A taste test of genetically modified (GM) rice was held in Wuhan-based Huazhong Agricultural University on Saturday. Hundreds of attendees sampled the cooked Golden Rice, a kind of GM rice cultivated by the university. Similar events have been held in other cities. It was also reported that 61 academicians jointly handed in a proposal to China's top leadership, requesting that the industrialization of GM rice be accelerated.

Fuss about whether GM crops should be planted on a large scale is becoming heated these years.

Many scientists agree with the plan, which met with a heavy backlash from a lot of humanists and ordinary people.

In fact, the Chinese market had already embraced some GM foods long before, including GM beans and corns. But staple food, like rice and wheat, has not been on the list until recently.

As a frontline science, transgenic technology needs to be further explored. But prudence is also required during the exploration. Unlike common diseases, any impact on human genes is unlikely to be noticed in the short term. We started to learn about genes only decades ago. More knowledge is waiting to be explored.

GM grains have an advantage in resisting diseases and pests, and are able to guarantee sufficient supply of food. This advantage is particularly a temptation for China, the most populous country in the world.

But the growth of the Chinese population is approaching its turning point, and it is still possible that China can fill the grain supply gap by using other methods. GM grains should be China's last resort.

China does not have much surplus in grain supply, but it is not so critical that the country should choose GM food as its life-saving straw.

China cannot take a leap forward in terms of its food security policy. It is also risky and unwise to send its 1.3 billion population onto the frontline to sample GM rice.

China should take the lead in the research of transgenic technology, but does not have to be the bellwether to distribute more GM food into people's daily lives.

It should be noted that commercializing GM rice will change the current pattern of interests distribution. It is possible that some scientists are pushing forward the idea for their own benefit.

It also deserves to be considered whether GM grains, which are risky in one way or another, can really meet the overall benefits of human beings to the utmost.

Facing this basic and general issue, all commercial profits and business advantages are short-term. We had better exercise restraint in pursuing these so-called benefits.