Consumer fears may force China and India to delay transgenic rice by another two years, but these countries will have to eventually embrace the technology to meet growing demand.

The exporting countries of Thailand and Vietnam were unlikely to introduce transgenic rice for many years on fears of losing market share.

The news that unapproved genetically modified rice was found in some U.S. long grain supplies -- which rattled the Chicago rice market -- was unlikely to have an big impact on global prices.