US manipulated seeds specialist DuPont Pioneer and China’s Origin Agritech, a biotechnology-focused crop seed provider listed on the US stock market, have signed a commercial licensing agreement to develop new seed technologies for Chinese farmers.

The companies, which have cooperated in the past, said the partnership will contribute to the modernization of China’s agriculture system and improved food security, which the government has set as priorities.

With support from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) and in partnership with the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Origin has already developed corn seeds with insect control and herbicide tolerance traits.

“Once approved by the Chinese government, these products will help our country’s farmers fight the insects and weeds that prevent their crops from reaching their yield potential,” said Origin Agritech CEO Gengchen Han.

Han said Chinese farmers are increasingly adopting technologies such as high-quality hybrid seed, mechanization and data-based decision making. The biotech traits Origin has submitted to the rigorous China government approval process are another important tool for improved domestic grain production, he said.

DuPont Pioneer is the largest multinational seed corn company in China, and the company said it will continue to develop its high-performing popular hybrids for the market there in accordance with current MOA regulations.

Saying the Chinese government was dragging its feet on introducing GMO foods, Origin, which by its own account has invested more than 300 million yuan (nearly $47 million) in biotech since 2005, suggested late last year that it wanted to launch its first genetically modified products in the US.

The Chinese company had been seen as looking for a US partner to facilitate the required testing and possibly launch its products. In announcing the collaboration in China, however, it did not mention a collaboration with Pioneer on the DuPont joint venture’s home turf.