China has approved a list of seed companies to grow and sell genetically modified soybean and corn seeds to reduce dependence on imports from the US and Brazil. The Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Rural Affairs issued permits to 26 domestic companies, including units of Syngenta Group, and plans to increase planting of genetically modified corn next year in eight provinces. Large-scale testing of GM soybeans and corn in China this year was reported as "impressive" and safe, but the Beijing government is expected to strictly control their use.