Tech Bytes

➲ China's Ministry of Agriculture has earmarked 2.6 million yuan ($400,000) for scientists working on genetically modified (GM) crops. There is much anti-GM sentiment coming from the Chinese public, and another 10 million yuan (1.5 million) will be geared toward GM risk evaluation through the year 2015. Regardless of the outcry, GM strains of maize and rice that received safety certificates in 2009 are now in clinical trials.

➲ Over the next year and a half, China will complete its transition to a 4G network for mobile communications. The country's largest carrier, China Mobile, will be in charge of maintaining the new networks. Also known as TD-LTE, they will be 50 times faster than the current 3G technology. The shift should position China at the forefront of global telecommunications. The 4G is expected to become the international standard in 2012.

➲ Farmers in Tanzania and Benin are using weaver ants to protect fruit and nut crops from pest attacks. The project, a joint initiative between scientists from Benin, Tanzania and Denmark, will also promote the breeding of live ant colonies for the farmers. This form of bio-control is an improvement on a Chinese method used for centuries, and farmers only need cheap, basic supplies like cutters and ropes to apply it.