China will "facilitate" the planting of genetically modified corn and other plants on an industrial scale in the next five years, officials said, after not authorising any new commercial GM crops for a decade.

The controversial science is a key trade issue with the US, whose biotechnology giant Monsanto is a global leader in the field, while its rival Syngenta has agreed a $43 billion takeover offer by Chinese state-owned firm ChemChina.

Only two GM crops are currently commercially cultivated in the country -- a type of cotton approved in 1996, and a virus resistant papaya authorised in 2006.

GM soya, corn, cotton and rape can be imported as raw materials and as ingredients in processed products. Processed sugar beet imports are also allowed.

Beijing is pro-biotechnology as it has long been concerned over the world's most populous country's ability to feed itself -- a fear that factored into the introduction of its controversial one-child policy.

But large-scale cultivation of GM crops remains sensitive as environmentalists and some scientists warn against the technology's as-yet-unknown long-term consequences for biodiversity and human health.

"During the 13th five-year plan, we will... push forward the industrialisation of major products including new types of insect-resistant cotton and corn," Liao Xiyuan, a senior official with the Chinese agriculture ministry, told reporters.

Corn is the top grain in China by both production and sown area -- much of it used for animal feed -- with rice only in second place, followed by wheat, official data shows.

The government will continue research on GM rice and wheat over the next five years, Liao said at a press conference Wednesday.

GM crops are sometimes found being grown illegally in the country and Liao said had authorities "rooted out" GM rice in the central province of Hubei. Last year they also destroyed a total of 73 hectares of GM corn in several areas.

"Sporadic illegal planting of (GM crops) does exist in some areas and we will crack down harshly on it," Liao said.

Alibaba to invest $1.25 bn in China food delivery firm
Shanghai (AFP) April 14, 2016 - Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba and an affiliate part-owned by its founder Jack Ma will invest a total of $1.25 billion in an online food delivery firm, the companies said, as Alibaba diversifies its activities.

Alibaba will invest $900 million and Ant Financial will add another $350 million in the Chinese online-to-offline food delivery firm Ele.me, Alibaba said in a statement on Thursday, without giving a size for the stake.

Chinese business magazine Caixin reported in December that a $1.25 billion investment would make Alibaba the biggest shareholder in the food firm with a 27.7 percent stake, valuing the startup at $4.5 billion.

"We are confident the cooperation will benefit merchants and consumers alike through better services and logistical support," Alibaba said.

Shanghai-based Ele.me claims to be China's biggest online food delivery platform, with more than 100 million yuan ($15 million) in daily transactions and a user base of more than 50 million people, it said in a separate statement.

Alibaba's Taobao platform is estimated to have more than 90 percent of the consumer-to-consumer market in China, while Alipay, a Paypal-like service under Ant, handles around 80 percent of online payments in China.

Alibaba has been keen to expand outside its core e-commerce business. It bought mobile shopping and dining information app Koubei for $1.0 billion in June and snapped up video streaming service Youku Tudou in another multi-billion dollar deal in November.

Alibaba also just announced a $1.0 billion investment in a leading online shopping platform in Southeast Asia, Lazada.