| In recent years, China has become one of the largest growers of genetically modified (GM) crops in the world. Moreover, the Chinese government is making substantial investments to develop the domestic biotechnology sector. Some western observers fear that the pressures of food security and increased international competition coupled with a weak civil society, might cause the state to disregard the potential socio-economic and environmental risks of GM crops. In this project, the Centre for Development Studies of Groningen University and the Rural Development Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences will join forces in a study on the risk perception of various stakeholders ? state institutions, companies, scientists, NGOs and farmers ? and determine how this shapes China?s current and future biosafety and risk management policies. The research will focus on the following two main research questions: a) What is the perception of the potential socio-economic and environmental risks of GM crops (i.e. cotton, rice and soybean) by different social actors ? state institutions, domestic and international companies, scientists, NGOs, and farmers ? in Chinese rural society? b) How do the differences in risk perception shape agricultural biosafety management policies and affect their implementation? |
