Qi Biodesign, an agricultural biotech firm based in Beijing, is supported by official Chinese institutes in research, development, and funding. The firm has recently gained attention in the United States, with Republicans on the House China panel questioning the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s decision to allow Qi Biodesign to sell genetically engineered soybeans in the country.
The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service reviewed Qi Biodesign’s new high oleic acid soybean and determined that it does not require regulation. The company, established in 2021, is partially funded by CAS Star, a Chinese venture capital entity controlled by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
Lawmakers have raised concerns about the USDA’s quick regulatory review of Qi Biodesign’s products, questioning the level of due diligence and the motivation behind the rapid approval. They are calling for a revisit of the review process and a briefing with the committee to discuss the regulatory clearance timeline and steps taken.
The legislators expressed worries about the USDA’s swift approval of a Chinese firm while U.S. companies face delays in regulatory reviews. They highlighted that Qi Biodesign and similar Chinese firms are supported by the Chinese government to compete with U.S. agriculture biotechnology.
The concerns come at a time when both the U.S. and China are investing heavily in the biotech industry. The CCP has identified biotech as a priority industry, along with other green energy technologies. The Biden administration has also established a National Bioeconomy Board to invest in biotechnology in America.
There are fears that if China surpasses the U.S. in biotech, it could dominate the global supply chain, similar to its success in green energy sectors. The Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party has criticized the USDA for approving Chinese agriculture biotechnology without considering U.S. supply chains or trade negotiations.
Committee members have co-signed a letter to Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, expressing concerns about the potential implications of USDA’s clearance of Qi Biodesign’s products. The Epoch Times has reached out to both the USDA and Qi Biodesign for comments. Please provide an alternate version.
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