Biotech seed giant Monsanto announced Thursday the opening of a new research facility in China, its latest venture into the world's largest potential consumer market.

The facility in Beijing will serve as a base for Monsanto collaborations with Chinese scientists and is the first of its kind in that country.

"Monsanto has made a commitment to develop advanced biotech and breeding technology in China," said Steve Padgette, vice president of biotechnology for the company, who was in China for the formal unveiling of the facility. "The establishment of the center will give Chinese researchers access to our global research network and to our industry-leading product development pipeline."

The research center has three goals: to conduct independent research, seek opportunities to collaborate with Chinese scientists, and provide technical support to Monsanto's business in China, Padgette said.

Monsanto already has forged several partnerships with Chinese researchers and government-backed biotech research enterprises. The Chinese government has been supporting research, especially into genetically modified rice, the country's most consumed grain.

But China has yet to authorize genetically modified rice for consumption, officials here say.

"They're still finding their way. They're still talking about authorizing their first genetically engineered rice variety, but it hasn't happened," said Mike Wach, of BIO, an industry group that represents Monsanto and other biotech companies. "I think they're still struggling."

Rice growers and consumers have been resistant to genetically modified rice, and no company grows it commercially for food consumption. Earlier this year, Greenpeace protestors stood outside Monsanto's Beijing office with banners reading "Monsanto: Hands Off China's Food."

"There's certainly been some resistance," Wach said, "and (China) probably feels that pressure. It's a major crop for them."

China grows some genetically modified cotton, and imports genetically modified corn and soy, after relaxing import rules in 2004. The country is the largest export market for American soybeans, 90 percent of which contain Monsanto traits.

The company recently announced a collaboration with Huazhong Agricultural University in China and established a $1 million RMB scholarship to encourage biotech research.

Qifa Zhang, a top scientist at the university, said the new center will expand the partnership. "The establishment of the center will have a key role in further strengthening our collaboration and speeding up commercialization and marketing of new technology," Zhang said in a statement.

Last year, Monsanto announced it would pour $84 million into a joint venture between the China National Seed Group Corp.

"We already work with several research institutions on novel agricultural traits," said Monsanto's John Mclean, who will head up the new center. "We firmly believe that technological advances will increase productivity and contribute to finding solutions to the challenges facing agriculture."