Bt crops for other countries, in particular developing countries with agricultural situations similar to China's. We examine the current status of research and application of IRGE crops in China, analyze the prospects and challenges, and discuss strategies to promote the development and application of GE crop technology in China. Great progress has been made in the development of insect-resistant GE (IRGE) crops, especially cotton, rice, and corn. The Chinese government initiated the National GM Variety Development Special Program (NGSP) in 2008 with the intent of investing $3.5 billion to identify additional functional genes and to develop new GE varieties, improving the level of research and industrialization of agricultural GE organisms ( 69). Since the 1980s, research and development of genetically engineered (GE) crops have received steadily increasing financial support. Against this background, China's central government made the strategic decision to develop and apply agricultural biotechnology to increase agricultural productivity and to promote national food security and green agricultural development ( 65). China is dependent upon food imports and, in 2017, imported 130.6 million tons of various crops ( ). Rapid urbanization and excessive application of pesticides and fertilizers have led to loss of arable land ( 69). The Chinese experience with Bt cotton might inform adoption of other Bt crops in China and other developing countries.Ĭhina has more than 20% of the world's population but less than 7% of the arable land. Wider adoption of IRGE crops in China is constrained by relatively limited innovation capacity, public misperception, and regulatory inaction, suggesting the need for further financial investment in innovation and greater scientific engagement with the public. Economic, social, and human health effects are largely positive and, in the case of Bt cotton, have proven sustainable over 20 years of commercial production. Ecological impact studies have demonstrated conservation of natural enemies of crop pests and halo suppression of crop-pest populations on a local scale. IRGE cotton, rice, and corn lines have been developed and proven efficacious for controlling lepidopteran crop pests. We examine research on insect-resistant genetically engineered (IRGE) crops in China, including strategies to promote their sustainable use. With 20% of the world's population but just 7% of the arable land, China has invested heavily in crop biotechnology to increase agricultural productivity.
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