The Transgenic Tech System of Cotton Commercialization was declared a success. Based on this system, 8 new cotton varieties have been developed and more than 32 million mu of land have grown insect-resistant transgenic cotton.

Transgenic crops have been spreading around the world faster than any other crops in recent years. From 1996 to 2003, its coverage increased by nearly 40 times globally.

In China, transgenic insect-resistant cotton is the major product of transgenic farm produce. In the face of fierce international competition, the research and commercialization of transgenic cotton has made a series of significant breakthroughs thanks to the government's support. New varieties with intellectual property rights have been created.

The technical system for efficient, commercialized transgenic cotton which makes an annual yield of more than 6000 plants possible is the result of efforts of the Cotton Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science.

The system brings genes of insect resistance, disease resistance and fiber improvement to more than 20 main cotton varieties. In addition, grafting technology is successfully applied. In this way, more than 90 percent of transplanted cotton plants can survive and grow.

Experts confirmed that the research is at the top international level. It has made the transgenic insect-resistant cotton cover more areas in China very fast. Dr. Yu Shuxun, Director of the institute, said that some 70 percent of more than 46 million mu of land that grow transgenic insect-resistant cotton this year in China would use domestically developed varieties. But in 1998 only 3.8 million mu of land were planted with transgenic insect-resistant cotton, 95 percent of which was imported from foreign countries.

At present, transgenic insect-resistant cotton is harvested from more than 70 million mu of land. An extra revenue of 140 to 160 yuan per mu is generated for farmers.