We seek to achieve four specific objectives. First, we want to gain a better understanding of the policies that have governed agricultural biotechnology research, commercialization and biosafety regulations. Second, we review the past progress and current status of Chinas agricultural biotechnology research, the record of commercialization and examine how its biosafety regulations have been implemented. Third, the paper identifies the social and economic impacts of the development of agricultural biotechnology. Finally, we examine some of the key, remaining institutional challenges for agricultural biotechnology R&D, commercial dissemination and biosafety regulations.