Identify And Analyze The Barriers Of Commercialization Of Genetically Modified Rice

Rice is the most important food crops in China, which is the staple food for 60% of the population. To ensure rice supply effectivly is the basic policy of the Chinese government on the issue of food security. Although China’s rice is being able to achieve self-sufficiency currently, but there is increased pressure to ensure the long-term supply and demand balance of domestic rice. The development of conventional rice production technology is faced bottleneck. Excessive use of pesticide and chemical fertilizer soared the cost of rice production and damaged the ecological environment. The health of farmers and consumers have also been damaged. The field test data of Bt genetically modified rice showed it could significantly reduce the amount of pesticide application and the labor use of rice production. It can be predicted that genetically modified rice will become the most powerful tool to solve the twenty-first century rice self-sufficiency in china. By the end of 2009, the Ministry of Agriculture issued a safety certificate for the two genetically modified rice varieties. To a certain extent, the Chinese government will put the commercialization of genetically modified rice on development agenda. The certificate of safety production has caused widely controversy. The government has also been under the pressure of multi-debate. It has not been follow-up the commercialization of genetically modified rice. In this paper, we try to analyze the impact of government management, media information and consumer attitudes on the commercialization of genetically modified rice in China.The study is based on stakeholder theory, news communication theory and consumer behavior theory, through field survey and expert interview, use Ordered Logit Model, Binary Logistic Model, Interval Censored Model, Content Analysis to analyze the effects of government management, media related reports and consumer attitudes on the commercialization of genetically modified rice in China. The main research conclusions are summarized as follow:(1) Chinese government has always attached importance to the development and application of genetically modified technology, put enhancement of international competitiveness and industrial division on strategic height. To strengthen the safety supervision of genetically modified organisms is a policy of our government. At present, the genetically modified organisms safety management regulations and government administration system which contains production, processing and identification have already established, and it is keep pace with international standard. Regulations on the existing law enforcement is insufficient, safety assessment procedures setting is tedious, repetitive. Unreasonable genetically modified food labeling system and the implementation is not ideal. Safety supervision and administration is lack of transparency. Safety regulatory events have occurred. Problems exist in the process. Matters resulting in consumers suspicion and questioning on the safety of genetically modified organisms, even leading to consumer panic, and causing the crisis of government confidence, which is not conducive to the commercialization of genetically modified rice.(2) Lack of scientific propaganda for genetically modified technology and food in the mainstream media, with mixed speech spread by non-governmental organizations and individuals, resulting GM cognitive confusion in public. Relevant responsible units and individuals failed to timely and effectively response reported public security incidents, to refute false statements, which resulting in the spread of negative information, negative impact, even endanger the government trust. It is not conducive to the commercialization of genetically modified rice. Discourse absence of the public, industry and scientists in media reports, marginalization of interests is not conducive to democratization of political decision-making and implementation.(3) The consumer has a certain degree improvement in the level of cognition of genetically modified technology and food, but the understanding of the technology is not deep enough. The attitude of the transgenic technology and food is established on the limited knowledge level. Consumer acceptance of genetically modified rice is not high, and it has a clear downward trend in the past ten years. The willingness of consumers to pay for genetically modified rice is low, and the reaction of negative information is strong. The order of advantages and disadvantages information contents significantly increase consumers’ willingness to pay.