The current state of global food security is "scary" and the world is at a "pivotal moment", said Bram Govaerts, director general of International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center. He praised China's recent efforts to curb its reliance on food imports and increase funding for technology-driven breeding techniques, including gene editing. Govaerts suggested such measures have managed to shield China from the unfolding global food crisis that is caused by a mix of factors such as regional conflicts, climate change and rising protectionism.