On September 26, a list of 73 projects were released and officially added to the National Basic Research Program (also called the 973 Program), China's on-going national basic research program. The program was approved by the Chinese Government in June 1997 and is organized and implemented by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The September release is the second batch of key technological projects revealed since the start of the 11th Five-year Plan (2006-2010), covering the fields of agriculture, energy, information, environment, health and material science. Last year, the Central Government earmarked over 1.2 billion yuan for the program.

The Chinese Government initiated the 973 Program to implement the strategy of national rejuvenation through science and education and sustainable development. Its initiation is also regarded as an important measure to improve basic scientific research and enhance China's capacity for scientific innovation.

In the agricultural field, the newly added projects will intensify research into hybrid crops, efficient use of manure, sustainable farmland, genetics, reproduction of pasture seeds and rat damage to grain.

One new wave of modern biological development focusing on genetically modified organisms has caused a splash over the safety of genetically modified foods. Scientists have found that controversies over genetic engineering have been in part caused by people's ignorance on key issues as well as insufficient studies on product safety. Public concern about the safety and ethics of genetically modified organisms has been rising.

The introduction of genetic engineering technologies to agriculture has yielded three outstanding benefits: raising output, improving environmental conditions and increasing farmers' incomes. The profits of genetic engineering are particularly precious to agriculture in China against a backdrop of the largest population in the world as well as a shortage of farmland and water resources.

Under such circumstances, how to guarantee the safety of genetically modified foods and whether China should actively develop genetically modified rice have become strategic issues that need to be addressed. Research on safety issues needs to answer the following questions: whether eating genetically modified rice is safe, especially when people eat it on a daily basis; and whether the plantation of genetically modified rice will have an adverse impact on the growing of other varieties of rice or even threaten species diversity. To unravel the mysteries of genetic modification, the Central Government has listed a safety study project on important genetically modified agricultural animals and crops under the 973 Program.

"Our research will not only provide scientific data and conclusions on genetic modification for government decision makers, but also come up with methods to appraise, test and monitor the risks," said Peng Yufa, Chief Scientist on the project.