China may permit cultivation of genetically modified corn within the next five years. An official with China’s agriculture ministry said the nation will push forward the process of introducing pest-resistant cotton and pest-resistant corn as part of a five-year plan being implemented starting this year. However, no further information was provided by China. Pro Farmer’s First Thing Today reports that while China is the largest buyer of genetically modified soybeans, it has not permitted the cultivation of biotech crops, except cotton and papaya. State-owned ChemChina’s purchase of Syngenta in February did spur talk that a ban on GMO cultivation may soon be lifted.