Hunger Pains: China Debates Its Food Policies

"Are 1.3 billion people going to drink the northwestern wind?” asked Peng Guangqian, a major-general in the People’s Liberation Army, in a recent editorial in the Global Times.

It's a fair enough question, and one that’s certainly been on some people’s minds recently, after reports were released that indicate there is an alarming water shortage in Beijing and all of China. But Peng isn’t talking about water here – his concern lies in an issue that’s being debated across the nation: genetically modified crops.

GMO’s (genetically modified organisms) have been a contentious issue since their popularization, and nations have ultimately accepted or rejected genetically-modified food to greater or lesser degrees. China has long been in the midst of the debate, but recent policy changes earlier in the summer to allow further GMO imports have escalated the discussion.

Some advocates argue that crops modified to resist bugs and drought will be the only way to feed people in the future, while others see potential for negative health impacts and effects on biodiversity. It’s a complicated aspect of food that can easily be overlooked in a city where one can’t always be certain about what they’re eating, but The Wall Street Journal does a nice job of breaking down the arguments. Read on here for more.

Photo: chinadaily.com.cn