GM foods need a sieve

A review board of experts, transparent monitoring and accountability should be ready before crops land on our plates

In September 2009, the Ministry of Agriculture quietly issued bio-safety certificates for two strains of genetically modified (GM) rice and a GM corn strain, signs that China is expected to be the first country to commercialize GM rice planting.

For the first time, a major grain producer is endorsing the use of GM technology in a food staple, arousing great public concern and furious arguments among experts over its safety.