Brazil and China’s Agriculture Ministries meet to discuss cooperation in agricultural biotechnology

On Tuesday, May 13, officials from Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) and China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) met in Beijing for a session of the Brazil-China Biotechnology Working Group. The meeting aimed to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in agricultural biotechnology and biosafety. 

The Brazilian delegation was led by Secretary of Agricultural Defense Carlos Goulart and included Mário Murakami, Vice President of Brazil’s National Technical Commission on Biosafety (CTNBio), along with technical experts. 

In his remarks, Secretary Goulart emphasized the strategic importance of scientific and regulatory collaboration. “Brazilian agriculture is one of the most diverse in the world. Advancing technical dialogue and identifying opportunities for cooperation with China is key to improving the resilience and innovation capacity of our sector,” he said. 

Representatives from the Chinese government highlighted Brazil’s role as a trusted agricultural partner, particularly in the supply of soybeans and corn. “Thanks to the joint efforts of our governments, we have maintained a stable and smooth flow of genetically modified agricultural products. We look forward to further deepening our technical exchanges and mutual understanding through this platform,” a Chinese official noted. 

Discussions covered biosafety assessments, regulatory frameworks for genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and the role of biotechnology in enhancing food security and sustainability. 

Mário Murakami stressed Brazil’s global leadership in biosafety governance. “CTNBio oversees 24 current regulations that cover the biosafety of plants, animals, microorganisms, and human health. Our goal is to build a mutually beneficial relationship by gradually aligning technical standards between our countries,” he said. 

He added that regulatory convergence between Brazil and China could support not only food security and environmental sustainability, but also economic competitiveness and technology transfer. 

Brazil and China reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing science-based agricultural solutions that support sustainable and secure food systems. 


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