Q: A lot of people in the West are opposed to this sort of genetic engineering. Does this concern you?
A: There are many kinds of genetically modified crops. In transgenic plants [which are plants that contain genes that have been introduced artificially into the plant's genetic makeup], the genes from microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungus, are poisonous. They help the plants to resist insects. People say if insects eat these plants, they'll be killed, how about human beings? They are very concerned about that. But taking genes from maize to rice, it's no problem! For some genes, from bacteria that are very poisonous, we should be very careful. But for genes from maize or barnyard grass or wild rice, it should be no problem.